NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament,

Tho Labour Party is at present putting up one of the greatest fights, if not the greatest, it has made on the floor of the House of Bepresentatives, in opposition to tho Finance Bill. The measure, which will give the Government power to cut tho salaries of Civil servants and give the Arbitration Court grounds for tho revision of industrial awards, is making extromely slow progress through tho House. After a long second reading debate, and a further debate on an instruction moved by Mr. P. Fraser (Labour, Wellington Central), the Committee stage was reached at 2.35 yesterday morning, and so far there has been no progress past the Short Title. In the early hours of this morning tho members of the Labour Party had nearly exhausted their right to speak on the short title, but an amendment gave them a new lease of life, and they continued in relays to hold the floor until breakfast time. On two or three occasions the dullness of the stonewall was relieved by lively interludes, which are reported elsewhere.

Grecian Anniversary.

To-day, the Sstn March, being the anniversary of the Hellenic Eevolution of Independence from tho Turks, the Greek flag was flown over the office of the Consul, Mr. Frank Dyer.

Coal-mining Outlook.

For somo weeks past, because of the restricted orders for coal, the mines on the West Coast have had to resort to single-shift work, but on Friday tho Grcymouth "Star" reported that orders during the week had shown an increase, and the outlook was more promising. It is expected that, after 31st March, a much greater improvement will bo noticed in the industry, as a result of further orders, particularly from tho Railway Department.

War Memorial.

Tlio formal dedication and final unveiling of Wellington's war memorial ivill not take place on Aiizae Day, as had been hoped, It is considered that the work now being done upon the surroundings will not bo far enough advanced by that date, so it has been decided to hold the ceremony on some subsequent 'Sunday afternoon, when the surroundings will bo in a state to add dignity and lustre to the memorial. The two big panels which are to complete the memorial will be ready for putting into placo in about ton days.

Canada's Sympathy,

Urging rolief action by Canada in connection with the Hawkes Bay earthquake, tho "Calgary Herald" editorially said: "We hear much, and will continue to hear much, about Empire trade preferences. In this time of national distress in another part of tho Umpire, lot us remember the preference of affection. Canada should take immediate steps to go to tho relief of a sister dominion, with whose people we have always maintained tho most cordial .relations. No time should be lost by the Canadian Government, on behalf of tho Canadian people, in offering to do all that lies within our power for our gallant kinsmen on the other side of the world. Here is an opportunity to translate into practical helpfulness that Empire sentiment of which we are proud."

Absentees from Hawkes Bay.

. Lists of Hastings absentees still receiving sustenance (to express the matter in the most; delicate terms) con-tinue-to reach the Mayor from outside towns, and the latest lists are from the South Island (says the "Tribune")- The committeps. responsible for sending the lists write in the most tactful language, between the lines of which there is much to be soad, asking whether the husbands of the women concerned are in work and able to support their wives. The Mayor informs us that in instances where a husband is able to support his absentee wife he will bo charged with the cost of her maintenance. Permits to return have been posted to all the people concerned.

Hawkes Bay Drought,

Hawkes Bay is in a rather strange position at present in that_, while the Napier and Hastings section of the community clcsiro anything but wet weather while they are forced to cook their meals in the open and, in many cases, sleep under canvas, tho farming people are crying out for rain to bring succour to their pastures, says the '' Telegraph.'' In tho town areas the residents have been exceedingly fortunate in having had fine weather for so long a period, as, if rain had come, tho conditions generally would have been rendered very uncomfortable for them, particularly for those who have not been ablo to ro-enter their homes through having no light or cooking apparatus, or through having thoir residences' thrown into disrepair. Tho farming community, however, is suffering great loss on account of the continued dry weather and feed is getting very short. The country generally, and especially in Central Hawkes Bay, is looking terribly burnt up.

Too Rough for Wrestlers.

"The sea floor suffered as well as tho dry land," says the "Los Angeles Times' '' account of tho Hawkes Bay earthquake, "and whon the Bluff Hill leaped into the water, the bottom of Napier Harbour rose, and the steamor anchorage known as the Iron Pot turned upside down and became an island." Letters reeoived from wrestlers in America, who were contemplating coming here professionally, ask, in view of tho fact that 2000 were killed and 400 injured in the earthquake, and the country is still moving (as published there) would it be wise to make their proposed professional trip here?

An Unexpected Answer,

"I did not expect that answer," remarked Mr. Justice Frazer in the Arbitration Court to-day, to a man whose reply to a certain question was hardly calculated to help his case. His Honour commented that it was refreshing to find a witness who was perfectly frank.

\.airoa Business Finns.

Tho Wairoa Chamber, of Commerce has written to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce stating that with few exceptions the business men in Wairoa were in need of assistance owing to losses sustained' through tho earthquake. It was suggested that business men in Wellington might keep in touch with men in similar businesses in Wairoa, and be able at times to render them assistance. The letter was sympathetically received by the Council of the Wellington Chamber last evening. A member said that help of the nature suggested had already been given, and the secretary was instructed to write to Wairoa asking for further particulars. .

