WHANGAREI'S EMPTY HOUSE

Northern Advocate, 11 December 1937, Page 1 (Supplement)

WHANGAREI'S EMPTY HOUSE

Brieflets

AN EMPTY HOUSE. Apparently the Government is contributing to the house shortage in Whangarei. The house previously occupied by the stationmaster and standing on Harrison’s Hill appears to be untenanted. Some considerable time ago the site was purchased for the erection of a Supreme Court, but no progress seems to have been made in regard to this, and, meantime, house-hungry people are walking the streets looking for somewhere to live.—“ One of Them,” ★ WHY NOT HALVES? With semi-tropical temperatures becoming so usual, it is hard to distinguish butter from grease these nights. Yet the glairy companies refuse to pack half-pounds of butter. Why? I often pester the local purveyors of butter on this point, but nothing ever comes of it. Is there (a) any town where it is more necessary? (b) any other town where halves are not available? (c) any real obstacle to such an innovation? A recent visitor to the North classed us as 20 years behind. I believe he was right.—“No Refrigerator.”

k GOOD TENANTS WANTED, NOT

BUILDERS.

I met a man the other day. Like so many of nis age he declared emphatically that business acumen such as he knew it was absent in the younger generation. I dare say it is. He lived in an age when any man with ability could succeed in business. The country was growing, there was need for initiative and enterprise, and almost every reasonable venture was bound to bring in its reward. Whatever your business, it simply grew as the environment grew. Now we are more or less at a standstill and are still expected to continue building. It can’t be done. Our job is to find the best? tenants for the commercial houses already established rather than another regime of architects and constructors such as our pioneering forebears.— “Ambitious.”

THEY DON’T LIKE MUD, Pigs, cows, horses, mud, slush, and the other appurtenances common to dairy farms, do not find favour in the sight of young New Zealanders, who are reported to be flocking to the towns, leaving Dad to milk Daisy. There is a scheme afoot to send High School boys for a week out on local farms. If it is to do any good, let it be done at haymaking time, but by no means in the winter, which would frighten any young boy for ever off the land.—“ Farmer,”

CHRISTMAS BEER ON THE WAY. Christmas comes but once a year, and when it comes it brings good beer. That last word used to be “cheer,” but the rising generation has substituted beer for cheer almost everywhere, even at Christmas. I don’t know what has caused this mania for drunken pleasure, but any degree of happiness seems impossible today unless accompanied by the usual dose of “shickering” elements. —“Sober,”

“MADE THEIR BED, SO- ” We are hearing plenty about the farmers’ troubles these days. One thing I have repeatedly noticed is that they make a fuss about the shortage and reluctance of youths to take on farm work. Is it any wonder that they all make for the city? The Labour Government is not wholly responsible for this shortage as the Farmers’ Union would have us believe. It is not so many years ago that farmers were j paying their hands “five bob a week ) and found.” Is that any encouragement to a youth who is genuinely interested in the land? The farmers made their bed and I, for one, say let them lie on it.—“ Clerk.”

k COUNTRY GIRLS MAKE BETTER WIVES.

I don’t wonder at so many levelheaded city men of today coming, out into the country to find wives. I wouldn’t marry one of those painted dolls you see wandering up and down Queen Street every lunch-time if you paid me. Time and again I have heard young fellows in the city say the same: “When I want to marry, I’ll go for a holiday in the country and do some locating.” Yes, I will say the country girl has something to offer a prospective husband that the city girl with all her artificiality could never offer anyone.—“ Bachelor.”

k ON THE DECLINE.

A rare picture-goer, I had my quarterly sit in the front stalls on a recent night. As usual, “God Save the King” followed the last embrace. What a hurried rush for the door some folks made! Even some of school age, who ought to know better, kept on walking. Is this small and simple tribute 1,0 our Empire on the decline, or did I strike an unusual occurrence? —“Once a Quarter.”

k DIRTY BATHS.

. As a keen swimmer myself. I think it is an absolute disgrace that the school baths have been allowed to get into such a filthy condition as they were last week-end. One look at the green, slimy water was enough to dispel any idea I had of swimming in them that day. I do not know if they have been cleaned since then, but I do know that if the Health Inspector had seen them he would have immediately ordered them to be closed. If parents knew what their children were swim- J ming in, I am sure the “Learn-to-Swim” Week in Whangarei would be a dismal failure.—-“ Fresh Waterite.”

k NOT USING LAND TO THE? FULL. Colonial claims have been under discussion all over the world for some time. Really it is unbelievable that foieign countries should not be envious of our own little country. A trip up North will show you what I mean. There is land there such as few other parts of the world could offer, yet for every acre that is cultivated there must be 10 or more untouched. Worse than that, there are parts where grass has once been growing, but which is now going back to fern. If we can’t use what wo have, why be greedy and stop others wanting to do what we have failed thus far to do?—“Land Hungry.”