LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 June 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gifts of reading matter or of any useful articles are greatly appreciated in the single men’s camps and it is sug-' gested that passing motorists might leave parcels at tlie camps, for distribution. A Nelson business man has just received tlie following letter from Mr J. Murray, foreman of the Rai Valley Camp: “Herein I beg to convey to you the thanks of the men for the very useful bundle of books, etc., which came to hand, per Mr J. Bary, on Friday, 10th inst. Both the reading matter and playing cards are appreciated highly. Please accept my own thanks as well as the good wishes of the men.”

A Taieri farmer who grows vegetables on an extensive scale had the foresight in the spring to anticipate the drop in the price of the general run of vegetables that is now being experienced in Dunedin and other districts, and, making use of his knowledge of how to procure a lot of Jersey Benues seed potatoes grown on the Waimea Plans, he laid down sixty acres in that crop, with the highly satisfactory result that he has dug twenty-seven tons to the acre (says the “Star”). This good yield is exceeded by a man in the North Otago district who has lifted thirty tons per acre from a large field. Such production is answering well because of the demand in the north for potatoes, and it is pleasing to learn that other growers are participating. There is a probability of Otago and Southland seed potatoes being eagerly asked for by men who propose to go in for this crop next season. If so, the Otago and Southland farmers who have specialised in seed potatoes will have good prospects. Further evidence of the havoc wrought amongst trout by shags was presented to the Southland Acclimatisation Society at its monthly council meeting (stales the “Times”). In the course of his report Ranger E. Duncan stated that on 25th May he shot seven shags on thoMataura river below Mandeville. All these contained two or more trout each, some of the fish being easily jjlb. in weight.

“The principal thing we are thinking about,” said a Dunedin merchant this week, “is as to what the decision of the tobacco companies will be in regard to the prices of cigarette packets that contain coupons. ■ The existing guarantee to redeem such coupons lasts only till the end of the present month. The question is as to what reductions will be made in price if the issue of coupons ceases. Several leaders in the trade have already notified certain reductions, and we know how we stand in regard to those firms, but we are still in doubt as to the intention of others, and the sooner they disclose to us the better we shall be pleased.”

A significant recent move in the provisions market throughout New Zealand is the decided drop in the prices of canned beef and mutton (says the Dunedin “Star”). Campers, holidaymakers, and men who work in out-of-the-way places will welcome this concession. Its effect will also enable overworked housewives to further economise. The reduction is attributed to the fall in the price of meat and the lowered costs of preparation. Nearly all the canned beef and mutton seen in our shops is produced in the dominion.

The Rowa Hockey Club will hold one of its popular dances in the Velma, Saturday night as a complimentary event to the Marlborough junior representatives . The Ryder Cup will be presented during the evening. On 14th July a plain and fancy dress (masquerade) ball is to bo held at" Wakefield. The committee is working hard to make this the greatest local success of the season.

“From the years 1914 to 1929 the increase in the population in New Zealand has been 29 per cent., while the national production had increased about .100 per cent.; but the cost of land transport has increased 147 per cent.,” said Mr W. A. Veitch, speaking at a meeting of the Wanganui Rotary Club. In 1925 there was one motor vehicle for every 13 persons in the Dominion, but in 1931 that figure had increased to one motor vehicle to every 6.8 persons, so that it had been practically doubled. Entrance to New Zealand was not permitted to Vladimir Grigorivich Guvriluk, a Russian, who was a passenger on the Aorangi, which arrived at Auckland on Sunday, and left for Sydney on Monday afternoon. This action was taken by "the Customs Department acting on the advice of the police. According to his statement to the police, Gavriluk left Sydney for Vancouver on the last trip of tlie Aorangi. He wished to travel to Russia via London. On arrival .at Vancouver he was removed to a detention camp, and later placed on tho Aorangi to he sent back to Sydney. When seen at Auckland Gavriluk said he wished to spend a holiday of two weeks in New Zealand, but he was not permitted to land. In an effort to exclude from New Zealand any persons thought to be undesirable, the police are now taking precautions with passengers landing at Auckland. Strict watch is being kept by detectives on all overseas steamers.

