NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament. Verbal battering-rams were brought into action by the Labour Party at yesterday's sitting of the House/of Representatives, in resistance to the Government's wage cut proposals, put forward in the Finance Bil}. There is every appearance that the Government will be besieged with organised talk for at least three or four days, if the tactics instituted last night are steadily maintained. At 3 p.m. yesterday the long debate opened on a motion which enabled all the Labour members (and others who so wished) to speak for half an hour each before the Bill was committed. Tho motion invited the House to give an instruction for definite provision to be made in the Bill for a decrease in the cost of living proportionate to the wage reduction, and Mr. Speaker's ruling that speakers must limit1 themselves to the scope of the motion imposed difficult restrictions. All phases of the cost of of living wore traversed, and the debate on Mr. Fraser's motion was kept going—somewhat dully—until 2.35 a.m., when the motion was defeated by 46 votes to 22. The House then went into Committee on "the Bill, and the short title was still under 'discussion when the House adjourned at 7 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day. Hundreds of Tramps. The large number, of "tramps" on the roads between Christchurch and Palmerslon South was commented on by a motorist who had just returned after a southern visit (saj's tho "Christchurch Times"). He said that men were to be seen trudging, along or-lying on the roadside asleep. "Wo passed hundreds," the motorist said, "and few of them looked like 'regulars.' They wore mostly men genuinely up against it, moving on from place to place in search of harvesting work." It was stated that the men were being well looked after by the farmers, and were seldom rofused food to carry them along their way. They had come from all over New Zealand. Love's Labour Lost. A somewhat farcical proceeding occupied a considerable amount of time at a meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council last night. A deputation of residonts adjoining a right of way between Puriri street and Maire avenue waited on. the council to proteat against the erection of an Electric Power Board's sub-station in the right-of-way. The speakers made their objections on several grounds and Mr. E. I<\ Hollands, manager of the Power Board, replied at "length. At this stage tho Borough Engineer, Mr. A. G. Bush, pointed-out that tho proposed site was not in that right-of-way but between Hinau street and Totara crescent. < The deputation apologised and went away well pleased that the protest was not justified. Not a Heavy Burden. The Board of Governors of (he Wellington Technical College last evening received a letter from the Parents' Association'of the Wellington East Girls' College, suggesting that a deputation should ask tho Tramways Committee of the City Council to allow the scholars t- use their tramway concession tickets on Saturday mornings. The letter pointed out that many pupils attended classes, or had private tuition on Saturday mornings, and their parents suffered a hardship if the concession tickets could not bo used. Tn reply to a member of the board, tho principal, Mr. Howell, said that, no mor& than twelve of tho college's pupils were affected, and it was consequently decided to take no action. Panic Worse than Tire. "There is. little or no danger nowadays from film fires," said Mr. W*. J. Mountjoy in the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon, during the hearing of the theatre firemen's dispute. "The greatest danger is in regard to panic. There have been cases where firemen in their conspicuous uniforms have rushed about and caused something of a panic when there has been no need for alarm." Adding to Eeyenuc. Criticism has been made of the Post and Telegraph-Department's intention to jssuo a new set of pictorial postage stamps on the grounds that it would be waste of money. But, as a matter of fact, extra revenue can be expected owing to. the large sale to dealers abroad which always takes place when a new postal issue has artistic merit or special interest. Large firms obtain new stamps to tho value of several thousands of pounds at one lime. This money represents practically clear profit to the Dominion, as no postal service is given in exchange.- Hence artistry in stamp-making has a cash value to the Government, so much so that there are some countries which make new issues annually simply to augment revenue. This is notably the case with some South American countries. Well-conducted Pupils. i A paragraph in the monthly report of the Director of the Wellington Technical College (Mr; W. H. Howell), submitted to a meeting of the Board of Governors of the college last evening, gave rise to an exchange of compliments between the board and the representatives of the Wellington Education Board, Messrs. G-. Stewart and T. Forsyth, Mr. Howell stated in his report that now the school had removed from the old buildings (next to the Central Library) he would liko to express his appreciation of the courtesy and consideration which had always been received from the Education Board and its officers. For 25 years the board had put up with the inconvenience of working b"clow rooms containing largo classes of young pupils, and had carried on with kindly tolerance. Mr. G. Stewart, formerly secretary of the Education Board, spoke very highly of the conduct of tho pupils in the building, and said that it was a matter upon which they, as well ns their teachers, might be congratulated. Providing Play Areas. (A