LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 13 August 1932, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

At the Magistrate’s Court this morning a first offender for drunkenness was convicted and fined 10s, tho amount of tho bail,..

“Fruit machines'’ in Auckland were discussed by the Auckland Presbytery this week. Air W. 11. Nicholas said a great deal of gambling was going on .among young people in connection with (liese machines. He said the principle of the system was that threepenny investments on the machine were rewarded with a pennyworth of chewing gum. About every fiftieth investment however, brought in addition to tho chewing gum a number of discs, which could lie exchanged for chewing gum, cigarettes or other commodities. Scvoral members spoke of the difliculty of taking action, and one said that a prosecution in Christchurch had failed. When complaint was made the owner said the machine was merely an sulvertisenient for chewing gum. One speaker said he bad known a youth to lose 30s on ono of the machines one afternoon. The Presbytery decided to refer the matter to its public questions committee witli a view to having some action taken.

The improvement that, had taken place in Taranaki farms during the past few years owing to the introduction of more progressive farming methods was commented upon by several speakers at an Okato function this week. One remarked that it was particularly noticeable in some districts that the roadside fences had been straightened and that a great amount of clearing had been done generally. Some of that, lie thought, might possibly be due to the fact "that owing to the economic conditions the farmer was staying at home more than formerly.

“The creek is cutting a nasty bend j„ ;fti r which needs protection,” read the engineer from a letter to the Waimea County Council at the monthly meeting. Members appreciated tbe seriousness of tbe matter.

By a majority of nearly eight to one tlie ratepayers of New Plymouth this week authorised the Borough Council to proceed with the borrowing of a sum of £553,000 to redeem existing loans maturing on Ist April, 1933. The result of the poll was practically „ a foregone conclusion (says the “News”), and not a great deal of interest was taken, only about a quarter of the ratepayers taking the trouble to vote. There ’ are approximately 4500 ratepayers mi the roll, of whom 1109 voted. The votes cast in favour of the loan numbered 979. and those against 120, the number of informal votes being four.

Hokitika experienced its tliirtietl consecutive frost on Thursday, Ihi days have been sunnv

AH A. Anderson, who has retired from the Bank of New Zealand, of whose, Dargavillc branch ho has been maringcr for some years, was in the Auckland branch in the days when the Government had to conic to tho assistance of the hank. lie recalls that on the Thursday they had bulletins posted, from time to time for the information of the staff of the progress of the bill iii the House of Representatives. In the “cellar” countersigning officers, were working hard getting ready hundreds of new notes for the morrow. At 2 a.m. the accountant informed the staff that the bill lmd been passed by both Houses of the Legislature, and that they could all go home. 'Die accountant of those days is the general manager of to-day, Sir Henry Buekleton.

When matters concerning the (Pure Seeds Bill and' a similar measure in respect of stock foods were being considered by the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr James Begg suggested that the search for purity, if carried to inordinate lengths, might have very undesirable consequences at a time when the great need was for low costs. “In tlics; things,” said Air Begg, “you have to be careful that the desire for purity does not result in the price of an article being raised to a prohibitive level.” Both measures were left in the hands of the secretary for inquiry. Arrangements are now in full swing for a united campaign of Christian witness to be conducted by the Protestant Churches of Auckland for a week beginning on 28th August. Part of the work of preparation has taken the form of a house-to-house canvass. The Rev. W. Lawson Marsh told the Auckland Presbytery this week that if any of its members had not yet taken up the work of house-to-house canvass they did not know what they were missing. “I have been very much impressed,” he said, “at the extraordinary response being met with from people who had been impervious to previous appeals. They seem to he in the mood now to respond to an appeal to come back to the clmrcli.

