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Evening Star, Issue 21633, 31 January 1934, Page 6

At the annual convention of the Douglas Credit movement in New Zealand, which is in progress at Ashhurst, the following office-bearers were elected;—President, Mr H. M. Rushworth, M.P.; vice-presidents—Messrs A. C. A. Sexton (Auckland), A. G. Gifford (Wellington), C. G. Holmes (Waimate), and Miss M. H. M. King (Dunedin). According to several leading stationers the prices for school text books and requisites will remain the same as last year, when retail prices were cut down to a minimum by the Education Department.' With the holidays drawing to a close preparations are now being made to meet the demands for the books, and although school shopping has not yet commenced in earnest heavy country orders have been fulfilled.

Under the will of the late Mr William Benda)!, retired county engineer, of Waikouaiti, after certain life interests, provision is made for the residuary estate to be divided between certain relatives, and the following _ organisations in equal shares :—British and Foreign Bible Society. Presbyterian Social Service Association of Dunedin, general treasurer (for time being) of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for the use of foreign missions. Returned Soldiers’ Association of Dunedin (for the use of blind returned soldiers), Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society, of Dunedin; Otago Hospital Board, for relief of the poor; and the Mission of Lepers. The. estate was sworu at under £4,000,

The week-end motor bus excursion to the Eglinton Valley arranged by the Corporation tramway department was a most successful one. Leaving Dunedin on Friday morning, the usual itinerary was followed, and the passengers returned to Dunedin on Monday evening. Excellent weather was experienced throughout the trip, and all were loud in their praises of the scenery and of the arrangements which had been made for their entertainment. The next excursion is to leave Dunedin on Friday. A Dunedin ex-soldier, Mr E. Stohr, has placed on the market an article which he claims will combat moths in clothing and at the same time will have a beneficial effect on the general health of the household. The device takes the form of a copper spiral surrounding eight napthaline balls, and is suspended from a loop. Though simple of construction, it is claimed to be most efficacious, and besides having the quality of not allowing moths to live _ within 29 square feet of the device, it imports an anti-germ atmosphere to the air. The Taieri Anglers’ Club held a competition on the Waipori Dam over the week-end, when twenty members took part, but as conditions Vere poor only sixty fish were caught, and these were small and in poor condition. The results were:—P. Ralston 1 (9 fish, 61b); J. Ralston 2 (10 fish, 51b 12 oz); J. Anderson 3 (8 fish, 41b). Messrs J. W. Munro, M.P., and F. Jones, M.P., addressed: a meeting in Mosgiel last evening in the interests of the Labour cause. The subject matter of the addresses was ‘ The Way Out and Up,’ the speakers dealing with many phases of the unemployment question. The Canterbury Steam Shipping Company’s steamer Gale, which has been held up at Lyttelton for the last few days owing to inability to obtain a crew, sailed yesterday afternoon for Wellington. Mr R. Stewart, first mate on the Breeze on her maiden voyage from England, was ordered to transfer to the Gale as master as soon as the Breeze arrived at Lyttelton. “ Undoubtedly there is a growing sentiment in favour of getting rid of the present Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and giving way to younger politicians, of whom there are many in Great Britain at present,” said Mr G. E. Martin, a New Zealander who is visiting the dominion from England after a Tong absence, when interviewed by a representative of the Christchurch ‘Press.’ “The young element in the Conservative Party is coming on, and is very strong in the possession of a number of clever men. This element wants a clear-cut Conservative Party to control the country, and is strongly in favour of giving up a national Government with a Labour leader and going back to party government. Mr MacDonald is capable and sincere, so is Mr Baldwin; but the younger men are 'coming to the front and want the old heads out of the way.”

Although it has not yet *been found necessary in New Zealand to establish a home for stray animals, as is done in England,.a northern city can at least boast of an institution run on similar lines. At the December meeting*" of the' Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a discussion took place anent the callous indifference of people who left their pets uncared for when on holiday. The sequel occurred at a meeting held yesterday, when a letter was received from a Christchurch lady .stating that, if it were inconvenient to have animals cared for in Dunedin, she was prepared to board pets, especially cats, for a moderate fee. The preliminary steps, per the medium of the Warden’s Court, are being taken with the object of improving the water supply of the borough of Milton. An application has been lodged at the Warden’s Court office in Lawrence for one head of water out of Glen Creek (a tributary of _ the north branch of the Tokomairiro River) about 106 chains above its junction with that river in section <42, 'block VI., Table Hill district. The water from the intake is to be conveyed in pipes 7in in diameter for a distance of six miles to its terminal point in Milton. It is estimated that it will take five months to complete the work, at a cost of £7,000. The hearing of the application is set down for Febrqary 19 (states our .Lawrence correspondent).

