LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 August 1934, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In response to representations made by Mr John Corder, Chairman of the Waimea County Council, Messrs H. Atmore and K. J. Holyoake, M.’sP., interviewed Mr C. J. McKenzie, Chairman of the Main Highways Board, and stated a case for the taking over of the Korere Tophouse road as a main highway. Mr McKenzie was sympathetic and promised that the board would consider the application. He added that he knew there was an increasing amount of visitors’ traffic on the road.

Australia has reduced, or proposes to reduce the annual license fee to be paid for the operation of a receiver, a gesture of the Government that will be hailed, with delight by hundreds of thousands, and should earn the reward of a marked increase of licenses. This decision (says the Auckland “Star”) leaves the New Zealand payment at almost 50 per cent, greater than i'ts neighbour’s, and there is the prospect of a very strong local agitation for reduction springing up. There are many sound arguments to support this agitation; there may be equally sound ones against it, jjj.it the board lias failed to make them in its one great opportunity —its annual report Had that report contained details of the board’s commitments, its expenditure on various branches of its work, and its proposals for future development, it might have convinced listeners of the need for every penny of its income at the present rate. But when listeners see their neighbouring country planning a big programme of powerful relay stations, and replacements of existing ones, undertaking expensive programme work in its innovations of the past nine months, and at the same time introducing a reduced license fee, they are inclined to ask, “Where do we come in?”

The auxiliary scow Portland, owned by Messrs Neale and Haddow, which a week ago struck a reef off Bark Bay, near Tonga Island, the hull being penetrated, reached Nelson at midnight in tow of two launches, belonging to Mr (.'aider and Mr Sussex, respectively. Fairly extensive damage has been done to the Portland, but until she is placed on the slip the exact extent cannot be judged. The pump has been working continuously to keep the vessel afloat where she is at present berthed. It is impossible to say yet when the Portland will be recommissioned.

The increased sunshine in the last week has resulted in strong activity in Auckland strawberry beds, necessitating close attention by growers. Of the 2,500,000 plants set out in the growing areas near the city last May, the most important month for planting, the majority are in excellent condition and are of a superior quality to any planted in the last four years. Fewer have been planted this year than in 1933, when about 3,000,000 plants were set out, but it is stated that consumers can be confident of an adequate supply, owing to the very successful establishment of this year's planting, states the “New Zealand Herald.”. The first fruit should be available in the second week of October, while the peak crop will be ready just before Christmas. It is significant that although many new varieties have been introduced the Marguerite and Captain Cook strawberries are slill favourites. Strawberry beds are now being prepared for mulching, and it is a sign of the times that growers have adopted a less expensive method this year. It was formerly the practice to uso wheaten straw from the South Island for this purpose, but the majority of Auckland growers are now using paspalum hay and pme needles. A large number of plants has been sent to growers in Wanganui. Strawberries were formerly railed to the Wanganui ‘district from Auckland, but efforts are being made there this year to grow the berries locally. In Auckland it is the practice for I lie entire plantings to be renewed each year, while in southern areas plants are cropped for at least two seasons, the system being governed hi’ climatic conditions.

Since the introduction of the supply of milk to the Nelson city schools records have been taken to show tho effect of the half pint of milk, per day mi tlie children. At yesterday’s meeting o: the Nelson Education Board, Dr. Evans reported that though the result had not been spectacular/in regard to the increase in weight of the children, the position was very satisfactory. She said the Nelson children were generally well nourished and so it was not expected ihat the milk scheme would have such a spectacular result as it may have in the cities. However it would be desirable to continue with it. The quality of the supply should be safeguarded.

Alfred Gould announces an unreserved auction sale of Nursery Stock from the well-known nursery of J. B. Just of Palmerston North.’*

Hills fruitgrowers are advised by advertisement that Mr Davy, orchard instructor, will deliver a lceturette on “Developments in Orchard Practices” at the meeting to be held in Mapua School on Friday next.

