NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 70, 19 September 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Problem of "Misfit" Youths. "In our work,.one of the most difficult problems we are up against is the disposal of 'misfit' boys who are below the average level of competence in any occupation," said Mr. J. W. McGechie at a meeting of the Auckland Boys' Employment Committee, reports the "New Zealand Herald." Employers could not be expected to pay them the wages that were stipulated by recent legislation and awards. Mr. McGechie suggested that the Government should make provision for such cases and perhaps subsidise the wages of the individuals concerned. No Blanket Licence.

In the case of unexpected calls on a road motor service, it has hitherto not been an uncommon practice for the proprietors merely to engage sufficient extra vehicles to fill the temporary want under their existing licence. It was stated by a.witness before the No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority yesterday that this course had been followed regularly without being questioned. Mr. P. Skoglund, the Authority, said that this would not be the case in future, as a temporary licence, in addition, to the number of regular vehicles authorised for the service; was required for every vehicle so engaged. Further facilities for securing such licences were being'provided.

Tramway "Bumping." Mild interest was caused in Lambton Quay yesterday afternoon by a modern version of the old and popular "bumping" sport on English rivers. One of the trams that occasionally turn from the Quay into Hunter Street slipped the overhead points and was left stranded with the trolley-pole swaying aimlessly. The car occupied part of both sets of rails, effectively barring south-bound traffic. Although the double-decker construction of the tram enabled officials to prod with a pole near the seat of the trouble, the pole could not be replaced because it was swinging behind the junction of the overhead lines. Impatience or helpfulness settled the matter, a following tram, with a series of butts, bumping the first tram clear. •■".' Increase in Building.

The record of permits issued by the City Engineer's department during the eight months, January to August, shows that there has this year been; considerably more building than last, for the permits represent a total value for the period of £569,396, as compared with £448,868 for the first.- , eight months of the. last calendar year. Actually, the value, of: buildings erected in the city is far above the halfmillion odd, for Government buildings —the new railway station, the life insurance block, and the new Government offices in Stout Street—are not the subject of permits issued by the City Engineer. Several large, building and construction works are l to be undertaken during the current year, and the total for the twelve months will be weir back towards the former big building years. Preparing a Nest. It is not often that starlings can be accused of stealing anything more than an odd wisp of straw and dried grass, however great a nuisance they make of themselves at nesting time. However, when the secretary of the Woodville Gun Club entered the clubhouse this week to prepare for the afternoon's shoot, he discovered that starlings had found a hole in,the roof and entered the building to nest. The birds had sorted out a tea box which contained between 300 and 400 metal .clips, used for marking the score board. This obstacle offered no terror to the birds, and in a workmanlike manner they proceeded to empty the box with the exception of two clips. The nest was then commenced but theVarriyal of the secretary rather upset building operations. A search was made outside the clubhouse and clips were found on the ground as far as a hundred yards away. About half off those missing were picked up, the resting place of the remainder being the secret of the birds. Crossing the Alps.

"In the controversy about the best crossing of the Alps from South Westland, it seems peculiar to those familiar with both terrains that the- advocates of the Hollyiord-Homer road have overlooked ttiat this route is 1000 feet higher than that over the Haast Pass," said Mr. M. Grant, a keen tramper and photographer of 'mountain seenery, ! ~iri an interview (states the "Timaru Herald"). Mr. Grant, who is familiar with both districts., said that the surrounding mountains were .higher and the country much colder, and the Hollyford had been described as a canyon, being much more shut in than the Haast. It was therefore obvious that the snow risk would be greater than at the Haast; in fact, it was certain that the southern route would be blocked by snow every year, whereas the Haast would only be troubled in winters of exceptional severity. The snow risk at Hollyford had been further emphasised this year, said Mr. Grant, by two avalanches at Homer, one causing loss of life. On the other hand, when the Haast Pass was visited recently, there was no snow lying on the track. From that point alone, the Haast Pass was the preferable route.,

Napier Hotels Sold. Two Napier hotels have changed hands, it being believed that a total sum of over £30,000 is involved (states a correspondent). , The hotels concerned are the Provincial, situated dt the intersection of Emmerson Street and Clive Square, and the Empire,' in Shakespeare Road. It was announced on Thursday that the Provincial Hotel had been sold by its owner, Mr. J. C. Gleeson, of Auckland, to the Sunshine Brewery Company, Limited, Napier, and the Empire Hotel had been purchased' by Hawke's Bay Hotels, Limited, a new company, from Mr. P. S. Gleeson, of Auckland. The price is not stated in either case. The old Provincial Hotel, a brick building, was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake, but was subsequently rebuilt, its name being changed to the Riviera. Some' time ago, however, the old name was restored. The Empire Hotel also suffered in the earthquake, extensive reconditioning being necessary.

