GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 8

GENERAL ITEMS

Snow on High Country The cold southerly weather yesterday resulted in the first heavy falls of snow this year on the western ranges, the Maungalapu, and ot.ier high country The minimum temperature on the grass recorded by the Cawthron Institute last night was 28.2 degrees. Though the thermometer showed 3.8 degrees below freezing point, there was little trost on account of heavy showers of rain during the early hours this morning i’oppy Day Appeal The annual Poppy Day appeal yesterday resulted in the collection of ,£lO9 18s 3d in the city, compared with £ll3 Vs last year The returns from the country districts have not yet been finalised, but it is anticipated the figures wiil bo as high as usual The Returned Soldiers' Association desires to express its thanks to the teachers and scholars in the schools, and to the ladies’ committee in the city for their help in the sale of the poppies, also to the general public lor the generous measure of support extended to the effort. Five Million Club ‘‘The New Zealand Five Million Club is not a mere immigration society,” remarked the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P.. Speaker of the House of Representatives, in an address in Napier. Mr Barnard said that the society’s object was to increase the population of the Dominion, first by doing whatever could be done to improve the natural rate of increase, and secondly, through planned and selective immigration. The means were secondary to the objective. Labour on Farms Speaking on farm labour problems to the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, the organiser (Mr H. W. Wilkins) said that on one dairy farm near Dunedin a farmer milked sixteen cows and employed a man to heip him. When the new scale of wages was introduced, he worked out his position and found that the profit from thirteen of the cows paid the labourer’s wage and the profit from the remaining three paid his own living expenses. The only thing to do he found was to dismiss his man and sell eight of his cows. Milking only eight cows, instead of sixteen as formerly. he found that he could work at a profit. That was impossible before he dispensed with his man and half of his herd. “The only farmers satisfied with the present position.” he said, "are those who have been able to do away with employing labour and put their wives in the byre, or else do all the work themselves.”

Nelson’s Fire Loss The loss of property by fire in Nelson during the year ended 31st March last was £17.586. stated the annual report of the Superintendent (Mr A. J. Bennett) to yesterday’s meeting of the Nelson Fire Board. The amount of insurance cover on properties on which fires occurred was £59.025 (buildings £23.295. contents £35.730). The actual loss covered by insurance was £I6OO (buildings £753 10s. contents £846 15s). Property not insured suffered damage to the extent of £l5B (buildings £6B. contents £9O). Coronation Decorations For Coronation Week the Nelson City Council has arranged a scheme of decorations which will include streamers of bunting in Trafalgar street. Arrangements arc being made by the departments concerned for the suitable decoration of public buildings. A Hood lighting system will be erected for the Nelson Post Office and it is intended to arrange an electrically lighted arch at the Labour Department’s building in Trafalgar street. Many shops in the City are already showing special appropriate displays in their windows. School Rugby A recommendation that for the encouragement of Rugby football in the schools the sum of £750 be granted this year, was adopted at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, the amount of the grant being the same as that made last year. A Good Weasel Trap The slaughter by weasels and stoats amongst the larger ground-nesting birds was mentioned at the meeting of the Forest and Bird Protection Society in Wellington, and an efficient trap was described by the president (Mr E. V. Sanderson). It consists of a threesided trough or box a couple of feet or so long, made with narrow planks. A trap is set in loosened earth, unbaited. and the trough inverted over it. "A weasel cannot keep out of a small tunnel or drain.” explained Mr Sanderson.

i Meal Charges in Sydney ' The system adopted by leading hotels land restaurants in Sydney of charging 1 for meals according to what was eaten 1 instead of making a fixed charge was criticised by the Hon. G. R. Hunter. M.L.C., in an interview on his return from a visit to Australia (reports the “Star-Sun”). He said that when he was entertaining two friends to dinner in a Sydney hotel they were reluctant to | order roast turkey, and when he asked the reason they said they did not wanl to involve him in too heavy a cost The different charges were not always shown on the menu, he added, and one did not know until the bill was presented what the cost was likely to be. He considered the New Zealand system of making a fixed charge for a meal regardless of the number of courses one ordered was a much better one. The hotels in Sydney were generally far dearer than the New Zealand Hotels, and he also considered that the service they provided was inferior. Depredations of Magpies