Smart Pastel Felt Rcady-to-Wears in new tones of Oatmeal, Beige and Cream 6/11 to 9/11 at McKay’s.* For Spring! Ladies’ Spun Silk Sliirt Blouses in new season’s stripes. Well cut, with ties of same material, 11/6 at McKay’s.*

The rock oyster season in the Auckland district is almost at an end and already some of the beds have been closed down, states the “New Zealand Herald.” The last shipments from the beds still being worked will reach the city about 30th August and when these have been disposed of the Government oyster depot will be closed. Generally the season lias been a very good one, the supplies available and the public demand having been about equal to last year. The records for last season show that a total of 4717 of oysters from the Auckland coasts were disposed of and as far as can he estimated the output this year should reach about 4800 sacks. Long experience has shown that the oyster beds cannot be picked profitably beyond the end of August. Intensive picking tends to deplete the beds and for that reason i'. is sometimes necessary to close areas which are showing signs of exhaustion. This happened last seaon with the beds at, Whangarei and the Great Barrier which were closed to allow the young oysters to mature. The. result has been that tire picking this year from these beds has been good. The breeding of native birds in captivity was discussed by members of the board of managers of uie Auckland Zoological Society at a meeting last week, llie Chief inspector of 1 islienes ami Game for Souin Australia, in a letter to a member of the society, said that the (South Australian Avieultural Society hud bred some of the rarest species of fauna, including birds that were thought 'to be practically extinct, and added that he W'ould advise the New Zealand Government to encourage avicullurists to place the Dominions’ rare species in captivity, as he was convinced that that was the only means of saving them from extinction. A sub-committee ol the Auckland society reported that- a number of native species had already been bred successfully, and that there were several related species that probably could be bred in large aviaries under conditions of semi-freedom. It was decided that the communication from South Australia should be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Affairs, and that authority should be sought for the experimental breeding of the New Zealand pigeon and the weka at the zoological park under the control of the society or a kindred body.

“Now that the clouds of depression are lifting, and on the eve of our departure for the Homeland, I would like to say that in no part of the world has there been a more marked element of patience, pluck and resourcefulness than in this Dominion of New Zealand,” Said the Governor-General, in addressing members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade at Christchurch (reports the “Times”). His Excellency went on to say that the King had been anxious to know how New Zealand was faring during recent months, and had asked Lord Bledisloe to express to the people his Majesty’s hope that prosperity would attend this loyal Dominion. Later on Lord Bledisloe, speaking of the work St, John Ambulance was accomplishing, appealed to the public for greater financial support. As patron of the Order in New Zealand, he thanked those who had so warmly supported the institution in the past. He appealed to those who had not already given monetary assistance to afford their help, “especially now that times were getting better.’’ He ventured to hope that the public would show J.heir assistance in practical form so that the institution would not lack the financial aid it required. Discussing with a “Herald” representative the position regarding suggested meat quotas, a Gisborne man well qualified to speak on the export meat question said /that there was realy no occasion for the farmers to feel alarmed. “If it is admitted that a 20,000-ton restriction is made anyone who cares to carefully analyse the position will see that the loss to individual farmers will be so small that it will pass unnoticed raid cannot materially affect the prices being received,” he said. Elaborating his contention, the speaker said that a reduction of 20,000 tons represented 720,000 freight carcases of mutton, which is our most valuable meat export. That divided amongst the freezing works operating in New Zealand pro rata to their average annual output would not amount to an alarming reduction. If the analysis was carried further and the tonnage divided between the number oi farmers who supplied each works in proportion to the average number of sheep they had been accustomed to I'iecze, the reduction per farmer woud be infinitesimal. "Further,” explained the speaker, “the 20,000 tons could be dealt with by reducing the shipment of the poorer made qualities of meat, such as boneless beef, cow-beef, and third-grade mutton, and then the prime mutton shipments need not be reduced one carcase. In the past few years the quantity of the lower grade meat shipped has been considerable, but I can see that a 20,000 ton reduction will mean that farmers will have to fatten their stock better, by better farming methods, which in' itself will be a step towards an improvement of the industry as a whole. The position is not at all as gloomy as the pessimists would have us believe,” concluded the speaker, “and it certainly does not behove the farming community to anticipate the tremendous individual losses that some arc talking about.”

