THE BRIGHTER SIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 20862, 4 August 1931, Page 6

THE BRIGHTER SIDE.

The Englishman's right to grumble is one of his most precious privileges, lie grumbled and made the worst of all his prospects in the pre-war years, when ho was being outstripped in trade by Germany. England and Germany were then alike prosperous. Tho effect of the war was to make them both poor, and tho Englishman has had more reason to grumble, though he has done that in comparatively good years, which at least have been more numerous than might have been expected, as persistently as in those which have been worst. The hist, year lias seen the trough of his troubles, and it is perhaps tho host sign of his capacity to overcome them that his spirits are beginning to-rise. Party leaders tell the nations that, if they judge Irom British lamentations that there is anything wrong with the fundamental soundness of Britain’s financial position, tlvey will make the mistake of (heir Jives. Mr 11. A. L. Idsher’s reminder of the advances and immunities lliat lane accompanied recent depression comes at a very seasonable time. Mr Fisher is no illusionist. Ho was Minister of Education for six years in Mr Lloyd. Goorgo’s Coalition Govern-

menfc which boro tlio main brunt of tbo war and continued after it, and bis control was conspicuous for now progress. Mr Fislver points out that, despite present adversity, there had never boon a time in which the population had been better fed, bettor clothed, bettor housed, better amused, or better educated. “ The country had gone through a. great international crisis, one of the most critical and most perilous epochs in the world’s history, with far less lobs than any other country. In the heat of the struggle we had not sacrificed our middle class nor repudiated our debts, and there had been no severe distress. He thought wo had been able t 8 do this by reason of the fact that our Governments had had to deal with civilised people, and if he was asked why and how British people were civilised ho would say that it was very largely by reason of our public system of education.”

.All this is as true of Great Britain’s condition as reports that view only the other side. Others beside Mr Fisher have been inspired of late to note the reasons for confidence in the future, and have found more of them. The ‘Monthly Review of the Midland Bank,’ in a survey of effort, finds nothing to suggest declining energy, initiative, or hopefulness in the actions of Englishmen since the war. The technique of industrial production has been improved, even though that has added to unemployment. T'ho progress of now industries—motors, aircraft, artificial silk, gramophones, and others —has been amazing. “ Our engineers may he unenterprising, unlearned, unpractical, inefficient, inferior to those of France or the United States, but the curious fact is that British machines have established many records which could have been achieved only by superior design and workmanship, and that British cars, motor cycles, and aeroplanes, for example, are exported in large numbers, side by side with the still considerable exports of older vehicles such as bicycles aud locomotives.” The very changes in the character of exports is taken as evidence that energies are being redirected to the products the world, with its rising standards' of living, requires, with restricted attention to those older industries in respect of whoso products the world is becoming far more self-supporting. Other striking evidence of readjustment is discovered in the field of power and trans-port-—the great national scheme of electrical development, developments in road transport, the electrification of railways; and our cables to-day supply a further instance in great plans for reorganisation of the collieries. Industrial relationships have improved considerably since the immediate post-war period,, and the succession of missions to oversea markets marks a preparation to take advantage of the first improvements that shall occur in world prosperity. A considerable proportion of unemployment, it is pointed out, is attributable to non-cyclical forces, such as the permanent shrinkage in demand for particular products such, as coal and cotton goods, yet, despite these contracting influences, the number of persons in work in Britain in 1929 was very considerably Uglier than in 1924, both being comparatively good business years. Harking hack to education, an official report recently reviewed the growth of university extension work in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire, where classes arc attended by a most promising proportion of the population in fifty-one towns and villages. The classes are not confined to traditional subjects, but include amongst the most popular social, scientific, and economic studies, and this up-to-date and increasing work is directed by the “oldfashioned” University of Oxford. “Let us take heart; wo are not yet in our dotage,” concludes the Midland Bank’s Review, and that judgment certainly appears to be well warranted. Lady Rhondda, elsewhere, makes an appeal for optimism, whoso response should .not bo limited to Great Britain. “If civilisation can survive this crisis, England can survive it. Foreigners have been in the habit of saying that England loses every battle except the last. Ido not think we shall Jose the last.”

