NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 113, 16 May 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Salary “Out”/ Not Contemplated. ' A report that the official commitloo now considering economies in the administration of Government Departments presaged a third cut in Civil servants’ salaries was referred to the Prime Minister by a special correspondent of the Auckland ‘ ‘ Star. ’ ’ Mr. Coates replied that the suggestion was not contemplated. Asked if the overhaul, of departmental expenditure pointed ■to the possibility of some minor Departments being absorbed or abolished, he stated that that was a matter which could best be considered when the committee’s recommendations wero beforo Cabinet. The correspondent recalls as a matter of interest that a 1 Expenditure : Adjustment Act, 1922, authorised three “cuts,” if necessary, in Public servants’ salaries. Two were made, and authority exists for the third, if it is found necessary. Members of the House of Bepresentatives, whose salary was £SOO, are receiving £450 as the' result of their participation in the general sacrifice, while Legislative Councillors, formerly on tin honorarium, of £3SQ, aro still receiving the reduced amount of £315.

Auckland Views on Taupo. Anglers’ fees at Taupo were the subject of protest by tho Auckland Acclimatisation Society on Thursday. Mr N. S. Johnson said that tho Government had mado a mistake at Taupo by committing. itself before consulting acclimatisation societies (says the “New Zoaland .Herald”). Local residents were fishing cheaply, while visitors paid x,3, and overseas anglers £O. There were no riparian rights nt Taupo, and tho Government had mado the Natives a present of £3OOO. He moved: “That this executive, while approving of the system of issuing short period licenses at Taupe, is of tho opinion that the present fees for tho whole season aro inequitable; that the establishment of special fishing districts should be replaced by an annual fee of £1 10s for the Dominion, with corresponding decreases for women and youths under 16; that the Government should receive one-third of tho revenue, tho sum to be applied toward territorial fishing rights, and general acclimatisation purposes; that tho secretary should commumcato with tho other societies in the North Island asking them to support tho proposal, and that a delegato be appointed to meet tho Minister of Internal Affairs in conference with other nclimatisntion representatives during the first fishing season with a view to adjusting tho fishing fees.” Tho motion was carried. An “Optimism Week”?

A psychological note is struck by the Now Zealand Draper’,’ in its latost ,r. Tho journal remarks that talk of hanl times merely accentuates tho position by making people tighten their purse-strings.” The trade journai suggests that if an “Optimism Week” were kept, and each trader resolved to smile for six days and say that things were on the mend, it might help to turn tho scale- —especially if he puts in a new window display and sets out to make record figures for tho week. The “Draper” observes that ■ m Auckland, and it applies to New Zealand as a whole, the long process of deflation ismearing an end and holders of property are more willing to deal on real values. This will gradually stimulate sales, and before very long wo will bo rubbing our hands with anticipation of better business in the spring. Another significant sign of returning prosperity is that lenders of money now prefer ‘broad acres’ as security instead of houses and city property generally. New Zealand’s prosperity lies in tho land, and if the rural community is stimulated by a lightening of the interest load through reduction of capital values and by the ability to obtain ncoded capital, it means sales of more goods. Meantime, every boot ana shoo retailer has a reasonable excuse for making an Optimism Week of his own, on the ground that people need good footwear more in winter than any other time. ’ ’ Northumberland at Wellington.

After just over four months' delay in arriving at Wellington, the steamer Northumberland reached here this morning. Last January, when she’ was on her way from Auckland to Wellington, via Napier, she ran into a submerged object, and had to put into Gisborhe with a large hole in her side. The Northumberland was patched up there and returned to Auckland, where she was put into the Calliope Dock to undergo repairs. Her cargo from Home, which she was bringing down the coast at the time of accident, was subsequently transhipped at Auckland to the various ports. On coming out of dock she commenced loading, and is now at Wellington to complete her cargo for Home. Election Anomalies.

Comments on anomalies in procedure revealed by the recent municipal elections were made by Mr. P. p. Notley city returning officer, in a report to the Auckland City Council on Thursday evening (reports the “New Zealand Herald”). Mr. Notley said that, although by statutory appointment he was returning officer for the city, neither he nor any member of the staff could, by virtue, of the appointment, witness signatures to claims for enrolment. It was only because ho was a ratepayer of the city that he could act as a witness. Another point was that although the rolls cost 22s each to print, they had to be sold at a cost not exceeding Is a copy. Mr. Notley said the election bore out his prophecy that the deletion method of voting would increase the number of informal votes, and also the cost, because of the additional clerks required to cheek the papers. The new style of ballot-paper with counterfoils had increased the cost of the election by about 25 per cent. The report was referred to the Legal and Bylaws Committee,

