LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 June 1927, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Victoria College student fees for this year show a substantial increase over those of last year. The Registrar re. ported to the College Council this week that the fees amounted to £B4OO, which” was nearly £9OO more than last year .and £250 more than for 1925, which, hitherto, had been the biggest year. The Minister of Agriculture assured the assembled fruitgrowers in conference at Wellington of the Government's assistance to the growing industry, wliich had kept a better eye on its finance than some other industries in the land.

A final reminder is given of Dr. Tillyard’s lecture on “Men and Movements in Modern Science,” which will he delivered to-night in the School of Music at 8 p.m. Admission is free and the doors will be open at 7.30.

“Loose finance,” said ,M.r Hawken at the fruitgrowers’ conference, “has got many of our industries into trouble. One reason for the continuance of the guarantee was t.o enable the fruitgrowers of New Zealand to put their marketfinance on a proper footing. One cannot say whether the. guarantee will be continued or not. -My own opinion is that it should be continued for some time at. least. (Applause.J I don't say to the same.-extent. (La ugh ter). The Government is prepared to help, 1 can assure you of that. I hope that the many branches of fruit-growing will continue. to develop in Ne.w Zealand. It is only by testing the oversea markets over a period that wo can definitely decide whether it is a wise policy to push the fruit-growing industry in New Zealand. . . , , We. have had two very good years against one had year. It seems to me in a country like we have that fruit-growing is going to be one of the good industries. I know quite well that Ft does not give very good returns—it does not produce millionaires—but still it. employs a large number of men, provides a comfortable livelihood, and the amount, of land employed is very small. It, is a most, intensive form of using the land. We want to cultivate that in New Zealand. New Zealand is a small country, and we have, to encourage very intensive use of the land it New Zealand is to he successful in the future with its primary production. We have now almost, reached the extent to which we can bring in now land. ’ Air flaw ken was of opinion that, the. local market had not been sufficiently developed, and he hoped that in time the importation of fruit would become unnecessary.

Women's Wool Gloves, 3d pair. Children’s Fancy Silk and Woo] Snv 6d pair at the" Huge Alteration Sale at “The Auckland” on Tuesday. x Girl Guides: The Regulation Drill has (arrived. —Tratheri and Co.* 3d yard for Faille, Silk Ribbons, li to 5 inches wide, in all colours at the Alteration Sale at- “The Auckland" on Tuesday.'

The monthly meeting of the Waiinea branch of the Farmers’ Union will be hold m- Brightwater on .Monday next at 7 p.m. Sails Slaughtered! Alteration Sale, at “The Auckland” on Tuesday. Men’s high grade Tweed and Worsted Suits 32/6, 39/6, 47/6, 55/-.* Week-end specials in wool repp frocks Maids and Small Women’s, from 65/regular value 80/-. McKay’s.*

At. the monthly meeting of the Takaka County Council, Councillor T. W. D. Synies again spolie of the large amount of money tho Council had lying idle at the Bank, and which could be bearing interest. On the motion of Messrs T. W. D. Symes and A. 11. Baigent, it was decided to place £IOOO on fixed deposit for twelve months and £2OOO for six months.

Professor 'i'illyaid, of the Guwtluon Institute, in addressing the delegates to (he New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Conference at Wellington, detailed steps that had been taken to test out. parasites which it was hoped would eventually reduce the ravages of insect pests in the fruit industry, including the bronze beetle and earwig, and also described the procedure that would be followed in the testing out of any parasite finally decided upon as likely to eradicate blackberry. Professor Tillyard (says the “Post”) was emphatic that any injuries to raspberries likely to result from the introduction of blackberry eradicators could be minimised by spraying, as in the United States, where there existed practically every enemy to raspberries imaginable, the returns per acre were marvellous. The tests being applied were exhaustive, and in any case nothing would be done for sever'd years, even if it were decided lo make use of the facts discovered. None of the insects, being tested could escape from the special building in which the tests were, carried out, and there was no danger.- If, in the interests of tho Dominion, Jt became necessary, eventually' to sacrifice the raspberry industry in order to eradicate the blackberry, then no doubt compensation would be made to those engaged in the industry. > Senor Humberto Bidone, to whom warm and tributes were paid for the maimer in which he had facilitated the trade in fruit with his country, was a guest of the Fruitgrowers’ Conference ati Wellington. Messrs E. V. Be van, of tlie’'Silaw, Savill, and Albion Snipping Company, the president of the federation (Mr T. C. Brash), tho Director of Agriculture (Dr C. J. Beakes), and the Minister eulogised Senor Bidone s activities, his courtesy, and the value to New Zealand of the establishment oi trade relations with his country due to his efforts. Senor Bidone, replying, spoke of the local market, for Argentine products, arid hoped tho trade might, become reciprocal, lie anticipated a tenfold increase in New Zealand apple export to his country.

