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Evening Star, Issue 20979, 18 December 1931, Page 8

ral or special ad; inistratlvc and medical problems of public health. The Assembly noted with special interest the work of the European conference on rural hygiene, and expressed the hope that this field of activity would be extended to all countries in the world. The Assembly expressed the view that the recommendations adopted by the conference and the minimum standards of efficiency recommended should extend far beyond Europe. The value of these recommendations for overseas countries was generally recognised. We can pass over decisions affecting the control of narcotic drugs and of the “white slave” traffic. The Council immediately afterwards accepted an offer by the Brazilian Government to found an international centre for leprosy research in Rio do Janeiro. The centre will be autonomous and financed by a grant from the Brazilian Government. The Council made the necessary arrangements to carry out the instructions of the Assembly to assist China in dealing with problems of relief and epidemic disease arising from floods. It urged all Governments to give effect as far as possible to any requests for assistance received through the secretariat of the League. The Council also accepted a gift from Mrs David Simmons, of Boston, U.S.A., of funds to meet the financial expenses of starting a laboratory for conducting malaria research work in Greece. If that were the whole record of the League for the three months since Mukden was bombarded, it would stamp it as a body not to bo sneered at.

Good news about tho apple trees in the Roxburgh district that w:;-o nipped by tho November frost. They may bear fruit next sca.„.i. Such comfort comes from a statement made to a ‘ Star ’ reporter this morning by Mr J. A. Campbell, director of tho Horticultural Division, who came to Otago to investigate affairs and sco the orchardists. In answer to a question Mr Campbell said: “ I wont to Ettrick, Dumbarton, Roxburgh, and Coal Creek. The indications aro that the damage, while destructive to the year’s crop, is not likely to bo reflected next season of fruiting. There has been a marked change in the affacted tres since tho frost. In the spurs, tho twigs, and the branches tho browning is disappearing, and there aro signs that buds will redevelop. It is quite likely that the enforced rest will bo beneficial to some of the weaker trees. A cessation from bearing for a season will probably cause the strength of such trees to go to wood production.”

A gazette notice published last night defines (reports a Press Association telegram from Wellington) the various transport districts throughout the dominion as constituted under the Transport Licensing Act, 1931. The regulations divide tho North and South Islands into nine transport districts—six in tho North Island and three in the South Island. The new regulations relating to passenger services under the above-mentioned Act are also gazetted. Zealous in its efforts to popularise the beach, and, incidentally tp do something for the children at this lime of the' year, the St. Clair Improvement Association is to-morrow afternoon holding a children’s day on the beach. Races and sand modelling competitions find places on the programme of entertainment for the little folk, and there will be toys for prizes and a distribution of sweets. There will be an exhibition by the life-savers with reel and lino in the surf, an item well worth seeing, and during the afternoon the 3rd Artillery Band will provide a programme of music. Tho association is making no money whatever out of this fixture; it is solely for tho entertainment of the children. The association will probably ‘ bold its usual carnival about tho end of January. So far the Otago Harbour Board has declined for reductions in the dues on' produce exported from Dunedin. To show how unfairly the rates existing in Dunedin react on shippers here as compared with exporters from the other ports of the dominion, a shipping man has drawn up the following table: —Dunedin, 100 sacks, 10 tons, at 3s, £1 10s; Timaru, 100 sacks, 7) tons, at Is Gd, 11s 3d; Lyttelton, 100 sacks, 7i- tons, at 6d, 3s 9d; Oamaru, 100 sacks, 71- tons, at 2s, 15s; Bluff, 100 sacks, 71 tons, at Is Gd, 11s 3d. A stirring address was delivered to Auckland Rotarians at the weekly lunch meeting, the speaker being the Rev. G. C. Cruickshank (who has been appointed vicar of St. Paul’s Cathedral district in Dunedin). In the light of his own five years’ experience as a Rotarian before retirement last year, Mr Cruickshank commented freely upon tho organisation, and made suggestions whereby its usefulness could be increased. He proceeded to deal with social evils in the city, and urged that members should assist wherever possible on the numerous small committees that were engaged in dealing with tho px-ob-lem. Starting in iliolr own homos as parents, they should pull their weight, and not leave to tho women tho extremely difficult task of controlling and protecting young people in these times when temptation was more acute than ever. Rotarians, generally speaking, wore men of experience in organisation, and possessed influence that could bo extremely helpful. Touching on general questions, he expressed his pleasure that during tho last twelve months a number of Auckland Rotarians had taken a lead in public affairs. In his view tho nature of tho criticism and tho abuse to which aspirants to public office were subjected in these days %vas a disgrace to any civilised community, so much so that a person needed to bo something of a hero to stand on a public platform.—Auckland correspondent.

