MUNICIPAL TRADING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 10

MUNICIPAL TRADING

The broad effect of the trading operations of the City Council for the past half-year is that an increase of profits to the extent of £9634 is shown in comparison with the corresponding six months of last year, that the trading departments have contributed a practically equivalent amount—nearly all of it coming from the Electric Department—to the Municipal Department for the relief of rates, and that they have expended over £33,000 from revenue on extensions during the period under review. Some further elucidation of the figures would, however, appear desirable. The ratepayer is reasonably entitled to expect that the accounts shall be placed before him in terms that he finds readily understandable. He is aware that he is subject to additional rating in the form of higher tramway fares and an increase in the water rate with the certainty of a charge for the use of hose-taps—-estimated to produce £ISOO in revenue for the half-year—not to mention an increased charge in some cases for other water usage. He is not to be accused of lack of intelligence if he is liable to be misled by the reference to the "Special Works Fund " to which, for example, the Water Department contributes and from which it is a recipient, and if he should fail to grasp clearly the significance of the change adopted in the method of dealing with depreciation and sinking fund. The accounts show that £57,045 was withdrawn from" the renewal funds during the past half-year, that a sum of £25,776 withheld from the contributions was paid to the *' Special Works Fund," and that the Water Department spent £21,916 and the Electric Department £ 19,590 on extensions, and the question is likely to be asked whether the withdrawals from the renewal funds were utilised in any way to cover this expenditure. The comparative increase of £9634 in the profits of the trading departments for the halfyear looks satisfactory enough on paper. It is to be remembered, however, that the increase is largely due to additional rating, and that the first half of the municipal trading year is normally that in which the departments collect most

revenue. Necessarily the earnings of the Electric Department from the sale of current for lighting purposes are appreciably higher in the winter than in the summer months. The Water Department is able to make a satisfactory showing by virtue of the substantial increase of revenue accruing to it from the,levy of an additional penny rate, but the chairman of the Finance Committet points to the need of an improvement in the next half-year for the meeting of loan demands, while the position of the municipal transport services as a whole is obviously none too healthy. The hill tram services have come to present a distinct problem in view of the increased cost of their operation, and Councillor Silverstone has expressed a doubt, as well he may, whether increased fares will put them on a satisfactory basis. In respect of Roslyn the Council cannot indefinitely postpone consideration of the question of the provision of a satisfactory transport service. Councillor Silverstone has sDoken of the necessity confronting the Council of giving serious consideration to its future transport policy, and generally his comment on the half-year's results does not suggest particularly sanguine expectations on' his part concerning the result for the year of the city's trading activities, the cost of which has been so materially increased.

Queen Mary Hospital

The Otago Hospital Board advises that, although the Queen Mary Maternity Hospital will be officially opened on November 8, patients will not be received until January 10. Damaged by Fire

The back portion of a five-roomed brick dwelling at 182 Kenmure road, owned and occupied by Mr R. Pate, was badly damaged when an outbreak of fire caused by some hot ashes occurred yesterday morning. When the City and Roslyn Brigades arrived on the scene at 10.48 the fire had a strong hold, but it was soon got under control. About an hour and a-half elapsed, however, before the fire was completely extinguished.'

Burn side Stock Sale \ There was a small entry of fat cattle at the Burnside stock sale yesterday, only 205 head being offered. The yarding included two trucks of extra prime bullocks from the north, but the majority were medium quality, with the usual proportion of cows and heifers. The short supply resulted in a general improvement in values, which was maintained until the end of the sale, when there was a slight easing tendency. Extra prime heavy bullocks made to £2l 17s 6d; prime, £l6 7s 6d to £lB 7s 6d; medium, £l3 2s 6d to £ls 2s 6d; light, down to £8 7s 6d; extra prime show heifers, to £l7-10s; extra prime heavy cows and heifers, up to £l3 17s 6d; prime, £lO 17s 7d to £l2 7s 6d; medium, £8 17s 6d to £9 17s 6d; and light, down to £5 7s 6d.„ Extra prime bullocks were worth about £2 4s per 1001 b; prime, £2; prime cows and heifers, £2 2s 6d; and lighter sorts, £1 18s. There were 125 store cattle offered, a pen of threer year-old steers bringing £6 17s 6d. Good dairy cows sold from £5 15s to £7. The entry of fat sheep numbered 1496 head, wethers being in good supply. Shorn sheep met with a keen demand by butchers,*but prices fell slightly. The market for woolly sheep was down by Is to 2s.a head; - Extra prime heavy woolly wethers made- to £2 7s; prime, £1 19s to £2 2s; medium £1 13s to £1 16s 6d; light, down to £1 Us; extra prime shorn wethers, to £1 18s 3d; prime, £1 13s to £1 15s 6d; medium, £1 9s to £1 Us 6d; light, down to £1 6s 6d; extra prime heavy woolly ewes, to £2 3s 3d; prime, £1 16s to £1 18s 6d; medium, £1 9s to £1 12s 6d; light, down to £1 3s; extra prime heavy shorn ewes, to £1 Us; prime, £1 5s 6d to £1 8s; medium, £1 to £1 2s 6d; light, down to 18s. There were 50 spring lambs forward, and these sold readily at late rates. Prime heavy lambs brought £1 16s. In the fat pig section there were 180 forward, baconers selling at recent values, while porkers eased to the extent of 4s or ss. Good baconers made from £4 to £5, and porkers from £2 to £3 ss. Large stores brought to £1 15a. Municipal Urgan Recital