suggestion that the Board of Governors of the Wellington Technical College should follow the exataple of the Christchurch board, which was proposing to take advantage of the unemployment relief scheme to get work done on the college properties, was made at last night's meeting of: the board by the Director of the college (Mr. W. H. Howell). Mr. Howell also asked the board to consider whether a suggestion might be made to the City Council to proceed with the completion of Prince of Wales Park, No. 2, at the Head of Eolleston street) under the same scheme. While the levelling of sandhills at Lyall Bay was probably an easier job, Mr. Howell considered that Princo of Wales Park would prove of greater value owing to its proximity to the city. It would be a great help to the college in the carrying on of outdoor gamea, which at present suffered from lack of room. Plans for a New Napier. Further meetings of the committee which has been formed to consider a new layout for Napier have been held,! and nineteen definite suggestions have been produced, each embodying a distinct improvement on the present reticulation of Btreets, particularly in the devastated business area, says the "Daily Telegraph." "I am very much in favour of the proposal for moving the whole city seaward several yards," said the Commissioner, Mr. J. I S. Barton, S.M. "If wo could secure a now block of property which the city did not own previously it should contribute materially to recouping, the losses which the council lias suffered,'' j

A Desimble Job. DuriDg a discussion on labour costs in the House of Representatives last night, Mr: W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau) referred to tho prico of boots. "Who does the tanning?'.' interjected Mr. F. Waite (Reform, Clutha). "I wish I could do some tanning," repjlied Mr. Jordan, amidst laughter. < Patea Without Power. Ono of tho larger bearings of the Diesel plant at tho Patea power house burnt out on Friday morning and tihia necessitated changing over to the waior power. Early in the afternoon, however, the water supply ran out, and the town was without electric power. The pumps supplying the water tower ceased to function, and in a short time the town was without water. f Later the Diesel plant, was re-started and normal activities wero resumed. The Borough Engineer, Mr. J. 0. Cunningham, and his staff wore continuously engaged for twelve hours in effecting repairs. Heavy Traffic Fees. " The Finance Committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council reported last evening that the Mayor, Councillor Mitchell, and the Town Clerk, had attended a conference of some representatives of local bodies in regard to heavy, traffic fees, when it was decided to taJto no further action in regard to testing the right of a Magistrate to hear the dispute. The Mayor, Sir A. F. Roberts, reported that a conference of all local bodies was to bo held on Wednesday, and it was anticipated that an agreement would be arrived at to enable, the Wellington City Council to pay out the funds in hand. The Mayor also stated that it was hoped to arrange for a Magisterial hearing of the dispute at an early date. Randwick Road Ramp. Councillor Patrick, at last evening's meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, took strong exception to the statement made by the Hon. W. B. Taverner .that the council was responsible for the bad state of the Randwick road ramp. and also protested against the council being saddled with the cost of widening the ramps. The narrow ramps were a "beautiful legacy" left to the council by the Government. vlt was absurd to say the ramps were wide enough at the present time, a 20 foot road was quite insufficient. ( It would cost many thousands to widen them, and the council should call on tho Government to bear the cost. The Mayor, Sir A. F. Roberts, said the council had never been' consulted about, the building of the ramps, nor were plans'submitted to the council. Hp was about to take the matter up with the Minister along, with Mr. W. Nash, M.P. The trouble was largely caused by the Government bus traffic, and if the Government contemplated such traffic the ramps should havo been made wide enough. Shooting Big Oamo. With a fine collection of big game heads and some magnificent zebra, leopard, and antelope skins, Mr. A. E. Sharman, of Christchurch, returned re,cently after being abroad for twelvo months on a trip that included shooting in East Africa on a ranch of roughly ■ 300,000 acres (states tho "Christchurch Times"). A room at his, home is completely filled with finespecimens: of heads, including those of African buffalos, zebras, roan antelopes, duikers, warthogs, steinboks, and klepsprings. Native assegais and spears were also brought% back as trophies. The trip was made through tho Krugcr National Park Reserve, where wild animals, including lions, were to .bo seen in their natural haunts. The- party then went on to eight days' game shooting on the ranch of' Captain David Forbes, manager of tho Sivazi Coal Mines, Ltd., in 'Swaziland. Captain Forbes had made elaborate arrangements for the shoot, and on tho 300,000 acres a lino piece of sport was secured. Driving over the ranch in the evening was a wonderful sight, said Mr. Sharman, for impala, wildbeestc, and other animals were continually crossing the tracks. Tho , ranch carried thousands of wildbeeste, ' zebras, kuku, impala, road antelopes, duikors, warthogs, water buck, leopards, ■ lions, and black mamba snakes. The party was well provided with natives and very'efficient native cooks, while ' tho transport included horses, mules, I donkeys, wagons, and motor trucks.