NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 2, 2 July 1926, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Local Body Loans.

.With reference to the Local Bodies Loans Bill introduced into the House of yesterday, the Prime Minister explained that it was purely a consolidating measure, and would not contain any provision dealing with the setting up of the proposed Local Government Board.

New Zealand's Quota,

The new fiscal year for quota immigration into the United States began yesterday. Each country's quota is based on 2 per cent, of its nationals already residing in the States, but there is a minimum quota of 100, which applies to New Zealand. Half the number is held temporarily in reserve for relatives of people already in the States, and, as there are already thirty applications from the Wellington district alone and about the same number from New Zealanders abroad, who have to apply through the ConsulGeneral in their home country, the list for the next month or so is full. In ■commenting upon the position, Mr. W. Lowrie,'the United States Consul-Gen-eral, remarked that last year's quota was filled only about three weeks ago, and that it had not become necessary to refuse any desirable immigrant.

Visitors to France.

A notification is published in the Gazette to persons proceeding to France who may require for use there legalised copies of documents originating in New Zealand, that this legislation should, if possible, be obtained from the local French Consular offices before departure, and that such visitors should not depend on being able to obtain any form of legalisation in France.

Argentine Fruit, Market.

Senor Humberto Bidone, Consul-Gen-eral for the Argentine, in the course of his remarks at the annual dinner of the Fruit Growers' Federation,stated that tho Argentine imported this year from New Zealand 60,000 boxes of apples at an average price of 21s a caße, which showed that it was a very good market. He added that he was certain that if next season there was a good organisation for the distribution of the fruit the Argentine would buy more than 100,000 cases of apples.

Local Bodies' Loans.

Orders-in-Council appear in this week's Gazette authorising the raising of the following loans by local authorities; —Wellington City Council, for completion of general improvements, £6000; Makara County Council (for main highway construction), £13,000; Wairarapa South County Council (for the erection of roadmen's cottages), £2400; Wairarapa South County Council (for reconstruction of a portion of the Wellington-Napier highway), £9000.

Barring Asiatics.

At the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruit Growers' Federation yestorclay, Mr. E. J. Freeman, Canterbury, said that Chinese had captured nearly all the retail fruit trade of New Zealand, and sooner or later would capture the orchards unless they were debarred from coming into the country. Mr. W. A. Tate, Greytown, said he believed in a " "White New Zealand." We had the best country in the world; and <we should make this the one place where British people of the right class could come and settle down and make it the strongest part of the Empire. It was agreed by the conference "that the Government be urged to pass legislation that all Asiatics be debarred from coming into New' Zealand for ten years, and that all members of Parliament be asked for itheir support" ... . .....

Public Revenues.

The Public Revenues Bill, a consolidating measure, was introduced into the House of Eepresentatiyes yesterday. The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Downio Stewart) stated that a few amendments might be brought down later, but these would Jbe inserted in Committee.

Carelessness in Cars.

In fining a farmer £10 and suspending his license for reckless motoring while intoxicated, the Magistrate at Pahiatua made some interesting comments. Ho said that he did not believe in the infliction of heavy penalties in this class of case, which was contrary to the opinion of some other Magistrates. Fines up to £70 bad been inflicted, and the law provided for a penalty of £100, or three months' imprisonment. It did not necessarily follow that an offender would be fined. That was only part of the penalty; the other part was gaol. It was perfectly right that a somewhat severe penalty should be provided for. There were some men who should never drive a car. The opinion had been expressed by one of the Supremo Court Judges that one whisky mado a man unfit' to control a car as it dulled the keen edge of his perception and made him that little bit extra reckless sufficient to bring him into trouble. With highpowered cars instant adaptability was necessary. The time was coming when it would be foolish for any driver of a car to have any liquor whatever. Counsel pointed out that the defendant had two farms fourteen miles apart, with his car as the only meansi of communication. The.Magistrate (said that he was aware of the severity of the punishment, but there were hundreds doing the same every day as the defendant had done. They had to be shown some example. His viewpoint was that to stop these offenders driving was the best remedy. He wag not prepared to alter his decision.

A Dry Month,

June will be remembered as a dry month. Rain fell on only ten days during the month, and was only very light, the heaviest fall amounting to .34in. This was on 17th June. The total rainfall was .903 in, which is 64 per cent/ below normal for June. Excepting June, 1917, it was the driest June of the period 1902-26. Of the thirty days in June, there were frosts on twenty-six. The severest frost recorded was at 14.7 degrees. The mean temperature for the month was one degree below the June average. Cold h the month was, it provided many beautiful calm and clear mornings and sunny days.

Otago School Statistics.

The expenditure on school buildings in the Otago Education district, including general maintenance, repairs, alterations, small additions, and rents, amounted to £17,451 during the year. New buildings cost £7325, and rebuilding £6891. The proportion of male teachers to female teachers in the Otago district has increased during the past few years. In 1923 the ratio of males to females was 100 to 196; in 1924 it was 100 to 191, and in 1925 it was 100 to 185. The proportion among pupil teachers and probationers shows a remarkable change. In 1923 the ratio was 100 males to 245 females; in 1924 it was 100 to 150, and in 1925 it was 100 to 142.

