NEWS OF THE DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10634, 6 July 1920, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

A new lighting system has been installed at the Featherstdn Post Office, much to tho appreciation of the staff and residents.

It was mentioned -at the last meeting of the Otaki Town Board .that while chaff could bo secured in Wellington at £l2 10s per ton, it was being sold at £l7 10s per ton hr Otaki:

The council of the Wellington- Chamber .of Commerce has resolved that in future its meetings shall bo open to the Press. This motion, moved by Mr W. Stuart Wilson, was adopted by 6 votes to 5.

It is reported that large supplies of eggs are arriving on the 'Wellington market, and the effect of this -was noticeable yesterday. In some shops eggs were being retailed at 2s 8d and 2s 9d per dozen; an others from 3s to fle 2d.

It is proposed that under the Magnahdo hydro-electric scheme the Eketahuna sub-station will provide current for the Pahiatua County, Pahiatua Borough, Eketahuna County, Eketahuna Borough, and Mauriceville County.

Tho council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce has decided to ask slapping companies, insurance companies, and harbour boards to furnish information as to the number of claims paid, and tho total amount involved, each month, in respect of pillaged goods.

vThe following figures supplied by the Postmaster-General show the investments in war saving certificates since th‘e inception of the scheme and for tho past twelve months:—Total sales since inception, August Hth. 1916, to May 31st, 1920, £4,596,669 os. For twelve months ended May- 31st, 1920: £547,118 4s.

At a recent meeting of ratepayers in the Otaki district a rather novel suggestion was mad© by Mr CockrellHis idea was that no person who, at tho time, was owing rates, should be allowed to-vote at any election. When tho matter came before the Town Board there was a’ diversity of opinion on tho matter, and the board decided to take no* action in the matter.

Writing to his brother in Eketahuna, an ox-resident of that township, -.who is resident in America, states that things are very hard there at present. Thousands of people are out of employment and walking the streets. Tho exchange rate has had tho effect of a 60 to 70 per cent, reduction in exports, and manufactories arc consequently very slack.

An old Wnirarapa identity states that tho main roads were in a better condition fifty yearn ago than they are to-day. In those days the individual settlors ’ assisted m constructing and maintaining tho roads to their gates, and he suggested reverting to this system again if other labour was unavailable. In his opinion, tho main Wairarapa road was a disgrace to tho controlling authorities.

Tho Eagle Star and British Dominions Insurance Company, Ltd., has purchased from Mr W. H. S. Moorhouse the foug story ferro-ooncreto building now occupied by the company in Panama street. Tho position is generally recognised as one of the best business sites in ‘ Wellington, and it is understood that tho purchase price ran into several thousands of pounds. Extensive alterations are now being made.

A guild known as the Wellington Hardware Merchants’ Assistants’ Guild has been formed and incorporated. The purpose of the organisation is to promote tho welfare of its members and do such things as may bo considered desirable to promote and safeguard tho interest of members, and to act as an official channel of communication between employers and members. The secretary is Mr F. J. McComisky.

Tho matter of telephonic communication between Wellington and Hastings and Napier lias engaged tho attention of tho council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, with the result that it has (written to the secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department to tho effect that it understands that daily communication with tho towns referred to would only bo possible by the installation of a second wire. Tho council desires to know if there is any likelihood of such a course being adopted, or if any other arrangements arc being made to enable daytime communication. , It was pointed out that considerable business is done between Wellington and Hawke's Bnv towns, and that it would ho a decided convenience to the business community if it were possible to communicate ns indicated. So far no reply has been received from the department.

The Tararua ranges are at present almost entirely free from Know. This is quite unusual lor this season of the year.

A house that was purchased in Masterton a little over twelve months ago for £6OO changed hands recently at £IOOO.

The maerrinery for the Mastertoa woollen mills is expected to arrive in the course of a few months. Fair progress is being made with the erection of the buildings.

The fining of an English grocer f.or profiteering reminds a correspondent of the “Sunday Pictorial” that in tho Middle Agee a man who unreasonably raised prices was called an engrosser. But he was not only fined. He was placed in the pillory and pelted with rotten eggs.

