NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Day in Parliament. Yesterday's sitting of tho House of Representatives, which again extended right around the clock in pursuance of tho Labour blockade of tlio wage-reduc-tion proposals, was the dullest, since tho "stonewall" commenced last Monday afternoon. When breakfast-time arrived this morning Clause 2 of the ]?inaneo Bill was still under discussion, and tho sixth division had taken place in the effort of the Labour Party to resist tho application of the Civil Service wage cut at various grades down the salary scale. Two divisions took place during the sitting, one at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, when the House, by i 5 votes to 25, declined to give effect to the amendment that wages below the £275 mark should not bo affected, and the other at 2.45 o'clock this morning, when a similar amendment concerning salaries below £250 was vetoed. Tho occasional humorous incidents of the previous day's sitting were much less marked, and the only rml interest was the result of tho actual dividing of the House, for on each occasion Labour gained a few more votes from Reform or Independent members. The support of Messrs. G. C. Black (Independent, Motueka), J. :S. Fletcher (Independent, Grey Lynn), H. M. Rushworth (Country Party, Bay of Islands), J. A. Young (Reform, Hamilton), and B. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs) was enlisted in resisting an encroachment on the £275 salaries, and in the next division Messrs. A. Harris (Reform, Waitcmata), J. T. Hogan (Independent, Rangitikci), 11. S. S. Kyle (Reform, Riceurton), and G. Sykes (Reform, Masterton) also accompanied the Labour members into the lobby. Towards breakfast the "stonowallers" again resorted to the expedient of moving to report progress, the principal reason advanced being the need for getting on with the earthquake legislation. Good Intentions. Commenting on the Unemployment Act,' the annual report of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce says: "This statute was promoted by the Government with a view to dealing with unemployment problems of national scope, difficulties in the labour market having arisen as a result of tlio low prices ruling for the Dominion's principal products, and the consequent reduced national income receivable in Now Zealand. Whilst the best of intentions are behind the Act, business men generally are of the opinion that there are other factors such as the Dominion's Industrial Arbitration legislation which have largely aggravated Uio present unemployment problem, and many maintain that with less Government interference private enterprise can find employment which would ba more satisfactory from the point of mition.il and economic production, these criticisms contesting that no Government can appropriate to itself any profession that it can spend money to better advantage nationally than tho individual can do." Islanders in Need. During its voyage across tho Pacific tlio American steamer Golden Coast, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, supplied sonic much-needed provisions to the inhabitants of I'almorston Island, ;i lonely speck of land lying some difctanco north-west of Ai.tutaki, in the Cook group. It was fo'rtunale for the islanders that the steamer passed in daylight, for Pulmerstou is far too illimportant for vessels to make regular calls there. Natives informed the master of the steamer that the island had boon visited by a very sovcre hurricane in 'February, and that; they were completely out of provisions. For some days, they said, they lad been living on coconuts. They had no thing to do business with, but Captain Svedstrup supplied them with a sack of potatoes, somo flour and tobacco, and a few odds and ends, which, was, about all they could safely take into their canoe. The natives then cast off and j waved good-bye, and the steamer resumed her voyage. Philosophy or- Saving. "Wo have been told in the papors' lately that wo should be spending money now, not saving it," remarked the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) at the annual meeting of tho Boys' Institute last night. That was quite true, he said, but -the unfortimato part vas that people had not got tlio money to spend because they had not saved it when they had got it. The whole philosophy ol: saving"was to save when you had the money so as to bo able to spend il when you had not got il. (Laughter.) "That is what we were taught is Scotla nil |n i|n willi uni- pen nit's, a nil it is i|iiik' liylil.'1 ,"i|i|i'i| .Mr. Troup.

