LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 July 1932, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In the “Diocesan Gazette” for the current month, the Bishop of Nelson makes an appeal to all missionary workers to see that all money contributed to the missionary work of the church for the year ended 30th June is sent in as soon as possible. He adds: “The new taxation is giving our Trust Board and Standing Committee very serious trouble, and its effects upon the diocese are difficult to forecast. For the first time in our history Parliament has seen fit to tax religious trusts. The Standing Committee has appointed a sub-committee to study the affairs of the diocese, to see what, can be done to meet the new conditions and to report at the next meeting, on 13th August. A very great deal of correspondence regarding parochial quotas, which has been received, cannot be answered with any degree of certainty until after this meeting. I must therefore ask the churchwardens and vestries to exercise a sympathetic patience and the loyalty with which they always have served the Church. In the meantime will you remember in your prayers those to whom these important duties are assigned."’

The Conservator of Forests desires to acknowledge with thanks the undermentioned gifts, which have been distributed to the relief workers at Golden Downs:—Mr F. G. Gibbs and the Misses Gibbs (per Y.M.C.A.), periodicals and books; Mr J. H. Lewis (per Y.M.C.A.), books and clothing; Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Society, 81bs tobacco; Hon. W. W. Snodgrass, M.L.C., playing cards, cigarette papers, periodicals; Griffin and Sons, Ltd., sweets; Levin and Co., tobacco; Nelson Rugby Union, two footballs ; Mr A. F. Waters, playing cards, books, papers; Anonymous (3), hooks, magazines, playing cards, shoes, trousers, overcoat.

Remarks made at, a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce earlier in the month on the employment of girls in offices, caused the Wellington branch of the National Council of Women to forward a letter to the chamber staling that the National Council had unanimously passed the following resolution:—“That the Wellington branch of the National Council of Women regards the remarks made at a recent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce las reported in the Press) as regrettable on the part of the speakers, and detrimental to the prospects ami well-being of the girls and women of the Dominion. It appears to the council that interference with the liberty of the subject in the way of depriving any section of the community of the right to work in their chosen way is entirely unjustified. The council feels that the boys and young men of the Dominion should be encour-no-ed in every way to work industriously and make themselves so competent and necessary that they will hold their own in all available avenues of work without any effort on the part of the older business men to clear their path in life by removing such obstacles and competition as are caused by the employment of the women and girls of the nation.’ - At this week’s meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber it was agreed to replf to the letter, stating that the views expressed were those of individual members, and were not those of the Chamber of Commerce. Saturday bargains Tralhen’s Sale.* A general meeting of the unemployed will be held in the Institute Hall. Hardy street, Saturday, 2nd July, at 7.30 p.m. Bargain Saturday to-morrow Trathen.*

The retirement of Mr Will Appleton, managing director of the Charles Haines Advertising Agency, Ltd , is announced. Mr Appleton, in a statement, intimates that in fulfilment of the desires of his late partner, Mr Charles Haines, that the staff should gradually control the business, arrangements bad been made for the staff to take over his (Mr Appleton’s) interests on a liberal basis. “At a time, like the present,” said Mr Appleton, “I consider it is the duty of those who can afford to retire to do so, and make way for younger men 1 intend to devote more time to public life, and in that sense my retirement will probably assist my late colleagues. I, like other business men engaged in public lito, have suffered by endeavouring to serve the public interest. My services are being retained as a director of the firm in an advisory capacity for a term of years It is my intention to visit England and the Continent again next year ”

“I wish to express my very 'great concern at the number of football injuries this season,” stated Dr. W. D. Fitzgerald, of Napier, in a letter to the management committee of the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union at its fortnightly meeting. The common football injury stated the letter, was a sprain, fractured leg hone or collar-bone, and very occasionally a head injury. On a recent Saturday, there were live broken noses, and the writer found it difficult to believe that all these were the result of legitimate play. There had this year been far too many cases of severe wounds requiring stitches. It was decided to thank Dr. Fitzgerald for his letter, and also to inform him that steps were being taken to correct the position. The Stewart Island kiwi, which is the largest of the three New Zealand kiwis, is increasing in quite a remarkable degree, states the “Southland News” correspondent. Where some years ago it was only heard in the mountains it lias now spread to all the low land in the southern part of Paterson Inlet. Boats anchored at night on the south shores repeatedly hear the shrill piercing calls, even as far east as Little Glory Harbour.

