NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1927, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament. Although the business transacted was important, yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives was rather dull, but was very protracted. Contrary to expectations, the' debate on the two Agricultural Education Bills was lengthy, but both measures met with general approval and were passed. The Kent Restriction Continuance Bill, which extends the existing law until Ist August, 1925, was put through all stages, but not before several membersof the Reform Party had voiced their opposition to it, considering that i' was time the Act was allowed to lapse on the ground that it was militating against the building of houses for letting purposes. The Minister of Labour, however, maintained that the Act was still necessary, as it had come unj der his notice that some landlords own--1 ing dilapidated houses in several of the chief centres intended to increase j rents if the legislation went out of I existence. Before the House rose at 2 a.m. an Imprest Supply Bill was passed without discussion. The LegislativeCouncil devoted a four-hour sitting to the second reading of the Samoa Amendment Bill, Price of Milk. The City Milk Committee reported last night that the selling price of milk and cream for the ensuing summer season would be 6d per quart, and that of cream 2s Sd. The milk sales for June averaged 4722 gallons daily, an increase of 405 gallons on those of the same month of 1926. Councillor W. H. Bennett, chairman of the committee, drew attention to the fact that prices had formerly been Sd a quart in the winter and 7d in the summer, but the running costs, overhead charges, and working methods had made the present reduced price possible. Gift to Wellington Hospital. At the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, a letter was read from Mr. P. Isaa.s, The Terrace, offering to present to the hospital m memory of his late wife, a marble statue, with rosewood pedestal, representing "Peace." Mr. W. Appleton remarked that the gift was a very fine piece of statuary, and would be much admired by both inmates and visitors. A resolution was passed thanking Mr! Isaacs for his gift. Shrubs For Australia. When the Corinna was dispatched from New Plymouth for Wellington on Monday afternoon, says the "Taranaki Herald," her cargo included a consignment of 5000 shrubs from a leading nurseryman for transhipment to the Manuka, which sailed for Melbourne yesterday. It is believed that this is the most valuable consignment of shrubs shipped in one order that has ever left the Dominion. Hospital Nurses. Speaking at the meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, Mrs. M'Vicar drew attention to the resignation of a nurse, who was leaving the hospital in order to get midwifery training. In Mrs. M'Vicar's opinion, some scheme should bo evolved by means of which a hospital nurse should be able, during her four years' course, to get midwifery training without having to resign her position in the genoral hospital. Mr. W. Appleton said it would mean disorganising the nursing staff. Ho did not think the board should grant extended leave to a nurse iv order that she might get higher qualifications, and then perhaps not return to the staff, even if there were a vacancy. The chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke) said there was a good deal in what Mrs. M'Vicar had said. Tho primary object of a hospital was, of course, tho most efficient caro of the patients. Tho medical superintendent had pointed out tho difficulty that would arise in providing for an efficient nurse who had been doing the work up to the time that tho nurse on leave was ready to return.

Bush-sick Lands,

The problem of how to deal with bush-sick lands and the plight of settlers thereon occupied the attention of to-day's meeting of the Farmers' Union. Finally, after considerable discussion, tho following motion was passed:— "That where Crown lands havo been sottlod and it is found afterwards not to have been of sufficiently good quality to return a living under the conditions of settlement:, tho .State should undertake such necessary rearrangements and readjustments as will enable the settlers to obtain the necessaries of life without recourso to public charity."

Playground for Kaiwarra.

The City Council has decided to proceed with tho purchase of what is known as tho Kaiwarra Reserve, about 15 acres in area, to provide a park and playing ground for this district. A good part of the' ground is fairly rough, but thoro aro opportunities for the making of a very satisfactory recreation reserve notwithstanding. The Mayor is authorised to negotiate with the owners of wio land as to purchase price.

City Valuer to be Appointed,

Since the retirement of the late Mr. James Ames the City Council has carried on without a City Valuer, the work being done by tho Government Valuation Department by arrangement with tho city. The Department has now, however, advised the council that owing to high pressure of other work it will bo unable to continue under that arrangement. Tho council last evening decided that a City Valuer should be appointed, and proposes to call for applications for the position, which will carry a salary of £800 per annum. Tho sub-committee charged with the preliminary consideration of- applications for tho position of Town Planner reported that it had picked out six names, but required more time in which to interview the applicants and to make further inquiries, before making a recommendation to the council.

Mountaineering on Ski.

On Saturday last, Mr. K. Pratt, of Gore, a visitor to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, with Alf. Brustad, Norwegian guide and ski expert, left the Malto Brun hut at 5 a.m., and climbed Hochstetter Dome, crossed over to tho head of the Murchison Glacier (via Tasrnan Saddle and to the north of Mount Cooper), down which they skied to tho Tasman Glacier, reaching the Hermitage at S p.m. Practically the whole of tho trip was done on ski (says the "Timaru Herald"). Under summer conditions this trp would have taken about two days, with a lot of preparation for extra food and possibly a night spent in th'o Murehison Valley. A feat of this sort has not before been attempted in winter, except the winter ascent of Mount Cook by Mr. B. L. Wigley, with Guides Milne and Murrell, and finally sets all doubts aside as to the possibilities of winter climbs. Mr. Pratt's effort may be the forerunner of many trips from the Hermitage during what has been considered the "off-sea-son." Trips that in the summer would take a lot of preparation and time, .will now bo done much more easily and comfortably in tho winter. The distance was about 45 miles, and fifteen hours were occupied in completing the journey.