It is anounced that Mr D. K. Woodbury (ZL4GII), of Waeuga, Cromwell, has won this year’s Sangster Shield contest, for ainateur radio transmitters with a total of 61 points. This contest was inaugurated in 1927, when Mr R. Sangster presented the shield for competition in the dominion, and since then it has been won four times by amateurs in the Otago district. As it takes the form of a low-powered contest, it is actually a test of efficiency for both the station and the operator. Points are awarded for each contact made, and the competition is spread over a period of eight days. Mr Woodbury’s total exceeds those of the runners-up by thirteen points, two amateurs at Wellington each scoring 48. Station ZL4GH is a portable outfit, and was brought from Gisborne to Cromwell when the owner decided to go into camp there to take advantage of the mining subsidy in Central Otago. Th c “rig” was rebuilt and refitted many times before being entered in the contest, and other amateurs have given valuable assistance in keeping the station on the air by the loan of batteries and other parts.

An interesting reference to his family’s ccnnection with the City of Bristol was made by thc Governor-General, Lord Bledisloo, when referring to the Rotary Club’s Bristol scheme at a club luncheon at Christchurch (reports the “Times”). His Excellency said that Bristol was the great West Country city and that the public service that had been done by his forebears had been mainly in the interests of the people of Bristol. • He might also say that his great-grand-father, when the sole member of the House of Commons for Bristol, had had, as Secretary of War, the experience of announcing in the House the result of the Battle of Waterloo. Speaking of the Bristol scheme to provide work, Lord Bledisloe sail' that it was an excellent idea to keep employed a large number of men who otherwise might not only have been unemployed, but might have been eating out their hearts with disappointment and losing hope. He desired to commend the scheme and to congratulate employers in the city who had taken it up in the interests of men who would otherwise be unemployed. Newest in Sports Blouses in new de lustred Locknit. Plain colours and neat tweed effects. 17/6 to 21/- at McKay’s*

In the future patrol's governed by any automobile ,association in (the North. Island of New "Zealand'will be entitled to enter the territories of other associations while engaged on business connected with the association, following a decision of the annual conference of the North Island Motor Union at Napier. Mr it. ihniiser, Wellington, introduced the question in the following resolution: ‘That the resolution carried a t the annual conference held in Auckland on 17th August, 1953, purporting to prohibit one association's patrol from entering the territory of another association bo and is hereby rescinded and that hereafter it be recognised as competent for any association to send its patrol into the territory of another association on the boda fide business of the association employing such patrol.” The motion was seconded by Mr H. W. emuru, mao oi W einiigtoii, and carried unanimously. “I trust that this will serve to put an end to some embarrassment winch has been felt in the past in this matter,” said Mr Pailiser.

“I have never heard of such cheeseparing in all my life,” commented the chairman of the Jriawkes Bay Education Board, Mr G.A. Maddison, upon a ruling by the Department that a number of young teachers could not he paid for one day unless they had fulfilled a number of conditions. The board decided to take the matter up very strongly with the Department. The sec’retary reported that the Department luiu ruled that two relieving teachers who began in new relieving positions at the beginning of July could not be paid for Sunday, Ist July, unless they travelled on that day, and further, tiiac three teachers who began in permanent positions at the beginning of July could not be paid for Ist July, even though their service was continuous. This decision also applied in the case of a teacher who relieved in the position on permanent appointment. ’There was not only continuous service, but continuous service in one school.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Nelson Education Board a letter was received from the Alexander River Mining Company in connection with the objection to the pegging of the school site, and protesting against the position in which the company had been placed by the reported discussion at the last meeting of the board, when complaint was made against the company’s action in occupying the site. The letter pointed out that the building was erected by the company, not by the residents, and that it was never handed over to the board. The company had to protect its own interests in reoccupyiiig the building and when the present trouble is settled it would consider allowing the building to be used as a school itgain, the company I'eserviug the right to occupy it at any time. It was pointed out at the meeting that the children who had been attending the school had been put on the correspondence school’s roll in the meantime.