A Hardy Perennial. j Onn of Ilio recommendations of the General Committee- of Hie Wellington Hospital Board at tho meeting ol: the board yesterday was that, authority should be given for the purchase of an American typewriter. Several members expressed the opinion that a British typewriter should bu obtained. Afler some discussion the recommendation of the emnmitfoe was referred back for furl tier consideration, and report. Ready for tho End. The old East School building at the Wellington Boys' College is required no longer, according to the monthly report of Ilie principal (Mr. W. A. Armour) submitted to the Board of Governors yesterday. Tho report stated that the sooner the building was pulled down the better, as some-filling would be required to levnl the ground on which it is situated. Tho new school will probably be opened officially at the commencement of tho second term. Understanding Judge. A .brotherly feeling towards the boy who lias a, constructive bent was confessed by Mr. Justice Blair, when speaking at the annual meeting of the Boys' Institute last night. "Things like knocking a ball around with a golf stick don't appeal to me at all," he said, "but I do liko to feel at the end of a Saturday aftornoou that I have made something that wasn't there before. (Applause.) Probably that is some deficiency in my make-up, but I do appreciate the joy a boy gets in making things with his hands." Mistake in Tender. A decision to pay only the contract price was made by the Auckland Transport Board on Tuesday in regard to tho application, which came before it a fortnight ago from Tolley and Sons, Limited, electrical merchants, of Anzae avenue, for an ex gratia payment owing to a mistake of £2000 having been made in tho firm's tender price of £5988 12s for a supply of cable and joint boxes. The price should have been £7958 12s, and tho firm had asked to be allowed approximately £1100, which was the difference between the price accepted and the next lowest tender. The board's manager, Mr. A. E. Ford, in his report to tho board, stated that in at least three other-cases during the'year contractors had reported that they had made mistakes in their prices and "in two cases appeals were made to tho board for relief. If an ex gratia payment were made in the present case it would be inequitable if similar treatment were not granted to other contractors who had made errors. Mr. Ford also stated that the next lowest tenderer would have a legitimate grievance against the board_ for not releasing Tolley and Sons, Limited, in the first place and accepting tho second tender if the difference between the two prices were now allowed as an ex gratia payment. The second tenderer's price complied in overy way with the specifications. Tho circumstances surrounding tho tender were very regrettable, Mr. Ford said, but bearing in mind the position he recommended that contract ■ price only be paid by the board. The manager's report and recommendation wore adopted. Legacy, for Scholarships. . . The Victoria University College Council received intimation last evening that under the will of the late 'Miss Johnston it received a sum of £2000 to be invested for scholarships, the only stipulation being that male and female students should share alike. The council expressed its appreciation of the gift, leaving it to the Professorial Board to arrango details about the scholarships. The Public Trustee wrote that he could not say when the money would be paid over. In connection with the surplus available from the Jacob Joseph Scholarship Fund, the Professorial Board recommended that it should be used to provide for a third scholarship annually on the lines of those already offered. Time to Pay. "Can I have time to pay?" is a request frequently heard in the Police Court. Last night it was heard in much higher circles, emanating from the Students' Association to tho Victoria College Council. Permission to pay by instalments and an extension of the period over which fees might bo paid were asked for. The conclusion was come to that, apart from the bursars who wero affected by the Government's recent decision, it would not be wise to allow a general extension of tho time for paying fees. Deserving students had in the past been allowed to pay by instalments on application, to the registrar, and this practice will be continued. "There are a lot of them hard up," the registrar remarked, adding that more this year than previously had heon allowed to pay by instalments. Farming and Ruin. Sir Philip Game, Governor of New South Wales, speaking at the opening of Armidale Show told the story of an English boy who was called upon to write an essay on "Farming." The lad started off by saying that his father had told him. that farmers had a bad year '' this year, last year, and the year before that, and that if they had another bad year they would be ruined." When ruin, stared the farmer in the face, the farmer stared. ruin in the face and bought a motor-car. Sir Philip said that farming- was the only business in which a man could be ruined year after year and still make a living. Arbitration Court Awards. Eeplyiug to a submission by Mr. J. Mcltzcr that an award of the Arbitration Court must be interpreted as a statute, Mr. Justice Frazer said yesterday afternoon that awards wcro to be interpreted in much the same way as Acts of Parliament. The Court of Appeal 'had once put it that the Arbitration Court had a delegated legislative function. The Kelbitrn Viaduct. Work on the main structure ,of the new Kelburu viaduct is now completed except in regard to the roadway. The footpaths are almost finished, and electric cables have been laid across the bridge. At present workmen are laying down the track for a double tramway line across the viaduct. The approach from tho Kolburn side is being prepared, and tho road is being, widened to allow a good sweep into tho bridge. When the Glcnmore street wall has been completed traffic, to and from Kelbitrn will be diverted via Plunket street and Glenmore street, and the 'lowering of the roadway near . the viaduct will be proceeded with. The retaining wall is now practically completed, and it is. expected that the route will soon bo opened. In the meantime the old viaduct is still serving its purpose, and tho two-way system of traffic signals is working efficiently. All Looking for Economies. Tho possibility of effecting economies at Victoria University College was recently considered by the Professorial Board, but tho conclusion was reached that there was no avenue in which major economies eould_ be put into operation. A. letter to this effect was read to the council laßt night, ono meinbor saying that tho board was to be congratulated on moving in this matter. It was stated that minor economics in the direction of lighting and heating wcr.e being effected, and it was decided to confer with the Students' Association on the subject of economies in the lighting and. heating of the gymnasium.