ADVERTISING ON TRAMCARS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15825, 25 July 1913, Page 4

ADVERTISING ON TRAMCARS.

It is to be hoped that the decision of the City Council to refer back to the Tramways Committee its recommendation that the offer of an advertising contractor for the rights of adorning the exterior of the Dnnedin tramcars with advertisements should be accepted means that the proposal' will be abandoned. The chairman of the Tramways Committee boldly enunciated the utilitarian view that the offer of the advertising contractor should be accepted, since it would be productive of revenue. If the tramways were not a profitable enterprise something . might perhaps be said for this point of view, but this excuse for a desire to secure a paltry enough addition to the tramway revenue by sacrificing the external appearance of the cars cannot, be pleaded, and even if it could it would only have a species of emergency value. Once admit the principle that the revenue-producing possibilities of municipal undertaldngs as advertising media should be exploited to the full and there is no saying where finality would be reached. A line must be drawn somc : where, even in. the case of the tramcars, the utilisation of which for advertising purposes is no novelty. And since the interiors of the cars are already lavishly ornamented with pictures and placards recommending this or that commodity as the finest, of its kind or as indispensable to human happiness, the line may well be drawn by excluding their exteriors from similar embellishment. Of course there are those who -would argue that advertisements displayed on the outside of the tramcars would not disfigure them, and who would seriously attempt to prove that a well-designed advertisement is a tiling of beauty and a joy for ever. There is very little' room for compromise, however, in this matter. The advertisement is an excellent thing, in its place, but there is no good reason why its place should be the outside of our municipal tramcars. It is satisfactory to think that the City Council has not been too ready to sell a birthright of the citizens—the right of comparatively unotfended vision— for a mess of pottage.

The necessity for widening some of tho street.? in Boslyn came up for consideration at the meeting of the Public Works Committee of tho City Council yesterday. Tlio one for which there is meet necessity is recognised is unquestionably that along which tho electric car runs to Bishopscourt, but nothing of a definito nature has yet been' decided upon, The matter has been placed in the hands of the solicitors for report.

A Wellington Press Association telegram states that during the April-June quarter the postal receipts amounted to £162,934, compared with £154,766 for the corresponding period last year. The telegraph revenue amounted to £180.603, against £163,724 in the corresponding quarter of 1912.

Mr J. It. Triggs (Conciliation Commissioner) presided over (ho sitting of the Conciliation Council yesterday, when tho dispute between the general labourers and tho local bodies was heard. After argument. which lasted for the greater part of the day, it was seen that there ivas no possibility of an agreement being readied, and the dispute will therefore bo referred to the Arbitration Court. The council will sit this morning to hear tho dispute between the general labourers and the builders and contractors.

In May Mr Malcolm, M.P., wrote -the Prime Minister strongly urging that. Crown ■forest lands should not bo .thrown open for selection till provision had 1 been made for roading. In reply, ho has been informed that a report has boon received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Dunodin with reference to -the question of road access •in the Catlins district, and that steps are being taken to have provision made 011 the Public Works Estimates for a sum to provide the iicccssary road access.

It has been decided by the Joint Committee of the two Houses of Parliament that, notwithstanding the fact that flic Perpetual Trustees Company's Amendment Bill has not complied with the duo formalities it should be allowed to procced on condition that it 'bo introduced after August 7, and that before that date it be advertised twice in successive weeks in tho same paper in Duncdin A Wellington Press Association telegram states that Mi;s Mary Proctor lias jii6t received a letter from Ltidy R. S. Ball, dated June 12, Cambridge Observatory, in which sho states that Sir Robert Ball is unable to attend to any business concerning tho Cawthrou solar observatory, as he is quite helpless and paralysed as a result of diabetes, and lias been a sufferer for the lost, four months. All correspondence concerning tho observatory, sho says, has been handed over to Professor Nowall, who will givo tho desired information without delay. Professor Newall is assistant! director of Cambridge Observatory, and has made eolar physics his special study. Lady Ball and Sir Robert extend to -Alks Proctor their congratulations regarding the success of her mission, and to Mr Thomas Oawtliron their appreciation of hie generous 'gift

