LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 June 1930, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“The Mail’’ Avill be published as usual to-morrow (King’s Birthday).

• Tho rainfall recorded at the Cawtbron Meteorological Station during the month of May totalled 2.53 in., against an average of about 3.30 in. for the past 47 years. For the corresponding month of last year only ,54in fell, the lowest on record. For Hie first five months of the present year the rainfall has been 14.06 in., compared with 16.82 in. for the similar period of 1929.

Two men who wore carried off aboard the Corinlhic from Wellington some months ago, and dropped at Pitcairn Island, are on the Tainui, due at Auckland on 3rd June.

The Rev. F. A. Crawshaw, Dominion secretary for the world-wide Mission to Lepers, who has been giving most inspiring lantern lectures on the work of Hie .Mission, will conclude his tour of the Nelson district by giving a lantern lecture at Richmond to-night at 7.30, in the Baptist Church there. All denominations, including the Brethren, co-op-erate in this splendid work, and all interested are cordially invited to be present. Attention is called to the fact that Mr F. Sykes, of Stoke, is the local secretary for the Nelson district for this Mission.

Speaking at a public function at Foxton, Air J. K. Hornblow, chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, made reference* to the three million anticipated deficit in the Government revenue for the current financial year as stated by the Prime Alinister, mill touched on the possible reduction in hospital subsidies. “There is nothing which will prevent sickness,” said Air Hornblow, “and the indigent poor and destitute will always he with us. It is our duty to look after them, and if (lie Government by reason of a fall in revenue curtails the hospital subsidies either for capital or maintenance purposes, the levies on contributing authorities will increase if present efficiency is to lie maintained. As it is, the hospitals are paying considerable sums to maintain tlfe unemployed anil their dependants out of maintenance. — Press Association.

At long last there is substantial evidence that the patient policy of liberating newly-hatched quinnat salmon in the Wa’irau RiverJs about to bear fruit, for there is distinct evidence that the fish are beginning to run, in ever-increasing numbers, ill the Alurlbnrough rivers (reports the “Express”). Several quinnat have lately been observed in the creeks which fall into the Wairau above Langley Dale and a spent fish has been sent by Mr ,T. Lovell to the Acclimatisation Society to be forwarded to Wellington for observation. It weighs 111 b and is 80 inches long and 7 inches in depth. It is, naturally, in poor condition, and probably weighed from 22 to 251 b in its prime. In the southern rivers the salmon mil commences in January and fishing is carried on until the middle of May,'hut it would seem, from present indications that if the fish become established in the Wairau River the run will be much later, the higher temperature of the water probably being responsible. A considerable rim of quinnat was observed in the Clarence River at Easter.

Tn a Taranaki egg-laying competition the average number of eggs laid by 71 birds was 228. The profit on eggs marketed over the cost of feed was £2B 17s id, the earnings of each bird was. £1 Cs (id, and the cost of feed for each was 18s fid, leaving a profit of 7s fid per bird.

Several earth tremors were felt in Nelson during the week-end, the most noticeable being one at 9.46 a.m. on Sunday. Brief reference was made at the annual conference of South Canterbury brandies of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, which was held in Timaru by the chairman (Mr J. Bitchener, ALP.), to tlie super land tax that had been placed on farmers (says the Timaru. “Herald”). He said that lie knew that there had been a lot of controversy about tlie method of taxation, and some farmers were taking up the cry that there, should be an income tax and not a land tax. For a number of years they had been saddled with both taxes, but the union had succeeded in getting the income tax removed from farmers. Now it had been brought back in a sense, in that farmers should pay which was the greater of the two, and branches of the union were taking up tho matter to decide which it should be. Air Bitchener went on to say that before the incidence of taxation’ was altered, they had to be careful to see where they were drifting. Some farmers might not have to pay income tax now, but the time might, come .when they would. If it was thought that the income tax was preferable to the land tax, then tiiey had to be unanimous about it [before they advocated the alteration of the system. The land tax was a burden on a large number of farmers, but in years to come they might find tlie income tax a burden.