“One of the Dominions which particularly keeps its products before the public here is New Zealand,” comments the Leeds “Mercury.” “The Dominion, in fact, is one of the most active members functioning in Britain. This Dominion, though not comparable in size to some of the others, is one of the most virile in marketing methods. She can hold her own in the way of making known the merits of her foodstuffs, with any country in the world.

With a threatened shortage of timber in the Gisborne, Wairoa and Coastal districts within 12 or 15 years, the Poverty Bay and East Coast Slieepowners’ Union has been taking action to secure the immediate establishment of plantations to provide for requii'ements. At a meeting of the union's committee, the president, Mr C. 11. Williams, said it had been pointed out to the Commissioner of State Forests that little timber would be left in the district within 15 years at tlie normal rate of cutting, and that after that time the district would be dependant on importations. This was tho con* sidered opinion of the late Mr T. Quirk. The commissioner had been approached., and they bad received a curt refusal. The union then made further representations, and received the reply before the meeting. The commissioner’s letter read: “I have to inform you that the anxiety of the - overty Bay and East Coast Slieepowners’ Industrial Union of Employers regarding future timber supplies for the Poverty Bay and East Coast districts is fully appreciated. It is a fact, however, that the cost of establishing and maintaining a plantation is considerably more than the cost of the land and the wages of planters and under present conditions the funds necessary to proceed with a planting scheme on the East Coast cannot he made available. Under the circumstances, it is not considered necessary or desirable to incur the preliminary costs of inspection at the present time.” It was decided to make further representations.

The particularly stupid law that required shopkeepers to brand all their goods with the name of the State in which they were produced has had just the ill-effects forecast when it was introduced (writes the Sydney correspondent of tlie “Argus”). Other States have been assisted to the disadvantage of New South Wales. This is the reverse of the result looked for. Victoria has commanded additional notice for its products, Everything labelled Victorian lias been considered a better bargain than a similar article branded “made in New South Wales.” The argument has been that “cost of production being cheaper a better article at the price is to be expected.” The expense of marking the goods was in itself considerable. The shopkeepers soon learned that the sale of New South Wales goods was reduced instead of being increased, and, consequently, they rejoiced when the new Minister for Labour and Industry (Mr Dunningham) told them that the Act would be cast into the waste paper basket. The Retail Traders’ Association, expressing gratitude, assured the Minister that tho result would be better for the manufacturers of this State, and that, consequently, a correlative benefit would be a decrease of unemployment. “There are practically no speculators in the meat trade now, because there arc no ups and downs for them to live on,” said Mr T. Duncan, Ilunterville, a member of the New Zealand Meat Board, speaking at Westmere a few days ago. It was the opinion of the speaker also that those who had their selling organisation at the consumption end of the trade in Great Britain, were in a far better position than those who had their head office, and thus their basis of operations, in tho Dominion.

The motor ship Port Gisborne, which left Port Chalmers a few days ago to continue her loading at Bluff, is probably the first vessel to visit this port with every A.B. a certificated navigator (says the Dunedin “Stnr"j. The world depression and consequent curtailment of shipping activities is responsible for the unusual manning of this ship. Her able seamen are all young men. who have served their apprenticeship as midshipmen, and at the conclusion of the fouryear team have passed the qualifying Board of Trade examination as second officers. When trade recovers there will, of course, be an expansion of shipping activities which will absorb the young officers. 100 pairs Blankets outstanding value, 17/9, *3B/6, 38/6, 48/6 pr.—Trathen’s.*

“Heard a lot about Lhis toasted tobacco,’’ said a Christchurch man to a wholesaler, “but 1 can’t understand how Ihe toasting is done.” “Well," replied the merchant, with a grin, “they don’t stick it on a fork like a slice of bread or a bit of cheese and hold it in front of the fire, as some people seem to imagine. The toasting is a complex process involving the use of special machinery and skilled labour. But the result justifies all the trouble and expense. The delicious fragrance of coffee, as you know, i.-; due to the roasting ot the berries, and it’s just the same with tobacco. The toasting or roasting releases flavour and aroma —yes, and what’s more, it gets rid of most of the nicotine, of which, by the way, there is a lot in some imported tobaccos. You can smoke the toasted New Zealand tobacco from sun-up to sunset with absolute safety. It’s good stuff and perfectly harmless. Yes, there are several brands —four to be precise: Rivcrhead Gold, Cut Plug No. 10, Cavendish and Navy Cut No. 3.”* Ladies’ Fleck Tweed Skirts with low placed pleats, elastic at waist, with belt to finish. Worth 17/6. Special to-mor-row 12/6 at McKay’s.*

