GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 December 1937, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

An Absent Host It is usual for the Mayor to entertain the councillors and executive officers ot the City Council at supper following the last meeting before the Christmas holidays. The-appropriate function was held last evening, but the Mayor (Mr G. L. Page) was unavoidably delayed in Wellington owing to the, interrupted air services yesterday. Before the meeting concluded the DcpulyMayor (Councillor E. K. Neale), on behalf of the Mayor, expressed appreciation of the work of the councillors during the past year. He did not remember a council which had worked more harmoniously, and during the year a great amount of work had been done, including the dealing with many matters of great importance to the future of the city. He wished the councillors and staff the compliments of the season. The Deputy-Mayor explained that Mr Page, though unable to be present, had expressed his wish by telephone that the social function be held, and an adjournment was then made to (lie Mayor’s room, "the absent host” being the chief toast.

Scene at Wharf East Night. There was a lively scene at the Nelson Wharf lasi evening when Nelson College pupils left, for the North Island for the Christmas holidays on I hoard the steamer Arahura. Those not ' returning sported Old Boys’ ties. I takas, I College songs and various types of ! streamers made an impressive farcj well. Honey in ihuvkes Bay A most successful season as far ns honey production in Hawkcs Ray is concerned is promised by present eon ditions, Mr L. Roisterer. Government Apiary Instructor for the district, stating that tlic honey flow had started early and was already in progress, and that there seemed every prospect of the j Mow continuing longer than was usually j the ease. Hawkcs Bay was more fortunate than other districts in the Dominion in regard to last year’s crop, and it appeared that mother successful yield would be experienced Motor Drivers’ Licenses « A total of 2332 motor drivers’.licenses has been issued by the City Council this year, that figure showing an increase of 150 over last year’s total, stated a report of the Traffic Inspector (Mr C. E. Parkinson) to last night’s meeting of the council Motor Camp at Tahima In this issue the Mayor-Mr G. Page and the president of the Tnhuna Sands Association—Mr 11. R, Duncan—extend an invitation to citizens to visit during the week-end the new camping grounds for motorists at Tahuna Beach. During the past fortnight a number of visiting motorists have camped on the site, and have expressed much appreciation of the pleasant surroundings, and of the facilities for camping with which Hie grounds have been equipped. Manufacturing Costs Recent investigations into the costs of production of local secondary industries have revealed the weakness of the costing systems of numerous firms, and, according to statements made at a meeting of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association have given rise to criticisms that the methods adopted are not sufficiently up-to-date. The president, Mr H. W. Shove, said a suggestion had been made that a class for specialised instruction in costing should be formed, and if this were done in conjunction with the University College good results should be obtained. The expense would be small, and some of the younger accountants engaged in manufacturing businesses would have the opportunity, which was needed, to obtain expert training The question was referred to the association’s cxecilive to consider what action should be taken. Half Hour Parking The City Traffic inspector (Mr C. E. Parkinson) reported to last night’s meeting of the City Council that most car drivers were complying with the by-law regarding the half hour parking limit in Trafalgar, Hardy and Bridge streets. However, lie pointed out that some owners apparently had taken no notice of the general warnings which had been issued, and he intended in the future to prosecute offenders. Protest Against Pharmacy Control In protesting against suggested estrictions in the sale of proprietary goods, a petition has been forwarded from New Plymouth to the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce. The Minister has written to Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., stating that the proposed restriction should not be interpreted as applying to all proprietaries. and that the Bureau of Industry has already had discussions with representatives of certain firms and its dealers. The views put forward would receive full consideration and the bureau -was" hopeful that mutually satisfactory interpret itions would be reached. Tahuna Beach Camping Grounds The Tahuna Sands Assoctialion. in whose hands the control of the motorists’ camping ground has been placed, find it necessary to restrict, at present, the use of the road within the grounds to campers only, as it is feared that the cars of tradesmen, hawkers and others if permitted on the narrow one-way road inside would mean congestion and inconvenience to campers. This, it is considered, should not be any hardship, as tradesmen and others whose business takes them to the camping grounds can park their cars on any section of the beach road which traverses the whole length of the camp on the seaward side, and from this road is no great difficulty for tradesmen to work any part of the camp. The association asks for the co-operation of motorists and tradesmen in giving effect to the foregoing. N.Z. Tourist Trade Fewer vexatious regulations which it present must be complied with by tourists before they land in New Zealand, improved shipping services and reduced steamer fares, sleepers for second class passengers on the trains, better hotel accommodation and more elasticity with legislation and awards concerning hotel services—these are some of the suggestions for the improvement and development of tire Dominion’s tourist trade, contained in the latest bulletin issued by the New Zealand Tourist League. The league also advocates the need for placing the Government Tourist and Publicity Department under its own general manager, as was the case before the department was linked up with the Department of Industries and Commerce, and greater co-operation with world-wide travel agencies. The league believes that the State appropriation for overseas publicity should be increased by at least £50.000 each year, and suggests the establishment of a short-wave radio station to broadcast regularly items of New Zealand news, sport and music. Abattoir Returns Stock slaughtered at the Nelson Abattoir in the fortnight ended yesterday was as follows: Cattle, 106; calves, 23; sheep. 646; lambs. 44; pigs, 68; total, 887. That information was contained in the report of the manager (Mr G. W. Mitchell) presented at: last night’s meeting of the City Council.