Because of the dry autumn and winter last year the cocksfoot production on Banks Peninsula will be the lowest it has been for many years, according to growers. One grower stated that it is estimated that the total output will be about 5,000 sacks as compared with 14,000 sacks last season and 7,000 the season before. Cutting is well advanced, in spite of several interruptions through the wet weather, and men with their knives are working their way through the mid-early crops well up the hillsides.

Loud-voiced demands for “silence!” and orders to “ Stand up!” or “Take off your hat!” are not uncommon in the "Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, but a new one was heard recently. “Put out that cigarette!” shouted a constable, and the smoker in the body of the court lost no time in obeying. In yesterday’s issue we afmounced the constitution of the directing staff of the Fletcher Construction Company on the Dunedin Post Office contract. The name of l the Public Works Department’s officers who are associated with the work are now known. Mr T. M. Ball (district engineer) is, of course, the engineer in charge as representing the department; Mr J. W. Walker is the clerk of works: Mr E. R. Rout is the steel work inspector, and as such responsible for the fabrication and erection of the steel frame, Mr Walker is looking after the remainder of the constructive operations.

An inquiry of the Dunedin merchants this morning disclosed the fact that business at the tail end of this month has been and still is rather quieter than usual at this time of the year, not because of a slackening of enterprise nor a fear of the depression returning, but simply for the reason that holiday excursions this season have ben on a 'larger scale than is customary, and such indulgence has to be paid for before the serious work of 1934 is entered upon. That, at any rate, is the common belief. It is only a temporary halt. The indications are that Dunedin will be as busy as ever in February. The problem that the provision merchants are thinking about is as to the supply of dried fruits otherwise than those that are canned. For canned fruits the East can give adequate supplies, but in regard to such goods as seedless raisins, etc., for which Dunedin is largely depended upon, merchants are wondering whether we can continue to pay the prices that America asks, plus the inevitable charges that seem to be mounting up alarmingly. Notification of the allocation of £250 to the Duriedin relief fund from the profits of the Lucky Surprise art union was received this morning by the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. J. A. Young). For the theft on August 17 last of a bicycle, valued at £7 ss, the property of ‘William England. Stephen James Dawson (represented 'by Mr J. G. Warrington) was convicted and placed on probation for a period of twelve months by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S M,, in the Police Court to-day. His Worship also ordered restitution of the bicycle.

A letter from the Lbs Angeles Chamber of Commerce to a Dunedin firm contains some encouraging news. The The flock-owners of California, Utah, Nevada, and other Western States are joyous over the advance in wool prices at the Now Zealand sales, and it is noted that America is increasing _ its wool importing because of the revival in manufacturings. An inquiry from New Zealand as to how soon certain manufactured articles could he supplied was answered that the goods would be despatched on the return trip of the vessel that brought the letter. Renewed confidence as to business generally is indicated by recent sales in a tC Dollar Day ” in Los Angeles. The stores joined in offering special bargains for one dollar. It is estimated that 5,000,000 sales were made on this one day. The crowds were so large that some stores had difficulty in handling the business.

A double crossing of Cook Strait is to be attempted in an outboard motor boat by Mr Alan Woodman, commodore of the Wellington Outboard Club, as soon as a favourable opportunity presents itself. He proposes to start either from Wellington or Makara and make a dash to Picton, refuel and return. The boat is 16ft long, has a 32 h.p. engine, and is capable of 35 miles an hour. It is understood that a visiting speedboat enthusiast is planning a similar crossing within a day or two. —Wellington Press Association.

Save your eyes. Be wise and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.—[Advt.l The Railway Department is running another popular day excursion from Dunedin to Tiraaru on Sunday, February 4. Particulars of the trains and the special cheap fares are advertised in this issue.