LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 May 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The question of exchange was referred to in a letter which the Auckland Power Board received from the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash. Mr Nash said, whatever might be the wisdom or otherwise of the external depreciation of the New Zealand pound, there could be no doubt that section 16 of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act gave the Reserve Bank power to fix the rate of exchange between New Zealand currency and sterling. The Right Hon. J. G. Contes ln»:l stated that the fixation would take place in co-operation with the Government, and that New Zealand was not bound to sterling at any fixed and unalterable rate. The relevant part of the Act read that when the bank gave sterling in exchange for its notes, or gave notes in exchange for sterling or gold, the rate at which the exchange was effected should he fixed by the bank. The Minister said that the particular sub-scction was not amended in the recent Reserve Bank Amendment Act, but power was given to suspend, if necessary, the duty of the bank to give sterling in exchange for its notes. It was not contended that the rate of 125 represented, or should necessarily represent, the comparative values of the two currencies. When the English and New Zealand pounds were at the old parity they did not represent equivalent purchasing powers, and it was impossible to measure accurately comparative purchasing powers. The Minister added that it was the intention of the present Government to endeavour to maintain stable internal prices, and the Government had control of the bank to assist in that policy. It did not mean that the relation between currency and sterling would be altered, but the power was there to do so if necessary.

The fifty-sixth annual report of the chief librarian, Mr John Barr, submitted to the Auckland City Council, showed that of a total of 819,710 books taken out of the public libraries 374,019 were fiction. 239,773 general literature and 205,918 juvenile books. It is true (says the •'Star”) that many novels contain a good deal of culture and history as won as mere entertainment value, but most impressive in itself is the figure of 200,000 odd books of philosophy, religion, sociology, literature, science, useful arts, fine arts, history, . travel, biography, music and general literature of an unclassifiable nature. ‘‘General works, sociology, literature and useful arts are practically equal with last year, the only surprise being that sociology continues to hold its own so strongly, as the interest in this subject was created by the economic crisis which shows signs of passing,” wrote Mr Barr. “The greatest advance is in history, biography and travel, and reflects to a great extent the popular interest in current national affairs and in the lives of the men who are actors in these events. Useful arts and philosophy and religion also show greater use. In the latter subject this may he due to interest in movements such as the Oxford Group. Small decreases are noticeable in science and music.”

During the fortnight ended yesterday the following stock was slaughtered at the Nelson abattoir: Cattle, 125; calves, 28 : sheep, 609; lambs, 80; pigs, 81; total 923. One pig was condemned during the period. That information was contained in a report submitted to last night’s meeting of the Council by the manager (Mr G. W. Mitchell).

In answer to a question by Councillor S. McArthur regarding the progress of the numbering of houses in the _ city area the City Engineer (Mr J. G. Littlejohn) stated at last night’s meeting, of the City Council that the numbering had been completed in a number of streets but the residents had not seen to the numbering. It wag pointed out that the Council had the power to arrange for the numbering of the houses and charge it to the owners. It. was decided on the motion of Councillors McArthur and S. A. Gibbs that the residents concerned be advised of then street numbers, and in the event of failure to have them affixed or painted on the Council to arrange for it. to be carried out and charged to the residents.

The Nelson City Pipe Band’s fortnightly dance will be held at Brightwater to-morrow evening. An excellent supper and good music are promised and everything will be done to ensure a pleasant evening’s enjoyment. Ihe programme is old time and modern, and is in the hands of Pipe-Major 0 Hara.

Next Tuesday evening the Waimea Football Club will hold a dance in the Lansdowne Hall. Appleby. Supper will he provided and Mr Harold Williams will supply the music. Patrons arc assured of an enjoyable nights dancing.

Through a transposition the degrees and honours of Dr. A. C. Aitken, M.A. (N.Z.), D.Sc., F.lt.S.. the distinguished New Zealander were attributed to ms wife in the caption published with the reproduction of Ids photograph last night.