Hawkes Bay intends to challenge Wairarapa for tlie Ramurly Shield on 9th July, when the Bay "plays a second game, in the annual home-andj-hoine series between the two provinces, in .Maslerton. Extraordinary enthusiasm is being shown in Napier and Hastings over the game, and there, are indications that a record crowd will make the trip to Masterton to see the team play, rivalling the great pilgrimage from Napier to Wellington in 1924, for the final shield (game there, when 3000 made the journey. Already dozens of supporters have taken steps .to secure -seats and hotel accommodation for the game Tlie Ilawkes Bay Rugby Union lias already been approached regarding the running of special trains. A meeting of tlie Napier Rotary Club decided to go in a body to tho game, necessitating six cars. It is expected (hat a formal decision to challenge for ifie trophy will be made at tlie meeting of the Ilawkes Bay Union to-night. It is also confidently expected that the Bay' team will go into camp for training for tlie game.

The increase in dairy production; the Minister of Agriculture stated this week had been very satisfactory, and would go far to counter-balance the drop in prices. It was very satisfactory to find that the quality of New Zealand dairy product had improved so greatly during the past season. When the .price had been low, he was convinced that the price from now on would show a marked rise. As for tlie South Island, the Canterbury wheat growers could rest assured ‘that the Government was going to see them through. The Government wanted to keep the money in New Zealand if it could. The crop this year had been a heavy one, and the quality had lieen good. New Zealand paid out a great deal of money to Australia last year for wheat, and the Government did not want to do this again. The oat crop in New Zealand had been a record one, running to 44 bushels an acre, which was a great yield for any country.

The 1926-27 wool season in Now Zealand was marked by a steadily improving run of prices from the commencement to the end, comments the “Otago Daily Times. 1 ' The extent of the improvement, however, is apt to be overestimated. The reports of the various sales, recording “penny and over” advances, were generally taken as referring to (lie [preceding Dominion sale, whereas they concerned the preceding local sale. “In any case there was a tendency to over-state these advances at most centres. Condition and character of the wool which lias a minor bearing at all events, were rarely taken into account. The advance on all wool fi'om the commencement of the sales in November to their termination in March approximated about 21d a lb, in special cases up to 3d. There is an almost unanimous opinion on buyers’ part that the former figure covers it. This represents'an improvement of from 12 to 15 per cent, all round, which must he deemed very satisfactory. Wool lias been the Dominion’s sheet anchor this year, the nine million it has returned saving more than the farming community from the severest financial stress.

A Blenheim youth who won, as a prise at a euchre tournament, an elaborate and glittering shaving set, presented it to his father, presumably as a mark of esteem and affection. Father was delighted, until he used the set, but he is not so pleased now, says tiie “Express". The first application of the brush to his chin, producing a lasting irritation and each subsequent use of”the brush made his face sorer and sorer. Finally he wisely decided to use it no more. ' It has been revealed in recent months that many shaving and other brushes of foreign origin are impregnated with germs, including those of the deadly disease anthrax, and people would he well advised to insist on obtaining British-made brushes. A feature of the shaving set- which has been referred to was its handsome get-up, hut that it was intended more for show than use is <Temonstrafed by the fact, that, the bristles in the brush were bent, broken, and interwoven, after having been used only two or three times. More Alterations! Within a few weeks exiensive alterations will lie made at “The Auckland.’’ On Tuesday next a Huge Alteration Sale will start, when huge stocks just boughl up North will lai thrown out. These goods comprise Men's Suits. Silks, Dress floods, (Senera 1 Drapery. Brass Ornaments of all description, Oak Cabinet Oainaphones, Nickel Ware, Brushes and Samples of all description. The bargains will astound you.*

Alfred Gould announces an auction sale for Monday next of household furniture, etc., in the estate of Henry Saunders, deceased, at the residence. High Street, Motueka. Alteration Sole starts Tuesday at “The Auckland.” fih/rimip fancy silks and satins of all descriptions, glorious colourings and designs—l/6 yard.* Tuesday at the Alteration fcalo at “The Auckland” 54-inch All Wool Coloured Serges, Dress Flannels, Tweeds, etc. 2 6 vard. s'l-inch Black Astrachan 2/6. yard.* Infants Cream Wool Shawls in good qualities, from 19/6 at McKay’s. *

The Auckland Council of'Christian Congregations holds the opinion that unlawful Sunday trading is widespread, that children attending Sunday schools are tempted to untruthfulness and dishonesty, and that they are in danger of having their moral characters undermined. The Council has decided to urgo the Minister of Justice to amend the existing Jaw, so that a more severe penalty may be imposed for the particular class of offence.

