POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 4

POLITICAL POINTS

OUR OWN PAPER PREMIER SUGGESTS NEW INDUSTRY (From Oor Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 9. When the P.rimo Minister was reviewing tho lines of possible scientific industrial development to-day he spoke with enthusiasm of forestry. , , He regarded us particularly striking Sir Frank Heath’s references to this subject. Growing trees for timber, said Mr,Coates, did not bv any means cover the’ whole outlook, it would be necessary to devise means of pulping our hardwoods, and there was no reason why we should not turn our attention to ‘that. One of tho first things tho council of research would have to do would be to make full inquiries and definite recommendations regarding wood pulping, because wo should be able to make our own paper. It would not pay with some of the present methods, and the problem could not be tackled by getting out an expensive man to make recommendations and then pigeonholing his report. Wo must work it out in New Zealand, as Australia had done, evolving methods which would cut down tho cost to approximately the cost of the imported article. We could not shut our eves to the fact that New, Zealand had a climate particularly suited to forestry. He had heard men discussing the question of growth in New Zealand, and they declared it possible to grow in the* dominion in thirty years timber to a size which would take seventy years in other parts of the world, even parts favorable to that variety. Britain had to import, timber to an enormous extent, and it would be safe to provide forests for not only New Zealand’s own demands, but tho world’s markets. In addition, there were the by-products, which were often more important than tlie main product itself. « * * « “WHEN IT WILL RAIN.” “ Our meteorological advices are not worth twopence,” declared Mr Lysnar. “We don’t know when it is going to rain, and what use is that to tho fanner?" (Laughter.) “Mostly we get news about the weather after we’ve had it” (Chuckles.) “In America they have a system which tells tho farmers whether they are going to have rain during the next two or three weeks or during the month. They know all about it for weeks ahead.” (Laughter.) “The system is so complete that they can leave their crops in the, field nnstooked. We could do it hero if we tackled it on proper scientific lines.’,’ Air Nash (sarcastically,, from behind his open newspaper); Will it be fine to-morrow ? * * » * VOLUNTEER FIRE POLICE. An additional clause inserted in the Fire Brigades Bill by the Statutes Revision Committee states that every person enrolled as a member of a volunteer fire police established by a fire board shall be sworn, in and accepted for one year’s service! during •which ho will have all the power, authority, and responsibility of a constable. * * v - THE TOWN MAJOR. “ During the war wo all knew the town major, who hide! down a job at the back of the line,” said Mr W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei). “He lived in a deep dugout covered with several feet of concrete and steel rails. He never came out of his dugout, and he never got promotion. He just, stayed on there, his job being to direct troops where to bivouac.” Mr Glenn went on to compare the Ministry with the town major. Ministers had dug in deep in their dugout and had refused to give a decision on tho site of tbo Agricultural College. Mr Coates remarked that lie was never a town major. Air H. E. Holland: But both you aml Mr Glenn were majors at the war. (Laughter.) The Prime Minister remarked to Mr Glenn that he had sometimes wished ho had been a. town major. Mr Glenn; I’m sure you did. It was a good job. Mr Harris (Waitemafa) : Was lie ever decora tod ? Mr Glenn; No, he was never decorated. Mr Coates: I thought it was tho usual tiling. Mr GJen'ii: I’m sure the Minister of Agriculture will be decorated eventually. (Laughter.)