SUNDAY TRAM FARES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 12

SUNDAY TRAM FARES

It is estimated by the manager of the Corporation tramway service that the adoption of a flat rate of one penny per section on Sundays, as on the other days of the week, on the city electric trams would involve a loss of revenue to the extent of £11496 in twelve months. In the absence of the precise data upon \vhich this estimate is based, it is impossible to express any definite opinion respecting it, but it may be observed that it assumes an average loss of more than 6000 pennies on each Sunday in the year, and it is not easy for us to realise that, at the very worst, the revenue could possibly suffer to this extent. There is, no doubt, more than one factor to be taken into account in the consideration of the question. Too little weight is probably attached in the official mind to the effect of the charge of the extra penny for the first section in depriving the service of traffic. Necessarily it can be a matter only of conjecture, but it is impossible to resist the belief that, through the existence of a certain feeling of resentment at the charge of twopence for the first section on Sundays, traffic suffers in no small degree. No other public utility readily suggests itself in the case of which the charge for a Sunday service is differentiated from the charge on other days of the week and, however fully the cause of the extra charge on the Sunday tramway service may be understood, it may be doubted whether the policy adapted by the Tramway Department of the City Council in imposing this special fare has ever met with public approval. Particularly distasteful, it may be suggested, has the extra charge been in the sense in which it has inflicted a special penalty on the travellers for short distances, supported though it is in this respect by general practice in tramway charges in another city. On the whole there seems to us to be merit in the recommendation of the Tramways Committee that the special twopenny rate should be abolished until March 31. next. If this is adopted, it will allow of an eight months’ trial of a uniform fare of a penny per section. This period should suffice to show whether the public appreciates the reduction in the fares to an extent that would warrant the permanent abandonment of the extra charge on Sundays.

Community Sing The patrons of the weekly mid-day community sings held in the Strand Theatre again turned up in force yesterday and entered into the spirit of the session with considerable vim and enthusiasm. The singing yesterday was particularly good, more especially in the hymn, “ Lead Kindly Light,” and many telephone messages of appreciation were received from listeners-in. The star attractidn of the sing was the appearance of Mias Mae Mathieson, one of Dunedin’s most popular and accomplished sopranos, who sang two numbers in delightful fashion and was accorded a warmly appreciative re? ception. The leader, Mr H. P. Desmoulins, was in excellent form and kept the session going with a swing throughout, his efforts being admirably supported by Mr A. Pettitt, whose pianoforte accompaniments’ gave the audience a further incentive to sing'its best. Donations from listeners, and the collection taken in the ball, reached a total of £l4 6s 6d, which, with the amounts promised by other listeners, Should reach in tha vicinity of £ls. Several gifts of goods, which were placed in MrS MTntyre’s stall for disposal, were received prior to and during the session. Probates Granted His Honor Mr Justice Kennedy has granted, probate in the estates of the following:—lsabella Fraser Park, of Dunedin, widow; Mary Christie Green, of Dunedin, married woman; Samuel Edwin Green, of Taieri Mouth, retired farmer; James Peter Christiansen, of Mosgiel, labourer; Henton Macaulay Davey, of Dunedin, engineer; David York, of Invercargill, labourer; Williemina Reinke, of M'Nab, widow; George Fleck, of Riverton, farmer; ’Alexander Miller, of Te Tua, farmer; Harman Collins Kingsland, of Bluff, retired blacksmith; Allan Timpany, of Invercargill, company secretary; James Beattie, of Gore, retired merchant. Letters of administration have been granted in the estates of the following: —John Albert M'Kinnon, of / Riverton, garage proprietor; Ellen Cosgrove Ryan, of Winton, widow; John Webster, of Oamaru, gardener. Adjustment Commission Sittings The Otago Adjustment Commission will sit in Dunedin from Monday to Friday of next week, at Cromwell on July 30, at Black* on July 31, and at Naseby on August 1. The members of the commission are Messrs J, Waite (chairman), C. R. Sheat. and E. H. Murnev. A Rare Shark While fishing off Otago Heads in deep water Mr E. Moore, of Harrington Point, hooked an unusual shark which was sent to Mr David H. Graham for identification. Mr Graham states it is very rare and is known as the seven-gilled or Perlon shark, and is seldom seen in Otago waters. The large mouth is crescent shaped, the dentition being unequal in the jaws.. In the upper are one of two pairs of awl shaped teeth, the following six being broader and provided cusps. The lower jaw has six large comblike teeth on each side beside the small posterior teeth. The structure of the skull affords evidence that seven-gilled sharks are the most primitive group of selacions. The specimen is now to be seen in a Princes street fishmonger’s shop window.",

