The Arbitration Bill

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21601, 23 March 1932, Page 6

The Arbitration Bill

Doubtless hoping to draw the Prime Minister, Mr F. Jones (Dunedin South) asked in the House of [Representatives yesterday (says our parliamentary reporter) if Mr Forbes had received a communication from the Dunedin Executive of the United Party expressing its views on the Arbitration Bill, and if so, what was the Government going to do about it. Mr Forbes smilingly replied that any communication from the Dunedin Executive of the United Party, or any other organisation on the subject mentioned, would receive the careful consideration of the Government. The Milford Track

As a result of representations made by the Otago Motor Club, the Government Tourist Department has decided to open the Milford Track for the Easter holidays. Easter Bookings

The manager of the local office of the Government Tourist Department states that bookings for the Easter holidays are coming in very freely. The usual Otago resorts and Queenstown and Stewart Island have their customary inquiry, and bookings for further afield are not wanting. An interesting feature oi the season is the number of inquiries which are being made about distances between various places by parties of intending trampers. Balclutha Traffic Bridge

Consequent on the Clutha County Council’s decision to redeck the old portion of the Balclutha traffic bridge, the bridge will be closed to all traffic from 11 o’clock to-night until G. 30 a.m. to-morrow. On account of the Easter holidays it will not be closed again until Monday night, and from then, for the following three weeks, it will be closed every night excepting Tuesdays.

Stag Killed by Car While a car proceeding from Wellington to Palmerston North early yesterday morning was passing Waikanae a stag jumped out into the middle of the road. The car stopped, but (says a Press Association telegram) the stag would not move. When the car started again the stag ran along the road and the car followed it for several miles. The car again stopped, but the stag continued running. The car overtook the stag two miles further on, when the stag suddenly stopped, and the car, being unable to pull up in time, ran into the animal and killed it. The stag is said to be a 14pointer. The Lure of the Lottery

Curious questions are asked at the offices of the social workers, and it is wonderful the faith some people, right down on their luck, have of their bright prospects in the future. What might be described as the high-water mark of optimism in this respect was shown when one person in a northern city who ’had invested half-a-crown in a lottery ticket wanted to know if he could get any information as to the best way to invest the £2OOO first prize if it came his way. He had not too much faith in Government bonds, and thought local body debentures were worse, and he was not too “ shook ”on the banks. 'When told that it might be a good thing to put it into a nice little property, he said that he had been told that the “ bottom ” had dropped out of property. He had no further use for advice given by those from whom he sought it, when, as a parting shot, he was told that the half-crown would have been better invested in food than put into a lottery ticket. What he wanted to know was what chance of getting a fortune he would have then had.

Burnside Stock Sales Fat cattle and sheep were sold at slightly cheaper rates at the Burnside sales yesterday, but lambs and pigs met with a firm market. The fat cattle entry totalled 151 head of medium to fair average quality. The yarding included a few pens of heavy bullocks and a good proportion of light, prime heifers and mixed quality cows. Heavy bullocks sold from £9 15s to £lO ss, medium £7 15s to £8 ss, light £6 to £7; heavy heifers £6 15s to £7 ss, medium £5 10s to £6 ss, light £4 10s to £5; medium cow’s £5 to £5 17s 6d, light £3 5s to £4 ss. About 1600 sheep were offered. It was a mixed entry, consisting mostly of ewes, with a few pens of fair to prime wethers and some pennings of extra heavy animals. The sale opened at prices about on a par with last week’s rates, but heavy wethers and ewes were later sold at a reduction of Is per head. Extra heavy wethers sold from 19s 6d to 21 s 9d, heavy from 16s 3d to 17s 6d, medium to 15s 9d; best ewes •from Hs 6d to 12s 9d, prime from 9s to 10s, and medium from 7s 3d to 8s 6d. Between 600 and 700 lambs were forward. The entry was of fair to prime quality, and included some extra heavy lambs. The yarding met with good competition from export buyers and butchers, and the prices realised were well up to late rates. Extra heavy iambs sold from 19s to 225, medium-weights from 16s to 17s 6d, light primes from 14s to 15s, and unfinished sorts from 10s 6d to 12s 3d. Prime lamb was worth about 5d per lb. Included in the entry of 150 store cattle were 80 fat forward bullocks and 30 mixed one and a-half-year-old steers. Competition was fairly brisk, and a clearance was affected at satisfactory prices. The best of the station bullocks sold from £7 2s 6d to £8 17s 6d, while the balance realised from £4 17s to £6 15s, The pig entry consisted of 26 fats and 60 stores. The supply of fat pigs was much smaller than usual, and both baconers and porkers were sold at an advance of 7s 6d per head. Stores were a shade easier. Porkers were wmrth about 6J and baconers about 4|d per lb.