Wireless on Ships. An Order-in-Couneil amending the regulations as to ships being provia«d with wireless telegraph installations is published in "The Gazette." The regulations issued in June, 1924, applied to ships which (a) are of 1600 tons gross registered tonnage or upwards; or (b) carry more than 12 passengers; or (c) carry more than 25 persons. Paragraph (c) has now been deleted and the following substituted: " (c) carry) more than 19 persons." j Railway Kevenue. The railway revenue for the fourweekly period ended 25th June was as follows (the revenue for the same period last year being shown in parentheses): —North Island lines, £297 779 (£318,105); South Island lines, £215,073 (£219,137). Licensing Legislation. In replying to a question by Mr.'j. Mason (Napier), in the House of Representatives) while Mr. P. I'raser (Wellington Central) was discussing the Preferential Voting Bill, Mr. Fraser said that the democratic method of enabling the people to decide a question such as licensing was a matter that should be taken up by the Government. Doctors and Speed Limits. "It seems to me that some little latitude should be extended to medical men; they have a lot of ground to cover in a day," said Mr. G. Campbell in the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, when he appeared for Dr. David Whyte and pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit of 15 miles an hour at Eastbourne recently. "I'm afraid I can't look at it that way," said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in imposing a fine of £1 and costs. Comforts for the Sick. The Working Men's Club, to celebrate its jubilee, has made a number of donations to the charitable and philanthropic institutions of the city. Among thetgifts is one of £25 for the' Ewart Hospital patients' fund. In acknowledging the gift at a meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, Mr. W. Appleton said it was pleasing to see people taking an interest in the hospital and its inmates. It was a good sign, and the thoughtful act of the committee of the Working Men's Club would no doubt be followed by other local bodies and private citizens.

In Search of Work,

A young man who had been working on a farm at Eltham was told by his employer that he had no more work for him at present, but if matters improved later on he would be very pleased to re-engage him. The young man decided to leave for Australia, having sufficient money iv hand to pay his passage there and keep him for a few weeks until be obtained a job (says the Taranaki "Herald"). He decided, however, to walk to Wellington and apply at various farm houses along the road for work. All he obtained was one day's work between Eltham and Wanganui. He caught the express at Wanganui, stating that ho had tired of wearing out his boots on a fruitless task.

Where Will They Go?

What is going to become of all those young men who succeed in obtaining degrees in agriculture at the two agricultural colleges which are to be established? This question was raised by several speakers in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) said that some scheme should be evolved for absorbing all the graduates who would be turned out. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) urged that the country should not be allowed to lose young men of high scientific attainments. Tho Minister of Education (the Hon. E. A. Wright) considered that there wa3 no need for apprehension on the point, as the colleges would not turn out graduates "like sausages from a sausage machine." (Laughter.) The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. J. Hawken) said he did not consider that the Government should have to guarantee employment for all those who took the graduate course in agriculture. Those who elected to become lawyers or who took up other professions received no such guarantee; they had to work out their own salvation.

•Legal Fraternity.

Whether it is that the presence of two legal gentlemen at the City Council table set a fashion, pardonablo in their exalted moments ol! forensic eloquence, of alluding to "my friend," or whether it is tho irresistible affinity which steals insensibly and ineffably over any gathering of voluble gentlemen discussing matters for tho common good, cannot now bo determined, but it is none tho less a fact that most members of the comparatively new City Council havo fallen into the habit of addressing each other as "My friend, Councillor ." The practico is in any case harmless, becauso it does not signify complete agreement with any set of views

Double Pay on Relief Works

"Was it a fact, asked Councillor Seinplo at last night's meeting of the City Council, that a retired Civil servant, m receipt of a superannuation allowance, was engaged on one of tho conncil's unemployment relief works? The Mayor replied that an ex-Government mspoctor had been placed at Western Park in charge of the men, and was doing very good work. Surely, said Councillor Soniple, it was not necessary to employ a man, already receiving £4 per week, when hundreds of men were out of work. It was essential that there should bo good men in charge replied the Mayor. Councillor H D Bennett agreed with that view. "I refuse to believe that it is not possible to find a good man without going to one who is already getting £4 per week. What on earth would happen if this man was to drop dead?" "Xn that case," said tho Mayor, "we would havo to got another inspector." • Councillor Sernple said that he was not convinced.

Maori Names,

During a discussion on street names last night, Councillor H. D. Bennett entered an emphatic protest against the perpetuation of "Tinakori" and "Kaiwarra." "Tinakori" was neither Maori nor English. Its origin was European. A party once went dinnerless there, and, Maorising "dinner" into tma and mongrelising the Maori word "kore" (without) into "kori " evolved a name which had no justification in either tongue. The original name of Kaiwarra was "Kaiwharawhara " If it had to be retained in its shortened form, he suggested "Kaiwharra." Another point he made in connection with "Ngahauranga" was that there should bo no "h" in it. It meant "the landing place," as it was where the canoes used to pull up. After a long discussion it was decided to call "Golder's Hill" "Ecclesbourne Hill," one of tho reasons advanced being the confusion between "Golder's Hill" and "Goldie's Brae."

Medical Officer Wanted.

The refusal of tlie Department of Health to establish a medical officer of health in the Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay districts evidently has not been accepted as final by the hospital boards in tho districts concerned (says the "Poverty Bay Herald"), for at a recent meeting of the Cook Hospital Board a letter was received from tho Hawkes Bay Board stating tliat that board had again written to tho Department regarding tho urgency of sta tioning an officer in the district. The chairman, Mr. W. G. Sherratt, said that he would be visiting Wellington in Auc ust, and wouia then urge the Minister to station an officer in the district It was agreed'to reply to the Hawkes *Bay Board to that effect. ■ . - - J