NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 83, 4 October 1929, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament. *

Members of tho House of Representatives were in dobating mood yesterday, and despite the fact that they had to be back in their seats by 10 o'clock this morning, they insisted on talking until 3.30 a.m. about the Government's land settlement scheme. All the afternoon was spent in expressing opinions, favourable and otherwise, about the Meat' Board, Mr. Lysnar having introduced a Bill to remove tho commercial interests from the board, and to try to make the board more effective, if that could be done, in tho interests of the farmers. The Bill is unlikely to advance beyond ,the stage of having been introduced and read a first time. From 7.30 p.m. until half-past 3 this morning the Land Laws Amendment Bill was under discussion on the second reading. This measure . contains the machinery for the inauguration of the Government's big land settlcnviit scheme, and while most membeiV spoke favourably of the proposals, others were inclined to becritical on the ground that they did not go far enough. A protest was made by the Leader of the Opposition at the second reading being forced through at tho one sitting on the ground that full opportunity was not afforded all members to speak. Mr. Coates was mildly critical of the Bill, but wished the Minister of Lands good luck with it. The Leader of the Labour Party also complained of the Government's action in claiming urgency for the Bill and indicated that in future he would not bs a party to such, procedure unless he felt sure that the circumstances warranted it.

Friends of the Fanners,

"This will be the last Land Bill the United Government will brin" down," prophesied Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Beform, Biccarton), when speaking on the Land Laws Amendment Bill in" the House of Eepresentatives this morning He said that the farmers would be interested when they read of the Government's proposals to'find the changed attitude of the Government towards the man on the land. Members of the Government were posing as the farmers' friends. (United members- "So we are!") Mr. Kyle said that that was not the case. As a result of the taxation proposals the attitude of the farmers to the Government had changed a very great deal.

Brooklyn's Enterprise,

Eeference was made at a meeting of residents of Brooklyn last night to the district's contributions to various schemes, and one speaker particularly mentioned the carillon. "Brooklyn people have been the leaders in suburban movements," he said. "In respect to the carillon we were the first to start off a district bell, the money (£95) being raised in three weeks. We were the first in with our money, but owing- to preference being given the next-of-kin of soldiers lulled wo had to forego some of our right, and £37 was handed over for the campanile." Other instances of prompt responses bjr Brooklyn wero quoted.

Traffic Control Devices.

No further action is to be taken by the City Council in the meantime with regard to the installation of automatic traffic signals at street intersections until arrangements have been made for the erection of an automatic traffic signal afc the junction of Willis street with Lambton quay. The car park at Gi-uznee street is to be reduced by approximately 300 ft in order that vehicles may be clear of entrances to business premises. No action is to be taken regarding the formation of a parkingplace for motor-cars at the Crescent, Eoseneath. .

Slaying the Dragon,

"Without wishing, to be unkind or to hurt anyone's feelings, I do hope that the minister of Lands vrill be big enough to administer this Bill in an effective manner,'' said Mr. W E Barnard (Labour, Napier) in the House of Eepresentatives this morning, when speaking on the second reading 'of the Land Laws. Amendment Bill Mr Barnard likened the Bill to a sharpedged sword, and the problem of land settlement he described as a dragon. He hoped that the Minister would be able to wield the sword effectively and thus slay the dragon. If the Minister could be as successful as Saint George it would be to-the advantage of New Zealand. Everything would depend upon the administration of the Bill.

A Spectacular Event.

The Wellington airport at Eongotai is to be opened on 16th November. When the report of the Airport Committee was being discussed by the City Council last evening, councillors wanted to know the meaning of the following clause: "That the Defence Department bo permitted to demolish the-old concrete dwelling at the airport on the day of the pageant." The Mayor (Mr G. A. Troup) explained that the building had to be demolished, and if the Defence Department would blow it up. then why not let them do if? All fittings had been removed from the building, and it was now only a shell. The demolition should make a spectacular event on the day of the pageant.

More Public Tennis Courts,

The City Council last evening agreed to a recommendation from the Deserves Committee that an application for the lease of an area at Duncan terrace for the purpose of forming tennis courts should be approved for a period of ten years free of rental, provided a public tennis club is formed and courts provided, and that at the end of ten years the courts and all improvements should become the property of the council.

Jewish New Year.

To-morrow is the first day of the month Tisri in the Jewish calendar, the beginning of the Jewish New Year (EoshHashanah). As the Jews date their years from time of the Creation, computed to be 3760 years before the commencement of the Christian era, the coming year will be 5690. The construction of the Jewish calendar is somewhat complicated and involves the consideration of many details. According to whether the year is ordinary or embolismic, the number of days in the year may vary from 354 to 384, and the beginning of the year may fall at any time between sth September and sth October.

On Sundays, Too.

That Parliament should sit for 365-} days in the year was the contention advanced by Mr. F. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino) in the House of Eepresentatives last night. "Oh,, would you sit on Sunday?" inquired a tremulous voice from the Eeform benches. '.'You work on Sundays now," replied Mr. Langstone. "Many people do worse things on Sundays than on any other aay in the week."