There have been many discussions of the serious handicap imposed on industries in New South Wales by the absence of a Federal law which would make hours of work and rates of pay uniform in all States (writes the Sydney correspondent of the “Argus”). The stupid statute introduced by the Lang Ministry, which required all 'goods sold in New South Wales to be stamped with the State of origin, lost hundreds of thousands of pounds to the workers of this State. In a Cabinet of blind men a one-eyed man is Premier. This act was conspicuously one-eyed. The Minister for Labour and Industry (Mr Dunningham) has told all about the operations of the measure. Those who listened to his speech marvelled. The Stevens Ministry at once withdrew the obnoxious regulations, and as a consequence men have been put hack in work already. The shorter hours and the higher pay- prevailing in New South Wales compared with other States have reduced the number of factories here since 1929, so that the number of persons employed in them has decreased by more than 50,000 Of this number 40,000 were men. In these circumstances there is reason to hope that a Ministry which will place New South Wales on a level with other States will bring about a revival of trade.

Brief reference to the work of the Napier Reconstruction Committee was made at this week’s meeting of the Napier Rotary Club by Mr J. (3. Barton, chairman of the Napier Commission, who stated that lie would like to express to that body a few words of appreciation (reports the “Telegraph”). Tlie greatest strength of the committee lay in the fact that it was a voluntary' body, comprised only of men who were deeply interested in the welfare of the town. Tijgjr value also lay in the fact that in tlie matter of settlements, town planning, improvements, insurance, etc., the members who negotiated the problems had no connection with the parties involved. The Napier Borough Council, continued Mr Barton, being a party to the transactions, could not have carried out the work so well. “The Reconstruction Committee was also exceedingly prompt,” said Mr Barton, “in fact, I have been reminded of the story of tlie nigger parson who was asked the question, ‘How is it, if God is Almighty, that the devil has so much power?’ His reply, after some thought was, ‘Certainly God is Almighty, but the devil is quicker off the mark.’ ” (Laughter.) “This is a tickler,” said the Mayor, Mr W. Jones, at the meeting of the Whangarei Borough Council when the town clerk reported that the rate of interest on sinking fund investments with the Public Trustee had been reduced from s:} per cent to 4 per cent, and also that the Public Trustee would not consider buying the council’s debentures unless the sanction of tlie Local Government Loans Board was received for the rate of interest to be increased to 5? per cent. The Mayor isaid the sinking fund commissioner had reduced the rate he was paying to the council and would now not take up any loan at less than 53 per cent. “We tried to find a way out of it,” he added, “but there was a nigger in tlie woodpile in that by legislation we cannot revoke any resolution making the Public Trustee our commissioner. I am not holding out for a high rate of interest, but when one institution is lending and borrowing at the same time there is something wrong if the difference in the rates of interest is I*} per cent.” Mr L. T. Pickmere suggested that piessure be brought to bear, on tlie Minister to see if some reduction could be made. A resolution to this effect was carried.

“Astonishing to say,” writes Captain Marvel, in a popular London weekly, “there arc still folks who know so little about New Zealand that they suppose it to be part of Australia, and inhabited chiefly by cannibals. What will they say when I tell them that ‘Maorilaml’ contains thriving and populous cities, with all tlie necessaries and most of tlie luxuries of civilisation including, by the way, some of the finest tobacco I have ever smoked. The culture of this tobacco, and its manufacture now constitute a flourishing New Zealand industry giving employment, directly and indirectly, to many hands. Some of the foreign tobaccos are not as free from nicotine as they should be, but little fault can be found with the New Zealand article, in that respect, because the special process to which it is subjected by the manufacturers rids it of excess of nicotine and renders it safe to smoke. Even connoisseurs commend it.” (Reference is made by this writer to the four toasted brands (there are.no others) Riverhead Gold, Navy Cut. No. 3, Cavendish and Cut Plug No. 10.).* Fresh bargains Saturday morning Trathon’s big Super Sale goes merrily on.* On Monday evening next in the Marsden Library, a lecturette (the third of the series) will be given by the Very Rev. the Dean of Nelson, entitled “Half an hour with Cowper.” This will he followed by a rogramme by members of Cathedral Choir, assisted by Messrs Bishop, Holland and Scott. An. other enjoyable evening is assured. The Loyal Howard Lodge will hold its fortnightly dance to-morrow (Saturday) evening.