The Neuchatel Asphalt. Company, whose head office for New Zealand is at Auckland, is advised that it lias th« contract for the bituminous mastic work of scalinj; the whole of the reservoir of the Arapuni electric scheme. It will ho one of the biggest jobs of its class ever carried out in Australia or New Zealand, running into many thousands of pounds and employing probably 200 men or more. The work is expected to bo completed in less than nine months, and that Arapuni will he functioning once more in about a year. Trinidad natural asphalt is to he the material used. Three shifts are likely to be employed so as to complete the contract in tunc. Mr Harold King, who is favourably known in .Dunedin as formerly duel' inspector of works for the City Corporation, is to supervise the Arapuni work for the company, ,11c is now in Dunedin arranging for material for other of the company’s undertakings. He says that all the machinery on the Arapuni contract will he locally made. For tho machinery that is to make tho bituminous emulsion orders are being placed in Dunedin and Christchurch.

The Taieri River Trust fixed ibo year’s rates yesterday. On the motion of Cr Sadd, seconded by Cr Ball, the resolution reyarding the striking of the year’s rates, as already advertised, was confirmed. -It was decided that a rebate of 2J- per cent, on the total rates he given for prompt payment. The trust’s solicitors forwarded a letter stating that several ratepayers would pay their rates, but could not do so immediately.—ft was resolved that the ratepayers mentioned bo given till November 30, on conditions previously laid down.

Concerning the method of rating in connection with the repayment of the £70,000 loan for drainage and protection works on the Taieri, the river trust yesterday decided that the following questions be submitted to the court: —(a) Is the classification made in 1924 legal, and, it so, is the trust bound to levy rate iu accordance therewith P (b) To define the basis on which classifiers should act in making a classification under the present Act.

Probate was granted to-day by His 'Honour Air Justice Kennedy in the estates of James Macadie, Poolhnrii (Mr F. G. Duncan) ; and John Moore, Oaniaru (Mr J. H. Alain). Letters of administration wore granted in the estate of Bethia Jane Waldie, Dunedin (Air yi, IT, Forrester);,

The snow which lias covered the hills in the vicinity of the city almost continuously for the last few weeks has given devotees of the various forms of winter sports an opportunity to indulge in tobogganing and ski-ing. During the week-ends several parties have motored to paddocks near Flagstaff and on Mount Cargill, and spent a few hours in the exhilarating sport of glissading down the slopes aud in snow fights. About 9.35 last night the city cars stopped suddenly and the street lights went out, but the power came on again about a quarter of an hour later. There was no fault at Waipori,_ the officials of the corporation suspecting that the temporary stoppage was caused by a pieco of a tree or bark being blown across one of the transmission linos to cut out a circuit.

The road at Waipahi was still under water this morning, according to advice received by the secretary of tho Otago Motor Club (Mr W. F. Sutton). It was covered up to a foot, and the position was rather worse between Waipahi and Arthurton. Cars were unable to get through this morning. Two competing teams went away by the northern express train this morning. The Otago Boxing Association’s team of five, with Mr J. Kilmnrtin as manager and accompanied by Mr J. Campbell, were bound for Ashburton. The M'Glasban College teom of Rugby players, with Mi 1 J. A. Dunning as manager, go on to Christchurch te play St. Andrew’s College.

The membership campaign which is the subject of a competition between the Christchurch and Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Associations is at a very interesting stage, the respective totals at tho end or July coming to the same figure of 1,178. In both cases the figure will bo largely augmented, only four months of tho current financial year, having elapsed. It is expected that at tho next meeting of the committee of tho local association over forty new nominations will be received in addition to many who will be renewing their subscriptions.

This week’s organ recital at tho Town Hall is to bo to-morrow night. Dr Galway has prepared a particularly fine programme. The audience will probably be much pleased with the ‘ Triumph Song,’ by Edgar Baynon; the larghetto from Beethoven’s ‘ Violin Concerto,’ tho 1 Nachtstuck ’ by Schumann, and Saint-Saons’s ‘ Le Cygno’ are sure to minister to the general delight ; the ‘ Barber ’ overture is always acceptable if properly given; and the Bach ‘ Prelude and Fugue in E Minor ’ is one of the' sort of compositions in which Dr Galway explores the possibilities. Mr Frank Watt is the assisting soloist.

