WELLINGTON ITEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1922, Page 8

WELLINGTON ITEMS

TRAMS AND MILK. (Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, June 2. The item tram fares is one of moment to thousands who perforce reside in the suburbs of Wellington, but increases instead of decreases, have been the rule for some years. At a meeting of the Island Bay residents last night the following resolution w-s passed: “That this district respectfully asks the Mayor to use his influence with his Council in getting a reduction i’n tramway fares, the cost oi tram travelling for business purposes alone being from £3O to £6O per annum per family. On c of the most interesting developments in municipal trading will be witnessed in Wellington next month, when the City which for the past two years has been purchasing milk from dairy farmers, and allowing private vendors to distribute same, will taae upon itself the work of distributing throughout the metropolitan area. . is not exaggerating the position to say that municipal eyes from all parts ot Australasia will be directed upon We - lington, when the Council assumes full responsibility over all . branches of the milk business. In this connection a tender has been accepted by the Milk Committee for the erection of a new 50 stall brick stables m the corporation yards at Clyde Quay, for the accommodation of horses that will be employed in the distribution of tlie milk. The contract price is £5,400. The job is to be treated as a rush one and an effort will be made to have the structure completed by the first Wi el. in July. Horses for the Department to the number of forty-five have already been purchased. Goul) RURAL PRUSI’ECI’S A member of a firm of stock and station agents m Wellington, who has macle a easiness tour through ivaiiarapa, Manawatu and laranaki districts, is inclined to take a very optimistic view. The autumn Jias been ex-

Cuptionaliy line, and there is a iiusJi ot grass everywhere, and stock enter the winter season in the best condition possible. The mortality amongst sneep during winter should be very "Small, and tno lambing should be one of the best for years, so that farmers have something to look forward to. Next season’s ’wool clip should sell at prices to yield a fair prolit. Mutton and lamb should sell well, because there is bound to be a shortage of this class of meats, as flocks have contracted in numbers. Beef of course, is not likely to show much improvement, but New Zealand does not at present produce the right class of beef to meet British requirements. It is thought, ■ however, that local butchers might do .something towards treating the prot ducer and consumer with sonic fairness. The producer is receiving a very small price for his beef, while tho consumer is paying relatively a high price. The Wellington business man was fully convinced that the outlook for farmers generally had improved vastly.

MINE EXBLOfSIA’ES

The Minister of Mines, who has received many complaints regarding the price of explosives states that as the result of his discussions with manufacturers, a reduction will bo made next month, and a further reduction in October. A third reduction is promised at tile end of the year. 'I he amended charges will give material relief to miners. Complaints have from time to time been made as to the prices charged for permitted explosives. The Minister said that the matter had been engaging the unremitting attention of the Mines Department since June 1920. Manufacturers of the bulk of permitted explosives used in the Dominion were then strongly urged to reduce prices and from time to time since that date they had been pressed to make reductions. During the past few weeks, the Minister and his Under Secretary have nan a number of interviews with the nia.nu facturers’ Australian representative, who was urged as a matter of vital necessity to tae miners, to make a further reduction in price. The representative produced the original cost sheets of manufacturing explosives at the company’s factory at Deer .Park (Victoria), income tax returns, and other data for inspection and investigation by the Mines Department s offices. The documents were closely scrutinised, and they did not appotir to indicate that the manufacturer’s factory prices were excessively high, bearing in mind the increased prices which the company had to pay for ingredients. It was pointed out by the Minister that alterations could bo made in handling explosives, and that the selling organisation could be altered, so as to materially reduce handling and overhead charges. Within the past few days, the Minister has been advised that the prices will be reduced considerably as from October 1 next, the date the amended selling organisation is to be brought into operation. It has also been intimated to the Minister that an interim reduction in prices will be made from July 1 next, based upon reduced manufacturing costs, over two six monthly periods. In consequence of a new contract having been let for the supply of glycerine at a fairly substantial reduced price, which comes into operation in November next, a still further reduction to the consumers of permitted explosives will be made as from January 1 next.

FOOTBALLER INJURED. WELLINGTON, June 3. While playing football at Miramar this morning, Alexander McCambridge aged about 22 years, had a leg broken. He was subsequently admitted to tho hospital. MR. WILFORD’S ACTIVITIES. Mr. Wilford, M.P., leader of the United Progressive Liberal and Labour Party returned this morning after having spent a week in Auckland in dealing with the organisation of tho party for Auckland City seats and in connection with Bay of Islands Marsden and Kai para electorates. On Thursday night he was at Te. Awamutu preparing the organisation for the Waikato district.

CITY LOAN. Tenders for the City Council’s loan of £125,000 at 6 per cent, are coming in steadily. PRICE pF EGGS. The egg market has slumped during the past three days owing to the very high price ruling last week curtailing the demand and causing an accumulation. Furthermore heavy supplies have been received from the South both from Canterbury and Otago, and further supplies are expected. The retailers were charging a variety of prices yesterday from about 2s 8d to 3s. i .. TAXIS AND TATTS. “A regular traffic has grown up as

the result of the resolution abolishing public taxi-stands and creating private stands,’’ said counsel during the hearing of an appeal at the Supreme Court yesterday. “Some of the drivers say that it amounts to a ‘latt’s’ sweep and other talk about selling the King's highway. There is no doubt that the city council knew that car stands wore changing hands, for a note appeal’s on the minutes to the effect that £25 was paid by one driver for a stand m Brandon Street.” Counsel for the corporation answered that was not quite correct as the minute was to the effect the committee had been informed that ££□ had been paid by one driver to .-n--other. “To change from one stand to ai - other,” continued counsel foi< the appellant, “may appreciate or deprecilate the running value of a taxi iy £2OO or £3OO per year and the changes resulting from a ballot for places on nrivate stands have meant bankruptcy for many taxi drivers. It has made for different rights ami nm-tunities for members of. the same class.”