NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 78, 2 April 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

"The Evening Post." "The Evening Post" -will not be published to-morrow (Good Friday). Yesterday in Parliament. One of the most controversial Government measures that has been placed before the House of Kepresentatives in recent years, the Finance Bill, providing for a 10 per cent, reduction in the salaries of Civil servants, and giving power to .the Arbitration Court to revise existing awards on the basis of the present economic position, was passed at 3 o'clock this morning. Prom tho time the Bill was introduced until it was read a third time and passed it was systematically opposed by the Labour Party, which threatened, until the provision for a closure was adopted, to exceed all stonewalling records in the history of tlio Now Zealand Parliament. Prom the time the debate on Mr. P. Eraser's instruction amendment was introduced until the debato was suspended, iv order to pass the closure motion, the House had sat continuously for 07 hours, and the Bill was held up for over another SO .sitting hours through Labour opposition. Altogether, tho House divided on about seventy occasions, and it was a weary Chamber which rose this morning until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday next, when the House will consider tho earthquake legislation. A Useful Invention. The automatic stamp-selling machine, a familiar feature in the bigger towns in New Zealand, was invented by My. J. B. Dickie, of Dovonport, Auckland, who has just retired after 40 years' service iv tho Post and Telegraph Department. The idea came to him from tho cinematograph of early days, and he constructed a machine that would deliver stamps from a rotating cylinder. At the Seattle Exposition, 16 years ago, his invention won tho gold medal, grand prize, and diploma against all-comers —becauso it worked alone. It needed no power, gave no trouble, took littlo room, ; and there was scarcely any possibility that it would go wrong. It depended on the force of gravity, and that alone. Tho slip of a penny, the click that followed tho falling of the coin, and tho stamp was delivered. The English postal officials wero slow to realise the advantages of the machine, but in IDO9 ami in the following years they were installed in Wellington and other centres in (lie Dominion. It was stated in May, IMO, that tho installation of the machine in Wellington saved the stamp clerk's attendance upon an average of 80 purchasers of stamps a, day. Ten. times that numbor would be below today's figures.

A fixed Easter. The executive of the New Zealand Associated Chambers of Commerce has written to the Federation of Cliaiubors of Commerce of the.British Empire- stating that the Now Zealand Chambers approved of fixing a date for Eastor before dealing with other aspects ol: calendar reform. Eclipse of the Moon. A total eclipso of the moon is due to take place early to-morrow morning, "but as in these latitudes the moon will have set before the total phase begins the phenomenon will hardly be worth' waiting up for. However, the very early birds will, if the sky is clear, be able to see the early phases of the eclipse. The moon will enter the penumbra about 5 a.m., the real shadow nuiking its first contact just under an hour later. Tho moon win set at about 6.15 a.m., half-an-hour before totality commences. An Undesirable Immigrant. The activities of the little German owl, introduced some time ago by the Otago Acclimatisation Society, formed the subject of a letter received at the monthly meeting of the New Zealand Bird Protection Society yesterday. The German owl is said to be playing havoc among the native small birds, such as tho fantail, in the southern districts, and the latest report is that the store of food in one nest comprised eleven headless pipits. It is the custom of this owl to put by considerable stores of food which are often not used, and the Bird Protection Society has more than once suggested that the Government should put a price on its head. At yesterday's meeting Captain E. V. Sanderson stated -that economically the pipit is one of New Zealand's most valuable birds, being almost entirely insecteating. The opinion was expressed at the meeting that farmers and orchardists would rue the day the little German owl was introduced into New Zealand. . . ■ Axis in Kaimanawas. A deer-stalking trip in tho Kairuanawa Eanges in search of the littleknown axis species is now being made by Mr. J. G. Holmes, of Te Awamutu, and Mr. T. D. Ormiston, of Papatoetoe. Some of these deer were liberated over 20 years ago and they are believed to have established themselves in the. ranges, although Mr. Holmes has twice searched for them in vain. Later, the stalkers will visit tho ranges between Hawkes Bay and Buapehu in search of the elusive blacktail species. Maundy Thursday. To-day, the day before Good Friday, is known as Maundy Thursday. It is so called becauso on that day gifts of food and clothing were distributed to tho poor, the gifts being placed in baskets or maunds. From the fourth century onwards a special ceremony also took place on this day—the washing of the feet of twelve, or more, beggars. This act was performed by the Pope and all Catholic sovereigns, priests. and nobles in memory of the washing of the feet of the Twelve Apostles by Christ. The Maundy Thursday ceremony in England in these days now consists of the presentation of "Maundy Money" or "Maundy Pence" given to as many poor people as equal the years of the King's agp. These silver coins were first made in tho reign of Charles 11. The service, which took place originally in the Chapel Royal at Whitehall, is now held at Westminster Abbey. Property in Auckland. "Anyone who knows the values of properties about Auckland knows that after making the necessary deductions, it is impossible to get as much as 5 percent, from rent," said Mr. Lovegrove when supporting in. the Assessment Court objections by Mount Eden ratepayers to their valuations, states tho "New Zealand Herald." "It is a wonder there are any landlords," commented Mr. W. E. M'Koan, S.M., who presided. "It is a wonder," said Mr. Lovegrove. "There are no landlords living on the proceeds of their rentals now."