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Evening Star, Issue 21077, 14 April 1932, Page 8

Asked to give some amplification of the figures which wore presented to the City Council last night showing that the various trading departments had made a net profit of £53,445 for the year ended March 31, the town clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) pointed out that it was a mistake for anyone to assume that the corporation had that amount of money in hand. As a matter of fact, the money had been spent daily in anticipation of the profit shown. The council budgeted on that profit and knew it would have it, as comparisons were made month by month with the previous year. For instance, of the £9,348 profit from the gas department £4,162 went to the general account for the relief of rates and £2,425 went to the relief of unemployment; of the £20,034 from the water department £4,866 went to the general account and £1,213 to unemployment; of the £20,760 from the E.P. and L. department £16,384 went to the general account and £6,062 to unemployment; of the £3,002 from the tramways department £2,341 went to the general account. Thus the departments had £15,992 left to themselves for maintenance work, otc, :

It is understood that soil analyses have been carried out at Blueskin Bay and that the results do not indicate chemically that reclamation there would create land that would be agriculturally profitable. The postal authorities advise that the Gallic left Sydney for Oamaru on Wednesday with eight bags of mail and seventeen parcel receptacles for Dunedin, which should reach the local office on Monday next.

“Back to Dunedin Week ” came in for mention at last night’s meeting of the City Council, when the town clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin) read a letter from the acting secretary of the movement, who wrote concerning proposals to illuminate and decorate the streets from Manse street to Frederick street and from the Octagon to the railway station. Also the request was made for the use of the Concert Chamber and the Town Hall (with basement) during the period of the carnival. Cr Mitchell moved that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee, particularly in regard to the use of the building. The motion was seconded by Cr Marlow. Cr Begg considered that, while they should do all they could to help the retailors to illuminate their premises, they should be careful about involving themselves at present in ton much of the expense entailed by new and temporary constructions. The motion was carried. “ The Finance _ Committee lias given preliminary consideration to the estimates for next year,” said Cr J. B. Shagklock at the meeting of the City Council last night. He added that the committee hoped to bo in a position to bring forward recommendations at the next meeting of the council. The removal of the minimum guarantee formerly paid by the users of electric cookers was mentioned at the meeting of the City Council last night by Cr J. J. Marlow (chairman of the E.P. and L. Committee). In answering a qucstionfcisked at’the previous meeting of the council, Cr Marlow said there were 1,100 electric cookers in use, and the removal of the restriction would entail a loss of £I,OOO a year to the department. On the other hand, it was anticipated that the alteration would result in a large increase in the number of cookers.

On February 4 a cyclist named Joseph Regal received fatal injuries when he was knocked down by a motor truck driven by John Edward Cook, a storekeeper, of Amherley (says a Christchurch Press Association telegram). Cook was yesterday charged in the Magistrate’s Court with negligently driving a motor truck, thereby causing the death of Rogal. _ He pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. It was alleged, on behalf of the Crown, that Cook was racing with another motor truck on the Marshlands road, driving at a speed which different witnesses estimated at from thirty to forty-five miles an hour. Overtaking Rogal, Cook swerved to the right, but not sufficiently to avoid him. Another complete sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday was devoted to the resumed second _ reading debate on the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill. There were thirteen additional speakers, these being provided alternatively from the Government and the Opposition benches. It was a colourless debate, and entirely devoid of high lights. The interesting stage_ will not be reached until the Bill goes into committee, when the clauses will be dealt with in detail.

William Frederick* Garner alias William Robert Garner, aged forty-two, the man who was found under a bed and captured by a woman “(Mrs Hyde) recently, was before the court at Wellington yesterday, and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment.