The city organist (Dr V. E. Galway) will give an after-church recital in the Town Hall on Sunday evening at 8.15. Two very interesting items, which are being played for the first time at these recitals, are "Introduction and Trumpet Tune," by Maurice Greene (16951755), and "Legende et Finale Symphonique" (Guilmant). Other pieces to be performed are "Air to Chloe" (Mozart), Bach's "Prelude in E flat major," "At Evening " (Buck), "The North Wind" (Alec Rowley), "Intermezzo" (C. Edgar Ford); lullaby, "Im Hammersbach" i (Elgar); "Triumph Song*' (Bayhon). Miss Audrey Kirk, L.R.S.M., L.T.C.L., will play "Rhapsodie in F sharp minor" (Dohnanyi), and Mr John Edgar will sing "Spirit Flower " (Tipton) and " Merchants are Riding" (Harris). '

Otago Aero Club Special interest will attach to the activities at the Taieri airport on Saturday afternoon, when the Otago Aero Club will hold its official opening day for the 1937-38 season. To mark the occasion, there will be a display of aerobatics and formation flying by the club's planes, and the spectacular side of the day's operations will also include a parachute descent by Mr W. RSellars, the hundred and forty-fifth " jump" which he will have made. The more formal portion of the proceedings will be carried out by the president (Mr W. H. Shepherd) and the officials of the club, and will be of brief duration. A visit to the picturesque grounds of the aerodrome is a popular outing with many people, and it is anticipated that there will be a large gathering on Saturday afternoon.

Parole Probationers The Crimes Amendment Act statiitics, which deal with parole probationers—those persons who have been released on the recommendation of the Prisons Board after serving a term of imprisonment or detention —show that 428 persons were released. on probation during the year, three of these were '< recommitted to prison for a broach of the conditions of their licence, and 26, including six habitual criminals, had their licence cancelled for further offences. " Considering the difficulties that in the majority of cases beset discharged prisoners in the rehabilitating of themselves, this small percentage of failures must be regarded as satisfactory" (states the chief probation officer, Mr B. L. Dallard. in his annual report). "The effectiveness of the present method of parole and after-care may be judged from the fact that during the five years ended December 31 last, 1788 prisoners (excluding habitual criminals) were released on probation, and during this period only 139, or 7.7 per cent., were returned to prison for failing to comply with the conditions of their release or for other offences while on probation, and only 22.2 per cent, have again been convicted subsequent to discharge,"