"They Just Growed.” "The time was when the training of teachers was not considered necessary,” remarked Mr. T. Forsyth, MV., at to-day s celebrations in connection with tlio Teachers'. Training College"they just growed up, like Topsy. I myself was going to be a teacher once; what the profession has missed I do not know.” In these days we must have trained teachers, he went on to say, referring to the great tradition already built up by the Wellington Training College. Long Voyage Projected. On completion of her overhaul at Port Chalmers, the oil-tanker Otokia voyage ahead of her. Sho left Wellington yesterday for the Otago port, and after cleaning and paintinff and general overhaul, will sail ..from there California to load oil for Buenos Aires, South America. She will proceed to the Argentine down the Pacific Coast of South America, and around Cape Horn. This is quite an unusual run for a tanker, and after discharging her oil at Buenos Aires will proceed back to California to load for Wellington. As she will return to San Luis via the Panama Canal, the Otokia will have circumnavigated the South American Continent. Use of Depositions.

There is very great looseness in the way depositions are used, and I think it is generally the fault of counsel for not objecting to the methods adopted ” remarked Mr. Justice Stringer in the Auckland Supreme Court on Thursday when the question arose during a trial a s to whether evidence taken in the Police Court could be submitted to a jury if not repeated in the higher Cour t (reports the "New Zealand Herald”). "Depositions are only taken in the Police Court for the purpose of showing there is a prima facie case sufficient to justify a prisoner being sent for trial,” his Honour continued. In practice the whole details of a case are not gone into, and it constantly happens that a great deal doe 3 riot appear in the depositions that is said in the Supreme Court. The only value of depositions in the Supreme Court, in my opinion, is in cases in which there is a flat contradiction of evidence, and then a man’s previous statements can be put before him.”

Tagged For Entertaining the Minister. Members of the Morrinsville School Committee are faced with the prospect of having to pay, personally, the sum of £1 6s sd, the amount of an item which has been “tagged.” When the annual balance-sheet was returned from the Audit Office two items were "tagged.” The chairman, Mr. E. M‘Gregor, stated that the first item was for the amount the committee expended in purchasing ingredients with which the girls attending the cooking classes made cakes for afternoon tqa on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Education to open the manual school. The Education Board wrote regretting that tho regulations did not permit it to pay the account (repo.rts the "New Zealand Herald”). The other "tag” was.against an amount of £1 ISs 7d for the purchase of two rugs. The chairman explained that the Education Board provided a couch at each of the two schools on which children who were indisposed could lie down and rest. However, in the winter especially, it had been worse than useless to allow the children to lie down unless there were some covering put over them, as they invariably got a chill. The committee accordingly purchased two rugs, which remained at the schools. However, tho committeo is not to bo called upon to find this amount, for tho Education Board has made a special grant to cover the amount. Window-cleaner Cheered.'

Begowncd students, both male and female, paraded through Christchurch, carrying out .an end of term "rag” that was watched with interest by many in the city on Friday'afternoon (states tho "Press”), Entering the Squaro from Worcester street, the procession, which resembled a huge black serpent, wound its way round the Cathedral, singing and chocring in the lusty manner adopted by students when the Rector calls "ceaso fire" on lectures. In front of Warner’s Hotel, the procession halted, but the singing continued. Tliero was loud cheering as a window cleaner was observed to pause from his labours and lean arms akimpo on the railing of tho second floor lire escape, and display an interest in the proceedings below. Ho smiled in acknowledgement of the cheers. This was the signal for louder and wilder shouts and cheers. Tho window-cleaner then threatened to throw the contents of his bucket over tho shouting throng, at which thoro were shrill cries of alarm from the lady members, and cries of "Hey, steady up there,” from 'the men students. The window-cleaner did not carry out his < threat, and was rewarded with further cheers. "Beers for Dry Men” was then rendered by the students. ,After a verse the procession moved riff, threading its way through the traffic of the square to other parts. History Repeats Itself.

At to-day’s coming of age celebrations in connection with the Wellington Teachers’ Training College, Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P., mentioned that in 1882 the chairman of the Education Board lamented the fact that the lady teachers did not stay in tho service of the board for very long: they were apt to get married as they are now. Tho present Minister of Education, with a softer heart than some, had let a few off to take up more important duties in another sphere. Later on the Minister referred to ' the remark and said that he hoped it would not be said that he was advocating match-making in the college. “Not that I object to it,” he added, “but I do hope that the ladies who are anticipating matrimony will stay for the allotted'three years, although it is a long time to wait, I admit.” What Brake Did.

In a story told to-day to the Training College students, the Minister* of Education referred tb a I boy named Drake who was wont to drop his H’s. As a visit was anticipated from an inspector, the youth was told by his master to be very careful when he spoke. The inspector duly arrived and questioned the class on naval history. After asking what Nelson had done, he said, “What do you know about Drake?” A pause, and then a voice from the back row, “He dropped his H’s, sir.”