Oily Council Ollico % The City Council last evening rk-cirlccl In close its ollicc from Christmas Eve until Tuesday, the 4th .lanunry. except for a short period on several days for urgent business. Farmers and Unemployment Tax A proposal that farmers throughout New Zealand should refuse to pay any more unemployment taxation, and by i showing a united front should compel the Government to abolish this unpopular tax was given hearty support at the December meeting of the Mnrrinsville branch of the Farmers’ Union. A motion requesting the Auckland executive of the union to take steps to secure (he abolition of the tax was seconded in .half a dozen places. It was suggested that every branch of Iho Farmers’ Union should press for the abolition of the lax. as this would give the Government an indication of the unpopularity of this tax which was introduced as a temporary measure but is still retained. The particular point stressed was that farmers were having difficulty in getting labour for milking, and had to call on wives and children to assist in earning income on which they yere compelled to pay unemployment taxation for the support of ablebodied men in the towns. Work in Reserves A total of 47,905 plants have beon planted out this season in the various reserves in the city, according to the report of the Reserves Superintendent (Mr A. White) to last night's meeting of the City Council Dentistry Profession Dr. if. B. Dodds, Director of flic Faculty of Dentistry, in his report on the year's work at the Otago Dental School, slates that the demand for young graduates is still very steady, and is has been almost impossible to meet requests from time to time for locum tenens. The prospects for the young graduate still remain satisfactory, and the .young dental practitioner should experience no difficulty in building up a successful career for himself. "A largo proportion of dental practitioners in this country,” he said, "are graduates of this school, and this proportion will increase steadily, for few of our graduates leave the country permanently. Those who go abroad for post-graduate study usually return to practise in the Dominion Thus the great value and national importance of travelling scholarships. It is hoped that the New Zealand University will grant such scholarships, as has been done in other faculties.” Minimum Taxi Fares A scale of minimum taxi fares was decided on by the Nelson City Council last evening, as follows:- One passenger, Is; two passengers, Is; three passengers, Is 6d; four passengers, 2s. The decision of the council was the result of a letter from the Commissioner of Transport suggesting the advisability of the council fixing a minimum scale of fares. Tahuna Beach The City Council last evening appointed a sub-committee to submit a report to the council on the proposed lease ot Tahuna beach to the Tahuna Sands Association. Councillor G. P. Russell asked that the rights of citizens should be protected in every way possible, and the council should be assured that no charge is going to be made for general use of the beach. Success of Dietary System The success of the special dietary system which has been introduced to the Mount Albert Grammar School hosteJ was favourably commented upon by the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, during a visit to the hostel (reports the Auckland "Star”). The outstanding features of the experiment arc a constant and generous supply of fresh vegetables obtained from the school farm, plenty of fresh milk, and the replacement of white bread by wholemeal loaves. The Minister said that the system impressed him as being a very valuable experiment. The entire absence of illness and colds throughout the year was a remarkable record, and the genera! improvement which had been effected in the boys' health had been first class. The system should be studied closely by similar institutions, hosiptals. and by the public generally, and it would receive his interest as Minister of Health. The system operating at the hostel was explained to the Minister by the matron. Miss Maindonnld, who has been primarily responsible for its introduction She said that perhaps the most beneficial results of the system, apart from the excellent health results, were the complete food satisfaction of the boys and their general happiness. Penalty on Rates The Cfiy Council at last night’s meeting decided to impose a penalty of 10 per cent, on rates unpaid after the 7th February. City Dog Tax The Ne'son City Council decided that the dog tax in the city for the year would be 2s (id for working dogs and lOs for others, with Is rebate if paid before Ist March. First Essential to Success "Tiie first essential to success in life is honesty. I don’t mean the common honesty, bui the honesty which enables people to say of a man that his word is his bond,” said Mr Justice Ostler, who addressed pupils of Scots College at the prize-giving ceremony in Wellington. "There seems to be a new school of thought in this country, which has actually had Acts passed by Parliament in support of its doctrine, that it is not morally wrong to evade irksome contracts. Stick to your own word and in the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes. ‘Own up. pay up. and shut up.’ What- 1 ever calling you may embrace when you leave school you will get most happiness out of it if you regard that calling as a chance to serve your fellow men,” continued Mr Ostler. "So long as you regard that calling as a means of service and not as a means of getting rich yefti will be doing something for the betterment of the world ’