“Tho .General Grant’s gold was stolen before the vessel left Australia, and she was wrecked on a reef of rocks well outside tho cave _ in which she is supposed to have sunk.” Such is the opinion of a Port Chalmers man who was on tho Campbell Islands when a. hoy. There was then no sign or vestige of the ship General Grant, whoso tragic Into on the Campbell Islands on her way from Australia to England has since been tho subject of much speculation. -Tho Campbell Islands are about ninety miles from Stewart Island. The legends about that wreck are very numerous, but tho only established facts are that the vessel was wrecked on the islands and the survivors were picked up afterwards by a whaler. A boat s crew from the vessel Gazelle was supposed to have secured tho sunken gold, but that was mainly supposition, for the boat foundered in a tide rip and its crew was drowned. On another occasion a diver from a Portuguese barque was alleged to have penetrated into the General Grant’s hold and cut from a wool pack a piece of the cover material hearing the brand, which was taken to Australia. The salvage expedition which went to the islands in the Enterprise not only failed to find the gold in tho cave, but the diver did not find even a bolt to indicate that the General Grant was wrecked there. That seemed to confirm tho supposition that tho vessel was wrecked on the reef beyond the cave. On tho whole, it seemed probable there was something in the story that the gold was sunk alongside and buried before tho General Grant left Australia. Afterwards the wreck of the vessel Grafton on the islands was confused with the loss of the General Grant. Tho legend is so prolific of theories and destitute of facts that tho actual loss of tho vessel on tho islands is about all that can ho vouched for those days.

Speaking at the reunion dinner of the Otago High School Old Boys’ Society last night, tho chairman (Mr J. M. Fraser) made reference to the fence that was being erected round the Asylum ground. Ho said that those present would have soon the correspondence in the newspapers, and no doubt, those people thought they had a grievance. Personally he was quite prepared to lot them go on having a grievance, but ho thought a. great deal of their argument was wrong. Ho did not think that tho fact of a fence being put round the Asylum ground was going to deprive the public of Dunedin of any use of that ground. Those present would agree that if hoys of the High School had the use of the ground, then the xmblio of Dunedin were getting the use of it through the hoys, and ho maintained that they could not got better use of it in any other way. Mr Fraser pointed out to the Board of Governors that the fence so far as it had gone was very good, but if it went further it would ho over so much better. The board would do the town and the school good by finishing the fence. Tempted by the report that bananas were cheap, a. correspondent, “ Disgusted,” found that bananas were marked at six, eight, and ten for a shilling. He complains that prices aro too high, as a report had reached him that in tho Wellington auction rooms Samoan bananas were selling at from 12s to 15s a case. When shown this letter, a leading fruiterer in Dunedin commented: “A certain firm in this city has contracted for a largo quantity of Samoan bananas, and at the price tho contractors are asking it is impossible for the trade to soil at more than ten for Is. Tho price for the last shipment ox tho Maui Pomare was 17s 9d a case, ex the wharf, or 19s a case, ripe, ex tho store. On an average, a case contains 250 bananas out of which twenty to thirty aro fit only for salad. So that say, 220 aro fit for sale at ton for Is and the remainder at fourteen for Is, the return to the fruiterer is 245. Wq quite agree with the correspondent in his failing to see tho reason for the announcement that bananas are. cheap, hut until the trade can buy at cheaper prices the public cannot expect to got more than ten for Is. Incidentally, thq Juno shipment cost 22s n case.” It should be explained that bananas entail much handling by tho shopkeepers, having to bo carted from tho wharf, unpacked, repacked, and then ripened in a specially constructed compartment.