Ohinemuri's Distinction,

The district of Ohinemuri, the principal centres of Avhich are Paeroa and Waihi, has been enjoying an excitement all its own during the past few days (say* "The Post's" Auckland correspondent). This electorate possesses the distinction of being the first "dry" district in New Zealand'to become "wet." After seventeen years the bars were again opened yesterday afternoon for the sale of alcoholic ,liquors, three licenses having been granted, for a start, by the Licenaing Committee—two at Paeroa and one at Waihi. The owners of tho hotels had had the houses well stocked with liquor in anticipation of the granting of the licenses, and by agreement tho bars were opened at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. It is ■ stated that at Waihi a largo assemblage of miners, partly on account of thirst and partly on account of curiosity to see again the inside of a bar, had gathered to await the opening of the bar. The same thing was experienced at Paeroa to a limited extent, and good business, according to reports, was done at all three houses in the four hours during which the bars were open. Of course, there were some free drinks to lead off with, but it is stated that this form of generosity was not overdone. There are atill many knotty problems to be unravelled before the question of license for Ohinemuri is finally settled, but in the meantime thirsty people are having the opportunity of obtaining the long-ban-ished liquid refreshments.

A Borough Balance-Sheet.

The 1924-25 balance-sheet for the Borough of Upper Hutt, which has been subject to much discussion both in and out of council meetings lately, was perhaps finally disposed of last night. On Tuesday a special meeting called to discuss this balance-sheet and the Auditor-General's covering letter lapsed through having been called by the Mayor and not "under the hand of the clerk.'' But a regularly convened meeting was held - last night—for a period of five minutes. All tl councillors were present,' and the Mayor presided. Councillor H. E. Lodge moved, and Councillor Greig seconded, a motion to accept and consider settled the balance-sheet for 1924-25 as received from the auditor, and thai the Mayor be authorised to sign it.. This was carried unanimously. The Mayor: "Thank you, gentlemen. That is the business for which . this meeting was called.'* / . .'.

Stamps on Receipts.

In order to avoid the cost of a 2d stamp, Septimus G. Knight divided £3 5s into three amounts and issued separate unstamped receipts. He discovered the illegality of this trick, when he was called.on to face a charge in the Magistrate's Court to-day of evading the payment of stamp duty. In pleading guilty, Knight said he had had trouble in collecting the rent from one of his tenants, so that when the money one day became available and the tenant suggested that he should give three receipts instead of one to get over the difficulty caused by the absence of stamps, he fell in with the suggestion. He had no intention to evade the payment of duty. A fine of £2 was imposed.

A Pumice -House.

Pumice houses have been erected in various parts of the Dominion, and a Gisborne resident has chosen that material for his home, says an exchange. The question came before ttie Gisborne Borough Council recently, when the engineer stated that, as the proposed pumice house was rather in the nature of an experiment, he thought he should place the facts before the council. After considering the proposal the council decided unanimously tcr grant the application.

Open Schoolrooms and Colds,

That pupils in open-air classrooms are a great deal less susceptible to the prevailing influenza epidemic than those who study in ordinary elosed-iu rooms is indicated by attendance statistics compiled at the Fendalton School, where two open-air rooms are in constant use. The closed-in rooms are warmed by means of coke-heaters and fire. Only a small coal fire is provided in each of the open-air rooms. No coughing is noticeable in the latter, but in the closed rooms colds are general.

Railway Revenue.

The railway revenue for the first two months of the financial year was £1,370,000, and the expenditure. w#s £1,024,363, as compared with £.1y143,----985 and £ 887,611 for tho correspondingperiod last, year. The North Island receipts were £727,842, expenditure £541,009; South Island, receipts £550,----543, expenditure £434,665.

Wanganui Collegiate Cap.

The time-honoured cap worn by the' boys of the Wanganui Collegiate School will undergo a change next year, says, an exchange. Hitherto the cap has been of the type commonly worn byNew Zealand schoolboys, with.narrow! blue braid running upward . to., .the; crown. The new cap will carry a pro^ nounced English flavour. It will be shaped rather like the present school cricket cap, and will be distinguished by blue iing3 round the crown. " '

Repaid by Sinking Fund,

The first loan raised by the Christchurch Drainage Board, and the :first' of its loans to mature, became repayable, -and was duly repaid on Wednesday. The loan amounted to £200,----000, and was raised under the Board-s Act of 1875, in 1876, at 6 per cent,-The sinking fund established in connection with the loan was sufficient to repaj.it,' and to show a margin of a few thousand pounds. Of the total amount borrowed £4400 was held in New Zealand, and the remainder was held in England, states the "Press." The repayment, o£ this loan will relieve the ratepayers of the Christchurch drainage district of annual charges of between £13,000 and £14,000, representing interest and sinking fund. . .

Learn to Swim.

The question of the compulsory teaching of swimming in schools was discussed at the annual meeting of the Auckland Primary School Committees' As-; sociation, reports the '.'New Zealand; Herald." The matter was introduced in a remit from the Newton School Committee suggesting that the compul-' sory teaching of swimming should be added to the school curriculum. Mr. C.Morris said that in ten years the lives of 500 boys and girls had been lost bydrowning in New Zealand. He" read' two letters from the Minister of Educa-1 tion, Hon. E. A. Wright, who stated that he heartily endorsedjthe desirability of all New Zealand children being;, taught to swim. There was little lilies lihood of legislation being enacted this! sesswn to make swimming compulsory. The remit was carried.

Invitation to Anglers.

In a letter received by the Minister-in-Charge of Publicity, Eoa. O. J. An-.' derson, from a member of the San Francisco Fly and Bait Casting Club,reference is made to the visit of a party of New Zetland anglers to .Philadelphia, to compete in the tournament this coming August. An invitation is extended to the members of the parfcy, to break their journey at San Francisco," when the club in that town will" be very glad to show them what courtesies they can during their brief .visit.! The writer also acknowledges receipt, of setreral publications dealing with sport ia New Zealand, which is now becoming well known throughout Amer-