Beautiful dance frocks, new lot, 29/6. 39/6, 49/6, 69/6.—Trathen’s.* The popular Short Coatees in Beach Caracul and Astraehan with hip length basque, worth 63/-. Special to-morrow 45/- at McKay's.* Blouse remarkable values at Trathen’s, worth more than 9/11, 12/11, 15/6.*

At McKay’s! Only 55/- for smartly cut Face Cloth Coats, semi-fitting and belted styles, worth 95/-.* Extraordinary values at every counter claim yoiu attention.—Trathen’s.*

The City Council met last evening to consider the estimates for the coming year. There were present; The Mayor (Mr W. J. Mof'fatt), Councillors F. W. Huggins, (1. 1.. Page, It. Watson, J. Stringer, 11. IS. A. Washbourn, S. Moynagh, and W. Blaclj, It was staled that so far nothing had been received from the Hospital Board regarding the amount of levy to be imposed this year. Tlie estimates were discussed until a late hour, but no finality was reached. Further consideration will be given at the committee meeting to-morrow evening.

In addition to very elaborate technical sections, many aspects of radio broadcasting of general interest to the average listener, are comprehensively dealt with in the 1932 issue of the "Radio Handbook Annual/' which has just been published. Of particular interest to listeners who seek the reception of more distant stations is the international time converter which is provided as a supplement. An extremely simple device, it enables the differences itt the times of any countries to be ascertained without laborious calculation. There is a complete list of over 600 stations, including short-wave ones, which may be heard in New Zealand. The glossary of radio terms will be welcomed by many enthusiasts, as well as by those whose knowledge of the subject is limited.

It will be good news to New Zealand dairy farmers to know that, according to a writer (Frank Taylor) in the “Daily Gleaner,” of Kingston, Jamaica, the local butter industry is being crushed out of existence by imported New Zealand butter. That is, if the statement can be accepted at face value. Grave doubt is cast on this, however, by another statement that “the native butter industry is having a pretty bad time just now, owing to the competition of New Zealand buter, which T understand comes here with a subsidy of Is per lb.” The writer goes on to state that the New Zealand butter which I understand comes 2d per lb. and was sold at Is 8d to 2s, while the local butter cost Is 9d per lb to produce, and that the shopkeepers pushed the imported article because of the greater profit to themselves. But don’t the New Zealand dairymen wish they had the assistance of Is per lb subsidy !

The unemployment gold mining camp at Maggie Creek, in the Tophouse district, known as the old Golden Hope field, at present contains about 100 men. The men are at present working on a tail race and have not yet commenced operations on their respective claims. However, the washing of the spoil from the tail race is being carried out and a washup of this will be made, probably next week. Any such return will be shared bv the men. Much interest was aroused the other day when one of the men turned over a stone and encountered a slug weighing one pennyweight. The Citv Traffic Inspector (Mr C. Parkinson) to-day received notice of his appointment as a Transport officer with a warrant which operates throughout New' Zealand.

In a motion, of which notice has been given by Councillor A. E, Armstrong, for the next meeting of the Christchurch City Council he proposes that the maximum salaries of all the Council’s officers shall be £SOO a year. On a previous occasion, about six months ago, he submitted a similar motion, in which he proposed that the money saved should be used to provide additional employment; he now wants the amount saved devoted to providing food and clothing for those in distress. The text of his motion is: For the purpose of assisting to provide food and clothing for those citizens in immediate want the Christchui’ch City Council establish a maximum salary of £SOO for all officers in its employ. The saving of £2550 a year to be controlled by a committee selected by the Council.