: “I have a tame Australian magpie at home,” said. Mr Royal Nelson at the annual meeting of the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. “It is belter than any cats at cleaning up the sparrows and other small birds. It is death on them.” Several speakers at the meeting gave instances of the depredations of the magpie, which was described as not a true magpie, though slightly related to it. being in effect a sort of crow-shrike. The president (Mr • E. V. Sanderson) said that he knew of ltfagpies killing native pigeons, and had seen them chasing pipits. Many reports had been sent to him of their having “cleaned out” fantails wholesale Price of Bacon The statement that the growe.o were not receiving any benefit from the recent Government fixation of the price of bacon was made by the secretary (Mr E. J. Calder) at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers’ Union (reports the “Daily Times”). Mr Calder said the desire for fixation of the price, which involved an increase, had apparently come from some northern factories which had been operating at a loss, but local curers had said they could pay the grower another halfpenny a pound and still carry on at the old price. The recent increase, however, had not meant a higher price for the farmer. It was decided to write to the Minisle, of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin) asking him to define the reason for the increase in price. A Word in Season One solitary cyclist was before the Magistrate s Court yesterday lor riding his machine at night without a ligm, out the Magistrate Mr T E. Maunsell. evidently expects more in the very near future, for he romanced witli a some what pained expression that he supposed that They would he starting again soon.' as he imposed a tine ol £1 and costs, an amount which he nas fixed as a suitable deterrent TrafficInspector C. E. Parkinson agreed that "the shooting season was now open ing.” Potato Market Prices lor potatoes remain linn on the Wellnigton market, but are expected to ease at the end of the season unless disease becomes apparent. Considerable quantities of potatoes .are being prepared for export in the South Island, where there are abundruplies. Married Women Teachers

Advice that the Department oi Luu cation had agreed to the employment oi' married women teachers in relieving positions under certain conditions was received by tile Auckland Education Board in a letter from the Department The decision had been brought about owing to the lad that the supply of extrainees had largely been absorbed through their appointment to permanent positions. The Depaitmem siatec that married women would be employed only it a supernumerary teacher was not available in the board s own •district. They were not to be eligible to receive salary as lor supernumerary teachers (£l5O per annum) during the periods between relieving positions. As far as was possible, in order to avoid payment ol boarding alioviante, married women living in the locality in which a vacancy occurred should be employed The Department's letter further stated that it was to be clearly understood that the employment of married women as relieving teachers was not to affect the position of super numerary teachers. They would still | be expected lo (ill any relieving positions in which the board required their services and are not to be retained in city schools as excess members of the staff.

A World Telegram Record The great popularity of the telephone has created a general impression that the telegraph side of the Post Office business is a declining factor, but this is not supported by actual facts. Telegraph revenue in New Zealand has fully’ kept pace with the general recovery, and one of the most interesting features is the frequency with which New Zealanders, compared with other people in the world use this means of communication. They are in the front rank for motor-vehicle ownership and well up the list for numbers of telephones in relation to the population w'hiie. in the use of telegrams, they are ahead of any other country. A complete world comparison of the Figures of telegrams sent annually per head of population is only available in respect to 1934. when it was demonstrated that m Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Canada, and South Africa, less than me telegram was sent per head ol Ihe imputation. Australia’s telegiaphic total represented 2.1 telegrams per head of population. while New Zealand showed the highest figure of 2.5 telegrams. This

position has been steadily improving, and in It’.'lt'. helped by the stimulus of the sixpenny telegram 2.9 telegrams wore handled per head of population. New Zealanders thus leading the world 'll a tc’egraphic sense.

j Parson’s Life I “It has been said with a certain amount of truth that a parson’s life is ! not a happy one.” said the Rev. G. W. G. iGriffin at the Holy Trinity, Tc Henui. 'annual meeting of parishioners. “So | much is expected of him. from being a | thought reader to a walking encyclopedia.'’ he added. "He is either idolised, jeugolised. ostracised or scandalised, and j if he is fortunate enough to escape these 'he might possibly be canonised.” Income and Diet "Tile urgency of the demand for inj creasing quantities of meat, dairy proI duee. and even wool lias diminished.' said Mr H R. Rodwell. in an address at I Auckland (reports the “Star”) "As | standards of liic in countries which are | the main importers of these products I rise, a smaller proportion of total mI come is spent on basic foods such as those we produce. Diet becomes more varied although it does not increase much in built. I do not mean to imply that there are not many people who would be glad to consume more butler than they do at present, but statistical examination has shown clearly that the per capita consumption of these things has not increased over the last 20

years, in spite of considerable increases in family incomes, while the per capita consumption of ‘quality’ foods, like sugar and sugared foods, has increased by something like 8 per cent., and of fruit: oy abou l 40 per cent. New’ commodities are also taking the place of older ones S'lk and artificial silk, for instance, are to some extent at least displacing cotton and wool” Orange Shortage The shortage of oranges will be relieved next week, as a shipment is arriving at Auckland next Monday in the Matua. The shipment consists of Fijian oranges and mandarins. Xo Secrets. There should be no secrets as tar as Ministers of the Crown were concerned, said the Minister of Public Works (the Hob. R. Semple) at a public meeting convened by the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration (reports “The Post”) He said that the institute was rendering a valuable public service by inviting Ministers of the Crown to address the public and tell the people the secrets of their job, the magnitude of (t. and the policy being pursued. The taxpayers had a right to know where the money was going and just how it was being spent. Miruslers of ’he Crov.m were the screen's of lire peoole and should be read*’ to tell the people at a moment’s notice what thev Wi_r<_ doing.