Opinions as to the reformatory side of the New Zealand prison system showing a marked divergence from the official view were expressed at the annual conference of the Howard League for Penal Reform, which began yesterday. After some criticism of the existing system Mr De La Mare moved that in the opinion of the conference it would be in the interests of justice if the Prisons Board was either reformed or abolished. He said that in his' opinion the board was believed by every prisoner to he an instrument of injustice. The motibn was carried. On the motion of Miss Baughan it was decided to urge that in the interests of public morality women police should be appointed in New Zealand. —Wellington Press Association. A demonstration of the potentialities of a new strain of a variety of lucerne was given to an interested audience yesterday afternoon by Mr A. Macpherson, formerly fields instructor and specialist in lucerne culture in the Department of Agriculture. This strain was evolved by Mr Macpherson in 1916, and has been under his close observation and development since then, and subjected to severe tests to ascertain its true value. In this “ Subtergrim ” lucerne Mr Macpherson claims that he has produced a strain of exceptional merit, with higher qualifications than any previously known, and with certain characteristics emphasised to make it more generally useful to meet all requirements that could be grown equally well on a wide range of soils and under varied climatic conditions. It has been tested out on the most unlikely, soils in order to arrive at its true value, as these are the lands most in need of being brought quickly to a high state of production, and its yields of fodder indicate unusual prolificacy. Mr Macpherson has been experimenting for the last six years on a plot of second class land in Dunedin, and the fifth cut of the season was taken yesterday, the comparative return per acre being one and a-half tons. He considers that this strain presents great economic possibilities as a forage plant for the future advancement of agriculture. A considerable quantity of dairy produce has been exported from Otago this season. Including the shipments by the Kia Ora, which is to load at Port Chalmers _ to-morrow, there have been fifteen shipments of cheese, comprising 18,294 crates, to London and seven shipments of cheese, comprising 4,134 crates, to West of England ports. Three of these shipments were railed to Bluff for loading. As to butter, including the lot that is to be loaded on the Port Napier at Port Chalmers on Monday, there have been ten shipments, comprising 24,484 boxes, to London, and five shipments, comprising 4,177 boxes, to West of England ports, two of those shipments being loaded at Bluff. The Orari is to bo the next vessel to take dairy produce after the Kia Ora and Port Napier. These figures are supplied by Mr Poynton, of the Dairy Export Board. Of interest to radio listeners is the annnouncement that the PostmasterGeneral has consented to the issue of short-term licenses in certain cases. Mr H. Booth, secretary of the Listeners’ League, _ has received the following communication from the Postmaster-General: —“In reference to your letter-telegram of the 30th ultimo on the question of the issue of shortterm radio licenses, I beg to inform vou that there is no objection to such licenses being granted where listeners who are not in a position to pay for the full period make representations in the matter to the local postmaster. It is not considered desirable, however, to approve of the issue of short-term licenses as a general rule.’l

As the outcome of investigation by the Agricultural Department and inquiries amongst the twenty-two occupiers of holdings in the Steward Settlement, near the mouth of the Waitaki River, it is arranged that a demonstration block of ten acres bo set aside whereon to ascertain definitely the effectiveness or otherwise of irrigation on that class of land. The border system will bo adopted, and the crop for trial is to bo lucerne, which is likely to be sown next spring. The demonstration may bo expected to be conducted over a period of two years. The Land Board sat all day yesterday and resumed again this morning, the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr N. C. Kensington) being in the chair. Apart from the ballots for runs and the allocation of sections in the town of Havelock, most of the business was transacted in committee and was of a routine nature.

Although he had no alternative but to make an order for possession against a relief worker in the civil court this morning, the Magistrate (Mr Bartholomew) showed clearly his personal sympathy with the defendant. The landlord asked for an order for possession, and judgment for the arrears in rent (£2 10s). ( The defendant told the court that for the past three months he had paid his rent for three weeks out of four, the exception being the standdown week, when payment was out of the question. The Magistrate then asked him if there was any possibility of his being able to pay, and thus eliminate the necessity for an immediate order, but the defendant replied that he had no chance. Counsel for the landlord expressed his personal regret, but stated that he had definite instructions to proceed with the case. “ I have no option but to make an order,” said Mr Bartholomew. “If I did have that option I would certainly have some remarks to pass.” The Port Chalmers Borough Council is not likely to experience an increase of revenue through the reduction of rents and interest in the legislation enactments of the Government. The reduction of interest on the borough’s loan indebtedness would mean the equivalent of an increase of revenue were the municipality not a rent collector. In addition to a considerable number of town sections, the borough owns two or three small grazing farms and a sheep run. All these are let on lease and the rents collected. The 20 per cent, reduction on these rents is likely to exceed in amount that of the 10 per cent, reduction in interest on the borough loans. At 1.42 this afternoon the Roslyn Fire Brigade turned out to a gorse fire in North View crescent. There was no damage.

Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Stumer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age,—[Alvt.]

Gold wanted in large or small quantities; bring your old jewellery along, valued by expert jewellers and highest prices given.—Ferguson Ltd., jewellers, 45 George street.—[Advt.] The Mayfair Dance Club’s', week-end dances will be held on Saturday and Monday. Particulars aro advertised.