Ministers’ Retreat.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 176, 25 June 1938, Page 10

Ministers’ Retreat.

A retreat was held by the Presbyteries of 'Wanganui and Taranaki at the Turakina beach, this week. Among those taking part was the Moderator of the Wanganui Presbytery (Rev. J. Hubbard,-M.A., 8.D.). Appointment of Assessors. Representatives of the National Dairy Association to confer with® the Dairy Board in the selection of the dairy industry’s assessors on the advisory body, on guaranteed prices suggested by the National Dairy Conference were appointed by the conference yesterday. They are the president, Mr A. Morton, Mr A. J. Sinclair (To Awamutu).and Mr W. Marshall (New Zealand Co-operative Dair/ Company, Ltd). Costs of Farming. The Southern Hawke’s Bay executive of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union, at the meeting this week, decided to request the Dominion headquarters of the union to furnish a definite statement setting out in tabulated form the increased posts'relating to farming over a period of years, and all relevant information. The matter arose out of a statement made by the Prime Minister at Dannevirjce to the effect 'that it was hard to arrive at the cause of rising costs. Mr J. W. Murray said the statement was interesting, and he .would like tp see the matter investigated. Praise for 1 Students. —' Praise for the jnental attainments of many New Zealand University students . was, .expressed by Rev. T. C. Hammond, principal ,of. Moore Theological College,-: Sydney; and rector of St. Phillip’s Church, who has arrived at Auckland. “I have had only a limited measure of acquaintance with university life in New-Zealand,” said Mr Hammond, PbutT have;been very favourably impressed.-with the mental calibre of many of tlie students. It is a new experience to ine to find so many men qualifying' for '■ university_ degrees while pursuing strenuous , business activities during the daytime. I have been impressed by the resolute determination of these young men to equip themselves for higher branches of commercial and civic life under what we would look upon as heavy disabilities.”

Price of Oysters. v . Increases over last year’s prices ot 2s 6cl a sack and fid a sugarbug in tlie wholesale price of rock oysters will be charged when, the Government oyster depot at Auckland opens for the season next Wednesday. In spite of the increases, however, it is stated that retailers will bear the additional cost themselves and will adhere to last year’s prices. Australian Bird Visitor.

A specimen of unusual interest, an Australian spur-winged plover, lias been presented to the Canterbury Museum. It is rarely that such birds stray across the Tasman. The bird was brought down at Lake Ellesmere by Mr M. King, who mistook it for a duck in the darkness. It is the second specimen recorded as having been taken in the Dominion, and the fourth to have been observed. Tuition in Football.

As the result of representations made to the Wellington Rugby Union by the primary schools, the coaching scheme instituted by the Wellington Football Club near the beginning of this season is to be discontinued. The scheme consisted in the instruction of schoolboys by prominent coaches and players in the fundamentals of Rugby and the development of their physique by exercises of value to footballers. BloW-out at Rotorua.

Throwing mud for a .distance <>l about 50 yards; a large blow-out, which occurred in the Kuirau thermal reserve on Wednesday morning, partly destroyed one of the main pathways leading through the area. So tar as can be ascertained, no one actually witnessed the blow-out. It must have been of a spectacular nature, and probably several shots occurred after the first, leaving a gaping role 10 feet square. .•<

Big Traffic Raid. The big traffic raid conducted all over Canterbury last week has given the chief traffic Inspector, Mr J. Bruorton, a . certain amount of satisfaction, for he considers that the results show that drivers to a greater, extent than before realised their obligation. Christchurch inspectors, who were on duty all day, stopped 5000 cars during the raid, and of the drivers interrogated 80 did not have licenses and 80 did not have certificates of fitness. Health Camp’s Plight

Wanganui has the finest children’s health camp in New Zealand. Its buildings are. of the most modern- design, and the grounds are rapidly being converted from rough paddocks into model playing* fields. In spite of this, the camp may never bo used. The committee cannot make use of its assets until sufficient money is provided to furnish the building and complete the grounds. It is estimated that a further £ISOO or £2OOO is needed for this. Tariff Revision.

Without discussion, the National Dairy Conference yesterday adopted a Kaitaia remit drawing the attention of the Government to the serious resentment of the British public against the recent increase of tariffs against British goods. To prevent this antagonism jeopardising New Zealand’s primary exports, it was urged that immediate steps be taken to create a better feeling among consumers of New Zealand exports by giving better trading facilities for British industries. Deteriorated Lands.

Addressing the Wanganui provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the Dominion secretary (Mr A. P. O’Shea) made reference to the problem of deteriorated lands. “A great deal of land in . New Zealand is not worth to-day what it cost to bring it into production,” he said, pointing out that in very many cases,, if the unimproved value were to be assessed by deducting the value of the improvements from the selling value of the land it would have absolutely no value.

Damage By Whirlwind. Considerable damage was done at Otara (Bay of Plenty) by a whirlwind. School children attending the Otara School were terrified when the building was struck and they were lucky to escape without injury. A neighbour. Mr P. Black, who came to the children’s assistance, had to break open the door of the building: An examination of the school revealed that the building was shifted 4ft. Some of the supporting blocks were torn out of the ground,, while nearly all the remainder were, knocked over. Draft Allowance Ends.

The Sale of Wool Act, 1937, which comes into force on July 1, disallows, in relation to contracts of sale of wool, the practice of making the deductions known as draft allowances. The Act, which was passed last session, gives effect to the arrangement ' between New Zealand and Australia to abdliish the draft allowance on wool, regarding which similar action is, being taken in South Africa. The draft allowance on wool, though long contested by growers, has been customary in the wool trade for a long period. Windfall for Hospital. The failure to find a nephew of the testator in the time stipulated in the will has given the North'Canterbury Hospital Board a residue of £BOO of the estate of Mr John Gale, who died in Christchurch on June 11, 1936. In his will Mr Gale provided that if his nephew, Mr Arthur George Morris, was not found .within two years of the testator’s death, the residue of his; estate was to be divided between the Widows, Orphans, and Aged Masons Fund of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons and the North Canterbury .Hospital Board. The Menace of Erosion. ' The executive of the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand has adopted a resolution congratulating the Royal Society of New Zealand on its request for a Royal Commission to investigate the evil of erosion and to report on measures necessary to save the fertile surface-soil in many extensive areas of the Dominion. The president (Captain E. V. Sanderson) said that the Royal Society had done much good; work Which did not always come under the public eye, but it had never done a better service for the present generation of New Zealanders, and posterity, than in urging the need of such a commission. Lime Industry., An announcement that for some months an investigation into the whole question of lime production and distribution within the Dominion had been in hand was made by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. D. G. Sullivan). “For some months an investigation into the whole question of lime production and distribution within the Dominion has been n hand,” said the Minister. “Officers of both the Department of Agriculture and Department of Industries and Commerce have collaborated in this matter. A report on the present state of the industry iias been Submitted to me, but the position is so complex, producing units so scattered, costs and prices so divergent, quality so variable and markets so widespread, that no finality has yet be.en. reached as to how best to'deal with the industry.