At the committee meeting of the City Council last evening the Mayor (Mr W. J. Moffattj staled that tfiie electric light rates collected since the installation of electricity amounted to £21,822 Is sd, and all that had been taken from the Electric Light Account to assist the General Account was £4OOO. The Mayor also pointed out that in addition the £2OOO transferred this year from the Electric Light Account to the General Account included £I3OO that was required to pay exchange in connection with the London loan on the antecedent liability portion of the loan. The loan that was originally raised ten years ago was for £30,000 for antecedent liability (city overdraft), and £70,000 for the installation of electricity. So it would be seen, added the Mayor, that the actual amount to be transferred from the Electric!; Light Account to assist the rates this year would really be only £7OO.

One of the most popular dogs that have competed in collie trials in Canterbury is Mr R. J. D. Innes’s Lloyd. Lloyd lias boon a consistent performer since he first entered the trials, and is a particularly intelligent dog. It is said of him that on one occasion when competing at Mayfield he loft his owner and trotted over to the judge's tent. He went inside, raised his paw for the judge to shake, and then returned to Mr Innes.. Although lie is now nearly 12 years old, Lloyd lias had a most successful season this year. He has won the Canterbury Challenge Shield (championship), Messrs J. Ballantyne and Go’s challenge cup, the J. Little Memorial Challenge Cup, and the Ngapara Challenge Cup. Lloyd was second in the South Island Championship hunt-away event. ■A _ member of the Canadian Senate, writing to a. friend in New Plymouth muter, date Ottawa,-3lst May, has the following interesting remarks to make regarding the forthcoming Ottawa Conference: “The Imperial Economic Conference is being looked forward to with great interest and much hope. Even the world outside of the Empire feels that the conference may give the lead to the revival of business generally. The success or failure of the conference depends wholly upon the spirit in which the Dominions approach the questions that will come under discusson at Ottawa. Annoying bickering and bargaining will mean failure, and I am afraid that some of the powerful interests within certain of the Dominions are looking at matters entirely too much from a selfish viewpoint. My hope is that when the conference meets the seriousness of the world situation will so impress the delegates that they will determine to make concessions in order that the conference will bring results that will be helpful to all the Dominions and start a movement that may also give a lead to the other nations of the world.”

Tiie first shipment of cut flowers from Canada came to Auckland in the Royal Mail steamer Aorangi on her recent voyage from Vancouver. A box of ten peony buds was sent by a British Columbian horticulturist, as an experiment, and he has asked that a report of the condition of the buds on arrival and their subsequent development be sent to him (states the “Star”). The buds were carried in a room in which the air was kept fresh and the temperature not allowed to drop below 34 degrees. Most of the buds were in good order on arrival and the wilted foliage revived wonderfully after the wax-coated stem ends were cut and put into a pail of cold water. The buds have developed into flowers after being a fortnight in water here. The flower used in this experiment is the Japanese tree peony, which was commonly grown ill Auckland some years ago, but is not so popular with horticulturists now. It is distinct from the Chinese variety which is of dwarf habit, but develops a large crimson flower.

Writing to a friend in New Plymouth a London business man, with interests all over the world, states; “Your loans on the London market felt the repercussions of the Lang dismissal. As for us we are waiting to see if any wisdom dwells amongst the statesmen of Europe. Lausanne will declare it, but meantime pessimism is the dominant note. ‘When France has a cold all Europe sneezes.’ And France ha s a cold—or maybe cold feet, which is not quite the same thing.”

A note of optimism regarding the future was sounded by the president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. Mr.L. M. Moss, in moving the adoption of tlie report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of the chamber (reports the “News”). “With the consolidation of the Australian position and the removal of the instability surrounding our exchange question, I think we can reasonably look for a commencement of better conditions,” said Mr Moss. “-Much depends on the outcome of the deliberations at the Ottawa Conference, but more, I think, depends on the successful issue of l the international conversations which are at present proceeding. Whatever inter-Empire agreement is reached at Ottawa must be but a prelude to a better and freer basis of world trade, without which there real prosperity in any one country.”