On August 13 there will b? offered for selection under renewable lease tenure 753 acres in the Clareview Settlement and 660 acrcs in the To Puke Settlement. The former comprises six sections, ranging from 116 acres to .205 acrre. The land consists of fine undulating country, nearly all of which is ploughahle. The Te Puke land has been cut into four sections, which vary from 129 acrcs to 180, and are about 18 miles from Oamaru. About 85 per cent, of the land in each section is ploughable, a considerable portion having been previously cultivated. All the sections have a frontage to a first-class mclal road. Applicants for this land can be examined at Oamaru on August 15 and at Dim?din, at the' Lands Office, oil August 14.

In connection with the proposal brought forward by Cr Hellyer at tho last meeting of tho St. Kikia Council to raise tho town clerk's salary, the Mayor l ' (Mr V. T. M'Farlane) informed a Daily Times reporter yesterday that the published report- of the matter was calculated to create a wrong impression. He Slid that the motion, which cynic before tho council in committee, was not seconded, the reason being that the Finance Committee had already recommended that the clerk's salary be increased, but at Mr Dick's own suggestion the matter was deferred until such time as the council's finances were more buoyant. The town clerk had pointed out repeatedly to tho council the necessity for "going slow" until the rates for the current year wore collected, and in tho face of this Recommendation the Financo Committee and the council decided to defer the proposed l increase for a month or two. When it is granted ;t will be made retrospective as from July 1. The way Cr Hellyer's motion was disposed of, Mr M'Farlane explained, gavo people the impression that Mi' Dick did not possess tho eonfidenco of the council, whereas the contrary was the case, the members being unanimously of tho opinion that the borough had not had a more painstaking, loyal, and efficient servant. •

Thieving on something approaching a wholesale ecalo is reported to have taken place during the past week or two amongst the pleasure craft around the harbour front. According; to the information supplied to us over a dozen boating "'cribs " have been broken into and the contents etolen. The missing goods include oilskins, tools of various kinds, brass fittings, copper wire, and other articles, including a sporting rifle. Theso havo all been looted from various places in which yachtsmen and motor boat owners usually 6tore their spare gear. The thieves liavo not confined their attention wholly lo Dunedin, as (hey are reported to havo cleaned ' out about half a dozen boate at Ravensboume, practically everything of a portable nature having been taken away. Some timo ago the engine was removed from a launch near-Sawyers' Bay, but this was found some disiancc away, the thieves •, having been disturbed whilst attempting to remove their booty; and a few weeks ago another eng-ino was carried off from a launch on the reclaimed land near the overbridge. From these facts, it is concluded that the plundering referred to is carried out- in a systematic manner by some person or persons who find ways and means to dispose of the stolen goods in some convenient and remunerative quarter. Boat pillaging appears to have reached a stage which may well be designated a profitable occupation, but boat-owners will doubtless feel relieved when the police make an example of those conccrned in the depredations.

The petroleum ivories at New Plymouth are responsible for tho order of 30,000 'oases, which are being manufactured at Messrs Ellis n-nd Burnand's factory at Manunui (says our Wanganui correspondent). Boxmaking plants have hitherto depended on the dairying industry for supplying a demand, but this new industry has opened up another market. A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that during June 2964 persons arrived in New Zealand, and 2775 departed, compared with 2717 and 2953 respectively ,in June. 1912. A paragraph appeared in our columns yesterday giving the figures for the drainage rate in respect to the Borough o£ St. Kilda. During the process of type-setting a mistake crept in. Tho correct reading is as follows::—1 13-16 din the pound on the unimproved value for the sewered area, and 13-16 d in the pound for the unsewered area. An audience that quite filled the Y.W.G.A. Hall assembled last night to hear a lecture by Miss Stewart, entitled " Scenes from China and Japan." Having recently visited the places described in her address, which by the way was primarily intended for ladies, Mi6s Stewart was ablo to give her hearers a first-hand description of the habits, customs, and domestic life of the Japaneso and Chinese with a conciseness and clearness that denoted teen powers- of observation and a sympathetic outlook on human life in the Orient. Tho address was listened to with close interest throughout, and was illustrated with a large number of beautiful lajitern slides, which were thrown on tho screen by Mr Simpson. At the close a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried by acclamation.

