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Evening Star, Issue 20780, 30 April 1931, Page 10

The Arbitration Court, presided over by Mr Justice Frazer, sat this morning to hoar tho lime workers’ dispute. On the application of Mr J. Robinson the hearing was adjourned till the next sittings of the court in Dunedin. Mr A. S. Cookson, who appeared for the employers, offered no objection. An application to have the Petrous Tile Company struck out as a party to the brick, tile, and pottery workers' award was granted, Mr Robinson pointing out that that company was doing practically no work now, and was conducting merely a sales business. In connection with the distress!)!, amount of unemployment among women and girls which at present exists, the St. John Ambulance Association lias written to the Lady Mayoress, as head of tho Unemployment Committee, offering to provide out-of-work women and girls with free tuition in first aid and homo nursing, and is also prepared to lend them the necessary text hooks for this purpose. It is hoped that in this way, not only will the minds of such unemployed be diverted from constantly brooding over their troubles, but that they will also bo enabled to acquire knowledge which may prove of great practical value to them at any time. The accommodation available will do for a class of forty, and there is no reason why there should not bo two or more classes.

Tho executive of the South Island Fruit and Produce Brokers’ Association decided yesterday to offer its sincere congratulations to the Prime Minister in regard to his official statement as to the proposal for a fusion of the Reform and United Parties, and telegraphed accordingly, adding: “The executive considers your statement the most statesmanlike that New Zealand lias ever had. You deserve, and wo feel sure, will receive tho thanks of a grateful people.” The inossags was signed by Mr Oswald Reilly as president and Mr H. F. Payton as secretary.

Tho Rev. V. G. Bryan King, who for a long period was in intimate touch with the poor and needy of Dunedin, was asked this morning how he viewed , the present state of affairs as he found it upon resuming his work at tho Men’s Mission House. Ho said;—“The position is too tragic for words. Many of the unemployed and their families arc in dire need, as for weeks, and in many cases, months, they have just barely existed, lake the case of a man with a wife and three children, under tho new scheme all he gets is 37s Gd a week for three weeks out of every four. This means that out of £5 12s Gd he receives during the four weeks he has to pay rent, buy firing, pay for lighting, and keep a family—and social workers are unable to help even in some desperate cases owing to lack of funds. Many of our most generous friends are now unable to send their usual donations owing to the serious falling off in their own incomes. I know of businesses at tho present time where, although tho employees are getting their wages, the owners are not only getting nothing themselves, but arc carrying on at a loss. The position is so serious in connection with tho. mission house that wo are unable to give even a few groceries, although wo know of scores of homes in which they arc sorely needed. Wo are also in urgent need of boots and clothing for men and children, and beyond anything, coal. Tho most pleasing feature about the present deplorable state of things is the wonderful self-restraint and conduct of tho men, many of whom are suffering acutely. But this hears out what 1 have always maintained — namely, that the labouring men of Dunedin are a far superior class to some of those in northern cities. They think for themselves and arc not easily led by agitators, of whom we are singularly free. And, above all, I think that they realise they have the whole-hearted sympathy of the community in our time of common trial.”

The Napier Hospital Board has decided to use New Zealand-grown timber. wherever possible, when rebuilding the hospital, the. site for which is now being cleared. —Press Association telegram.

“ We have the best of reasons for believing that in a number of cases tho regulations respecting the payment of fees for heavy traffic licenses aro being broken,” said Or Mitchell, in moving the report' of the General Committee at tho meeting of the City Council last night. The inspectors have found it very difficult to keep a check without tho use of loadomotors, which were recommended for sn.pply by Iho committee Tiio use of those instniments in a district in Hawke’s Bay had resulted in a large increase in the amount received from heavy traffic licenses. The recommendation of tho committee was adopted.

While praising the work of the superintendent of reserves in removing the fence on the lower portion of the Octagon ami in the general lay-out from an msthetic point of view, Cr Wilson suggested at the meeting of the City Council last night that better covering should be provided lor the conveniences. Ho suggested that, some trees might ho planted round them. Cr Campbell (chairman of the serves Committee) said that Mr Tannock had not yet finished the job, and ho thought that when ho had done so everyone would bo satisfied. The Mosgiel and district collection for Poppy Hay amounted to £44 10s (id. This includes the proceeds of a picture entertainment. A verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, was returned against Reuben George Bothwoll at Nelson on a charge of negligently driving a motor car so as to cause the deaths of Francis Gallard and Betty Bothwell. The accused was disqualified for all time from obtaining a motor driver’s license. _ The Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers) said that where a person was subject to what counsel had termed absence of mind as had been shown in the case of the accused, he was not lit to drive a motor car. The accused wa£ also lined £SO, and ordered to pay costs. “ Unless the people of Christchurch undertake with vigour the construction of a port at Christchurch a port will not bo necessary, as the goods for the South Island will be brought from Wellington by a train-ferry connecting with the South Island Main Trunk line,” was the statement made by Mr E. Philpott-Crowther at the Port Christchurch League’s public mooting last night. Every foot that the South Island Main Trunk line made towards Wellington, Mr Philpott-Crowther .said, connected Canterbury with Wellington, and before Christchurch got a harbour and when the lino was completed and Wellington woko up there would be a train-ferry and goods would ho loaded on railway trucks at Wellington and distributed right to Dunedin. There then would he no necessity for a port at Christchurch, and the present port at Lyttelton would bo sufficient for the next fifty or 200 years. There was a possibility that a port would be established at Porirua from whence a train-ferry would connect with the South Island Main Trunk lino at Port Underwood, and the present double and treble handling of goods at Lyttelton would-ho done away with. —Christchurch correspondent.