Yesterday's midday organ recital in the Wellington Town Hall, after being in progress for about a quarter of an hour, ended abruptly, the city organist, Mr Bernard F. Page, being unable to continue because of the intense cold and draught in the organ loft. To a “Post” representative Mr Page subsequently explained that it was not his personal discomfort which caused him to abandon the recital—personal discomfort he was quite ready to share with his audience, some of whom were fortified against the cold with rugs—but it was the physical impossibility of continuing to play with lingers paralysed by the cold. “It was all right,” said Mr Page, “when I was playing slow and quiet music, then my lingers could just work; but when it came to quicker music I simply could not do it gnd was forced to stop.” Mr Page added that he was nearly forced to abandon last Wednesday night’s recital at half-time for the same reason, but lie just managed to continue to the end, all liougl passage of rapid arpeggios had to be played as sustained chords. On one occasion some years ago, soon after his arrival in Wellington, Mr Page was forced to abandon a recital for the same reason. Cold southerly weather (hen prevailed, as it did yesterday, and his lingers became so cold that lie could not continue playing. Mr Page said that the temperature yesterday in the organ loft was f>2 degrees. The cold air fed in from outside made a terrible draught round the organ seat, and under such conditions his hands became paralysed by the cold, lb; reiterated that it was not discomfort that made him stop playing, but physical impossibility to continue.

A remarkably close balance between (lie number of males and females in Ilia 'South Island is shown in the estimates of population as at (50th June, published in the “(ia/ette.” The South Island population is shown us 540,044, of which 270,400 are males and 270,238 females, a dill'erence of only 108 between the sexes. Excluding Maoris, the margin is even narrower. Males total 208,807 and females 208,780, a difference of 21. 'l'he estimated population of the North Island is 084,277 (males 507,420, females 470,851), and of the Dominion, excluding dependencies, 1,455,028 (males 741,405, females 713,503).

Further inquiries as to the proposal to form a New Zealand Military Jland and send it for a duty tour of the Old Country leads to the assurance that the project is in the hands of trusted and capable men who are addressing themselves seriously to the development of the proposition (states tho Dunedin “Star”). Just now everything hinges upon whether the Government will sanction an art union to raise funds wherewith to pay for equipment, tho travelling charges, etc. It is understood that this matter will he considered by the Cabinet when discussing tin- question of future art unions. Bandsmen throughout the Dominion are keenly interested, and many besides bandsmen feel that a visit by a band to the Homeland would lit in very well with our propaganda about produce. Some of the promoters think that a lecturer should accompany the band, to talk about scenic attractions and so on. That, however, is a side issue at present. It is not proposed to make the band, if it is formed, into a permanent body. Such a thing would be impracticable if the players are to be the very best in New Zealand, since they would belong to places widely separated. One of the details that is talked about is a visit to Canada in either going or coming hack. It would certainly help to strengthen the brotherly feeling between the two dominions.

The latest in schoolboy “howlers” was received by the examiners at a recent Taranaki book-keeping test. In answer to a request for a definition of discount the examiner was informed that “Discount was something that we received for paying money honestly.”

“For many years past the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmera! Union has expressed its opposition to art unions, and at the last conference a proposal that the proceeds should be given to the hospitals was defeated,” said Mr E. 11. Murney, one of the Otago delegates to the conference, in the course of a report to the Otago provincial executive. If art unions were to be continued—arid it appeared that they wore—the proceeds should be given to the hospitals, he added. At present about'7s per cent of the proceeds went into private pockets, and the rest was devoted to unnecessary projects. If people would put their money into art unions it was only reasonable that the hospitalshould reap the benefit.

At a council meeting of the Wellington Importers’ Association, held this week, over which the president (Mr Edwin Salmond) presided, the following resolution was unanimously passed: “That this council is of tho opinion tliat the Customs tariff is too high on a great many items and should be revised. It also considers that by increasing Customs duties for the purpose of revenue, the Government has largely defeated its own object and, in addition, such increases have tended to hold up the cost of living at a time when it is very necessary , puoli l should drop.” i

'l’he recent snowfalls op the higher country of the East Coast of Marlborough arc reported to have caused considerable losses of sheep (states the “Express”). One pastoralist estimates his loss at 400. so far as it can be judged under the present difficult conditions.

Discussing the recent decision of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to open its annual conferences with prayer, Mr E. 11. Murncy, who was one of the Otago delegates, stated at the meeting of the Otago provincial executive this week that the question had been a difficult one to tackle, and a number of delegates would have preferred that if should not have been brought up, though they were sincere in their ideas. It had been felt that the .proposal could not be “turned down Hat,” as there might be cause for complaint by various sections of the community. “It appears to me that the idea is all right, but unless it is carried out with due reverence,” he continued, “it will tell against the prestige of the union rather than help it.”

