NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 42, 17 August 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament.

The second of tho daylight sittings of this session was held yesterday, and much ground was traversed in tho course of the day, taxation, railway, and motoring questions being the chief subjects discussed. Six speeches were completed, and the seventh, that of Mr. R. W. HawKe (United member for Kaiapoi), was interrupted by the adjournment at 5.30 p.m. The debate will be resumed on Tuesday.

South Island Highways.Board,

A letter from the executive of the New Zealand Counties' Association came before the Hutt County Council at its meeting yesterday afternoon, expressing tho opinion that it was neither necessary nor desirable that a South Island Main Highways Board should bo established.' The support of the council to that opinion was sought, but after a brief discussion tho letter was held over pending further inquiries.

Rabbits in Boroughs.

"We are already in trouble about our dogs, without introducing rabbits into tho borough," said tho Mayor of Devonport, Mr. E. Eldridge, at a mooting of tho Borough Council, when the borough sanitary inspector stated he had received a request from the Department of Agriculture to obtain an opinion from the council on the keeping of Chinchilla and Angora rabbits in Devonport (states, the "New Zealand Herald"). The subject provoked considerable discussion, mostly in humorous vein, and on the Mayor remarking that the keeping 'of rabbits on a commercial scale would not be in tho best interests of tho borough, Mr. W. Camp, boll interjected: "You will not lot us keop cam-tries soon." Tho inspoctor was authorised to obtain all information regarding tho keeping of commercial breeds of rabbits in the borough and inform the Department of Agriculture.

Is it Unreasonable?

A decision to support tho Wellington Automobile Clnb in its protest' against tho Wellington City bylaw requiring motor vehicles to boar tho namo and address of tho ownors, was recorded at the meeting of tho council of tho Auck land Automobile Association (states tho "New Zealand Herald"). Tho Wellington Club wrote pointing out the trouble which tho bylaw would involve, and drew attention to the harassing effect on visitors to the city. "It is unreasonable, and it is merely a duplication of tho registration system," said tho chairman, Mr. A. Grayson. "If the Minister of Transport does not veto this wo might suggest that a test caso bo taken on tho ground that the bylaw is unreasonable. Local body" officials must know that tho motorists to-day aro such a largo body that they will not quietly submit to irritating legislation."

Access to Pukerua Bay.

At yestorday'a meeting of tho Hutt County Council a letter was recoivod asking why the porter at Pukerua. Bay would not permit motorists to travel beyond the railway when making for the. bay, and inquiring also when the portion of the road on the Plimmorton side would bo fit for vehicular traffic. It was decided to reply that permission to go beyond the railway line would be granted on application being made to the signalman, and also that the portion of the road referred to in tho second question was in a satisfactory condition for traffic.

Names In Cars,

Mombers of the wholesale motor and cycle trade organisation receutly^met to consider various points in regard to the parking of cars in the city. Mr. H. L. Bogers thought that the advantages of a card on. the-steering column or some accessible pla«e, as suggested by the City Council, would be found to outweigh any disadvantages. Under the old system, it was difficult for a traffic inspector to ascertain the name and address of a vehicle owner. As a rule, said Mr. Kogers, car-owners did not go out of -their way to assist the authorities, and the proposal might mitigate against the thieving of cars. Mr. H. Moss said that if the proposal wore made general throughout the Dominion, and not a local- one, it would only be a. matter, of time when the name and addross of the owner would have to go on tho number-plate. If it was a local schomo only, outside cars woulc make it impossible to work it Mr. Eogers remarked that tho authorities had managed to overcome the difficulty in some measure, but were rightly preparing for the future. In a couplo of years the position, if not remedied, would be chaotic. Traffic inspectors naturally hesitated to shift a car, but would not be so likely to hesitate with knowledge of the owner's name. Tho new president, Mr. D. F. Bauchop, is to take up the question with the Trafl fie Department and the chairman of tho Bylaws Committee, Councillor M. F. Luclcio, and is to report to an exeeujtive .meeting. . . „. . „ .

Tae Wind and the Trams.

Gusts of wind from side streets struck tramcars forcibly on the Miramar Hats this_ morning. Needless to say all the blinds were down on the windward side, but this • did not altogether save passengers from the fury of the elements, as more than once the weight of the gale forced the 6turdy iron battens in the blinds from their slots, and the blinds bellied into the cars, hats being snatched just in time. One passenger sustained a-buffet of no mean order-from one of the battens, and shows a visible abrasion on the temple.

Disturbing the Hens,

The unfortunate fact that fowls cannot distinguish between.a harrier hawk and an aeroplane has led to complica.tions in the Henderson district; says the "Auckland Star." It is said by the poultry people that the appearance of aeroplanes at low altitudes causes much nervous apprehension amonsjst hens, and "false moulting" has become quite a usual thing. A lady, who possesses a fine run of about eight hundred birds, was most irate when explaining the extent to which her fowls and thos of other breeders in the district have been put off laying owing to the unnecessarily low altitude at which planes have been travelling in that vicinity. "Already," she said "my returns from eggs have been greatly reduced by this stunting, and, if it continues, I will have to throw up the poultry business. Pedigree fowls are very nervous, and to get the best results they, should not be disturbed Goodness knows what is going to happen if aeroplanes are allowed to ruin our activities." The protest from breeders in the Henderson district is very general.

Value of the Rifle.

_ That the infantryman with his rifle if he knows how to use that weapon properly, is still an important factor in war operations, is1 the opinion of the General Officer Commanding the Now Zealand Military Forces (Major-General K. Young). In his annual report General Young says that tho standard of shooting at the last Army Bine Meeting was somewhat higher than in 1928 At the present time," he says, "when a large proportion of the fire power of mounted rifles. and infantry is provided by machine-guns and other automatic weapons, there is perhaps a tendency to underrate the value of the rifle I would emphasise that it is still the most important individual weapon, and that proficiency, in its- use is essential in developing the confidence of the soldier m his own fighting ability."

Bequests for Beads,

It seems unfortunate that this council, which • has been moderate in its requests, should suffer from the immoderate requests of others," said tho chairman of the Hutt County Council (Mr. D. B. Hoggard) at a meeting of the council yesterday. The remark followed the reading of a circular letter from the Main Highways Board stating that it had been decided to postpone consideration of recommencing new highways, as tho to£al mileage recommended was over 2000, or about 60 per cent, of the mileage of secondary roads. The council decided to write a letter to the Highways Board embodying the sentiment expressed by Mr. Hoggard.