Improving tlie Calendar

A conference is to be held at Geneva in October next, by invitation of the League of Nations, for tho purpose of determining whether an improved calendar should be established, and how and when it should be made effective. The agenda of the conference will include the following points:—(a) Fixing movable feasts; (b) simplifying tho Gregorian calendar. In a letter to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the International Fixed Calendar League, of London, states: —"The movement to change the calendar has now reached the point where we can look to the near future for definito action. Perhaps 1931 will go down in history as the year in which it was decided that the calendar given' to the world by Julius Caesar in 46 8.C.. had outlived its usefulness, and that a better system of arranging the days, weeks, and months was adopted by civilised nations."

"Plain English."

Doctors called as witnesses in Court proceedings often introduce into their evidence medical terms which are quite incomprehensible to the layman. In most cases counsel or the Judge asks the witnesses to explain their meaning in everyday phraseologoy. A case in point occurred in the Arbitration Court to-day, when Mr. Justice Frazer was obliged to remonstrate mildly with a doctor who was in tho box. "I am nfraid your language is awful," he remarked smilingly. "I think you had better talk English for a while."

Open Air Type Schools.

That the open-air type of school should be built in Hawkcs Bay to replace those buildings which wore dostroyed by tho earthquake was the opinion which "was expressed by the Eev. F. L. Frost at a meeting of the Hawkos Bay Education Board, says tho "Hawkes Bay Herald." Mr. Frost explained tho method which was adopted in Canterbury with some of the schools. From tie safety point of view, he said, there'was no argument against such schools, whilst they also made it possible to have increased efficiency on the part of the teachers, who were enabled to have more control over the children. The cost of erection was only £350, and on account of the standardised type, there would be a considerable saving in architects' fees. The board, said the chairman, Mr. G. A. Maddison, had previously expressed itself as being in favour of tho open-air type of school, but their establishment had not been agreed to by the Department on account of the extra cost entailed, this iimoimtiug to £S0 per room. Snne of the principles of this typo had beou incorporated in several of the schools in the district, and ho thought it would bo possible when new buildings were being constructed Ihat the mihb thino- lnipht also be done.

Profits and Bad Debts.

"Our profits are all going in bad debts," declared an employer in an Arbitration Court dispute yesterday afternoon. Mr. A. L. Monteith: "Would you call them profits?" "Well, supposed profits," amended the witness, amid laughter.

Welcome Rain in Taranaki.

Heavy rain in most parts of Taranaki early this week did a great deal of good in refreshing pastures that had received a'considerable setback through tho recent drought. Both the Taranaki Power Board and tho New Plymouth Borough Council wero becoming very exercised over tho problem of maintaining the power supply. The power board was compelled to cut off all power supply between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and restrictions would soon have been necessary in New Plymouth had the drought continued, says an exchange.

Dominion's Youngest Volcano.

After spending three days exploring the eastern slopes of Mount Egmont, Mr. W. K. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, is more than ever convinced that Mount Egmont is the youngest volcano of any magnitude in New Zealand. "I have found a good deal of supporting evidence," he told a "Daily News" reporter. "The situation of the Maori oven was 'in itself conclusive enough, but all over the mountain are to be seen indications of a big eruption dating not much earlier than 500 years ago." In the course of his investigations Mr. Oliver encountered a fino totara tree measuring 16 feet in circumference, standing at about 3500 feet altitude. He climbed the tree, and on the fork 15 feet above the ground found a double handful of scoria which could only have been deposited from an eruption when tho totara was young.

Rare Birds on Mount Egmont.

"It is most interesting to note the presence of tho blue wattled crow on the eastern and western slopes of Mount Egmont," said Mr. W. 11. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, Wellington, to a "Daily News" reporter. This crow, he explained, as distinct from the orange wattled or South Island crow, was on the verge of extinction in New Zealand, and it was very satisfactory to find that it had made a home in the densely-wooded valleys and ridges of the mountain. Mr. Oliver mentioned that the presence of wild cats was indicated in the forest, and he expressed the fear that once the rats and mice, the natural food of the cat, became scarce, they might attack the bird life.

Auckland's Marine Drive,

Steady progress ltas been made with the construction of the waterfront road, and there is every indication1 that within the next ton days the'section from Point Resolution to Mission Bay will bo completed (states the "New Zealand Herald")- Although no date has been announced for the opening of this section, it is probablo that it will be available for all traffic soon after its completion. Excellent headway has been made with tho paving of the gap between No. 2 bridge at Orakei and Mission Bay, and this work will be completed to-day, with the exception of the approaches to No. 2 'bridge. The lay-" ing of the hot-mix cushion on the two concrete bridges between Campbell's Point and Hobson Point and on the outfall tanks at Orakoi is a separate contract and, given fine weather, this will be completed within the next ten days. When the separate contract is completed the road to Mission Bay will be an accomplished fact. Sections of .the road, extending from Missiou Bay1 to Kohimarama road, have been widened to the full extent, and work is now proceeding rapidly on the facing of the stone retaining wall. Within a short time this will be ready for paving, and the day is not now far distant when an excellent roadway will be provided as far as Kohimarama.