Learning to smoke a pipe is not as difficult as learning to play the fiddle. But it is often difficult enough. In fact some men never learn to smoke a pipe although they may manage a cigarette first try. But the pipe smoker knows a joy the cigarette smoker never experiences. For a good, satisfying, comfortable smoke the pipe’s the thing ! Of course, the choice of tobacco counts for a lot. If you start on one of those hot and strong brands you’ll bo a long time mastering your pipe. Get something mild to begin with. Riverhead Gold is excellent for the novice. Later you can try Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog; or Cavendish (both “medium”), and wind up with Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), which is full strength. Riverhead Gold, by the way, is famous as cigarette tobacco. So is Desert- Gold. In fact, these two are the leading cigarette tobaccos. But all flip five brands named are simply unequalled for quality. They are peculiarly delicious —harmless, ton. being particularly free from nicotine (eliminated bv toasting).*

“That the Government be urged to bring down such legislation as will make it an offence to bring sheep affected with foot rot into sale yards as sheep infected with lice.” was a remit by the StokeRiclnnond branch carried by the Farmers’ Union Conference to-day. Mr 11. C. I’aino sponsored the remit. A light but cold southerly blew’ in , Nelson yesterday afternoon but dropped I by sunset During tile evening a change i came over, and cold rain fell, with snow on the ranges. This morning was brilliantly fine, but some clouds came up 1 this afternoon. ! The steamers Regains and Orepuki, which have been purchased by Messrs F. E. Jackson and Co. for breaking up for scrap, are now ranged alongside the sloile wall of the reclamation behind Franzen’s store. The Regulus was brought up with her bows at ' right angles to the wall on last night’s spring | tide,' the-operation of bringing her along- | side being completed this morning. The j Orepuki was also brought round this 1 morning from her berth, where she has j been lying for several months. She is : now’ moored on the outside of the Regulus. A voluble woman in the Magistrate’s Court this morning led the Magistrate, Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., to interject, “Wait a moment and let me get my breath.” When she at a later stage spoke with some heat to counsel (Mr G. Samuel) the Magistrate interposed, “You had better take Mr Samuel into a dark corner if you want to hammer him. Why arc you addressing Mr Samuel? lam in charge of this Court.”

It is many years since a nugget of appreciable size was recovered from any of the claims in the Queenstown district, hence some mild excitement was created in mining circles in Queenstown when a nugget weighing soz 14dwt was brought into town on Tuesday by a party of miners working near the” outlet of Ballarat creek in the Shotover. In their parcel they had several other pieces of gold, two of which turned the scale at more than an ounce. The men have not been working very long in this claim, which is being operated by hydraulic elevating. The paddock from which the return w’as obtained is about 20ft deep. The party, which comprises A. E. Short, McCallum, Rogers and McDougall, feel confident that this is only the beginning of a run of luck for them.

The fortnightly dance of the Loyal Nelson Lodge will be held on Saturday commencing at 8 o’clock. A feature of the evening’s entertainment will be the bright programme of all old time favourites interspersed with one-steps and a fox trot. A dainty supper will be served at 10.10 p.m. and during the interval a special item will be presented, dancing to recommence at 10.30. Mr Harold Williams’s Band will supply bright and popular music and the duties of M.G. will be in the hands of Bro. G. S. Coleman. t

Early this week a message from Dunedin stated that a number of unemployed returned soldiers there considered that they should receive cash payments from Poppy Day funds instead of having to work on jobs- subsidised by the fund. The position is the reverse -as far as the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Association is concerned, as it has been found that the men prefer to be given work to do for the assistance received. The Dunedin report was discussed by a meeting of the executive oG the association this week, and the secretary was authorised to state that it had always been the policy of the association to find work wherever possible, and this policy was satisfactory to the association, the men, and the employing public. Nearly two hundred employees of Wellington legal firms have petitioned the House of Representatives through the Attorney-General ’(the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), requesting Parliament to continue the exemption from the Shops and Offices Act in respect to limitation of hours which the legislation now under consideration proposes to remove. They state that many of them are studying law, and are given many privileges including those of studying during working hours, and that qualified clerks frequent the law library in the evenings to read up reports in preparation of cases. This work, states the petitioners, can be done more expeditiously by a practitioner, but it is recognised as an essential training for an intending barrister or solicitor. The annual meeting of the Nelson College Old Boys’ Association is advertised to take place in the Ritz Tea Rooms next Monday evening. After the business is completed, supper will be served and there will be a social evening. It is hoped that the younger old boys will take this opportunity of learning something of the affairs of the Association.