GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 18 November 1940, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

The Best Policeman On the theory that a “reformed burglar makes the best policeman,” a member of the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce at New Plymouth asked an ex-member of the staff of the Taxation Department, “who had seen the error of his ways,” to second a remit relating to income tax returns. “Is that for publication?” asked the chairman, and Mr Gordon Fraser, New Plymouth, suggested, “Just leave out the word ‘reformed.’” Eggs Dearer The Internal Marketing Division announces that eggs purchased by retailers from wholesale distributors from to-day will be 2d u dozen dearer. The increase is described as a normal seasonal fluctuation. This week’s prices a dozen are: Heavy grades, Is lOd; standard,, Is 8d; medium, Is 7d; pullet. Is sd.

Tribute to Mr Semple

“If anyone had told me two months ago that I would be stumping the country with Bob Semple I would have told him to go and have another think,” said Major-General R. Young, Dominion Commander of the Home Guard, at a meeting held in the Civic Theatre, Invercargill. “I will add that I am proud to be associated with him. He has got what I wish everyone had—a will to win the war—for when a man has got a will to win, nothing can stop him.” Wet Canteens Praised The manner in which the wet canteehs at Papakura and Burnham military camps were being conducted was praised by chaplains at a meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, states “The Post’s” Palmerston North representative. The Rev. R. G. McDowell, chaplain at Papakura, said he had been in camp for seven weeks and had not seen a drunken man. The most that happened was that a few young men would visit the Y.M.C.A. hut when the canteen closed, singing happily. No man was served with drink who showed any signs of being affected by it. The Rev. H. O. Bowman spoke similarly of Burnham camp. Breach of Award The penalty against the Waihi Borough Council for a breach of an award in failing to pay stonemasons’ wages to certain men employed under scheme 13 in building stone walls was decided by Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M. last week (reports the “N.Z. Herald”). Judgment had previously been given in favour of five men concerned and against the council for £6l to make up the difference between the wages paid and the rate under the stonemasons’ award. The case for decision to-day was a claim for £25 by the union against the council for the breach of the award. The magistrate said the purpose of the clause in the award was to protect skilled labour and to prevent exploitation. Seeing that all the claims had been paid, the penalty would be £1 in all for the breach of the award, with costs.

Auckland’s Strawberry Crop

In spite of somewhat adverse planting conditions in the autumn, strawberry cultivation has advanced so rapidly throughout the winter that supplies of fruit have been on the market fully three weeks earlier this season (states the “N.Z. Herald”). Under the stimulus of good conditions, the early crops have matured to the extent that almost double the quantity of berries is being handled at the City Markets, compared with this period last year. The recent bleak conditions tended to retard ripening, but the uninterrupted sunshine of the last few days has more than offset the check. Probably no other fruit is as susceptible to the weather as strawberries, commented a grower. Given good conditions when the main crop is maturing, the berries ripened within a fortnight of the flowering of the plant. It was anticipated there would be a crop this year ample for all requirements, as between 1,500,000 and 1,750,o'' plants had been set in the autumn, stated an authority in the trade. That was approximately the same number as last year. The berries at present offering were the early crop, and there would be a short break in supplies between this and the main crop. Here again the interruption would be dependent upon the weather. Current prices are stated to be slightly firmer than at this date last year.

Haulashore Island Haulashore Island is looking very attractive just now. Masses of valerian and purple pea are in full flower now and make a lovely sight, while several citizens have planted poppies and rosemary which are flowering, too. The red Shirley poppies especially make a picture. although there are not many. Then of course there are the stunted kowhais which have been on the island for years, and flower every year, and the ngaios, broom, and akes akes. Most of the small pine trees that were planted last year have taken growth in the sand, and it is hoped that this summer’s picnickers will be careful of ihem, because some day they will provide a fine wind break and shelter. Newsprint Supplies Arrangements have been concluded with the Minister of Customs by the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association by which the quantity of newsprint to be imported in 1941 has been determined. The available supply will be distributed by the association among its members in equitable proportion to their requirements. Every publisher now knows how much newsprint will be available for the production of his newspaper, and such reductions in the sizes of newspapers as are necessary to bring consumption of newsprint within the limits of available supplies have been made. Except for minor adjustments, no further reduction is contemplated. The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association is therefore able to give an assurance, on behalf of its members, that they will be able to accommodate the volume of advertising that has been published in recent months. That statement represents, from the point of view of advertisers, the minimum position.