Queenstown Regatta The entries received for the annual regatta on Lake "Wakatipu on Easter Saturday constitute a record. All the Otago and Southland clubs (writes our Queenstowu correspondent) are sending crews, and for the first time for many years Canterbury will be represented, entries having been received from the Avon Club, Christchurch. The outboard events have also drawn satisfactory “fields.” Southland will send several speed boats, and competitors are coming from Oamaru. The local craft will also engage in the races, good prize money for which is being offered for the various events. "

Municipal Organ Recital A programme which should prove extremely popular has been drawn up by the city organist (Dr V. E. Galway) for the recital to be given in the Town Hall on Easter Sunday evening at 8.15. Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” from “The Messiah,” Mailings “Easter Morning ” and Humperdinck’s “Ave Maria,” from “ The Miracle,” constitute the more serious items on the programme, while of a lighter order are Fletcher’s “ Fountain Reverie,” Rowley’s “The North Wind,” Boellmann’s “ Toccata,” “ The Londonderry Air ” and “ The March,” from Meyerbeer’s opera, “Le Trophete ”' The supporting artists will be Miss Dora Wilson, a young violinist, who already shows great promise, and Mr J. Simpson, a tenor of particularly pure quality. There will be no charge for admission.

Back to the Land There is much talk in New Zealand today of a back-to-the-land movement. Whatever the ultimate success of these efforts, there can be no doubt that in the United States of America men are now pouring out of the cities into the country. During the last year 1,400,000 persons have left the cities of America for the land. Set against this there is the tiny stream of 150,000 persons who have left the land for the cities. Some idea of the surprising swing of the pendulum may be had from the fact that only eight years ago the exodus from American farms to "American cities was at the rate of 1,000,000 persons annually. Those in search of work in American cities have learnt through bitter that economic blights strike hardest in the cities. Whatever the hardships of farm life, the bread line and the free , soup kitchen are not included in them. A Rare Tree

A large tree, about 40ft high and almost as many feet in its spread, which is stated by some folk to be a fairy silver elm, and which is thought to be the only one of its kind in the Dominion, is growing, amougst many other beautiful trees, in the garden of a well-known Auckland resident, Mrs Austin Carr, of Ranfurly road, Epsom. There is a remarkable feature about the foliage of this tree (says the Star), in that the leaves are a silvery white with small blotches or scratchings of emerald green on them. On close examination of a leaf it appears as though it had been painted with green enamel, and that the enamel has been mostly chipped off, leaving a white, flawless surface. The “ fairy ” effect of colouring and markings on the leaves is increased by holding a sprig up to the light. Disease in Blackberry

A discovery that may have an important bearing on the research efforts to find an enemy of the blackberry has been made by Mr J. H. James, of Saies, North Auckland. He writes to the New Zealand Herald stating that a disease is rapidly spreading on the blackberry bushes in that district and doing a considerable amount of damage to the plants. The leaves first show small wellow spots and then, underneath, become covered ■with a powder or dust of the same colour. This, in a short time, spreads over the plants and causes them to die. Anniversary Day

Eighty-four years ago to-day the John Wickliffe, carrying the first band of the pioneer settlers of the Otago province, arrived at Dunedin, and arrangements for the celebration of the. anniversary of this event have been made by the Otago Early Settlers’ Association. Function* will be held this afternoon and to-night and to-morrow afternoon and evening, and during to-day and to-morrow the trams will stop abreast of the Early Settlers’ Hall for the convenience of passengers who wish to alight there. The only survivor of those who came to Dunedin in the John Wickliffe is Mrs Elizabeth Griffiths, of Balclutha, who, unfortunately is ill, and will not be able to attend the anniversary functions. A recent acquisition by the Early Settlers’ Association, which will no doubt attract much interest during the celebrations, is a fullsized replica of the first reaping machine, which was invented by Cyrus M'Cormick, of Virginia, United States, in 1831. The reaper is constructed almost entirely of wood, except for the cogged wheels and the cutter. Britain’s New Tariff

“ There has been a great deal of excitement lately in political circles, and the passing of the new Tariff Bill is recognised by most people here as the dawning of a new era for Great Britain and her dependencies,” writes Mr Albert Russell, a director of Messrs J. J. Niven and Co., Ltd., in a letter from London, dated February 11. "Business generally has bucked up a little, but as far as I can see at the present time 1952 will be a fairly hard year for the Mother Country. Her national finances appear to be in better order, and a bank manager here told me that he considered Great Britain had definitely won the world’s bankers’ war. Unfortunately each country in the world seems to be seeking prosperity individually, but the recognition must come sooner or later that no one nation or country can stand alone. I have taken a great deal of interest in the unification of the British nation, and believe that steps are now being taken quietly to bring this about by a conference of the heads of the British'dominions, and when that occurs and a general policy of trading and finance is agreed to a very definite step in the right direction will have been taken.”

