THE AUCKLAND WOOL SALES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22122, 28 November 1933, Page 8

THE AUCKLAND WOOL SALES

The note of jubilation in the messages from Auckland concerning the level of prices at the opening of the wool sales for this season will find an echo throughout New Zealand. While evidence that the economic depression, as far as it affects the British Empire and some European countries, is lifting has been accumulating in recent months, the feeling may have prevailed among producers in the Dominion that they were being asked to accept it to some extent on trust. The Minister of Industries and Commerce emphasised, however, in the course of an address last night at the meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, that the improvement in trade in Great Britain covers a very wide range of industry. And the impression which he has formed is that the Mother Country, pursuing what he described as orthodox lines, is emerging from the depression the strongest and soundest commercial nation in the world. The prices that were secured for the wool that was offered at Auckland yesterday themselves convey the conviction that the feeling of optimism which has been expi’essed in Great Britain and Australia is well-founded. It is estimated that the Auckland clip will bring in more than twice the sum obtained at the sales in March and at the corresponding sales a year ago. Values have soared and competition is keener than it has been for years. The fact that only a few buyers, representing the principal consumers in England and on the Continent, were at all active is not a cause for concern, as it is more than possible that the agents of the less important buyers have been holding back with the object of gauging the strength of the demand. The Auckland clip is not one of the largest in New Zealand, nor is it among the

best in quality, but the corapax'atively high prices and the spirited bidding may reasonably be taken as an indication that buyers are determined upon securing New Zealand wool as it comes on the market on a new basis of values. In recent years the textile manufacturers have been buying carefully, reducing their purchases to a minimum, and the welcome display of interest in the Auckland offering indicates that they are preparing for a trade revival which will bring many idle looms into fresh use. While the consideration must not be neglected that owing to the inflated value of the English pound in New Zealand overseas buyers have a certain margin on their purchases in this Dominion, the prices and general tone of the Auckland sales augur well for a much more successful selling season for producers of wool in this country than has latterly been their experience. It may be hoped that one effect of the highly encouraging demand that was exhibited at the sales, and of the enhanced value of the wool, will be to infuse into the people of the Dominion some of that confidence of which there has been a too great lack during the past two years. There is, as Mr Masters said, a very great deal of money in New Zealand awaiting profitable use, and it is only necessary that greater confidence should be shown, as may reasonably bo shown, in the future of the country to bring this money speedily into circulation through industrial channels.

Empire Art The British Empire Society of Arts will hold an exhibition in London next summer, and intends to include in it a representative collection of New Zealand art. With that end in view it has circularised the art societies in the Dominion asking for selections to be sent. The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts has been inforaied that at least 10 works by Wellington artists will be accepted, and a representative selection will therefore be made and sent to London. The Otago Art Society has decided not to be represented in the exhibition, chiefly on the score of the expense involved, as it would cost each artist at least £5 to send pictures to London.

Public Health Returns Two cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were discharged from Dunedin Hospital during the week ended at noon yesterday, leaving one case still in the institution. Nine cases of scarlet fever re main in the Logan Park Hospital, one case having been admitted during the week. The Queen Carnival

The chairman of the Central Executive of the Queen Carnival (Mr J. J. Marlow) has written to each of the queen executives asking for a copy of the balance sheet covering its activities in the recent charitable effort. It is anticipated that these balance sheets will be available in time to enable the executive to publish a synopsis of them, together with its own balance, early next week.

Cement Workers’ Award Objection to the inclusion of engineers, blacksmiths, a storeman, and a carpenter in the cement workers’ award was made by the various unions concerned in ( the Arbitration Court yesterday afternoon. At the suggestion of the employers, the workers in question were struck out of the award, which will come into operation on Friday. Building at Port Chalmers

Messrs Stevenson and Cook have obtained from the Railways Department a section of land at Port Chalmers, and they have let a contract to Love Brothers for the erection upon this of a building 140 feet by 50 feet. This building extension has been rendered necessary by the fact that Stevenson and Cook have secured the contract for the iron work for the new Post Office. The first shipment of steel will arrive at the works from England in three weeks’ time.