The practically negligible decrease of 0.07 per cent, in the total amount of butter-fat represented in the produce handled at the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Works at Moturoa is reported for the past season as compared with the amount handled during the previous season (states the “News”). The amount of cheese and butter received for storage in the previous year was the highest in the history of the company. ■ ■As the company handles all the butter and cheese in the northern end of the province it is plain that production in North Taranaki has been well maintained during the past season. In the aggregate figures for the produce handled for the company’s year, which ended op 30th June, butter showed a decrease of 33,1)1)2 boxes, or a fall of 10.09 per cent, over the butter produced in the previ ous year. This decrease, however, was the logical outcome of the swing over in the province of cheese-making. Consequently cheese shows an increase of 21,033 crates, or an increase in cheese production over the previous season of 0.03 per cent.

Mr Lon Jones, formerly of the Melbourne Bible Institute, and now attached to the Russian European Mission who has just arrived in New Zealand from Poland and While Russia will give firsthand information of the spread of the Gospel of Christ and conditions in those lands, at the Rechabite Hall, Bridge stieet, on Sunday afternoon and evening.

A determination to concentrate all the meagre funds available for the construction of the Hash wood Deviation to making the road usable at the earliest possible date has been arrived at by the Main Highways Board (reports the Marlborough “Express”). An important definite statement on the subject was received by the Marlborough County Council yesterday from the Highways Board’s district representative.

“I am definitely of the opinion that I here are prospects ahead for the boy ivho goes on the land,” said Mr G. M. Kevs, addressing a meeting of unemployed boys at Christchurch (reports he “Times”). “I am sure that faming work is not going to be a blind ilh-y in the future. The possibility s that boys who go on the land will better oil' than those who take posi.ions in the towns.”

The ability of the Wellington starter. Mr “Dorrie” Leslie, seems to have gained recognition at the Olympic Games. According to an announcement from a Los Angeles broadcasting station Mr Leslie’s starting impressed representatives of several countries so much that he has been invited Lo ollieiate at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1930.

Amending regulations relating to passenger services under the Transport Licensing Act were published in tho “Gazette” this week. They are chiefly of a machinery nature, but perhaps the outstanding change of general public interest affects the fees payable for services in country districts where comparatively few passengers -are carried. Provision is made that if the service is only occasionally used for the carriage of passengers, or if it is used by passengers to such a limited extent that the full fees payable would be disproportionate having regard to the amount of passenger business, the whole or part of the fees may be refunded. Another regulation refers to applications for temporary licences for race meetings, shows, football matches, etc. The Transport Department has experienced difficulty through such applications being made only a day or two before the event, leaving insufficient time for their consideration. Such applications are now required to be made, if possible, at least ten days before the date of the event.

“It is sometimes suggested that such help as the Ottawa Conference is able to afford to the British farmer is calculated to outweigh the value of fiscal preferences contemplated for pominion primarv producers,” said the GovernorGenera], Lord Bledisloe, at Christchurch (reports the “Times”). “There need, however, be no apprehension on this score. Tn recent years Britain has raised 39 per cent, of her essential foods on her own soil and has obtained a further 39 per cent, from foreign countries and 22 per cent, only from the overseas Empire, as compared with 19 per cent, before the war. The economic condition of British primary producers is worse to-day than that of those in New Zealand and thousands of the British farmers arc at present on the verge of bankruptcy. Such impetus to their activities as Ottawa may provide is calculated to save them from insolvency rather than to increase their output, which, with the growth of population and encroachment of the great cities, is never likely to exceed 50 per cent., at the most, of British requirements, leaving a big margin for Empire supply. This margin is now largely derived, not from countries like Argentina, which afford Britain reciprocity of trade, but from countries which, while Hooding her markets, arc providing little or no employment for her great factory populations by purchasing their output. Let us, however, while striving to extend Empire trade, be careful to avoid exclusive economic nationalism. Ottawa may tell its tale, but so must Lausanne and Geneva.”

A reminder is given of the illustrated lecture “Sidelights of the East African Campaign” to be delivered by tho Itev. Donald Ilaultain (E.A.E.F.) at the Regent Theatre on Tuesday next at 8 p.m. From many aspects the East African Campaign was a vitally important and most interesting phase of the Great War This will bo the first occasion upon which a Nelson audience has had the opportunity of a descriptive lecture of this theatre of Allied activity.