Mr J. G. Ralston, of Nelson, passed the practical part of the examination held last month under the Electrical Wiremen’s Registration Act. There were 279 candidates for the written part, of whom 72 passed ; and 260 for the practical part, .127 being successful. Prizes have been donated by the council of Fire and Accident Underwriters’ Association of New Zealand with the electrical supply authorities for the candidate gaining the highest marks in the written part of the examination and the New Zealand Electrical Federation with the Electrical Workers’ Union for the candidate gaining the highest marks in the practical part. The prize for the written part was gained by F. G. W. White, of'Wellington, who secured 83 marks out of a possible 100. The prize for the practical part was gained by L. E. L. Whitehead, of Feilding, who secured 84 marks out of a possible 100. “By encouraging our young men to take”up fishing ancl shooting, and by providing sport for them, we are doing a good work,” said the president of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society (Mr L. O. 11. Tripp) last week (reports “The Post”). “We are encouraging them to take up a clean and healthy recreation, to become good sportsmen, good citizens, lovers of nature, lovers of the open country, and lovers and guardians of our beautiful birds.”

High compliments to the Auckland War Memorial Museum were paid by tlie Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at the Returned Soldiers’ Association social on Thursday evening, states the “New Zealand Herald.” “I wish to extend my wannest congratulations to you on ydur .magnificent war memorial” he said. “I have travelled in most parts of the British Empire, and I have not seen a more worthy, artistic, or generous memorial to those who fell in the war than that fine building, which stands on the hill in the centre of the city. Not only the dwellers in the city, but travellers coming from other parts of the world, cannot fail to notice that outstanding landmark.” The attention of all members of the Nelson Rock Garden Society is drawn to the advertisement appearing in this issue, of a. meeting to be held next Friday at. 7.30 at Mr G. Samuel’s office, to consider the question of winding up the society and handing the rockery over to the City Council. On Saturday afternoon next the Cathedral Girl Guides’ Company will hold a jumble sale in the Cathedral Sunday school. There will be on sale a good collection of clothing, books, gramophone records, etc. Choosing a birthday present for a man is not quite as simple as shelling peas. You may so easily give him something he has no use for. Tons of money is wasted on gifts received with smiles and thanks, but which are not valued. Tastes differ widely, but there is one taste common to 19 men out of 20—the taste for tobacco. Give the average man something to smoke and lie will appreciate it.— "preferably a bit of good “cut-up.” And the finest “cut-up” is New Zealand grown. It is the purest of all because—unlike the imported— it contains hardly any nicotine. Consequently it can lie smoked all da.y long—“and then some,” with perfect safety. How’s that? Because it is toasted—the only toasted baccy on the market —and the toasting kills the nicotine and gives its incomparable flavour and bouquet. Popular brands include “Cut Plug No. 10.” Navy Cut, Cavendish, and Riycrhcad . Gold. There’s only one thing better for a man’s present than a pound of this tobacco, and that’s two pounds.*

A cable news item, published last week stated that the next Empire Con-

gross of Chambers of Commerce would be held in New Zealand in 1933. Members of the Council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, interviewed by a representative of “The Press,” expressed the warmest gratification at the decision of the Empire Congress of Chambers of Congress to select New Zealand as the meeting-place for 1933. They agreed that Wellington, as the capital city, was the most suitable centre geographically, but stated that flic South Island would benefit greatly if Christchurch was chosen as the headquarters for the congress. This interesting question will no doubt ba the main topic of discussion at the conference of Associated Chambers of Commerce, at Mount Cook, in October Whatever centre is selected there seems to be no doubt that the visiting members of the Congress will take advantage of their trip to see the whole of New Zealand.

