GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1938, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

Low English Rents A comparison of the purchasing power of the New Zealand pound and the English pound was made in Auckland by Canon E. A. Gowring, Canon of Bristol, who is visiting New Zealand after an absence of 45 years 'says the "N.Z. Herald”). He instanced rents. In England, he said, a working man paid 8s a week for a comfortable house, which mcluded a bathroom among its amenities, and in New Zealand from 24s to k6s was asked. In England, too, an agricultural labourer could get a house for 3s a week. Nor was the standard of living so different, because in England it was now much higher than u had been some years ago.

‘‘Starving Tourists.” "Articles referring to starving tourists’ in New Zealand appear in European journals and must do this country injury,” stated Mr J. J. W. Pollard, in a report to the South Islands Travel Association last week. "In some centres where the transport service brings the traveller to his destination after the meal hour there is a steady cause of irritation. Difficulties are caused by the combination of Factories Acts and the too-rigid hours restrictions in awards. It has been shown that in some hostels controlled by the Tourist Department flexibility in the operation of the hours limitations is permitted. Privately-owned accommodation houses should be on the same basis, since the Government-managed places have found this flexibility necessary. Flexibility is especially necessary in remote regions and would be welcomed by employees as well as by employers. ’

Blenheim Aviary. The lay out of the gardens at Riverside Park, Blenheim, and the accommodation provided at the aviary met witn favourable comment from the curator of the Wellington Zoo, Mr J. Langrldge, who paid a special visit at the request of the aviary committee of the Come to Blenheim Association (reports the "Express”). Mr said that ne had been very pleased with whit he had seen and he had also been impressed with the quality of the birds at the aviary—as a matter of fact he had not seen one unhealthy bird in the collection. There were one or two features of the aviary, perhaps, that could be improved, and he proposed to make a detailed report to the committee, out there was no doubt that a very good start had been made. Mr Langridge also said that he had been greatly impressed with the trees to be seen in Blenheim. In fact one or two of them were as good as anything he had seen in New Zealand. He had made a very pleasant tour of the parks of the town, and had admired the trees at all of them.

Frost Reported. From several country districts reports have been received of frosts yesterday accompanied by the usual damage to susceptible plants. April in Invercargill. April, 1938, in • Invercargill will be remembered as one of the driest months through which the city has ever passed. Only .70 inches of rain fell, and of that amount .52in fell on four days. There were 19 other days without rain and on seven other days the fall was more or less negligible. Taken over a period of 50 years, the average rainfall lor April is 4.14in and tor the last four years 2.99in. The low rainfall last month was reflected in a shortage of water in some districts and the electric power position.

Sheep for Japan. A draft of 800 sheep was carried by the Yamashita Kisen Kaisha motorship Kozan Maru, which sailed from Auckland for Japan on Monday night. It was -tated yesterday that the sheep, which were loaded at Lyttelton last month, will be discharged at Yokohama arfd sent to stock small farms ill northern Japan. Three Japanese agricultural students, experts in sheepbreeding. were sent witTi the vessel to care for the sheep on the return voyage. The consignment is the first to leave for Japan this season.

Moving Hillsides. The East Coast country is a spectacle of moving hillsides (states the "Poverty Bay Herald”). For many years steep country denuded of native bush, has been gradually slipping, and the recent floods have accentuated the position. Roads have been blocked and rivers have changed their courses owing to this cause, and some people in dose touch with the position are alarmed with the prospect of a completely ruined countryside within another decade or so. The position is particularly acute in the Waiapu and Matakaoa counties, where a widespread policy of planting protective trees is advocated to prevent the whole countryside being laid waste by eroding rivers. A tour of many of the slipping and eroding areas was made last week by Mr O. G. Thornton, district engineer, Public Works Department, and when questioned on the matter he said he saw a serious danger of widespread devastation if prompt measures were not taken. Mr Thornton said that although the damage to roads had been severe in some parts of the Coast as a result of the last two floods, recurring trouble could be expected at certain points by further slipping of hillsides and erosion of streams There was a great need for • tree planting on the Coast, Mr Thornton continued. A number of farmers had secured good results from re-afforestation on a small scale, and their example could well be followed by others

Whale Oil and Munitions. In .restocking itself with munitions of war the world demands the slaughter of more whales, said the curator of the Canterbury Museum, Mr R. A. Falla, in a recent address to the Christchurch Business Men’s Club. He explained that whale oil was a very important natural source of glycerine. During the Great War the demand for glycerine for explosives had caused an increased demand for whale oil. “To some extent the increase in the making of armaments and munitions has a definite effect on the whale oil market, * he said

Railwaymen’s Eyes. Giving evidence before the board which is inquiring into the Ratana railway derailment, Mr P. R. Angas, locomotive superintendent. New Zealand Railways, mentioned that provision was made for annual and, if necessary, special tests of men employed in the service for sight and colour blindness, and for hearing. Each year, in July, every engine-driver, fireman, cleaner, train examiner, coalman, pumper, or any other employee engaged in or about the locomotive running sheds, or in connection with the running or examination of trains, said Mr Angas, mu§t be tested. It was provided for in instructions. In detailing the test for colour-blindness, Mr Angas said that 15 or more skeins of wool must be obtained, three of which should be larger than the others, the individual colours of the three large skeins being respectively red, violet, and green. which should be separated from the rest. “The remaining skeins,” he continued, “may be placed in confusion in a convenient place, and the person' under test should be requested to select from them all or any of the skeins of wool of identical shades of colour to those appearing in the test set. Anyone failing to pass the test mfist be reported.”

Gigantic Bean. Keen interest was taken at the Palmerston North Horticultural Society’s show in a gigantic Tongan bean, about 4ft in length and as thick as a small marrow, which was grown by Mr D. McDonald, of Manapouri Crescent. The seed was obtained from New South Wales and, aided by the very hot summer, the vine grew vigorously and climbed along a wire-netting fence for at least 20ft, while a large number of the beans were produced. Although the plant is styled a bean, it is not unlike a marrow in leaf and in eating quality. All such beans used for table purposes were not the size of the one on display, being picked somewhat earlier. Even then half of one bean was quite adequate for a family dinner.

Future of the Maori. One of the most important gatherings of the Maori race in the history of New Zealand is to be held at Parihaka Pa, near Pungarehu, on 19th and 20th June. Representatives will be present from every tribe in the Dominion and the Natives will seek ways of dealing with the three great problems that are confronting their race at the present time—health and housing, drink and gambling and the drift from religion. Hundreds of Maoris will be attracted to the historic pa. famed for the battle there during the Taranaki Maori Wars, and the deliberations will oe of paramount importance. Leading Maoris in Taranaki state that the whole future of the Maori race hinges on overcoming these problems and that this is the chance of the Natives to help themselves and maintain their standing in an advancing world. To a “Taranaki Herald” reporter it was explained that the evil of strong drink and gambling were becoming the ruination of the Native race. The moral otandard was being lowered, physique suffered and generally the race was being degraded. Strong and definite steps had to be taken and proposals would be put forward at the meeting to this end. Something had to be achieved; something would be achieved, it was asserted. p

Domestic Workers. In an effort to alleviate the existing shortage of domestic help in New Zealand girls from Sweden and Denmark may be brought to the Dominion (states a Press Association message from Hastings). Miss E. M. Dakins. Napier, will leave on Thursday for a trip to England and the Continent, and may. if sufficient English girls are not available, endeavour to bring Scandinavians to the Dominion. Miss Dakins said that she could place 500 girls in domestic employment in Hawkes Bay aJone. and would bring several hundred girls out to New Zealand if possible.