GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 15 November 1937, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

A riiilalclic Centenary One of the many features cl the Dominion’s Centenary celebrations will it is hoped, be a special display in the Dominion Museum illustrating the country's philatelic history. Various valuable collections and specimens will be lent for the occasion, and these will be arranged to interest others besides stamp collectors. New Zealand had its first adhesive postage stainp in July, 1855. so it will not be celebrating a hundred years of stamps, but an interesting coincidence is that 1940 will bo the centenary of the world’s lirst postage stamp—the famous English “penny black.' From a philatelic point, therefore. New Zealand's centenary year is one of considerable interest Arrangements are being mad” in England to recognise this philatelic centenary.

| Commemoration Service at Cathedral The usual commemoration day service lor men of the regiment who had fallen in the Great War was held in | the Cathedral hast evening, when a ; parade of officers and men of the Nctj soil, Marlborough and West Coast Regimental depot under the command of Major (’. M. Rout was held. The ser- ! man. "Music and War,” was preached I by the Dean of Nelson, the Very Rev. Ip. 15. 1 laggilt. Roach i iig ot Seals The opinion of Bluff fishermen that there was a good deal of poaching of seals by vessels that did not touch at New Zealand ports was quoted by .Mr Hargest (National, Awarua) during j the discussion on the Marine Depart- ; mcnl. Vote in the House of Represenlives. He suggested that in view ol' I the reported increase in the number 'of seals on the southern coast of StcwI art Island and in the vicinity of the West Coast Sounds there should be an open season for scaling particularly as seals were said to consume and wantonly kill an enormous quantity of fish. An open season would reduce the number of seals, conserve the fish supplies, and give the fishermen some additional revenue, said Mr Hargest. What he had said was substantiated by scores of fishermen who should know what they were talking about. The Minister of Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser) said he would arrange for tire Mafai to visit the rookeries when occasion presented itself. It had tried before, but had been prevented by bad weather. Public Works Employees In September of this year there were 19.082 men employed by the Public Works Department. In the same month last, year the number was 16.881. and in 1935 it was 11.560. Industrial Disputes For the nine months ended September last there were 42 industrial disputes in New Zealand, ns compared with 32 for Ihe same, period last year. The number of workers alTected was 9677, as again 6445. and the total duration was 272j| days, as compared with 79 : j days. The approximate loss in wages was £22.577, the figure for the corresponding period last year being £9236 Judges’ Retiring Age ‘TI is one of those mysteries which arc not for me to penetrate, why Magistrates should be iclegatcd or admitted into retirement at a much earlier age than Judges,” observed Mr Justice Calian. speaking at a complimentary luncheon accorded Mr Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M., by Auckland patriotic societies (reports the “New Zealand Herald”). "It is perfectly obvious.” his Honour added, ‘‘that Mr Wilson is still a usc.ul and thoroughly capable man, whereas people who take my job must dodder on until the age of 72 before they can get a pension that will induce them to seek leisure. By this age. one is incapable in the eyes of the profession of doing work competently ”

Britain’s Task in Palestine In an address at the meeting of the Waikato Presbytery, the Rev. H. G. Gilbert said that when in Palestine he met a German resident who expressed the opinion that Britain would be unable to hold Palestine; that the difficulties would be too great; that the matter would eventually have to be left to the Arabs and Jews to settle themselves, and of the outcome there could be no doubt (states an exchange). "1 asked the German if he had ever heard of ‘John Bull having once put his hand to a task, relinquishing it because of difficulty,’ ” said Mr Gilbert. N i reply was forthcoming to that query, but ot the magnitude of Britain’s task in Palestine there should be no illusion. Hardwood Trees for the North “J am more than ever impressed with the importance of developing hardwood forest; in the North Auckland district,” said Professor H. H. Corbin, formerly professor of forestry at Auckland University College, who returned by the Wanganella after spending several weeks visiting forest areas in Australia. Professor Corbin said there were no commercial quantities of real hardwood? in New Zealand at the present time. Various Australian trees of that type could be successfully grown on the poorer North Auckland gum lands, however, and besides being valuable as timber would be effective in helping to prevent flooding. The climate of North Auckland was similar to that of New South Wales and south era QuetnUand, and the superior curelypts of cither States would grow there satisfactorily and provide a supply o£ hardwood? for New Zealand. Professor Corbin added that the trees could be grown from seeds by thinly broadcasting them; there would be no necessity for expensive nursery methods.