Eclipt* of the Moon According to a Chinese belief eclipses »re caused by great dragons trying to devour the sun and moon, and they beat drums and brass kettles to terrify the monsters into releasing their prey, but no unusual sounds were heard in the city last night when an almost total eclipse of the moon was clearly visible. It is well known in these enlightened times that such an eclipse is brought about by the moon passing through the shadow of the earth, which is caused by the sun when the three bodies are in a straight line. The moon entered the penumbra, an envelope of lighter shade which appears on both sides of the umbra, or true shadow, shortly after half-past 9, and about an hour later, when it began to pass through the umbra, it rapidly lost shape and size, until for about half an hour from midnight onwards the only part of the lunar disc that was not obscured was a narrow ribbon of light on the higher left-hand portion. At this time, as frequently happens, the eclipse was accompanied by a thick fog which came from a northeasterly direction, and at times prevented the many observers from gaining a sight of the progress of the phenomenon. However, the conditions were remarkably good, and when, about half an hour after midnight, the moon commenced to move slowly out of the shadow it was plainly visible. Shortly after half-past 2 this morning the moon finally left the penumbra. This eclipse was the second of a total of four visible in 1932, two of the sun and two of the moon.

Record Show Entries The entries in the dairy section for this year's Waikato Winter Show (says a Press Association telegram from Hamilton) constitute a world's record. Dairy companies throughout both islands are well represented in the 1055 entries received. Low-lying Fog Banks

Banks of low-lying fog obscured the land at the entrance to the harbour yesterday, and the movements of shipping were disorganised in consequence. The intercolonial cargo steamer Wainui left Dunedin shortly after" 2 p.m. for Lyttelton, but as the captain was unable to sight the land when the ship reached the Lower Harbour, the vessel came to an anchorage. The motor ship Zealandic was ready to leave Port Chalmers, and the steamers Waipiata and Waikouaiti Were timed to leave Dunedin during the afternoon, all for Bluff, but as the fog had not lifted, the vessels remained at their berths. Before sunset last evening an unusual phenomenon was witnessed on the harbour, when a silvery low-lying bank of fog was carried slowly up channel by the light north-easterly wind. The fog prevented ships from negotiating the Victoria channel, and the vessels named were still in port at midnight.

Relief for Mortgagors The following telegram has been forwarded to the Prime Minister by the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce: —“The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce urges the Government to make provision in the Mortgagors and Tenants Relief -Bill, under which the court will, when granting relief to a mortgagor, have power to order an equitable distribution between a mortgagee and the holder of a chattels security of any surplus revenue, after provision has been made for the payment of rates, taxes, and a farmer’s working and living expenses.” ** Too Mean to Discuss ” Little time was taken at the meeting of the Canterbury School Committees’ Association on Monday evening in discussing the proposal of the National Expenditure Commission to charge an entrance fee of 2s 6d for each child sitting for a proficiency examination. The commission estimated that as a result of this proposal the cost of. education would be reduced by £3OOO. “This proposal is too mean to waste time in discussing,” declared Mr J. Stuart, in moving that it should be opposed. Without any further comment the motion was carried unanimously. “ Bird Run. ”

After a , long naval career, and a rather meteoric political career, ex-Ad-ihirai'. Sir Guy Gaunt,' recently revisited the land of his birth. He spent much of his time in Central Australia and penetrated 200 miles west of Bourke. “Why,” he asked a'Sydney Morning Herald interviewer, "do you not send tourists to the outback, where they can see the ‘dinkum Aussie ’? ” However, Sir Guy is not remaining in the land he loves. He is returning to British where be has made his home. The Sydney Morning Herald adds: “Part Pf Sir Guy Gaunt’s luggage comprised a consignment of Northern Territory finches, which he is taking; to Morocco for release in large * bird runs,’ as part of a movement to induce people to release their birds from restricted cages. He proposes to repay the Taronga Park Zoological Gardens, which supplied the birds, with a selection of suitable birds from, Morocco,”

A work new to the Dunedin musical public, “ The Passion of Christ,” by ■Somervell, will be given in St. Matthew’s Church, Stafford street, this evening at 8 o’clock.

The Lawrence-Tapanui Motor Service, Ltd., advertises in this issue a holiday time table between Roxburgh and Tapanui. Special trips will be run over the Easter holidays, and a special bus will run to both > Roxburgh and Tapanui on Thursday evening, leaving the Queen’s Gardens at 6 o’clock.

Tjje next sitting of the Arbitration Court at Wellington is advertised in this issue.

Attention is drawn to an advertisement .in this issue regarding the Waitati sports ©n Easter Saturday. Combine the highest quality in car manufacture with the best value for moqey. See the 1932 Austins. —Austin Motors (Otago), Ltd.—Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Stunner (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt.

A. E, J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office) Telephone 12-359. —Advt When you buy a watch, buy a Watch. Purchase from Peter Dick, jewellers, watchmakers, and opticians, 490 Moray place. Dunedin.—Advt.