An outstanding feature of the Port Chalmers School break-up last night in the Town Hall was the presentation of five silver cups for school sports. The cups had been presented to the school by the Herbert Smith Trust Fund. For sports, or recreation, purposes all the pupils from Standards 111. to VT., inclusive, had been divided into four “ houses,” named respectively Aotea, Arawa, Motatua, and Tainui. The cup winners were:—Mntatua House—boys’ football and cricket—(G. Swain, captain) ; Aotea House—girls’ basket ball—(T. Roberts, captain) ; Tainui House—Athletics—(J. Donaldson, captain); drill, best boys’ squad, Standard II.; drill, best girls’ squad, Standard HI. The object of the organisation of the pupils on this basis is that every boy and girl shall take part in some form of recreation and so far it has proved successful. Through the fire having too strong a hold, and also on account of the insufficient supply of water in the vicinity, it was impossible for the brigade to prevent serious damage being done to a seven-roomed house at Glcnelg street, Kaikorai, yesterday afternoon. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The house was owned and occupied by Mr Robert Brockbank, and ras insured in the Standard Office for £250, a cover on the contents being hold by the same company for £l5O.

Breaking and entering the shop of H. M. M'Girr, in Cuba street, and stealing goods valued at £lO 8s Gd, theft from the To Aro Post Office of 220 letters, and attempted theft of monev and stamps of the total value of £2, the property of the PostmasterGeneral. were charges upon which Harry Balfour Burden, a youth of good education and appearance, came before Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court for sentence yesterday. After hearing counsel, His Honour deferred sentence until this morning to enable him to give further thought to the case. In granting probation for four years, His Honour said the prisoner was liable to bo brought up again on the original charges if his conduct was such as to show he was not deserving of leniency. Ho understood that employment would bo found for the prisoner, and advised him to do his very best to show that he was worthy of the lenient treatment he had received. An order was made for tho restitution of the stolen property and for the payment of costs of the prosecution (£1 10s).— Wellington Press Association telegram. Each of this morning’s north-bound expresses was well patronised, and had an extra car attached' for the convenience of returning wool buyers. The 8.33 train for Invercargill also went oft with a pretty full loading. The Christmas traffic seems to have commenced promisingly. Several Australians have made arrangements with the Tourist Office for trips to South Island scenery resorts after Christmas, and our own people aro booking freely at Dunedin and elsewhere for Queenstown, Mount Cook, Stewart Island, and all the inexpensive tours. The Dunedin secretary of the China Inland Mission, Mr John Wilkinson, advises that the 200 now missionaries called for in connection with tho mission’s forward movement, have been supplied, and all aro expected to reach China this year. Tho practical sympathy and help of all interested; i« tho mission’s_ great endeavour to evangelise China is therefore more than ever needed. Tho Leech Lyric Choir wound up its musical year by giving a supper party to members in tho Vedic on Wednesday evening. This year has been a verp progressive and successful one for the choir; not only musically, but financially. The activities of the choir comprised a popular concert and broadcasts, and also concert parties being sent to various institutions. During supper a bouquet was handed to Mrs Leech and a conductor’s baton was presented to tho president, Mr John Leech. Speeches were made by Mr W, Huff ell and Mr M. Peake. Application was made to His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supremo Court this morning to have George William Kidd adjudicated bankrupt. Counsel for the petitioning creditor said that Kidd had filed his own petition in bankruptcy this morning, and in those circumstances it was desired that tho petition before the court be withdrawn. His Honour granted leave for the withdrawal of the petition. “.From what I can gather, it is not at all likely that the Government will bring tho stone for tho new Post Office to Dunedin by sea,” stated the chairman (Mr J. Loudon) at the meeting of the Harbour Board last night. Ho said tho stone would be brought from Bluff by rail. Mr H. C. Campbell said that the Railway Department would undercut any rate fixed by tho Harbour