Japan and the Pacific . The opinion that Japan had too much common sense to do anything that would antagonise the ' other countries of the world was expressed by Mr Dundas Samuel, jun.,. during the course of a conversation with: a Daily Times reporter yesterday. -' Mr Samuel, who has been assistant manager of one of the largest tin mines in the world, in the State of Pahang, Malay, is at present visiting his parents in Dunedin. Ashed if Japan , in 'her efforts to expand might turn to other-countries in the Pacific Mr Samuel ridiculed the idea. “She is, so to speaki hemmed'in by Canada, the United States, China and Russia,” he said. “The lastnamed ■ country would need little, encouragement to, commence . hostilities, and Japan knows she would be in a very precarious position. Besides she is too sensible.” The Singapore naval base, when completed, would also provide added protection, he continued. It would undoubtedly be a powerful strategic position, hut he-thought that people out here were inclined to place too much significance , upon it. It was difficult to say much about the actual base because it was a "hush-hush” job. An aeroplane base, which was supposed to be a civil arm, was also in the course of construction, and a large railway station being built would '/be provided with facilities for unloading troops in large numbers. Optimistic Outlook As showing the improved trend of business in Dunedin, the manager of one of the leading retail drapery firms informed a Daily Times reporter yesterday that the turnover from its recent periodical sale had been highly satisfactory, particularly in its closing stages. He said that he thought he was quite justified in saying that on the results of the sale a definite opinion could be formed that there was a greater tendency on the part of the public to spend money, consequent on a general feeling of optimism in regard to the future outlook. ■ Ice Carnival Postponed Advice received on Thursday stated that the ice at Ofcurehua was unfit for skating. A consistent thaw had occurred since Sunday, and there was no possibility that the Oturehua Winter Spprts Club would hold its carnival at the week-end. The season cannot be regarded as being over yet, however, and, with the recurrence of a frosty spell, the conditions would soon be suitable again. Objection to Military Parade Some weeks ago a suggestion was made (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that there should be a parade of returned soldiers at the War Memorial Carillon, but considerable objection was raised, many letters appearing in the press against any demonstration of a military character. It was announced yesterday by the Returned Soldiers’ Association that no parade would be held. No reason was given. Chain Letter Profits Who said the chain letter craze was foolish? There is at least one young woman in Dunedin who holds exactly the opposite opinion, and as she has concrete reasons for forming that opinion it is difficult not to see her view. Three weeks or a month ago she received one of the usual kind of “ prosperity chain ” letters informing her of the monetary reward she might expect if she sent a shilling to the person whose name appeared at the head of a list enclosed and sent the letter on to five other persons. Despite the pooh-poohs of the family, who asserted that she would never see her shilling again, she obeyed the instructions in the letter, and is now able to show a handsome credit balance. Including postage her total outlay amounted to Is 6d, and every day or two since then the mail ‘has brought her a shilling postal note from some unknown source. She is now able to sho«- 9s for her original Is 6d, and is wondering how long her good fortune is going to last. A Tragic Case

A man behind whom counsel said lay a story o£ misery and hardship, who bad had his health wrecked in the war years, and whose wife had become a chronic invalid, was placed on probation for two years by Mr E. D. Mosley. S.M., of Wellington, for the theft of £33 14s 2d. He had been secretary of an organisation, and it was stated that he had used the money for his immediate needs, fully intending to repay it before the balancing of the accounts in March of this year. Before then, however, ne collapsed, and the money in his possession had been used by his wife for maintenance. He had had sufficient in his pockets to reduce materially the amount he was charged with stealing. His wife, it was stated, had undergone seven major operations and a large number of minor operations, and the accused himself had been in hospital three times recently.

St. Kilda Band’s Parade The church parade haa become an institution with many public bodies, clubs and societies. This year the St. Kilda Municipal Band haa adopted it, having accepted an invitation from its president (Mr J. L. Gardiner) to parade to-morrow evening at the United Congregational Church. It will march from George street in the vicinity of Albany street to the church, and will lead the musical portion of the service.

A Chancellor’s Apprenticeship Sir Austen Chamberlain, in proposing the toast of "The Institute of Chartered Accountants ” at Birmingham recently, made humorous reference to his first apprenticeship in budgeting. “In my early years,” he said, “ when -1 first had a small income of my own, my father instructed me how to keep my accounts, and from that day to this it has always been a mystery to me that items I had expected to find on one side of the account appeared on the other; that what I thought were credits were, in fact, debits, and the contrary was equally true. —(Laughter.) When my brother was preparing for a business life, my father asked his old friend Howard Smith to take him into his firm and give him a course in accountancy. I have often regretted that I never served even a six months’ apprenticeship in accountancy; it would have been very useful to me in my subsequent career. At any rate, if I lost the advantages of such a course, I have always preserved the profound respect which intelligent ignorance pays to accomplished knowledge."

Mountain Whirlwind* Two whirlwinds, one severe and the other of a minor nature, were experienced at the North Egmont mountain hostel on Tuesday morning. The first one, at daybreak, lifted a corrugated iron motor garage bodily and burled it, a wreck, against a cottage a chain away. The structure, about 25ft long and 18ft wide, was torn to pieces, the roof coming to rest leaning over the roof of the cottage. In its passage the garage was hoisted up & 12ft bank. Later in the morning a similar whirlwind, but of less intensity, occurred in the same locality, and tore several sheets of iron off the veranda of the Old Mountain House. When the garage was wrecked it contained no cars, so that the only loss ia tha building. The disturbances appeared to be purely local, a* the weather in the lowlands of the province wa« fine, with only a light breeze. Modern Air Travel »

The comfort, efficiency an<| reliability of- modern aerial travel were referred to by Mr S. A. Gibbons in an address on aviation advancement given to the Canterbury College Scientific Society on Thursday night. " There are, in the typical modern passenger aeroplane today, all the comforts you get in a Pullman, and it is so quiet that you can talk in your normal voice," he said. “No royal baby receives more care than do modern air liners. Even the Government demands and receives their daily reports. The record of each air liner includes particulars of each dayV journey, in addition to ■ any repairs and adjustments. Imperial Airways aeroplanes are never allovred to leave land or water unless an official of the company—licensed by the Government on its behalf —has been satisfied of their perfect flying condition. There is no such thing as good enough; each year every liner is overhauled completely and every working part is the subject of daily care. Captains and first officers are men with unrivalled knowledge of flying,” aerial navigation, and aeronautical engineering.” Fire Brigade Calls - At 4.50 p.m, yesterday the South Dunedin Fire Brigade attended a chimney fire in Glasgow street. A chimney fire in Littlebourne road was responsible for the Roslyn Brigade being called out at 6.3 p.m. Two malicious false alarms called out the South Dunedin and City Fire Brigades later in the evening. At 9.51 a call : was received from Albert street, St. Clair, and at 9.58 a second call was received from the corner of Glen road apd South road, Caversham.

Street Day Appeal The annual atreet day appeal of the Salvation Army in connection with the self-denial appeal was held yesterday. Collectors were busy in the city and throughout the. suburbs all day, and the excellent total of £llO was realised. The appeal is usually made in November, but this year the allocation of dates for street appeals caused the canvass to Be made before the self-denial appeal is made. The collectors comprised about 40 officers and soldiers of the : city jmd suburban corps, together with a number of helpers' supplied by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the Y.W.C.A., and every effort was made to comb Dunedin as thoroughly as possible. It is seldom that an appeal for a worthy cause is made in vain, and when the returns were checked over last night it was fbund that the support accorded by the public had been most satisfactory.

Holed in One Mr -R. Aitchison, a member of the Macandrew Bay Golf Club, has added his name to the select band of those who have performed the rare feat of holing out in ohe. Playing on his club's links during the week he made a particularly powerful drive at the Chasm, and after a short search for the ball, was surprised to find that it had arrived at its destination and was snugly resting in the little hole. »

Those attending the old-time dance in the Early Settlers’ Hall to-night should spend an enjoyable time. Various competitions have been arranged and excellent prizes are offered. Farewell services will be accorded Dr Hallum Howie before he leaves New Zealand for missionary service in China as follows:—At Invercargill on July 29, and at Dunedin at York Place Hall on August 1.

The Dominion Building Society advertises a ballot meeting to be held on July 29, when £4OOO will be' balloted for. The Southern Starr Bowkett Society on July 29 will dispose of £2OOO by sale and ballot.

On Wednesday night next the Dunedin Starr Bowkett Building Society will dispose of £ISOO by sale. Miss Jessie M'Lennan will make her last public appearance before leaving for Australia on Monday evening, when she will read the part of Clytemnestra in the “Agamemnon” of Aeschylus. 'The other members of the cast are Mrs F. J. Gair, Miss Anita Winkel, Mr James Fleming and Mr H. W. Hunter. The Classical Association invites members of the public to attend this reading in the Museum Igcture-room on Monday evening at 8 o’clock.

The jubilee celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Duntroon School. North Otago, will be held on October 26, 27. and 28, and ex-pupils of the school are requested to communicate without delay with Mr H. Tallentire, secretary, Diintroon.

The Railways Department advertises particulars of a special cheap day excursion from Dunedin to Invercargill on July 28. Two fast trains will be run to Invercargill, returning the same day. C. W. Sundstrum, dentist, Dunedin, will visit Oturehua, Ranfurly on Monday, August 19, Naseby, Waipiata, Palmerston, on Tuesday, August 20, 1935.—Advt. Untortunatejy, there are good and bad diamonds. Williamsons, the Kingmakers, offer you the former kind at fair prices and guarantee their workmanship.—Advt. A. Frank Anderson, dental surgeon, Princes street, Dunedin, will visit Waipiata and Patearoa August 29; Ranfurly Friday, August 30.-—Advt.

Donald Stuart, Limited, Slate Merchants, Experts in Asphaltic and Bituminous Applications, including Rock Asnhaltes, Sheet Asphaltes, Bituminous Felts, Bitumins, Bitumen Paint, Bitumen Compounds, Cork Insulation. 82 Bond street. —Advt.

To be well. See well. See Sturmer.— W. V. Sturmer, Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Consulting Opticians: W. V. Sturmer, F. 1.0.. X.Z.; A. R. Watson, F. 1.0., 5.D.0., N.Z.—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.