A Further Remand Appearing on renutnd in the City Police Court yesterday on a charge of having sent through the post a letter jontaining threats to do grievous bodily harm to a certain person, a man, whose name was suppressed until the facts of the case have been heard, was further remanded until to-morrow, when, Chief Detective Young stated, a date would be fixed for the hearing of the case. The magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew), as at the previous hearing, allowed bail in the accused's cwn recognisance of £2OO and two sureties of £IOO each, or, in lieu of the sureties, a deposit of• £3OO. New Brewery Building Extensive rebuilding operations, which will cost approximately £IOO,OOO, have been commenced by New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., at its Speight's branch in Rattray street, The programme of reconstruction, which is one of the most important building projects instituted in Dunedin for a number of years, provides for the erection of an up-to-date brewery which will occupy portion of the Canongate frontage and approximately one-third of the frontage on Rattray street. Harbour Board Gift The monthly meeting last evening of the Otago Harbour Board made a donation of £IOO to the funds of the St. John Ambulance Association. A Missionary's Accomplishments Unusual versatility was displayed by the visiting Solomon Islander, the Rev. Balthazzar Gina, at the missionary meeting in the Town Hall Concert Chamber last night. Apart from delivering an interesting address, he was; heard in a vocal solo, in mouth organ solos, and in demonstrations on a large shell instrument used by the old head-hunters of the Solomons. He also displayed a marked aptitude for figures, and was able to quote in statistical form his experiences since coming to New Zealand 10 months ago. He stated that he had delivered 496 addresses, sung 588 songs, travelled 8658 miles, slept in 106 different beds, and signed 886 autograph books. He then showed that he is something of a business man, too, for he related how lie had conceived the idea of charging for signing autograph books and had thus collected over £2O for missionary funds. Engineering Ability "If it had not been for the ability and skill of the engineer (Mr J. McG. Wilkie) and his staff, the board would have been in serious difficulties through the shoaling of the north channel and the difficulties in the south channel," said Mr J. B. Watera at the monthly meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last night, when the engineer's report was presented. Mr Waters added that the board, with a small expenditure, had been able to cope with the situation. The chairman (Mr W. Begg) said that the work was worthy of congratulation, and the message from the board should be conveyed to the engineer's staff. A work of great importance had been carried out at a small outlay. White Pine Resourced

To ascertain within reasonable approximation the quantity of white pine, available for milling in South Westland, a party of officers of the State Forest Service is at present making a survey of the district. Two of the officers are from the head office of the department at Wellington, and the other members of the party are from the Hokitika office. The survey is of timber in genera! and white pine in particular, and is being restricted, at least at first, to Crown land in the Okuru, Haast, and Jackson's Bay districts. Since the beginning of the agitation for 'a harbour at Jackson's Bay and an extension of the West Coast . railway into South Westland, a great 3 .variety of estimates of the• timber : available has been made, and it is dasired to know more accurately what business a railway would be likely to get. The survey was started several days ago, but it is expected that it will be some time before any figures are available. Duty of Young Men

"The young men who should be volunteering for military training are those with some education and ability to take up positions as officers," said Sir Cecil Leys, who presided at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Territorial Association at Auckland. He urged the association to use its efforts to make it evident to the rising generation that some form of training which would equip youths to take their part in the national defence system was an obligation they should not avoid. It was a national obligation, which young men did not appreciate as they should. Transport Methods

" For the future development of Mel bourne, it is a great pity that the authorities are laying new electric tramlines to replace old cable tram tracks instead of developing public transport by means of trolley buses." said Mr R. O. Duncan, of London, who arrived at Auckland by the Awatea from Sydney en Monday. All the principal cities in England and on the Continent, he added, were scrapping electric tramways and replacing them with buses, which were more mobile and allowed passengers to alight from the pavement instead of crossing congested traffic Prevention of Tuberculosis Tuberculosis is the mortal enemy of youth, states a special circular issued by the Department of Health. It is essential that every measure be taken to safeguard the children of a house where an inmate is suffering from the disease. Children should be made to have adequate rest (at least 10 or 11 hours of sleep). and should never be allowed to overtire themselves. Food should be simple, nutritious, and well cooked, with a little meat and a good allowance of fresh milk daily. Cod liver oil should be given in the winter to all young children up to the age of nine yenrs, provided that a doctor does not recommend otherwise. Children should also be weighed regularly and a doctor consulted if a satisfactory increase is not shown. Resistance to tuberculosis can be built up by making the child sleep, work and play as much as possible in the open air. Particulars are advertised in this issue of a public meeting to be held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Sunday night at 8.15. The speakers will be the Mayor (the Rev E. T Cox). Dr E. N. Merrington. Miss Heather McCulloch and Mr W. D. Borrie. The meeting is being held to bring before the citizens of Dunedin some facts about the Far Eastern situation and the riblic's responsibilities in the matter. "enders are invited by the Public V" rks Department, for the supply ci the following:—Circuit breakers, switches and hour meter, copper conductor and sleeves steel wire rope, oil separators, air hose, aluminium conductor, and portable concrete mixers. The fishing season has opened with excellent prospects. Rivers are all in good order, and trout plentiful. Anglers must have proper tackle Barth Electric, Ltd. have large, up-to-date stocks well displayed Inspection invited Prices almost unchanged Catalogues still available. -Advt. Eye Strain.—For eye comfort or better vision consult Sturmer and Watson Ltd. opticians 2 Octagon Dunedin Adv't A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner ol Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph • Office). Telephone 12-359.-Advt