LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 19521, 31 March 1927, Page 14

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Kauri Gum Control Board sat at Auckland yesterday, Mr H. Wyuward (chairman) presiding. It was decided that the sittings should bo in camera. The powers of the board are similar to those of the Dairy Control Board, including a right to levy, if deemed necessary, 1J per cent, of the f.o.b. value of kauri gum exported, this to bo collected from the gum merchants.

/U a meeting of tho executive of the Canterbury Sheep Owners’ Union it was decided that the attention of the Agricultural Department bo drawn to the danger of infection through the importation of seeds and plants from countries in which there is foot-and-mouth disease, and tho department was urged to take every precaution, even to the extent of total prohibition of importation of foreign seeds. Speaking at tho annual reunion of the Masterton Fire Brigade last night, Inspector T. T. Hugo regretted (states a Press Association message) that the annual fire brigade competitions’ were deteriorating. The gear used, he said, wa« never soon at fires, and was used merely to continue ola-fashioned methods He hoped that those controlling the United Association would ondeavoi to effect a much-needed _ remedy and institute competitions which would be of practical use to firemen. Still another step in the contest ovei Takapuna tram and ferry transport was made at Auckland, when the Transport Appeal Hoard, presided over by Mr Justice Frazer, beard an appeal by tho Tram and Ferry Company against the granting of a license to the yellow bus service owned by Alfred Henry Smith. These buses run from Devonport to Milford through tho Takapuna Borough, and have since 1924 resulted in a profitable ferry and tram service being converted into a losing concern. Mr Leary, counsel for the company, in opening his case, said: “By hook or by crook, wo are determined that tho tramway system shall be_ carried on, because it represents tho life of a complete community. . Jfiitbei Smith must go or the company must go.”

Problems facing the farming community were discussed by a largo gathering of farmers at New Plymouth hist night, when Mr W. J. Poison, president of the Farmers’ Union, delivered an address concerning many factors militating against the prosperity of farmers to-day. Resolutions were carried urging the Government to exercise rigid economy, enabling a reduction of the taxation on tho primary producers and encouraging their efforts; also urging the Government to proceed with legislation giving effect to the Rural Credits Commission’s recommendations so that better finance could be provided for farmers and land values stabilised. Tho meeting demanded some sense of security in regard to labor, while freely conceding that the worker was entitled to a fitting reward for his labor. Tho resolution declared it the duty of the Government to abolish preference to unionists and to secure tho rights of tho legitimate third party to appear before the Arbitration Court.