An Early ray-day? Petone borough councillors are considering the payment of borough employees on Tuesday of each week. The Mayor (Mr. A. Scholefield) has said that this would mean perhaps that the employees' time would be made upon Friday:,: night,' instead of Thursday night, as at present, and with the cooperation of the employees the necessary adjustment could* be, made. The Government should -also be asked to give this matter its" urgent attention and to set an example for others to follow. The advantages of payment on a Tuesday would be that shopping would be more , equally distributed throughout the week; it would tend to eliminate rush shopping on Friday night and Saturday morning, which was not good either for the business man or the customer, arid apart from the perishable goods trade, the Saturday morning shopping would diminish to the extent that it would be unprofitable for the business premises to remain' open. More people would therefore enjoy the full leisure of Saturday. It should be borne in mind that the trade was there to be done and that shopkeepers would not experience any loss of volume of business. The only effect would be to distribute the same amount of trade more equally throughcut the week, to the advantage of all concerned. The matter will be more fully discussed at the next council meeting. \ ' ■ .

Power for Many Years. . Waitaki will be, sufficient tp supply] all estimated electric power needs for many years to come, said Mr. G. Dash, chairman of the South Canterbury Electric Power Board, when comment; ing on the proposal to dam Lake Tekapo for supplementing the flow of water through the Waitaki power-house (states the "Press"). The residents' of the Tekapo district and others interested in preserving the present attractiveness of the lake were wise to remain alive to the danger of the resort losing its value as such, but it would be probably as long as 10 years before any scheme to supplement the flow of the Waitaki River would be put into operation. "Whether the present capacity of the Waitaki power-house will reach absorption point will depend on the result of the poll in Southland to a certain extent," said-' Mr. Dash. "If the Government is given control of the Southland Board's affairs it is the Government's intention to supply the territory with power from the Waitaki. Provision is also being made to transfer current from the Waitaki to the West Coast. If and when these schemes are put into operation it will be necessary to supplement the flow of the Waitaki in some way."

War Against tocusts. ' "We have learned a great deal about locusts in recent years," remarked Lieutenant-Colonel E. R. Sawer, who, in an address to the Auckland Institute, told something of the horrors oj insect invasions in Palestine and of the campaigns against the invaders, of which he spoke from personal experience. He told of the mobilisation of a Bedouin "locust army," probably the most mobile force in the field. In the war against the crawling or hopping type of locust an amazingly simple method was used with great effect; a wall of polished tin, 15in high and 42 miles long, was placed across the desert in advance of the oncoming hordes. The insects could not climb its smoothness, and wandering'aside they fell in countless thousands into pits that had been dug at intervals. On rocky ground flame guns were used, and sometimes poison—but .a strict check was kept on this to prevent it being used for settling intertribal disputes, Colonel Sawer added. After the campaign a gymkhana, with camel racing and a magnificent display of fireworks, was staged for the Bedouins. Totara Posts Scarce. '

A recommendation that the Minister of Lands (the, Hon. F. Langstone) 'should be asked .to advise the council as to the approximate area of totara timber country in the Galatea, Te Whaiti, and Urewera districts, was received from the works committee at a meeting of the Whakatane County Council (states a Whakatane correspondent). Mr. Luxton stressed the difficulty in procuring posts, even at the high price of £l6 a hundred. He said that it was advisable to open vp some of this land for occupation so that posts could be procured. Postsplitting contractors had declared that they could not get the time at present. Mr. McCready said it was becoming impossible to procure posts, yet j the windfalls alone in the areas referred to would supply many ■■ thousands of posts for the farmers. He also thought that it would be wise for the Minister to see that a reasonable price was fixed. Posts delivered at Taneatua for transport to Gisborne cost £l6 a- hundred; ■■■.■• Mr. Smith said that it would be wise to ascertain the area of timber available before taking action, and they should also get the co-operation of other counties as well. The posts were not for Whakatane alone. ; Mr. McGulloch said that farming operations wpre being hampered by the lack of posts and lhat the prices were prohibitice. The clerk was instructed to write to the Minister on the subject.Amusing Prosecution.

"This offence is rather hard to define," said the traffic inspector of the Piako County, Mr. D. Morrow, when preferring a charge of driving an unlighted motor vehicle against a 15-year-old lad in the Te Aroha Magistrate's Court on Thursday (states a Te Aroha correspondent). Considerable amusement was caused by the inspector's story of his dilemma in framing the actual charge and his description of the facts. It appeared that the officer noticed a small motor-truck proceeding along the road at night without lights. He signalled it to stop and when he drew level with it found a young lad sitting in the driver's seat. A pair of reins extended through the windscreen to the head of an old horse, which was harnessed to the front of the truck and pulling it along. The truck had no number-plates and the lad had no driving licence. The truck was not in running order and could not have been 1 driven by its own power. It was very old and had been bought as junk for use on the farm. The Magistrate, Mr. F. D. Levien, smilingly suggested that the charge be amended by deleting the word "motor " since' from the description it could hardly be called a motor vehicle. The lad was warned not to take his "vehicle" on the road at night without A light and ordered to pay costs.