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Evening Star, Issue 25172, 11 May 1944, Page 4

An accurate pointer to the pronounced shortage of rented homes in Dunedin is supplied by a recent advertisement in the ' Star ' announcing a house to let in the Maori Hill district. There were pver 300 applicants, and some of them offered to pay a considerable sum of money in advance. It is the opinion of the electrical supply authorities in the vicinity of Wellington that the half-hour radio silence in the morning which was recently introduced is definitely easing the power load, although, because of other factors, it is not possible to calculate the effect accurately. The weather recently has been warmer than at this time last year, and this has probably been a major factor in the load production. _ Nevertheless, the supply authorities are pleased with tho response made by radio listeners.

He was a firm believer in the principle of " one man, one job," said Ct D. C. Cameron, candidate for the city mayoralty, in the course of an address at South Dunedin last night. It would be noticed that all of the candidates sponsored by the Citizens' Association were nominated for only one position. In an opposing ticket they would find men selected for three positions, and notice men who were members of Parliament offered for more than one position. He could not see how one man could possibly do justice to positions on three different public bodies. He was offering himself for the mayoralty alone, and if elected would be free to fill the duties of that office.

Representatives of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association and representatives, of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand met at Wellington yesterday afternoon to consider matters for inclusion in the district mine agreements submitted on behalf of the workers and certain counter-pro-posals submitted on behalf of the coal milling companies. Mr C. C. Davis, of Christchurch, presided.

Tho municipal organ recital on Sunday night will be given by a guest organist, Mr C. Foster Browne, organist of the Christohurch Cathedral. A programme of real interest U< music lovers will be presented, including such compositions as ' Trumpet Tiiiie and Air ' (Purcell), choral preludes, ' Jesu. My Joy,' • O Hail This Brightest Day,' and 'ln Thee is Joy ' (Bach); solemn prelude, 'For the Fallen' (Elgar), ' Capricietto ' (Leonard Butler), ' Piece Heroique' (Cesar Franck), and 'The Curfew' (Horsmann). Three items to be (performed which are worthy of spedal mention are Bach's ' Prelude and Fugue in G. Major. 'Carillon,' by the French composer, Vierne, and tho ' Toccata' from the Byzantine Suite (Mulet). There will be no charge for admissiou.

" The price of butter in -New Zealand has remained the same since before the war," states the annual report of the South Island Dairy Association. " The Government claims to be proud of the'fact that it has _ kept the cost to the consumer for certain food commodities, including bread, at the pre-war level. The price of a loaf of bread has not risen, but the weight of the loaf has been reduced, which, of course, has the same effect as an increase in the price. The butter producer, however, has "been given no consideration. In the Governemnt's view, it. would be very wrong to ask the ' poor consumer ' to help the producer to bear his increased costs, a large portion of which is due to the higher wages now being paid to the ' poor consumer.' The association believes that if the price of butter was raised by 3d per lb—from Is 6d to Is 9d—the great majority of the people would be quite happy about it. Under the rationing scheme tho extra cost to each person would be not more than lid per week, which is not much 'of a sacrifice. Still, there would no doubt be a loud protest from some quarters. The consumption of butter in New Zealand under the rationing scheme is estimated at 21,000 tons for a full vear, and an increase of 3d per lb in' the retail price to the consumer would return £588,000, which Would be a bic help and encouragement to the producer. The association, however, would be greatly surprised if the increase were granted."

" In my opinion the mayoralty should bo regarded bv the citizens as a reward for specific services to the city over & number of years," said Or D. C. Cameron, candidate for the city mayoralty, in a brief address given under the auspices of the Citizens' Association last night at the Forbury School Hall. There were two essential requirements which should be taken into consideration by the electors in the choice of a mavor. he said. The first was experience in civic life and public affairs, and the second was whether a man was available to do justice to the position., He had been Mayor of St. Kilda and served on the St. Kilda Council for six years, was a member of the Education Board, and for tho past nine years had been a member of the City Council and deputy-mayor for six of those years. With wartime activities the mayoralty was now almost a full-time job, and if elected he would be available for the full performance of the mayoral duties.

Association football has been described as "the round-ball game," but if the balls viewed by members of the Otago Football Association at its meeting this week .are to be those used in the future, such a description will have to be dropped. The rubber linings of these balls, which are of New Zealand manufacture, were decidely oval in shape, while the leather covers were also inclined that way. This fact prompted one member to suggest that the turn-out might be a utility measure enabling tho balls to be used in both Rugby and soocer matches. Thern arc. no doubt, difficulties in making a corcr such as that supplied by oldestablished British manufacturers before the war. chief of these difficulties being the, accurate fitting together of the numerous leather panels so that a perfect sphere might be achieved, but the hybrid affair described does not appeal to players of " the round-ball game."

It had been said that the tramway system should be extended to cover the route to unoccupied Areas, said Cr.W. B. Taverner in the course of an election address at South Dunedin last night. That method would make profits for the people who owned those areas, and no extensions should he made when there was a possibility of individuals reaping benefits out of it. He would like to see suitable areas purchased by the council for housing purposes, and then have the transport system extended to those areas. The community should reap the benefit of such extensions.

Referring to the purchase of the Caledonian Ground by the City Council, Cr W. B. Taverner stated in the course of an address at South Dunedin last night that a proposal was being studied for its development which would cost .£IOO,OOO. The scheme provided for an Olympic swimming bath, an ice skating rink, tennis courts, and a playing area. etc. It was an idea which might attract visitors to Dunedin, and would be given further consideration. With the objects of helping to check the spread of tuberculosis in New Zealand, of giving much-heeded encouragement to sufferers, and of assisting in the after:treatnient and rehabilitation of discharged patients, an Auckland Tuberculosis Association was formed yesterday. The president of the Auckland ;Rotary Club, Mr A. >K. North, presided, and those present included the mayor (Mr J. A. C. Allum), as well as representatives oi various medical services, some 30 local bodies, and men's and women's organisations of all descriptions. The movement for forming the association was started by the Rotary Club. *• ; Nearly 500 medical and dental students of the Otago "University Medical Corps are to enter camp on Saturday for the annual course of military training, which is expected to be completed in about three weeks. Students in their fifth and their final years are to enter an officer cadet training unit, and the 16th Field Ambulance personnel, comprising junior students, are to join them at one camp. First-year medical and dental students will be accommodated at another camp. Death by gas came to several rats in the kitchen of an Auckland restaurant recently. The kitchen staff disturhed a rat family of five from beneath bags of vegetables, but were unaible to catch them. Next morning, however, the cook, on opening the gas stoye, found the mother rat and three little ones peacefully resting -within. He immediately slammed the door and turned on the gas When the door was opened a few minutes later the rats were dead. , The destruction of the family was completed with the discovery of the father rat in the upper portion of the oven, also dead.

The reference in last night's ' Star ' to a white heron having been seen at Waikouaiti prompts a Dunedin resident to inform us that while crossing Merton bridge on a motor journey between Karitane and Waikouaiti on Wednesday of last week, he saw one of thes« rare birds standing in the water below the bridge. It was a beautiful pure white specimen, our informent adds. The Poppv Dav appeal total is brought to £3.813 17s Id by Balelutha R..S. Sub-association return of £l6O.

The premises of Shaw's Service Station, Main North- road, were broken into last night, the padlock of a door being forced, and a small sum of money and tobacco stolon.