These who }Wrpo6c taking advantage &f tile cheap 'week-end cxcurs-on to Qirenstown on Saturday will be glad to hear of the following message received by the acting secretary of the Dunedin Expansion League from a Dunedin gentleman at present in Qucenstown. Writing: on Tuesday he says: " The weather up hero is lovely. To-day has been perfect, and it has every appcarance of setting in fine, I was up the Lake with a. friend to-day as far as Ellin Bay, and' the- mountains all round arc a magnificent sight, as there -was a fresh fall of snow yesterday. I have never seen them look better, and the air is not cold— quite like spring—with a bright sun a.nd blue sky."

Tho occupants of an outward-bound Onehunga truncal - viewed with astonishment the antics of a young man who entered the 01 r at the Symonds street section on Sunday afternoon (says the New Zealand Herald). As 110 readied his seat lie was seen to jump wildly into tho air with one •leg and one arm extended, while his language was moro forcible than polite. Tho reason for his strange behaviour was explained when he told tho other passengers that lie had received a severo electric ahoeic through touching a bolt on the floor with Jlis foot. Shortly after the conductor came along and told tho young man that there

was a leakage of electricity, to which the passenger gravely returned thanks, and sajd that ho had found it.

A rise in ( tram faros is threatened in Sydney. Discussing tho reasons for the suggested- rise, the Sydney Daily Telegraph says:—"ln eases where -vvholo families have to come in and out to their work irorn distant suburbs, any rise will ho severely felt, since it will have exactly the same effect as a 'Jetrreaso ot wages all round. At the same time, the trams must po.v their way, and every addition to the running expenses has to couio out of the pockots of the travelling public. For several years, with fares no higher than they arc now, tho trams not only earned interest on their capital, but provided a. surplus, which went to the benefit of the Consolidated Revenue. Now they are running at a Joes which will have to be made good by a contribution from the people who use them. There has been no falling-off in business to account for tho altered financial position. Iti is the other way about; the trains are carrying more people than ever, being on many lines taxed 10 t.he utmost limit of their capacity. But

tho working expenses have gone up all round, and tho receipts must rise in proportion* or the 6crvicc will not pay. Thus the rise of wages given to tho tram employees, which wo do not aay was at all unjustified, in view of the extra cost of living, has to bo paid by a deduction from the wages of the workers who liavo to make regular use of tho trams. The question that now remains is how are theso workers, who are equally affected by the increased living expenses, to be compensated for their lossf"

Our Alexandra correspondent informs lis that at a meeting' of tie local Borough Council on Wednesday night it was resolved, subject to the consent of tiie ratepayers and to the present users of the rights being safeguarded, to put the Chatto Creek race under offer to the Government. A price was fixed, and the whole matter will be submitted to a vote of the ratepayers on August 6.

Massaging the heart is a risky expedient, but it saved a man's life last week (says » message in the Sydney Sun). An appendicjtu; patient was being operated on in the Melbourne Hospital, and while under the amesthetio he ooilapsod.' Tho doctore resorted to the usual methods for tho restoration of animation, but they were unsuccessful, and it seemed as if nothing could be done. One surgeon, more daring than his colleagues, decided upon a bold course. He opened the man's chest, and, inserting nis finger, gently massaged the heart until its pnlee became stronger. The wound was stitched, and except for tho effects of shock tho patient is doing well.