“Might I suggest,” observed Mr A. Griffiths, a delegate from tho Wellington Rugby ilJnion to the Referees’ Association last evening, “that when you have any little matter between the union and th© association, that you do not let the Press into it. Deal with us all right, but keep the Press out.”

At the meeting of the Auckland branch of the Educational Institute a resolution was carried recommending tho executive to draw up a petition for presentation to Parliament this session, drawing attention to the injustice to Auckland teachers in tho recent regulations providing for the reduction of certain grades and salaries of Auckland teachers.

One of the outcomes of the scarcity of houses has been that many people have had to get into flats or furnished apartments in Wellington. Similar conditions exist in Great Britain,. and Mr Kingsley W°od, of the Ministry of Health, recently stated:— ‘ ‘Profiteering ‘ in furnished lettings will doubtless 'be made an offence.” “If wo do not build houses to-day, you can depend upon it we shall have to build hospitals to-morrow,” also declared Mr 11. A. L. Fisher, Minister for Education, when speaking recently in England.

“Unless' there are some compelling circumstances for a relaxation of the rule, F am not going to grant probation in these oases of thefts from ship’s cargo,” declared Mr J. E. Wil-, son, S.M., at Auckland during tho hearing of a charge against a waterside worker. Eater on in the ease, His Worship remarked that, this class of theft was getting so common, and was so hard to detect without submitting the ship’s workers to tho indignity of search, that in the interest of honest waterside workers he had decided that when thieves were caught they be severely dealt with.

An innovation at the next Wairara. pa Show, to be held at Carterton in October, will be the inclusion of tho prize winning sheep in the parade. The parade at the Wairarapa Show has always been very highly spoken of, and the inclusion of the sheep will give it further claim to the best in Is cw Zealand. Some of the sheep breeders have already educated their best sheep to lead ready for the show, and other breeders are getting busy in this direction. In England, Australia, etc. tlie sheep are led in, the parade, hut tho Wairarapa Show will be the pioneer in New Zealand in this line.

The new Telephone Directory will be available on tho (3th instant, and in our advertising columns of to-day a reminder is given to subscribers that extensive alterations to numbers bare been made. Numerous changes from manual to automatic working and in the allotting of numbers have been effected which should prove,of mutual benefit to the public and departmental employees. Three of more exchange connections are now available in many instances, where previously one existed, and in such cases the caller should give only one of the numbers quoted in the.list; it is not likely that all tho numbers will bo engaged simultaneously, and the innovation is one which should make for amicable and prompt working. Users of the telephone will greatly assist the department by referring to the new Telephone Directory only. “The Progressive North Island’’® is the heading given to the following paragraph in a Manawntu paper; —“A visitor from the north tells us that the Waikato and King Country dis-' fcricts are in a most flourishing condition. Tho mildness of the late autumn, together with abundant rains, have kept the pastures .good. The turnip crops for winter feed turned out bolter than anticipated. In the King Country a groat deal of developmcn is expected in the near future. T-; tho eastward of the Main Trunk lino big areas of pastoral and farming lands are expected to be made available for settlement bofdro long. Tho subject .of light railways is receiving attention, and several projects are afoot. A new coal field, within a few miles of To Kuiti, is to bo opened next, summer. Trial bores- have proved the existence of big seams of excellent quality, and a start is already being made with miners’ houses and preliminary works.”

A complaint that tho Christchurch Industrial Co-operative Society has difficulty in obtaining supplies owing to tho existence of trade combinations was made by Mr Hiram Hunter, who formed one of a deputation from tho New Zealand Timber Workers’ Federation, which waited upon Ministers yesterday. Mr Hunter asked that the Government should render some assistance to such societies in the matter of obtaining supplies. In Christchurch, he said, they found particular trouble in regard to sugar. The Christchurch society had started operations two years ago with 200 members; now it had about 700, yet sugar supplies could be obtained for only 200 members. It would bo of great assistance if the Government could assist by procuring the necessary commodities from tho producers, and by advancing money to co-operative societies for tho extension of their enterprises. Sir William Hemes replied that the question was one of policy; but it would be carefully considered by Cabinet.