A record audience iu Wellington on Saturday night displayed unprecedented enthusiasm at the initial New Zealand representation, of 1 Sons o’ Guns.’ which is declared to he one of the host musical productions since ‘ Bose Alario ’ was presented. Gus Mliictl, Alfred Frith, Leo Franklyn, and Bertha Ricardo wore accorded a wonderful reception, and there is a big demand for seats for .the remainder of fho season*

When her satchel was grabbed in Courtenay place, Wellington, on Saturday evening, the woman cashier of A. E. Preston and Co.’s Courtenay place branch butchery, lost the whole of tho day’s takings, about £loor The robber disappeared among the throng in the vicinity. At the time of the theft the cashier had just stepped out of the shop which had a few minutes earlier been closed for the week-end, when a man jostled her and snatched the bag from her hand. T'ho woman was foo startled even to scream, but one man who witnessed the amazing theft rushed away in pursuit of the robber, who, however, eluded capture.

The postal authorities advise that the mails which left Auckland on June 30 per the Niagara via Vancouver arrived in Loudon on August 1. A westerly gale was experienced at Taurnnga last night. No damage was reported in the town, but at Mount Mauugamii, a seaside resort, two houses were unroofed and a verandah was blown off another.—Press Association telegram. Our Parliamentary representative wires:—Further delay has occurred in drafting the Gift Coupons Bill, and it is now anticipated that the measure will not make its appearance until the end of tho present week or the beginning of next week. If a no-confidenco amendment to the financial statement is moved the appearance of the Bill will ho still further delayed. The intention is to refer the measure to a Select Committee.

Chimney fires in Castle and Carroll streets were responsible for the brigade turning out at 10.30 and 11.20 respectively last night.

With the passing of tho years since the war concluded the work of the Upturned Soldiers’ Association has not in any way diminished, and a hundred and one matters concerning the welfare of returned men and their dependents still engage the attention of the secretary and the enthusiastic executive which the local association possesses; The secretary (Mr 0. L. Ferens) stated this morning that there were the names of about 300 unemployed men on his books. All of these were not members, bgt the association was doing what it could for non-members as well as members. About 100 men arc now employed on the work of constructing the golf links on Chisholm Park, their wages being paid from Poppy Day funds and other monies. In this way the association is able to give work to men during the one week out of four in which they are not engaged under No. 5 relief scheme. Many of tho non-members are now realising how much the R.S.A. is doing for them, and are up. The social sido of the association is not being neglected, and on August 18 a lecture is to be given at the club by the Rev, W. Allan Stevely. “The defendant was being assisted home by a companion and fell through a window, damaging it to the extent of 195,” said Senior-sergeant Cameron,' in tho Police Court this morning in respect to Ernest Davis, who pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, having previously been convicted of drunkenness within, the past six months. Defendant was fined 22s fid, in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. A first offender for drunkenness was fined 12s, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment.

A few days ago it was telegraphed from the north that the fruitgrowers there, to encourage industry, had given orders to local sawmillers for so many thousand fruit boxes. We now learn that the total thus ordered by tho New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation is 800,000—quite a large order, and it is hoped that by next season it will he increased to 100 per cent, of the requirements. There is no need for a corresponding move on the part of southern fruitgrowers. They use native timber for the making of boxes. In the Gatlins and other southern districts there are enormous sawmilling areas that can supply an unlimited quantity of beech timber which n dried before being cut into box wood makes entirely satisfactory cases, for the overseas trade. This timber is not well enough known in tho north ns suitable for the purpose, . but the southern sawmillers are taking steps to have trial orders placed in the north, and it is Imped that ns a result the bcedi milling industry will receive a decided fillup in tho near future.

Tho Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association recently received a consignment of 100 hares from friends in Central Otago, and distributed them amongst unemployed returned men.

While meditating on the 10 per cent, salary cut andjthe doubtful beauties of the Burnside scenery an .insurance canvasser received tin additional 10 per cont. bite. Ho was attacked by a liorso which, hit the top joint of one of Ids fingers clean off and then attempted to savage another man. The horse was wandering on the roadside.

It was mentioned in the Supreme Court at Wellington to-day that the Crown proposed entering a stay of proceedings iu the case of Arthur Wallace Richardson, cashier, who was charged with theft as a servant from the City Rates Office. The jury disagreed last week, and a new trial was granted and was to have taken place this week, but it is not now intended by the Crown to proceed.— Press Association.