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Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 8

All this, however, has nothing whatever to do with the tariff on British manufactures, and it is not to be avoided by free admission of those, which would deal many secondary industries in New Zealand a mortal blow. The complete separateness of the two questions has been stressed again and again. Sir Horace Wilson, head of the British Board of Trade, stated at Ottawa: “Britain was satisfied generally with the New Zealand tariff, and did not desire it being lowered. They realised that the New Zealand tariff was largely a revenue tariff, and reductions might cause financial embarrassment. which would prejudicially reflect itself in United Kingdom finance and United Kingdom trade with the dominion.” The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Masters, has emphasised : “ So far as the abolition of duties on goods from Great Britain was concerned, it would not make anv difference to the question of restrictions on primary products going into Great Britain.” Primary and secondary industries both have their part to play in the economics of this country, and new need may be made for encouraging tho second, to enlarge the local market for primary producers, it more countries are to follow the aim of self-sufficiency. The Ottawa agreement is not being treated as a “ scrap of paper.” The first of its requirements were very promptly carried out by this country, and the Tariff Commission is now considering its report, based on the other requirement that was involved in it. The procedure has been slow in proportion as it has been thorough, but it is not shown that it has been slower hero than in other dominions.

There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Taieri Poultry Society. Mr Craigie submitted a bal-ance-sheet showing that the funds were in a healthy condition, and the chairman, after reviewing the figures in comparison with last year’s, congratulated the secretary and committee on the year’s work. All the office-bearers were re-elected, and tbe life members’ roll was altered to read:—Messrs W. Smart, W. M‘Lean, W. M‘Leod, W. Kirkland, A. Murdoch, W. Gore, P. C. Sinclair, J. M‘Gettigan, and J. Williamson. The South Island Poultry Association notified that the following championships had been allotted to Taieri for the annual show on June 30; —Orpington other than black, open class; utility buff or cinnamon Orpington; modern game bantam other than black-red; homer cock, ringed 1933; dragoon or show homer pigeon; Yorkshire self-green or foul-green canary. When asked by the Magistrate (Mr Bundle) at the weekly sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Oannmi yesterday if he had anything to say, defendant, who was charged with using his premises ns a common gaming house, stated that the day in question (February 3) had been a big one, “ but as you know, your Worship, there is very little profit in the business.” Mr Bundle. ” I don’r, know if I should know that.” (Laughter.)

All classes of fat sheep sold at reduced .rates at Burnside yesterday. Prime heavy wethers sold to 28s, heavy wethers 34s Gd to 265, medium 22s to 23s 9d, light down to 18s, extra prime heavy young ewes to 24s Gd, prime heavy 18s to 21s, medium quality 15s Gd to 17s Od, light down to 12s Gd. Freezing buyers and butchers alike operated keenly for lambs, and late rates were maintained. Extra heavy butchers' lambs sold to 28s. heavy lambs 23s to 245, medium 19s Gd to 21s Gd, light down to 17s. A well-attended meeting last night, presided over by Senior-sergeant MacLean, decided to 'hold a police-Press picnic at North Taieri next month. Arrangements were made for the conduct of a comprehensive sports programme. Senior-sergeant Mac Lean was appointed chairman of the committee and Air T. .Johnston secretary.

