NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Luxuries Ban-Id. Statements that some of tlio recipients of charitable aid were obtaining from tho stores tinned foods and delicacies instead of plain foods wore made at this week's meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board. The chairman (Mr. W. L. Kennedy) emphasised that in order to make the funds go as far as possible luxuries would have to be barred, and it was decided to advise the stores that only absolute necessities shoul be supplied. £10 For a Telegram. In explaining his lateness hi arriving at a public meeting held under tho ausiHces of the Sunlight League at Christcluirch ori Tuesday afternoon, Sir Trilby King—who was over an hour late —stated 'that he had been, endeav■ouring to find a passago in a book which, ho. had read many years ago (reports "Tho Press"). Ho could not find it in Christchurch,. and had telegraphed to the Parliamentary Library in Wellington for it, advising his willingness to expend up to £10 for a verbatim telegram. "It has arrived," lie said, '/and I may now quote, it to you." Tho passage dealt with the value of sunlight to the human being. Need for Greater Navy. "Wo cannot sit quietly at homo and rest in a feeling of false security that the League of Nations can fully Safeguard tho world against another great outbreak of war," said Mr. A. G. Lunn, president of the Auckland branch of' the Navy League, in an address to members (reports the "Now Zealand Herald I'). Mr. Lunn said that in the past the defence of the British Empire had depended on tho strength of the naval forces, backed by Continental alliances -or ententes. It was probable that Britain might have to seriously, consider reverting to_ both safeguards, and, if an allianap with Franco, proved impossible the only alternative seemed to be an alliance with Germany. The reduction iii naval armaments, had been carried to excess by Britain, and no other nation, had followed her lead. . In the futui'6 every effort should be made to Strengthen tho B6yal Navy by building up to the lirriit of tho quota and by maintaining evory vessel at its greatest efficiency. Tho Britißh Government also should be urged to proceed without delay with the completion of the Singapore Base. New Zealand Plants Abroad. Mr. T. W. Lancaster, lecturer in botany at Auckland "University College, spent the greater part of last year in travel in Australia and Great Britain, where he visited the principal botanical gardens and centres of horticultural interest. In tlio course of a" report he presented to the College Council, ho •mentioned that iii several places he found a varibty of shrubs and plants which are native to Now Zealand (states tho Auckland "Star"). . In Malta ho had occasion to buy some honey /"which is p, product of tho island and also of the neighbouring island of Gozo. He ontered a grocery in the Strada and. asked for a jar. To his astonishment, a bottle of a woll-known New Zealand brand , *as handed bver. "When I remarked that this had come a long way," said Mr. Lancaster, "the proud Maltese said that tkey;also sold New Zealand butter, .'the best in the world,' ho declared, and also.New Zealand tinned meats., A common shrub, Coprosma Baueri (taupata), which was soon flourishing in the Barraeea Gardens, overlooking the harbour, was another New Zealand, product which had found its way to Malta." Forestry Areas Planted. On the completion of the present work at Balmoral and Eyrcwell, the New Zealand State Forest Service will have' finished the planting of all the areas now available to it in Cautorbury, aggregating moro than 50,000 acres (states the Chrijstehureh "Press"). Whether tho planting will be continued next year is still uncertain, for then more laud will have to be purchased at a cost which'the Government is perhaps not at present in a position "to meet. The planting of those 50,000 acres has been spread over a period of no fewer than thirty years. The chief plantations are at Balmoral, Byrewell, and Hanrner, although there are several smaller areas in different parts of North and South Canterbury. One hundred and fifty men are now engaged in planting the last 2000 acres of the Eyrewell plantatipn, and will be so engaged for the next two months. Tho trees used are various species of pine. Tho greater part of this area, 15,000 acres, is already planted. Between 70 and 80 men are doing reconditioning work at Balmoral, replacing tho plants that have failed to grow and cultivating the ground over an area of 10,000 acres. Between 22,000 and 23,000 acres of trees are now planted at Balmoral. The men at both plantations are selected from the unemployed through the Government Labour Bureau. Although, tho culling of deer has been extensively undertaken during tho last year, there has been no lessening of the damage done to the native beech forests along the Main Divide from tho Sponcer Range. Those native forests suffer more than any other of tho reserves from the attacks of deer. It appears to tho State Forest Service that tho culling so far done lias scarcely touched tho fringe of the problem, and that it would require a veritable army of men to deal with it effectively. A Beautiful Floor. The polished llodr in the vestibule of the Auckland Eailway Station now reveals the full beauty of its design, after many weeks of work, says tin; Auckland "Star." Its pattern and colour scheme reflect the ceiling, and tho three-star motifs, surrounded by the grey buff terrazzo, have a pleasing combination of browns and bright reds divided by strips of polished brass that curve and cross. One reason for introducing the brass was the desire to localise cracks, but it also makes an interesting feature of Iho panel scheme. A continuous decorative band encircles the floor, and has a sea green colouring, which is in delightful harmony with tho finish above.