Board. Tho postal authorities advise that the Ventura, which reached Auckland from Los Angeles on Friday morning, has thirteen bags of mail and twenty-three parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail should reach Dunedin on Monday morning. The following amendments to the list of proficiency and competency certificates are announced; —Omitted from main lists: Albany Street, John Broadloot (competency); Waikouaiti, Douglas Bunting (competency). Previously shown as competency instead of proficiency: Kelso, Gertrude Wiuslade; Owaka D.H., Daphne Garriock. The deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board has informed Mr J. Linklater, member for Manawatu, in response to an application for assistance for tho flax-milling industry, that the board is prepared to give a subsidy of £3 on every ton of fibre exported to assist the mills to reopen.—Foxton Press Association telegram. The case heard in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday in which Margaret Paterson, proprietress of a convalescent home, proceeded against J. S. Dotting, of Wmgatm, in a claim for £2B 14s (xl for special nursing fees and bedding material was concluded in the afternoon. The magistrate, after reviewing the evidence, said that the plaintiff was entitled to recover the amount claimed, and gave judgment accordingly, with costs (£7 4s). Tiie Rev. S. Glanville, formerly of Christchurch, now of the China Inland Mission at Tientsin, writes thus, under date November 3:—“The Hoods in mid-China have left a big trail of misery and poverty. In the province of Kansu there is much trouble due to Mohammedan risings. In other interior places the Reds are pillaging and slaying; in fact, there are few places where tho people aro not being terrorised. Tho trouble in Manchuria is more than a flash in tho pan, and will require much patience and skill on tho part of tho diplomats to bring tho matter to a successful issue. Chang Hsueh-liang, the Mukden war lord, has been stripped of pretty well everything; his arsenal is in tho hands of Japan; they have also relieved him of his aeroplanes; his army or much of it is scattered, and his place is being guarded by others than Chinese. Bandits and lawless hordes are overrunning the country so that the condition of the poor people is pitiable in the extreme. The Powers at Nanking aro in conflict with the Canton faction trying to devise some scheme of unity for a central Government. All these troubles are leading the common people to see that there is no hoxie in man, and not a few are now willing to listen to the message of tho gospel. A number of missionaries with Chinese colleagues aro moving round tho country holding tent missions in towns and villages. These are resulting in numbers of people having a chance to bear the Good News. lam glad that there aro a number of young people coming out from New. Zealand, for they aro needed.”

A largely-attended meeting of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association carried a resolution protesting against the propaganda which it alleged was being broadcast by chambers of commerce, having for its object an .attack on the salaries and conditions of Civil servants The resolution said that Civil servants were carrying more than their fair share of the country’s burden, and any further attempts to reduce their living standards would be resisted to the utmost. The association’s headquarters are to ba asked to obtain the Government’s assurance that there will be no more cuts, rationing, of retrenchment, ani failing a satisfactory reply to arrange mass meetings of Civil servants throughout the dominion,—Auckland

Tho secretary of the Otago Motor Club (Mr W. F. Sutton) has received advice from the engineer of the Vincent County that owing to a thunderstorm a wash-out has occurred on the Hindis Pass road between Dip Creek and Apple Creek. A gang of Public Works men is at work, but the road will bo closed for traffic for at least three days. Fire this morning partly gutted tho premises of Nasmith (jeweller) and several offices on the upper floor of the building, which is owned by A. J. Cox, whose own jewellery stock in an adjoining shop suffered severely from water. Tho building was insured for £4,000. —Gisborne Press Association message. Private advice received from tho Western District of Southland is to the effect that a badly-needed rain was falling last evening, and would do an immense amount of good, especially to pastures which were badly burned up„ and tho supplementary winter fodder crops recently sown. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— [Advt.j