Shortly after 8 o’clock last Sunday morning’ a ghost train crawled out, of Invercargill apd proceeded northwards at. a speed of about five miles an hour. Never before, says the “Southland Times,” has such a train been seen ip Southland; possibly it is without parallel in New Zealand, for it consisted of nine engines, a guard’s van, and a seven-ton steam crane. But from only one of the engines did steam and smoke belch forth. The rest were corpses—mere skeletons of what years ago were handsome steel giants, doing service for the New Zealand Railways. Now, having outlived their usefulness, and having been embalmed long enough in the railway yards, they were being conveyed to their, last resting place, the stony bed of the Oroti River. The reason for the choice of such a watery gjr.ve for the engines was that they would act as a pi-otection to the railway embankment, which is liable to erosion by flood waters. The dead weight of the engines made their disposal a difficult task, but it was done at, last, and two truck loads of tender bogeys were tipped into the river to. mark tho conclusion of a successful effort. It is probable that eight more engines will he sent over next Sunday. Sunny Norfolk Island is not without its troubles. Until recently there was only one motor car on (lie island, and as it never appeared on tho roads the inhabitants raised no objections. But now things are different, the petrol familv having been increased by another car arid a Ford truck. When application was made for permits for the landing of tiie motors a great agitation arose the islanders having memories of a hectic few days when the. first Ford made its appearance. In this connection the inhabitants assert that by the time the car had been on tho island for exactly one and a-half days there wasn’t a whole hitching rail in tho place, every horse having bolted for parts where even tho Ford could not go. Residents of Norfolk wishing to land a motor on the island must now first obtain written authority from the Administrator, and have also to undertake to give three hours warning before they' take their “terrors” on the road. In addition, they must agree to stop when they meet any horse or horse-driven vehicle. Passengers who returned by the Hinemoa on Saturday state that aTI Norfolk turned out to see a motor truck being landed at Cascade Bay.

“Some may be more silly than harmful, and some are distinctly harmful. Some of the posters —well, they are abominably vulgar, and they are things that should not be seen in any decent town,” said tlie Rev. W. E. Lush, in moving at a meeting of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations that, as a new censor was to he appointed, the Minister of Internal Affairs should be urged to make the censorship more stringent, so as to eliminate films lacking in moral idealism and Jow in tone; also that the duties of censorship should include posters on public hoardings. 1 don’t think that it is necessary to say much about it,” added the Rev. Mr Lush, “but I think that a more strict censorship of films would he a very, good thing indeed.” The motion was tarried unanimously.

A remarkable expansion lias taken place in the consumption of canned fruits in Australia. In the last four years it has increased lrom p,UXJ,UUU tins a year to between 19,000,000 and 20,000,000 tins, or a yearly average of about three and a-quarter tins a head. Assuming that the same rates of consumption could be maintained (says the chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Mr Cattanach), the annual natural increase of population would provide for an additional consumption of something between 400,000 and 500,000 tins of canned fruit a year, but it is believed that the consumption in Australia can be raised above the average of only three, and a-quarter tins, and if this were done it would mean that almost the whole Australian pack would he used in Australia. It is considered, however, that this would not be quite a wise arrangement, as the consumption of Australian canned fruits in Great Britain is rapidly increasing, and the growth of the Empire preference spirit is very noticeable.

When the cigarette smoker finds that all other argument fails to justify his habit lie may claim at least, one virtue, his indulgence is of considerable financial benefit to the State. In the first quarter of this year smokers of cigarettes contributed no less a sum than £207,476 to the national revenue through the customs tariff. Pipe smokers paid toll to the extent of £130,384, and cigar smokers and partakers of snuff £2522.