Gift to Hanmer Hospital A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that a gift of £2OOO for the benefit of women patients in the Queen Mary Hospital, at Hanmer, by Mr Charles A. Lyons, of Christchurch, .was announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes), when speaking at a luncheon held at Hanmer yesterday. Mr Forbes said that Mr Lyons had created a fund, the interest from which would be used to help women patients in the hospital, and he had made the gift in memory of his mother and in gratitude for the sympathetic care she had received while a patient at the hospital. The fund will be administered by a trust board.

A Senseless Act Some time between 5.30 and 6.30 a.m. on Sunday evening, whilst the members of the St. Kilda life-saving team were away having tea, some individual with a perverted sense of humour, and apparently with nothing better to do, occupied his time by knotting the club’s life line, which had been left standing on the beach, into a tangle that eventually took nearly an hour and a-half to unravel. When it is considered that the members of life-saving clubs give their services gratuitously to assist bathers who get into difficulties, and that a life line is required immediately an alarm is received, the mentality of the perpetrator of such a piece of stupid mischief is difficult to understand, for the line and the reel were left in such a condition that they would have been quite useless in an emergency Crew of Officers It seldom happens that a ship arrives at the port of Otago carrying six certificated masters and a deck crew composed of certificated officers. The Commonwealth and Dominion Line’s fine motor ship Port Gisborne, which reached Dunedin on Sunday from London, via Panama and Suva, holds a remarkable record in that respect. In addition to Captain W. G. Higgs, master of the Port Gisborne, three of the officers hold masters’ certificates, and two passengers, one of whom is Captain C. W. Burleigh, D. 5.0., E.D., late of the P. and 0. Company’s service, hold deep-sea master’s certificates. As on her previous voyage to New Zealand, the Port Gisborne’s deck crew comprises 18 certificated officers. These men were forced to accept such positions as a result of the depression causing ship owners to lay up ships. The Port Gisborne left London on October 12, and made calls at Curacao, Balboa, and Suva. The passengers bad a very pleasant trip, as excellent weather was experienced on the trip across the Atlantic, and also on the run from Balboa to Suva and New Zealand.

Insurance Cover Notes

The question of insurance liability under cover notes issued ‘prior to completing a proposal for insurance was under discussion before Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth last week, when the manager of one company stated that he had issued a cover note after 4 o’clock on an afternoon on a £7OOO risk, and the property was destroyed by fire the same night. Mr Justice Blair said that when he was in practice he had arranged, by telephone late one afternoon for cover on a £OOOO risk, and a fire destroyed the property the same night. In neither case was liability disputed.

Much-travelled Aeroplane The D.H. 50 aeroplane which until a year or so ago belonged to the New Zealand Air Force, is at present flying in New Guinea. This information was given to a Christchurch Press reporter by Mr W. P. Wiltshire, one of the pilots of the Guinea Airways, who is at present in Christchurch. The D.H. 50 was assembled and tested at the factory, and a photograph exists of it flying over snowcovered English fields. Then it came to New Zealand and was used by the Air Force for photographic work until a more suitable aeroplane was provided. It was frequently used for carrying luggage and equipment when a number of Air Force machines were on tour. Later it was lent to Mr M. C. M'Gregor, and he used it for operating a regular service between Christchurch and Dunedin for some months. Now, owned by Holden’s Air Transport, and fitted with a more powerful engine, it is carrying freight between the New Guinea coast and the goldfields.

Drinking at Dances The evils of drink among young people, especially at dances, were emphasised by Bishop Brodie in a sermon at a confirmation service at St. Joseph’s Church, Lyttelton, on Sunday. The speaker said it was at dunces that so many young people were', unfortunately, led astray by drink, exposing them to serious evils that might sometimes ruin their whole lives. At his request, those who had just been confirmed, and were under 21 years of age, pledged themselves to abstain from all intoxicating liquor until they reached that age.

Art Society’s Exhibition Now drawing to its closp, the Otago Art Society’s exhibition in the Pioneer Hall is generally conceded to have been one of the most successful for several years, and if the amount of public interest aroused is any criterion it certainly has. Not only have members of the public been attending in large numbers, but opportunity has also been taken to allow school children to visit the exhibition, and in this way to inculcate in them some appreciation of the artistic. In addition to other forms of work the display includes oils, ■water-colours, black and white, and photographs, and, while local artists are well represented, there is also a considerable number of pictures from other centres. Sales have been taking place freely, and the latest works to change hands are two of W. Allen Bollard’s oil paintings, “The Cliff Top, St. Clair,” and “The Wave, Kartigi Coast,” the oil, “Bowl of Wallflowers,” by Mary L. Passmore, and “ Carved Eagle,” by G. W. Edwards.

Swimming Bath at Blind Institute Through the generosity of an anonymous benefactress, a swimming bath is to be provided at the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. On Saturday (says our special correspondent in Auckland) the chairman of the trustees (Mr A. J. Hutchinson) mentioned' the need for a swimming bath at the institute. “On Sunday an unknown lady rang me up,” said Mr Hutchinson, “ and made inquiries as to the cost of a swimming bath. She assured me that our hopes would be realised. She said she and her friends had been talking it over. They had fully considered the question, and within a few weeks the necessary arrangements would be made. She stipulated that her name,should not be disclosed. The cost of installing a swimming bath is considerable, The promised gift is most generous and when the work is carried out we hope to have the pleasure of publicly announcing the donor’s name." The Waitomo Caves

Last year 8500 people visited the Waitomo Caves Hostel. Since the commencement of this season 7805 people have explored the scenic wonders of this popular resort. The report of the Tourist Department discloses that the receipts for last season amounted-to £7322 and the expenditure £6651, leaving an excess of receipts over expenditure of £671. Has to be Watched

The dangerous properties of sodium chlorate, which is used for killing - ragwort, were commented upon by members of the Matamata County' Council, Mr J. W. Anderson, chairman, said that lie had some in a bag in a box for about a year. It went through the box just like oil, and when taken outside and a light applied it just burned away. Mr A. T. Jlorris told how his share milkers had tried all sorts of methods with sodium chlorate. They had made sparks with their heels and thrown matches among it, but nothing happened. The clerk: “Somebody will get a surprise some day.”

Railway Meals Several complaints about the price charged for meals at the railway refreshment stations were made in the House of Representatives on Friday. Mr R. Semple said that the meals provided at the railway refreshment rooms were 50 per cent, dearer than those which could be obtained in many of the hotels and restaurants, and about 50 per cent, inferior. By its policy of charging 2s 6d for a ineal the Railways Department was driving people away and losing revenue. The railway refreshment rooms should be run on business lines. Mr E. J. Howard said that at' the Christchurch Railway Station he had paid 2s 6d for a tomato, an egg, and some bread and butter, while across the road, meals were available at Is 6d. It was time that, the department brought down the charges in fairness to the travelling public. ■ Improved Tone Observed

"No matter where one goes in Britain to-day a better tone in respect to industry is noticeable, and men are gradually being absorbed from the ranks of the unemployed,” said Mr A. T. Cartwright, formerlly manager of Messrs Chas, Begg and Co., Ltd., in conversation with an Evening Post reporter on his return last week from a trip to Great Britain, France, Germany, and other countries. “ The heavy iron and steel trades are better—in fact, many furnaces have been re-lighted after having been idle for about seven years. The cotton and woollen textiles are infinitely brighter, with the manufacturers upholding their long-stand-ing reputation for quality and reliable standards.” Although the low prices of foreign goods had caused considerable concern in recent" years, British goods were still in demand by the buying public because of their superior quality, said Mr Cartwright, and the same thing applied to New Zealand products. From Mr Cartwright’s observations the general economic improvement appeared to - be world-wide, and he pointed out that •in July last 49 countries reported an improvement in international trade, with Canada and New Zealand heading the list with an increase in exports of approximately 14 per cent, over the previous year.

Vacancies at Flock House for suitable sons of returned soldiers for farm training are advertised in this issue. When in doubt about your roof ring Donald Stuart, Ltd., and put off roofing worries for years.—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. Note our new address for Electrical Goods, Repairs, and Fishing Tackle is 36 George street. —Barth Electrical Supplies, Ltd. —Advt. Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturraer, optician (2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— Advt.