Points From The News

Northern Advocate, 11 July 1936, Page 8

Points From The News

'THE Minister of Public Works, the 1 Hon. R. Semple, was yesterday requested by Messrs. C. B. Michie, chairman of the Kaitaia Dairy Company, and A. G. Frankham, representing A. G. Frankham, Ltd., to investigate the possibility of dredging a bank of fine shingle from the Awanui River to give better access to the dairy company’s wharf. It was stated that the company exported 2000 tons of butter yearly, and that about 20,000 tons of general cargo passed over the other wharf on the river each year. Coastal motor vessels were obliged to take only partial cargoes because of the shallowness of the river where the shingle bank had formed. The Minister promised to consider the proposal. —Special. # sH V * ITJfHE'N the New Zealand Govern- " ment’s dairy market control August 1, the New Zealand agents of Tooley Street firms will not disappear. It is understood that although firms’ staffs may be reduced in number, at least skeleton staffs will remain, so that the firms will have an efficient organisation in the Dominion to resume buying should the new marketing scheme not prove a success. Salaries of some members of the staff also may be reduced, but the best may be retained at substantially the same salaries, because many of the firms have interests apart from dairy produce, which will require attention by the agents. Exceptional activity is evident in dairy produce in Taranaki at present. Firms are buying on a large scale at an advanced price, in an endeavour to secure as much produce as possible before the new marketing regulations take effect.—Special.

II7HAT is claimed to be the largest ** vessel built in New Zealand, will be launched next Wednesday at the patent slip, Evans Bay, Wellington. It is an oil barge constructed by the Patent Slip Company for the Union Steamship Company, and also the first all-welded vessel built in New Zealand. It will be used for the company’s oil-bunkering business in Wellington. So far no name has been chosen for it. The crafc is constructed of mild steel, with a length of 170 ft., a moulded breadth of 33ft., and a depth of 13ft. 9in. It will have a total deadweight carrying capacity of 1250 tons. The hull is divided into six oil-tight bulkheads, and the barge will be equipped with powerful pumps to aid in the expeditious handling of oil cargoes.—Press Assn.

IJY an overwhelming majority, a large " and representative meeting of ratepayers from all parts of Southland Province yesterday afternoon decided to urge the Southland Electric Power Board to take a referendum on whether or not the Government’s offer to take over the Monowai power scheme should be accepted. There were between 350 and 400 people at the meeting.

THE Hon. K. Semple, Minister of 4 Public Works, yesterday stressed the necessity for perpetuating the British Monarchy in the interests of democracy. “I think it should, be everyone’s aim,” said Mr Semple, “to perpetuate democracy and the Monarchy, since the combination of those elements has ensured the progress of the British Empire, while other countries are coming under dictatorships. It should be ensured that the King of England shall rule for all time, rather than that any other form of Government, involving a dictatorship, whether from the bottom or the top, should emerge.”—Special.

(gALES tax collected in the Dominion during May amounted to £233,493, an increase of £38,808, or 20 per cent, on the collections in May. 1935. The amount was only £998 short of the record yielded in April, • 1936.—Special. * * 3: *

irpHE origin of the earthquake on Thursday evening was revealed by the Kelbiirn Seismograph to be 300 miles from Wellington, deep-seated and of an intensity of 324 on the Roffi-Farel scale. Probably it was in the same spot as that of May 24. Two shocks were recorded at 3.17 and 3.21 a.m. They were about 40 miles away, and might have been a trigger action, which was part of an earlier and major shake.—Press Assn.

SUPPORT for the proposal that a levy of 6d a bale be imposed to assist research work and the advertising of wool in New Zealand and abroad, the funds to be administered by a committee of the industry, was accorded by delegates yesterday at the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. —Press Assn. * * * * a conference of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, there is a delegate from Taranaki, who is the mother of 14 children. When this fact became known to the rest of the delegates, there arose a prolonged “Oh” of surprise, wonder and admiration, and a demand that she should show herself. Spontaneously, the 280 women stood and sang “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” —P.A.

jVJ.YSTERY surrounds the discovery of a severely injured man, Mr S. T. Sands, of Lyall Bay, Wellington, at the bottom of a 40ft. concrete wall at the rear of Whitcombe and Tombs premises. Mr Sands was taken to hospital suffering fractures of both thighs, a fractured wrist, and injuries to the face and head. —Ppess Assn.