Lamb Prices Lower

Lamb prices again fell at the Westfield fat stock sales last week, an increased entry being the main factor. Top price was just over 30s, the lowest since the season opened this year. Until the previous week, when the weather became unsettled, farmers considered the lambing season was the best for many years in the Auckland district, and the abundance of good feed has been responsible for increasing entries almost every week at the saleyards. The decline in prices since early October has ranged up to 13s a head. Harbour at Hutt The diversion of the Hutt river and the establishment of harbour facilities in the present river estuary are considered by the Government town planning officer, Mr J. W. Mawson, to be the most important and far-reaching proposal of the Hutt Valley development scheme. It presents no difficulties from an engineering point of view and is almost a sine qua non to the full development of the reclaimed areas adjoining it for heavy industrial purposes. T'o lay-out proposed in the report, Mr Mawson states, has been designed in collaboration with the harbour board, railways, public works and river board engineers. This does not, of course, commit the Government or either of these local bodies, although all of them are vitally concerned with the economic development of the reclaimed areas.

Postal Deliveries

“In view of the need for conserving manpower to a maximum, the department has decided to discontinue the private bag service in almost every instance in towns and cities,” wrote Mr C. Clark, chief postmaster, Hamilton, in a letter to the Central Waikato Electric Power Board last week. The board was asked if it would accept the private box service as an alternative. The secretary, Mr H. J. Beeche, said the private bag service had proved to be a safe and satisfactory system, and in view of the large number of remittances received by the board through the post he thought it should be continued. Other systems had their weaknesses. He doubted if there would be any saving in manpower by the box system. It was resolved to ask the department to reconsider the matter and to draw the attention of the Postmas-ter-General to the board’s point of view.

‘Only One Aim’

“There is only one aim at the present time and that is to ensure an overwhelming margin of national security. Until this aim has een achieved nothing else matters. Afterwards we can see about export and make up for lost time. Export trade depends on security—security does not depend on export trade.” This expression of opinion comes direct to Nelson from a big firm of motor manufacturers in Birmingham. The letter in which it is contained is full of hope and determination. At the time of writing. midSeptember, the works had escaped damage by air raids and production was continuing day and night.

Films at Christmas

An application by Amalgamated Theatres Ltd. and Hawkes Bay Amusements Ltd. for permission to show films at the State, Regent, Cosy and Municipal Theatres on Christmas night was refused by the Hastings Borough Council (reports the “Daily Mail”). In a letter to the council the secretary of the New Zealand Theatrical and Places of Amusement Union expressed the opinion that theatre employees should be free to spend Christmas Day and evening with relatives and friends. He asked that the council refrain from granting permission to show pictures on Christmas Day. Message From Budapest Applause greeted the reading, at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, in Palmerston North, of felicitations from the Reformed Church of Hungary, with headquarters in Budapest (states the “Standard”). Couched in somewhat quaint language, the letter extended hopes for the furtherance of the Church’s work in New Zealand. Motor Cars and Radios Motor vehicle business has shown a marked decline in New Zealand. Vehicles registered at 30th June. 1939, totalled 258,170 and a year later 250,841 —a reduction of 7.329 vehicles. Registrations of motor cars fell from 186.502 to 179,118, a decline of 7.384. During the same time Government vehicles moved from 3,666 upwards by 556 to 4.222. On the other hand the sale of radios increased by 42,789.