NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25737, 8 January 1945, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

A LONG the New Zealand coast there -A are 5i lighthouses of various types. Twenty-four of them are watched lights, and the remainder are automatic. The average cost of erection and equipment of the main coastal lighthouses was about £6OOO a light. The two most costly ones were those at Cape Brett, on the Auckland Peninsula and Dog Island, Foveaux Strait < £ 11,237 and £10,481 respectively). During 1942-43 the Marine Department expended £85,616 on its •lighthouses. Light dues for the same period amounted to £64,402. Palmerston North Fire

A court of inquiry is sitting at Palmerston North to hear evidence in regard to the loss of military material in the fire which raged at the A. and P. show grounds on Sunday night of last week. It is expected that the hearing will last for several days. Radio Licences Increase There has been an enormous increase in the number of radio licences issued in the Dominion since 1933. In that year the total was 93,489. By 1943 it had increased to 368,121. There is, of course, a penalty attached to the operating of unlicensed sets. Convictions for that offence over the last five years have numbered: 1939, 1169; 1940. 612; 1941. 991; 1942. 1158; and 1943, 1464. Miniature Curiosity

Many amused and curious faces turned to watch an American sailor as he rode down Lambton quay, Wellington. on a recent afternoon. The sailor was riding a miniature motor cycle painted a bright red, and, contrary to the traffic regulations, without number plates. These motor cycles are common in America and are widely used by American policemen for patrol duties.

Repayment of Debt Repayment of a loan made in Rome some months ago by Father O. N. Snedden. of Auckland, who was formerly studying in Rome and broadcasting in English from the Vatican radio, has been received by Bishop Liston. Tlie loan was made to a South African, Mr A. Krout. of Pretoria, who appealed to Father Snedden after he had escaped from captivity and sought refuge in Rome. The South African expressed his gratitude for the loan. Irrigation in Central Otago

" What has been achieved by irrigation in Central Otago is simply stupendous,” said Mr James Turner, leader of the delegation of British farmers which visited Dunedin at the week-end, in an interview. The difference between the two types of land —the green and fertile irrigated areas on the one hand and the unproductive lion-irrigated area on the other—was very evident, lie said, and was proof ut what could be done with proper irrigation. Farmers’ Subscriptions The extent to which farmers in the United Kingdom contribute towards the advancement of their own industry was exemplified in a statement by Mr James Turner, leader of the touring delegation of British farmers, in an interview on Saturday night. The delegation represents a membership of 230,000 farmers. “In England and Wales, where membership is on a voluntary subscription basis of Gd an acre, subscription income is some £360.000 a year.” he said. “One of our members pays a subscription of no less than £360 a year. With this income, we arc able to develop an efficient service to our members by carrying out a close study of economic and technical problems, the collection of statistical data, and the development of publicity within our organisation.” Left in Tram*

Many women have bad memories—so bad, in fact, that the Wellington City Tramways Department pays a full-time employee to keep a register of* property lost on the trams and to answer inquiries concerning recovery. Over seven thousand articles were left behind by forgetful tram passengers during the past year. Comparatively few of the omissions were by men. No one forgot a parcel of beer, but women were sometimes guilty of losing the joint of meat which had been purchased for the family’s dinner, or the sausages intended for the next day’s breakfast. Evidence that women arc more forgetful than men is provided by the miscellany of articles found by tram conductors and handed in to the lost property office, though it has been suggested that nowadays men have few possessions of their own left to lose. Gloves, purses, and umbrellas are the articles most frequently forgotten in trams. Free Press and Peace The lessons of the last decade must have made plain to everyone (says the New York Times) how close the connection is between a free press and peace, as well as between a controlled press and war. It is obvious that no future German or Japanese Government should be allowed again to suppress a free press and free radio and substitute official lies and hatred directed against the rest, of the world. But a more difficult problem is suggested bv the ease of France, where the new regime lias already adopted a press law providing for the sequestration of any newspaper published in France during the German occupation, and virtually requiring any paper subsequently published in liberated France to support the de Gaulle Administration; a similar law provides for control over the radio. Surely care must be taken to see that such regulations arc only of the most temporary nature. What, again, of the problem, of Russia, where the newspapers fire owned by the Government and cannot be anything else than its mouthpieces? 41 One for the Miner* ” A heartv laugh went round among the large number of spectators at Wingatui on Saturday during the course of the presentation of the James Hazlett Gold Cup to the Minister of Labour, Mr P. C. Webb, who was representing the owner of Kindergarten, Mr E. Fitzgerald, who was tillable to be present. The presentation was made by Mr L. C. Hazlett, president of the Dunedin Jockey Club, and during the course of his remarks—interrupted by a raucous voice who said that “we don’t want a political speech"—he expressed the opinion that Kindergarten was the greatest horse that had ever raced at Wingatui, and indeed in New Zealand and Australia. (Incidentally it may be stated that Carbine raced at Wingatui, and that, the “wonder horse,” Phar Lap, raced in Australia.) At the conclusion of his remarks. Mr Hazlett called for three cheers for “the owner, the jockey, and the horse,” and these were lustily given. Then came a voice from the members’ stand, “And one for the coal miners!”

Farmers Must Organise “If democracy is to function properly, then the farmers must hold their own, and, in order to hold their own, they must organise,” said Mr Adam Hamilton, a member of the War Cabinet, in an address at the function held in Invercargill to welcome the United Kingdom farmers’ delegation to Southland. “The trouble is that farmers are individualists, and, therefore, it is difficult to get them to organise so that they can speak with a united voice and pursue a united policy.” Mr Hamilton said. “ Labour lias built up a strong organisation over the past 20 years, and the business community is also organised. If the farmers do not organise they will become the Cinderella of the community, and other sections will got more than their rightful share. If the farmers of New Zealand were organised and spoke with a united voice and had a united policy, then no Government or other section of the community could oppose their will.” A plea for closer unity among farmers was also made by Mr James Turner, leader of the delegation. He said that in the Old Country there were separate farmers unions in England. Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but when it came to vital problems the three unions were united.

For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers. 59 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt. A world record for a year's stock sales in one centre is believed to have been established at Newmarket, Victoria, where sale«: of sheep and lambs for 1944 totalled 6,236.302 head. The figure surpasses any previous annual tally in Australia by about 1,000,000 head. Because of the drought in Ihe north a proportion of the offerings at Newmarket was in store condition.