The distribution of the New Plymouth Borough’ Council's rate demands for the current year has acquainted ratepayers with the fact that an extra penny in the £ on the unimproved value is to' he collected this year. 'The' increased rate means an increase of between £1 and £2 to the majority of the householders. Part of the extra rate is on account of a new bus, and part for genera] street improvements.

Why is smoking so often attended with results that cause medical men to order their patients to either discontinue the habit, or greatly modify it. It as simply because, the percentage of nicotine in most imported tobaccos is so high and it is the nicotine in excess that renders smoking injurious. .Now, our New Zealand grown tobaccos contain so small a percentage of nicotine that it is practically a negligible quantity, and besides, they are subjected to a new toasting process. Toasting develops the flavour, removes all deleterious properties and makes the tobacco climate proof. Toasted tobacco is recommended to those who study their health and appreciate a, pure tobacco. If you like a full body try Cut Plug No. 10 the Bullhead label, nr the somewhat milder Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog). There is another brand, Hiverhead Cold, which excels all others in mildness and aroma. They may be smoked with impunity and cost 25 per cent, less than the foreign lines.* To cope with a rapidly increasing business exiensive alterations will soon be made at “The Auckland.” On Tuesday a Huge Alteration Sale will start. Astounding bargains in Silks, Dress Goods. Showroom Cowls, General Drapery, Chinese Brnssware, Cabinet, Craruaphones. Electro Plate, Brushes, etc. Hugo stocks just bought in Auckland.*

New arrivals in Ladies Wool Cardigans in attractive colouring at special prices for this week end. From 25/- at .McKay’s.*

6d yard for Coloured Fuji Silk —colours imperfect—at “The Auckland’s” Alteration Sale on Tuesday.* Alteration Sale starts Tuesday at

“'[’lie Auckland.” Huge Auckland slo.ks of General Drapery, Brassware, Fleet to Plato, Cabinet Grama phones, Brushware, to he thrown out at, silly prices.* Emms’ Motors are advertising a revised service for the commg season. Their mid-day car and also weekly lorry service will prove a great benefit both to the local residents and tourists, giving as it does a surer means of transport between thes« ulaow

A resident recalls an incident connected with the visit of Paderewski to New Zealand twenty years ago. After his strenuous tour through New Zealand and before his departure from Auckland to Australia he found it incumbent on himself to take a change and a rest, and for that purpose lie was strongly recommended to visit Rotorua, which was then commencing to cotne inlo its own. Questioned by an interviewer on his return to Auckland, as to how he enjoyed his change nod rest, (Paderewski replied that lie had enjoyed his visit, hut be found on returning to Auckland that the Maoris had got the change and the guides had got the rest.

The Department of Economics of Canterbury College has been reviewing the trading and banking figures for the year —so far as it, has gone. In a review, published by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the Department finds that a decided movement has begun towards the correction of last year’s unfavourable balance of payments.” It is shown that export prices since the set-back in December last liave recovered a little, “though they are still much lower than most local prices, and there has been a heavy fall in the volume of imports, particularly in motor vehicles and some luxury goods. Hence the balance of trade has improved, and if the present rate of improvement be continued there is every prospect that tho overseas trade figures may show a balance in our .favour for the year ending on 30th June' next. The Department, however, points out that it takes time for changes in purchasing power to exercise their full efforts on business conditions. The overseas trade balance, which was at its worst in tho winter of 1926, is now “well on the way to recovery,” . hut likely to reach their lowest phase during the coming winter. “At the present time the trade balance points directly to recovery, but general public opinion lagging behind as’usual, anticipates increasing depression.”

A suggested remedy for the unomployment, made by Air R. S. Black at Dunedin, was the introduction of a better breed of rabbits inlo New Zealand. Mr Black pointed out. that in Otago there was much waste land, some of it carrying only one sheep to ten acres. He thought that the Government should reverse its decision regarding the rabbit, pest, and introduce a better breed of rabbit. The money coining into New Zealand per year ior rabbit skins was about £700,000, and if they had a better breed of rabbit it would rise to £7,000,000, and give employment to a lot more men. There was growing demand for rabbilskins, but the breed was wrong. If they introduced the Chinchilla rabbit they would get £1 each for the skins. Mr J. Horn, M.l’., said if they wirenetled a vast area on the West Coast it would supply work for hundreds of men and bring more money into New Zealand than wool. They had Ihe greatest asset in the world in their rabbits, and if they used the country that could not he utilised at present, they would obtain as much money as they had had in the time of the great goldfield rushes.