Over eighty counterfeit Bank of New South Wales £1 notes have been handed in at the Auckland detective office to date, find it is believed that many are still in private bands. Yesterday morning two more spurious notes were received by the police from people to whom they had, intentionally or innocently, been “passed on.”— Auckland correspondent. The postal authorities advise that the Monowai, due at Wellington on Monday from San Francisco, has 140 bags of mail and thirty-four parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should reach here on Tuesday afternoon.

In view of tiio statements made by speakers at the local Anzac Day services that-the day should be one of brightness rather than of gloom, the following extract from the report of a speech made in Sydney by Mr Stagg, State Secretary of the' Returned Soldiers and Sailors’ League, is interesting. “ Anzac Day,” said Mr Stagg, “is divided into two distinct celebrations —tho morning until midday 1 to bo regarded as a day of remembrance dedicated to the fallen, and the afternoon and evening to rejoicing, for on Anzac Day Australia was born a nation! Thus games and parties and the opening of theatres are suitable forms of celebrations.”

Tho official opening oi : the new main science building at Massey College is taking place this afternoon, the visitors including tho Governor-General, _ the Prime Minister, members of Cabinet, and several members of Parliament. Addresses are to be delivered by_ Lord Bledisloe and Sir Geo. Fowlds, chairman of tho council of tho college. The degrees, diplomas, and certificates gained In' students at the college are to bo presented, and the degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science will bo conferred on Mr G. Thorp by Sir George Fowlds.—Palmerston North Association message.

Tho Hon. G. W. Forbes, in an interview at Wellington, indicated that tho offer proposing fusion intended that tho arrangement should bo permanent, and that tho framing of a future policy should bo a ’matter for the combined new party, which would start with a clean sheet. It is expected that Reform’s official reply will be available within tho next two days.—Press Association.

The might of the British Empire depends upon the continuance of tho mineral industry, said Professor J. Park, dean of the Otago University mining faculty, at the annual dinner of tho faculty last night. A most interesting and little-known fact was mentioned by the professor, who said that in the British Empire tho value of the productions of tho mining industry exceeded more than fourfold the value of tho productions of tho land, including cotton, jute, tobacco, wool, grain, cheese, and butter. Prices for fat cattle improved over tho last three races of fat cattle at the Burnside sales yesterday, any good quality realising up to 32s 6d per 1001 b."

The postal authorities advise that the Brisbane Main left Melbourne on Wednesday for Wellington with eighty bags of Australian and overseas mail and throe parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should reach Dunedin on Tuesday afternoon. There was a clean sheet at the Police Court this morning. Mr A. C. Ross, who recently returned from England after serving for four and a-half years as inspector of New Zealand produce in London, gave an address to dairy factory directors and managers at Invercargill yesterday. Ho said, amongst other things, that the British people manifested great goodwill towards New Zealand, preferring • its products when suitable for the market, and it was the duty of our producers to see that tho goods they sent Homo justified that _ preference. Ho was strongly of opinion that our cheese was marketed far too green, whereby it lacked juice and character. There were complaints about careless ness in the finishing of our cheeses. Tight packing caused serious defects. Branding should be on tho sides and made attractive. Much of our milk supply could he improved. Only good starters should be used. The curds should be properly “ cooked ” by giving sufficient time and without unduly high temperature. Tho removal of the free whey should bo facilitated by dipping and by sufficient hard stirring so ns to give a firm curd that will oheddar well before salting. With such a curd it is essential to avoid excessively high percentages of salt. Many of our cheese have in the past been spoilt hv too heavy salting. “ II these matters'wore attended to on our dairy farms and in our factories the quality of our cheese con Icl ho made to suit tho trade, and we could regain the confidence of the trade in New Zealand cheese.

A meeting of the Dannoyirko Gliding Club appointed a provisional committee to consider the inauguration of a Now Zealand gliding association. Tho object is to get into touch with all clubs, ascertain their views, and later convene a dominion conference. The committee comprises Dr C. S. Williams, Major Claridgc, and Mr E. C. Doarman (Dannevirke), and Major Hardie and Mr C. J. Bosworth _ (Palmerston North). —Press Association. Elgar’s ‘ Caractacus,’ tho work in rehearsal by tho Dunedin Choral Society, has captured tho interest of the chorus members—they see something in it and are joyfully attending the practices, 123 being present at the latest. The soloists for the coming presentation are to be Miss Theresa M'Enroe (soprano), Mr Hubert Carter ( tenor), Air Wilfred Kershaw (baritone), and Mr H. P. Desmoulins (bassi Expressmen whose vehicles are parked in tbo Octagon had an exciting cha.su yesterday at tho expense of a rabbit which divides his attentions between the reserve and the grounds of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Under ordinary circumstances the rabbit would probably have escaped with ease, but the presence of a stray dog seemed to upset bis sense of judgment, and at length one of the men managed to grasp him while ho cowered under tho shelter of tho Robert Burns Monument. However, tbo animal has become so very much domesticated that his pursuers were loth to deal out the summary fate which usually is tho lot of his species when trapped. His captor carried him oyer to St. Paul’s and let him go again in his homo pastures. Tour eyes are Nature’s most precious gift. Take cars of them. Consult W. V. Sturrner, optician, 2 Octagon. Dunedin.— f Advt.l Williamsons are the practical jewellers, and will attend to your repairs promptly and efficiently.—Next Tho Bristol Co.— 1 Advt.l Attention is drawn to an announcement in this issue showing tho full list of prize winners in tho “ Lucky Dog ” Art Union, which was drawn in Wellington on April 23. In connection with the forthcoming mayoral election CV W. A. Scott will address tho electors to-morrow evening in tho old Presbyterian Church, Gladstone, and on Monday next, May 4, at George Street School Hall. South Dunedin electors are reminded that Mr 11. S. Black will give an address at tho Town Hall, South Dunedin, this evening at 8 o’clock.