Terrific storms in the middle and southern parts of Italy recently wrought havoc amongst crops and stock (says the Sydney Sun). Shipping also suffered severely, hundreds of small craft having been bcachcd on tho shores of Sicily. Large ships were compelled to remain in port during the progress of tho storm. The rain fell in torrents, and the wind at times reached 1 a velocity of ICO nife an hour. Naples was vieitect by rain and hail, tho liko of wnich had never been known before. Muddy waters raced down tho sides of, Vesuvius, inundating nearly all tho villages at the foot of the mountain. In Messina, crops were torn up by the roots, and the inhabitants were forced to flee for their lives.

Tho confession made by Mrs Edith Rigbv, tho well-known suffragette, who surrendered herself to the police, and was brought before the court in Liverpool last week was of a highly dramatic character. A 6 already cabled, Mrs Rigby, who is the wifo of a Preston physician, admitted that it was ehs who burnt down Sir William Lever's country residence, and. who, a few days previously, had exploded a bomb at tho Livernool Cotton Exchange. When presented at tho court Mrs Rigby gloried in what 6he had done. After freely confessing that she had been the author of both outrages, the accused went on to say: "I chose the Exchange because tho cotton industry has been built up chiefly on women's labour. The merchants are willing to get power and •wealth from the labour of women, while women were denied the vote and citizenship, This is tho first knock at the door under the Cat and Memse Act. Ono of tho greatest women is going to bo dono to death, and if the Government is going to kill that woman this is a roaming of what will happen." Mrs Rigby has already been imprisoned five times in connection withsuffragette outrages, and has as often been releasod owing to the breakdown of her health.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of the quarterly Army List of the New Zealand Forces. Wo havo received the "History of I -hi Wellington Post Ofiice and its Buildings"— a souvenir of She opening of the new General Post Office building. The first number of The Bulletin, an "illustrated national newspaper," to be published once a week at Auckland, has readied us. The impression it conveys is distinctly favourable, for it is brightly and crisply written. Its personal paragraphs, aa well as others of ite features, indioate a design to adopt the model of its Australian namesake. Captain Scott's story, two instalments of winch we have now published summaries, will, with ecora of pictures taken by the party, appear in Life, and run for five issues. The first Scott number of this publication, which Jias just boon issued, contains a finely illustrated introductory article by W. H. Fitohett. entitled " The Great White Battlefields of the World." This is a fitting prelude to " Scott's Own Story," for it tells the thrilling story of Polar adventure from early days to the death of Scott-Hill-climbing Extraordinary.—July 12, Wheeler's Hilt, Melbourne: 2J Douglas and sidecar first and fastest time, beating all raaohincs.—Wilson, Dunedin.—Advt. The Big Sale.—Tho first week of our sals has been attended with phenomenal success. All previous records are broken. Be sure and get your share of the bargains offered. —Molli6ons Limited.—Advt. Needing a -nice hairbrush? We have just made a special purchaeo of real ebony hairbrushes, and for 7s 6d you can get a really nice one. Bristles are the best.—G. and T. Young (Ltd.), 88 Princes street.—Adyt. "Eczema Cure 6170" is a real boon to efiema sufferers. Made ajid sold bv Wilkinson and Son chemists Princes street; is bd, and pested to all parts.—Advt. "Catching a cold," with its attendant sore throat, nasty cough, and "stuffed-up" head, is common enough, but " Benjamin Gum " is now -vol! known as the one quick and perfect cure, la 6d bottle. It relieves immediately I—Advt. For' Chronic _ Chest Complaints, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 1b 6d, 2s 6d.—Advt A. E- J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, oorner of Bond and Rattray streets (nest Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859.— Advt. 11. Gunthorp, resident dentist, BaJcluths, visits Milton, Kaitangata, and Owaka. Telephone 54.—Advt, Wlio is Peter Dick?—Tho most reliable Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes Et.}, Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt