NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Colossal Task.

The problem is so colossal tliab the setting up of tin-pot boards to deal with it seems "almost as absurd as it is useless," remarked ~ Mr. C. K. "Wilson (Waitomo) at a rural counties conference at Hamilton, when speaking with reference to a proposal to establish boards for he eradication of noxious weeds. Unoccupied native and Crown lands were, he said, the greatest breeding grounds for noxious weeds, and it would be futile to set up boards for their eradication while the Government remained the ' biggest offender. The problem was ono for a national effort, and the best they could then hope for was to keep weeds under control. Nothing was done in the matter. Memoijal Lighting Opposed. "Tho offer of the Auckland Power Board to install equipment for floodlighting the front of tho War Memorial Musouni is generous and inspired by high motives, but wo are convinced that this lighting would be a mistake," says the "Auckland Star." "To give such artificial prominence to a building liikc this is not in keeping with the nature and tradition of art. Architecture and sculpture have their own light and shade, which flood-lighting would largely destroy. They are not meant to be illuminated in this fierce way; they should be allowed to molt into, twilight and darkness, or with their surroundings bo lit up by tho recurring moon. To flood the front of the Museum would bo to deprive its columns and sculptured front of the natural variety that night would bring. Steeped in the ivory beauty, of moonlight, the momorial is much more lovely than it would be under a flood of artificial light. Then there is the consideration, which wo make with all 'respect to the Power Board's motives, that such use of electric light savours of advertisement, and sweet and necessary as are the uses of advertisement, they are out of place at a war momorial. We do not, of course, mean advertisement of the board and it;s admirably conducted business, but of the community's tribute to the dead. 'Eemoniber'ing these dead, let the living be humble.' No, lot tho Museum Council thank,tho board for. its offer, but declino it, and leavo the War Memorial to be folded, as man himself is, in the soft wings of night." A New Zealand "Go-getter."" "Biding round tho world on-tho keys of a typewriter—that's what Al. Sleeman, New Zealand newspaper-man and adventurer, has been doing for the last four years, and he's extracted more thrills from tho enterprise than Edgar Wallaco could cram into 400 pages" (says the "ToTonto Star"), in describing the adventures of Mr. Allan Sleeman, formerly of the "Christehurch Star," and at- one time a student of journalism at Canterbury College. "iHe lias chronicled the daily doings of royalty in New Zealand, and ho has plumbed the depths.of an iniquitous underworld in Sydney, New South Wales; he has chased stories north of 53 in Alberta, and covered student riots in tho United States —he has looked for thrills and found them. This young New Zealand go-getter has worked his way across the North American continent, and leaves shortly for Mexico and the South American republics in quest of further adventure." Mr. -Sleeman got his introduction to American methods following a telegram from the news editor of the "Toronto Star":. "Hospital blast at Cleveland, Ohio—take 'planewire 7000 words —eighty dead." It was the biggest disaster in America since the Mississippi floods. "Sleeman was in Cleveland well ahead of any other Canadian newspaper-men, and stole a march on skilled American pressmen when he broke through the polico lines to get into the emergency hospitals, where the victims were accommodated. His story was read from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic," . The Motor Trade. "In,the next few years Britain will get a good. deal of tho motor-car trade," declared Mr. L. A..Paish, British Trade Commissioner, at tho reception in his honour in Ohristchurch on Tuesday (reports the "Christehurch Times"). "We are not worried about it in the least, though it will'bo a slow process." Mr. Paish's remarks- were received with applause by the representative gathering of business and commercial men. At an earlier stage of the proceedings the , Mayor (the Rev. J, K. Archer) had stated that the largo number of motor-cars which were bought from countries outsido of thn Empire was a glaring example of.' l,iel< of Empire trade unity. If Britain could supply tho typo of car needed in New Zealand, there was no reason why ,she should not capture tho market. Mr. 11. S. E. Turner, vice-president of thn Chambor of Commerce, declared that many firms in New Zealand which wore buying American cars" could not help it. If Britain would give this country what; it wanted, there would be much moro trade in that direction. Mr. Turner referred also.to a possible development of British cinema trade with Now Zealand. '

Decidedly Effective. A rather unusual, but none the less effective, method of stopping si' price war is said to have been adopted by an Oaiuaru retailer. Two firms were competing in a similar lino of goods, tho price of which came so low at one sliop that the competitor went along and ordered the bulk of the stock and resold it at tho price of his own goods. Lost Overboard. When it is remembered that thousands of tons of cargo arc loaded of discharged at the Auckland wharves every week, it is perhaps not surprising that some cargo falls into tho harbour during the course of a year (states an exchinge). Periodically the Harbour Board makes a search for obstructions caused by articles that have fallen into tho water while being loaded or unloaded, and x where they are noted a diver is sent down to investigate. Last week a diver recovered from the harbour bed on the eastern sido of the Central Wharf a telegraph pole, one bundle of half-inch pipes, 12 feot in length, a long four-inch pipe, two 12-' foot bars of steel, a 12-foot length of iron, threo hardwood sleepers, and due length of hardwood ten inches in width and throe inches thick.