Earthauakes at Samoa,

Approximately 300 earth-movements were recorded at the Observatory :at Apia, Samoa, in 1928, according to the annual report of tho Director, Mr. A Thomson. Almost two hundred occurred within 50 miles of Apia. Despite the tremendous volcanic activity on Savaii, from 1004-11 no earthquake shocks of oven tho slightest intensity originated thero during the year A considerable! number, of shocks had epicentres between Niue Island and Vavau. Several subterranean volcanic eruptions zn September and October are belioved to have been accompanied by earthquakes of moderate intensity Enormous quantities of pumice-stone were sot adrift at this time.. Ships reported great floating patches from near the Equator as far as 20 dee. S latitude, and from 175 deg. W. to 175 dog, E longitude.

Oil From Wheat Germ.

Looking smelling, and tasting like ordinary lubricating oU, three gallons ft Oltl ™tOd from wheat «ro stored at the Wheat Besearch Institute's « ,° rf.r7. ?, Montreal street (states tho "Christchurch Times") It is intended that over twenty gallons shall bo extracted. Tho oil will bo used by the Veterinary Division of the Department of Agriculture in its antisterility experiments on farm animals, which will bo commenced in about six weeks' tamo. The oil is strong in certain vitamins that ordinary pasture grasses may lack. The 'three "gallons of oil have been extracted from 500 pounds of wheat germ, which itself constitutes only about ono per cent, of the gram of wheat. The germ is extracted in the process of milling, and m the ordinary course }s fed to- animals as offal. Much plant has been necessary for the extraction of tho oil and though such extractions have been made in other countries it is believed that the work in Christchurcb is on a scale never beforo attempted in the world. The extraction is being earned out under tho guidance of Mr. H -E. Wost, tho Institute's chemist. It is understood that the anti-sterility experiments on farm animals will be among the first of their kind in the world. Many experiments with wheat oil have been carried out in the United btates, but experts have in the main confined their experiments to rats and mice.

Ways of the Scotch,

The Scotch are said to be a conservative people, but where education and health aie concerned they are the most liberal and progressive in the British Empire," said Dr. Thacker at Chnstchurch on Tuesday (states the " Christchurch Times"). H e suggested that a health league should be promoted in the community, but it was pointed out by Mr. A. A. M'Lachlan that the Open Air Schools League was doing this work. During the discussion, Dr. Thacker quoted the following extract from the "British Medical Journal: "The Scottish Health League is an amalgamation of a large number of varied interests in health education. Its president is the Duchess of Atholl and Sir Robert Philip is one of its vicepresidents; the council includes a number of medical practitioners and dental surgeons, and there is an advisory council of medical officers of health. The aim of the league is to disseminate knowledge among the in regard to the most • efficient methods for the maintenance of health and the prevention of illness. It does not seek to relieve local authorities of their responsibilities, but to establish a link between the public and the responsible officers of the authorities, so that the existing powers may be used to the utmost advantage. To attain this object branches of the- league are being formed throughout Scotland. Posters, leaflets, health books, lantern slides, films, and lecture outlines are being distributed from the headquarters of the league, and lectures on health education matters are sent out on reqnest." The discussion, was not parsued farther.

Farming in King Country.

The possibilities of farming in the King Country were referred to by the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir Apn-ana Ngata) in the House of -Representatives this morning. The time had come, he saidj for reorganising farming in the King Country, where large areas of land had gone back. He hoped the Minister of Lands would have time in the recess to study the conditions in the King Country. He had been told that there were quite decent areas there that might be acquired and cut up into farms.

Liability For Busn Fires.

The desirability of an amendment of the Land Laws Act in respect to the liability of settlers in the matter of bush fires was urged on the Minister of Lands in the House of Bepresentatives this morning by Mr. X S Williams (Bay of Plenty). Mr. Williams said that if a settler lit a fire for bush-clearing the liability was on him for any damage that might be done to surrounding properties. He had known of instances where settlers had lit fires which had affected other properties, and had thereby actually improved them. To place the liability on the settler who was clearing was rather a direct step, and he felt that the law had been interpreted too severely in New Zealand. It sometimes happened that a man was clearing land behind other bush property, and he had to burn with the wind; it was difficult for him to avoid affecting the surrounding bush. Mr. Williams said he thought the New Zealand Judges had followed too closely the English law, rather than study the laws in other parts of the British Empire in the matter. He asked the Minister if he thought the judgments that had been given were fair and reasonable, and whether the Canadian law was not better procedure, and suggested that he should frame a clause to more adequately cover the point in the Dominion. The Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir A. T. Ngata) said the question of liability for starting bush fires was one the Lands Department shoiiia look into. The attempt was not to fix responsibility on to the Crown, but to tajce it off the man who lit a fire that might be a danger to his neighbours.