Court of Appeal Case In the Court of Appeal ease, 10thet Bellninc, of Takaka, nurse, and Edward C. Bvdder of Takaka, medical practitioner (the decision of which was published in "The Mail” last week) four separate judgments were delivered by the Court, which consisted of Mr Justice Ostler, Mr Justice Smith, Mr Justice Fair and Mr Justice Johnston. All judgments agreed that the Magistrate's decision was made without jurisdiction and that the Fair Rents Act, therefore, did not apply. Mr Justice Ostler went further and held that even if the determination of the Magistrate was within his jurisdiction it was a determination under Section 180 and succeeding sections of the Magistrates Courts Act, 1928, and not under the provisions of the Fair Rents Act. lie also dealt at some length with the argument advanced by the appellant against the decision in Aitkcn v. Smedlcy and expressed his entire agreement with that decision This view was concurred in by Mr Justice Johnston. The appeal was accordingly dismissed with costs against appellant. Mr C. EvansScotl, of Wellington, appeared for tjie appellant, and Mr W. V. Rout for tjie respondent. Library Conference in Nelson

A report was made by the secretary at the recent council meeting of the New Zealand Library Association that he had been in touch with the Government Statistician, and that there is some prospect of a census of libraries being taken. In view of Inc extraordinary development in this sphere of activity during the last few years, and of the bright future which is prophesied for it, it seems essential that proper information should he available as to the number, personnel. ,ind equipment of existing libraries. The New Zealand Library Association has interested itself in the question of the dissemination of educational film, and a committee was recently set up to go into the question of the part that New Zealand libraries should play with regard to such film. Educational authorities in Great Britain and elsewhere have for some time past been exploring the possibilities of documentary and educational moving pictures, and it is as well that New Zealand library authorities should make sure of what part they propose to take in the movement. The association will hold its annual conference from 15th to 18th February at Nelson. A possible innovation will be seminary or group discussions, two or three probably being conducted simultaneously, fn addition to the formal business of the conference. The last conference in Wellington was well attended and resulted in the affiliation of four branches and a university and research section. Holidays for Australian Boys A scheme to enable Australian hoys to spend holidays in English homes and English boys to spend a holiday in Australian homes was outlined to the Sydney "Herald *by Dr. H. G. Steel, an English nerve specialist visiting Sydney in the Mongolia, who considers that there is a gap in the cultural make-up of Australian youth which might be bridged by oversea travel "Jn France,” Dr Steel explained, “when a father wants his son to knew England he arranges an exchange. The son goes to an English family as a guest, and the English family send their son to the French family as a return guest, The only cost to either is the passage money and a little pocket money. Why not adopt this scheme in Australia? A small bureau operated by honorary officials, he said, could be established in Sydney to keep a list of families willing to exchange sons. The shipping companies would probably be persuaded to arrange a specially reduced fare—about £3O. This would be the sole expense, apart from a little pocket money. Fishing for Tuna Results of an organised investigation into the presence of tuna in coastal waters by Sanford, Limited, were reviewed by the chairman of directors, Mr A. F. Jagger, at the annual meeting of the company in Auckland on Thursday (states the “New Zealand Herald”). “This investigation proved definitely the presence in considerable quantities of three varieties of tuna, samples of which have been forwarded to California, and were favourably commented upon by those in the trade there,” Mr Jagger said. “It is as yet too early to give any indication of the commercial possibilities of this new industry, as the tuna is only a canning fish, and is not suitable for fresh consumption. There is a defintc market waiting for this fish in its frozen state in America, but, until the rate of refrigerated space is reduced, the fish cannot be exported to America economically. At the present time the rate from here for refrigerated cargo is three times that for similar cargo from Japan to America, and yet the distance is practically the same.”

Sawmill Closes Down After operating for over ten years, Messrs Smyth Brothers’ and Boryers' sawmill at Whakarae, about eight miles from Taumarunui, on the Strat-ford-Taumarunui main highway, closed down on Wednesday. The mill has been under the management of Mr H. T. Smyth, who will now take charge of the firm's mill at Orohina, near Arapuni. During the years the mill has been operating it has cut 22,000,000 ft of timber and employed on an average 30 men, th; lowest monthly pay-sheet being £OOO and the highest £llOO. Even in the slump period the white pine trade kept the mill busy. Stock in England During his recent visit to England, said Mr J P. Kenny, of Napier, in an interview with the “Telegraph,” he saw more sheep at the one time when travelling through the Romney Marshes between Rye and London than he had ever seen previously. II was there that he saw what was regarded as the smallest railway train service in England, and it was run for commercial reasons between Romney, Hythe. and Dymchurch. “The gauge of the track.” he said, “is ll't 61ins. I might mention that the gauge throughout New Zealand is 3ft Gins. The locomotive and carriages were of good size and we saw several people travelling in them. At Hythe we saw the largest children’s camp in England this being on the grass fields adjacent to the beach. Here also are numeivus permanent buildings which, are occupied by the campers. At intervals along the beach between Hythe and Dover are round stone towers known as ‘Martel to’ towers. They were built as a protection against one of Napoleon’s projected raids. We were rather amused to see one advertised ‘For sale,” and another, occupied as a house, made an interesting beach cottage.”