It is the intention of the Mosgiel Borough Council to seek a revaluation of the borough. As the borough was last valued in 1916 the Finance Committee of the council is of the opinion that steps should be taken to apply for a revaluation, and the town clerk has been instructed to communicate with the Valuation Department on the matter. At last night’s meeting, Cr Hartstonge, in speaking to the motion for the adoption of the report, referred to the clause about the revaluation of the borough. Ho said that some ratepayers had privately sought a revaluation, and had obtained it at a reduction. The burden was thus taken off their shoulders to a certain extent and placed on the other ratepayers. ’ The mayor supported Cr Hartstonge in his remarks. “ What does the council do with £lO worth of matches? ” asked Cr Tremaine when an account from a Palmerston North firm for that amount came to hand. Tho gas manager (Mr J. W. Muir) explained that matches had to bo supplied council workmen for testing gas meters, and the whole of £lO worth would be used up in a year. A careful check was kept on all matches issued for the work. A Alanawatu farmer whoso pasture land is hounded on tho west by a mile of dusty road over which much motor traffic passes hopes sincerely that it will never be tar-sealed (states the Manawatu ‘Times’). He finds that the grassland within 500yds of the road is benefited by the dust from the prevailing westerly winds to the same extent as if .he had used ten tons of superphosphate yearly on the 160 acres, which is thus amply topdressed free of cost. “ It sounds like Douglas Credit, or at least back to barter,” commented Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court when counsel, giving an explanation why his client had been found in an hotel after hours, stated that lie had gone there to present the licensee with a pot of honey and the latter had offered the donor a long beer in return. The customary fine was imposed. Two men escaped from the Porirua Mental Hospital on Tuesday evening, and have not yet been recovered (says a Wellington Press Association message). They were found to be missing at about 9 o’clock. Although they have been at liberty for more than a day the hospital authorities anticipate no difficulty in recapturing them shortly. An echo of the Overseas Passengers Limited case was heard in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court, when Harold Bradley Brownrigg. who is at present serving a sentence, was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence on charges of false pretences. The evidence showed that the accused advertised for a young man willing to invest £2OO in a flourishing business, and to he employed at £3 weekly. Douglas diaries Stewart, a Presbyterian minister, answered the advertisement, and, satisfied with tho credentials of the accused, ho placed his son in Ids employ and handed over £SO and £l5O on different occasions as agreed upon. The business later proved to be a bogus one. The accused pleaded guilty to both charges.

All the heavy filling in on the centre of the Oval to'ensure a level for years to come is finished. The work now going on there is to take out the undulations, which are but slight, and to returf. Sand is being laid to serve for the grass of the turf to take root in. On Saturday of last week some of the Dunedin residents whoso houses are on tho hills at Anderson’s Bay found the water supply no more than a trickle, and the next day nothing could be got from the taps, so water for household purposes had to lie carried indoors. It is understood that property owners are making known the grievance to the municipal authorities. The assertion is made that whilst the upper dwellers in the Bay were short of water for washing and drinking some of tho men on the Flat were hosing their gardens. The paddling pool in the Woodhaugh Gardens has been so largely used by children this summer as to encourage tho Dunedin Corporation to double its size. That work was begun this week. The extra length will not be in a straight line, it being more in keeping with the beauty of the natural surroundings to follow the irregular course of the stream.

The Dunedin Botanic Gardens are at this season abundant in interest. In the glasshouses there is a charming display of begonias, streptocarpa, zonale geraniums, and young gloxinias that in time will replace tho stock gloxinias that were destroyed in the nursery fire last year. Half-hardy annuals are prominent in the outside beds and borders, the petunias, verbenas, dianthus, and phlox Drummondi, being very showy and of choice quality. Hydrangeas are doing exceptionally well, and of the gladioli the primulimis hybrids, small and not needing stakes, are perfectly glorious. Stocks of the ten-weeks and biennial varieties are still flowering, red salvias are coming on, the open-air begonias arc attractive, and the sweet peas are looking as well as over. On the hill tho hydrangeas arc a show by themselves, the sweet peas are of excellent colour, and tho dahlias, just commencing to do their best, are of all types, though mostly of tho decorative order. Air Tannock and his assistants deserve all the praises heard from visitors as to the excellence of the flowers and the upkeep of the lawns.

A Gisborne Press Association telegram states that last night a small suburban store was broken into and tobacco and cigarettes valued at £2O were stolen.

The Dunedin Hibernian Social and Debating Club rooms in Manse street were well filled last Monday night, the occasion being an impromptu speech evening. The vice-president. of the club (Mr W. M'Alovoy) presided in the unavoidable absence of the president. The subjects chosen wore of a wide and varied nature, and the following speakers dealt with their questions in an able manner:—Messrs G. D. O’Connell, J. H. Thompson, H. Gallagher, W. Jollv, J. H. Hartstonge, .1. P. Dolan, G. Carrol], S. Mee, L. M'Allcn, F. R. Thompson, ft. G. O’Reilly, F. G. Broun, H. Dolan, R. A. King, W. K. Dawkins, W. M‘Alcvey, and J. H. Metcalfe.

Remits and general business were dealt with at this morning's meeting of the New Zealand Registered Nurses’ Association. This afternoon the delegates were .shown through the special departments of the Public Hospital, and there was a demonstration of postural exercises by the nurses, under the direction of Mr Renfrew White. The delegates were also tie guests of the Hospital Board at afternoon tea, and later were shown a nursing exhibition at the Nurses’ Homo.