LOCAL GOSSIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23333, 29 April 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP

Comparative Power CCT HAVE got to say 'stop,' that I is all, and it stops," said Mr. "*• Savage in Auckland, discussing the powers and functions of a Prime Minister. But a traffic cop has only to raise his hand, without saying a word, and everything stops.

The Regulation Present When inspecting an Auckland biscuit factory. Mr. Savage was presented with an ornamental barrel of biscuits. What it is to be a Prime Minister; most people have to get married to acquire a biscuit barrel as a present. The Wrong Criterion A discussion by Invercargill business men of the quality of Now Zealand banknotes was ended when the chairman suggested that quality in the notes was the last thing to worry about. Quite right; it's the quantity that counts with most people. Not to be Moved Repudiating the suggestion of a State lottery to provide funds for the care of the sick and the aged, the Minister of Health told the Easter Labour Conference that "fortunately that care was firmly grounded rock foundation of taxation'." "ltock foundation," —the brightest thought expressed at the conference. Lonely in a Crowd A couple of appeals from "lonely fellows" in tho United States for girls to write to them were found in boxes of machinery received in Christehureh. Such a message from the midst of some 120,000,000 odd folk to New Zealand's million and a half •is quite in order, of course.

Nice Work She is not an experienced cardpi aver, but will sometimes join a modest poker-game to make up the necessarv number of players. Luck was against 'her, and she was losing comparatively lieavily, until, after some spirited betting, she showed four aces. The assembled company looked twice, and then paid up politelyTheywerea little less polite tho next hand, however, when the same player nonchalantly produced four kings, and looked round the table with A delighted eye. Breaking it Gently The Chairman of the Hospital Board stated last Friday that any increase in the hospital levy this year would be a very small one; on Monday night the board announced there would be 110 increase at all. The precaution was unnecessary; joy seldom kills. A Matter for Tears "We won't be humbugged by New Zealand any more" writes an indignant Sydney firm of grain and produce merchants. The excitement arises over the trade in onions. But if these Svdneysiders really propose to face New Zealand onions open-eyed, they may be sorry for it yet.

By MERCUTIO

"Bouquets With Bricks" What about all these bouquets with bricks that Mr. Savage expects to be hurled at the Government in connection with the import restrictions ? The Prime Minister savs lie is not afraid of getting hurt, but the Cabinet is not taking any chances, so far, at least as imported bricks are concerned. It is noticeable that "bricks, n.e.i.'' are on the totally banned list. Bricks wrapped in bouquets do not figure as such in any or Mr. Nash's schedules, and therefore they come under the "not elsewhere included" designation Thus it is only locaL bricks that can be used for ammunition, Perhaps Mr. Armstrong will work a corner in these by commandeering them all for his State houses, and thus avert the threatened acts of 10lcnce.

Relatively Simple The meaning of the letters "n.e.i., —not elsewhere included —in the customs tariff has puzzled a number Ot people making their acquaintance witn the document this week for the first time. If that's the worst headache they find in the taxation system, they 11 be lucky. No More Overseas Yarns Mr. Nash's little list discloses the fact that the importation of certain classes of yarns is now prohibited. Therefore, no doubt, anybody lrnpiudent enough to try to introduce coc * and bull stories" from abroad will get into trouble. Those fancying them—and they usually seem to be in great. demand—must be content with the New Zealand product. Visiting anglers, presumably, Avill not now dare to bring in fish stories, but local industry, as represented at Rotorua and Taupo, should prove quite equal to meeting all demands.

Week-End Truancy Lawn mowers of- the type pushed by perspiring man are included among the imports to be totally banned next halfyear. Is this a subtle move for the encouragement of the game of golf? Whisky Supply Threatened All spirituous liquors, including whisky, come under the new import ban, and there are groat lamentations, especially in a southern city. Mr. Nash does not sav whether this step has been taken with a view to the encouragement oi local production. A distillery in some convenient spot, say in the neighbourhood of the Octagon, in Dunedin, should meet with favour. Dunedin, in the " 'Seventies." or thereabouts, had a flourishing distillery, from which some 6000 gallons of proof spirit were turned out monthly. Auckland also had a similar industry, but the absence of statistics indicates that it did not keep pace with its southern rival. Spirited Away One of the most striking results of the Government's ban on the importation of liquor is reported to have been the amazing number of people who have discovered the urgent need for replenishing their mysteriously-depleted home supplies of whisky, kept of course for medicinal purposes only.