It is recalled by tile “New Zealand Herald” that the United Party is now in the unusual position of having no whips, those indefatigable gentlemen whose duty it is to arrange pairs, to apply for leave of absence for members," to act as liason officers with the whips of the other parties, to make new members of the party conversant with Parliamentary procedure, and to at--1 end to countless other tasks ensuring the smooth running of the party machine. The Senior Whip, Mr A. J. Murdoch, has been promoted to Cabinet rank, while the erstwhile Junior Whip. Mr G. C. Black, recently tendered his resignation to Sir Joseph Ward. The responsibility of the whip!), particularly that of the Senior Whip, is customarily borne by a member of some years’ Parliamentary experience, -for it is essentially work only to be carried out effectively by an “old hand.” But most' of the “old hands,” and a few of the new ones, too, are in the Ministry. In point of fact, the only rank and file members of the party with Parliamentary experience prior to 1928 are Mr J. A. Maepherson (Oamaru) and Mr F. Lye (Waikato). Possibly they may be the new whips. Mr G. C. Munns (Iloskill), a member in his first Parliament, has been.spoken of as a “possibility” for Junior Whip should the party elect not to reappoint Mr Black. The Government has also to find a new Chairman of Committees'to replace Mr Smith, now n Cabinet Minister. The claims of Mr W. A. Bodkin (Otago Central), who is a barrister and solicitor, would seem to be entitled to the greatest respect. With others, he deputised for Mr Smith on occasions during the protracted Committee stages of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Act last session, and the firmness of his rulings attracted some notice at the time.

Cats have been seen in the South Island sitting on half-submerged willow trunks and scooping whitebait out of the river. A novel attribute of the stoat has apparently developed in New Zealand, according to a statement made by Mr W. H. Field. ;M.P., at the meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last week. Mr Field said that a stoat was seen sitting on the bank of a stream gazing into the water at Waikanae. After a while it dived in and emerged with an 18-inch eel, which got away. Again, the stoat crouched and watched, and the second attempt, though it was a well-matched tug-of-war, succeeded, the stoat disappearing into cover trailing the squirming eel. The latest returns issued by the New Zealand Meat Board, covering the shipments for the season from Ist October to 15th May, show that the considerable trade clone with the United States last year has almost disappeared. For the 1928-29 period the exports to the United States (assuming the,meat was all landed there) amounted to 44,262 quarters of beef, 5597 carcasses of mutton, and 40,278 lambs: This season the exports are a bagatelle by comparison, being 2411 quarters of beef, 2000 carcasses of mutton, and 8004 lambs. Moreover, it is not certain that this meat was definitely landed in the United States, being, shipped on optional bill of lading. Considerable interest was displayed by members of the Marlborough A. and P. Association last week in a booklet containing advance information relating to a World Grain Exhibition and Conference which is proposed to be held at Regina, Canada, from 25th July to 6th August, 1932. Attention was focussed on the matter when the secretary (Mr R. Wanden) mentioned that in some of the competitive 'grain and seeds classes the prize money totalled 10,000 dollars, or £2OOO (reports the .“Express”), The secretary remarked that the exhibition promised to be an extremely important one, for invitations were being sent to all nations to enter exhibits and appoint representatives to the conference. He considered that the Association would be well advised to arrange for the exhibition of some of the winning entries at the 1931 Marlborough show. There was a probability, he admitted, that the Government would take up the matter of a national exhibit, but, in any case, it appeared to be a line opportunity for advertising abroad Marlborough’s noted small seeds. At the instance of the president (Mr C. Ne'es) it was resolved that the matter be kept in view, the question in the meantime to be referred to the Grain and Seeds Committee for a report.

Almost a year has passed since the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risk) Act, 1928, came into operation, hut it will probably be some months before the financial results of the Act during its first twelve months become known (remarks the Auckland “Star”). The revenue received amounting to about £200,000 is considered more than sufficient, to cover the claims, but as some claims dating back to last January are still unsettled, and as others may arise under the Act in respect of accidents that occurred in more recent months, the figures will not be- complete until litigation is ended in respect of outstanding claims, perhaps several months hence. A correspondent raises the question of how much the motor car owners have had back, and suggests that the bulk of the money has gone to produce profits for the insurance companies, instead of being available for improving roads. In reply, it, mav he stated, owners who have always carried a comprehensive policy over their cars are not paying any more than they did before the enforcement of the Act.