NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Day in Parliament.

Interrupted only by adjournments for meals and one morning's respite on account of other urgent business, the House of Representatives has been sitting continuously since 2.30 p.m. on Monday. During practically the whole of that time a flood of verbal obstruction has been directed by members of the Labour Party against the Finance Bill; in which the Government has incorporated its proposals for reducing the wages of Civil servants by 10 petcent, and giving.authority to the Arbitration Court to review award rates in the light of changed economic conditions. At lunch time to-day the "stonewall" had been in progress for just under fifty sitting hours. Tho debate is still proceeding along exceptionally well-organised blockade lines. The fact that this morning the second clause of the Bill was still before the House, with eighteen important operative clauses still to be considered seriatim, suggests that if tho Labour Party is able to continue its flood of eloquence as it has done so far, it will be able to point to a record "stonewall" as evidence of its resistance of the wage cut. Amendments were moved yesterday and during the night with a view to resisting the reductions on incomes progressively down the scale, and early this morning a motion was introduced which took precedence of others, urging that progress should bo reported. Threatening a Solicitor. An unusual application was made by Mr. J.: A. Scott in tho Petonc Magistrate's Court yesterday, when agreeing to an application for the adjournment of tho case Cullen v. Cullen. Mr. Scott asked Mr. Woodward, S.M., to have J. C. Cullen called before tho Bench, and to admonish him. Mr. Scott stated that ho had, that morning, in the public office of tho Court, been approached by Cullen in an abusive manner, had'been assaulted in a minor manner, and had been told that he would be "fixed" outside. A similar threat had been made to the defendant's wife. Cullen was ordered to appear, and was severely admonished by Mr. Woodward, who instructed'him that Mr. Scott must be treated with proper respect, and that he would be dealt with severely if either of the threats was executed. One Dredge for Reclamation. The general manager of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. J, Marchbanks, reported last evening that as the Thorndon reclamation was now well advanced, the board had no longer need of the services of the dredge Kaione, from Wanganui, and recommended that the- vessel should be slipped, trimmed, and painted, in accordance with the agreement with the Wanganui Board, ready for delivery on 4th April. "Intense and Widespread Sympathy." In a communication which the Gover-nor-General received from General Sir Charles Fcrgusson by the last mail, Sir Charles, in expressing the deep distress which he and Lady Alice Fergusson felt at the news of the lecent earthquake in New Zealand, mentions the intense and widespread sympathy which the disaster aroused throughout Great Britain, and states that among the subscribers to the relief fund were an exceedingly large number of the poorer classes from all parts of the British Isles. Their contributions, though small, involved in many cases considerable sacrifice. His Excellency has heard on all sides of the active interest and practical sympathy displayed by Sir Charles Fergusson, 'Earl. Jellicoe, and other former Governors-General and Governors of New Zealand on behalf of the sufferers from the recent earthquake. Only to be Expected. A paragraph in the "Post" some ten days ago mentioned the appearance near Nelson of two rare visitors, thought to be Australian ibises. As might be expected, they have both been shot by some thoughtless vandal, and one of'the birds has been forwarded by tho Marlboroiigh Acclimatisation Society to the North Canterbury Society for identification. A reply has been received that tho bird is, or was, a glossy ibis (Plegardis falcinellus), a species found in South. Europe, thence southward to India, in China, Africa, the pastern United States, Florida, and Australia. Tho endeavour of such birds to establish themselves in New Zealand will never come to anything as long as idiots with guns are allowed to roam, abroad. Education Board's Marlborough Ward. Mt. ,T. J. Clark gave notice at yesinrflny's meeting of tho Wellington Education Bonrd that he would move at next board meeting: "That this bonrd ask the Department to remove from its jurisdiction that portion of its territory known ns the Marlborough Ward, as in its opinion it can be more economically and effectively controlled from Nelson." Mr. T. Forsyth (chairman) said that the notice of motion could be lodged, but lie would have to take time to consider whether it was

Aero Club's Finances. The New Plymouth Aero Club benefited to tho extent, of £7000 from the Lucky Star art union, which was drawn some months ago. At a recent meeting of the club's committee it was reported that tho air pageant at Now Plymouth had resulted in a profit of £64. After paying all accounts the club has a bank balance of £6205. Prospects Not Promising. The prospects of development in the rugged country at tho back of Preservation Inlet and Chalky Inlet, on tho west coast of tho South Island, wore briefly touched on by Professor J. A. Bartrum, of tho Auckland University College, in an address before the Auckland Botary Club (states the "New Zealand Herald")- ' He stated that while the sounds carried a large amount of timber, this did not appear worth exploiting commercially unless the circumstances of the industry and tho type of timber marketed in Now Zealand changed. There were deposits of coal, but theso also were not worth working, and unless gold could be found in pa3'ablo quantities the possibility of settlement seemed remote. Zane Grey. The capture .of a New Zealand species of mako shark in the waters off the coast of Tahiti is reported by Mr. Zane Grey, who with his party has been spending tho southern summer in the South Sens, with headquarters at Papeete (states tho "New Zealand Herald"). In the course of a letter to a friend in Auckland Mr. Zane Grey says he believes this is the first shark of the species caught beyond the waters of New Zealand. Mr. Zane Grey has his new ocean-going yacht at Papeete, and at the end of the fishing season ho proposes to make an extended cruise across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is his present intention to visit New Zealand next summer, and it is expected the yacht will reach Auckland about the end of November. Mr. Zane Grey's new 46-foot fishing launch, now on the stocks at the yards of Messrs. Collings and Bell, St. Mary's Bay, will be ready togo into commission as soon as the party arrives. How Many Bales to the Ton? During a discussion of the statistics presented at the statutory annual meeting of the Harbour Board last evening, Mr. C. M. Turrell pointed out that the, basis of five bales of wool to the ton used by the board was not in accord with fact. That gave an average weight of 448 pounds per bale, but the actual average was about 350 to 360 pounds, I including eleven pounds for the pack. The chairman, Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, said tliat the Government Statistician had gone into the matter, and had fixed tho basis at five bales to tho ton. The basis was only for the purpose of determining revenue. Tho figure was nearer 6| bales, said Mr. Turrell. "I would prefer the chairman's figures for revenue producing purposes," said Mr. C. J. B. Norwood. That might be so, replied Mr. Turrell, but tho basis was incorrect, and if tho figure was that of the Government Statistician, it jeopardised nil his figures. The average gross weight was round about 360 pounds, not 44.8.