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Otago Witness, Issue 3574, 12 September 1922, Page 3

According to a citizen who has taken a prominent part in the work of relieving unemployment during the past few months, the position in the city to-day is worse than it has been all through the winter (wires our Christchurch correspondent). More were applying for work in connection with the river bank improvement scheme, and the number o-f applicants for meat at the free distribution each Saturday morning was increasing weekly. A number of people previously in fairly comfortable circumstances were applying for free meat. A marked increase in the demand from farmers in different parts of Canterbury and North Otago for lectures by exterts of the Department of Agriculture is reported this year (states our Christchurch correspondent). During the past three or four months Mr Ward, fields instructor at Oliristchur.h. and other members of the fields instruction branch of the department have given 24 lectures to farmers at localities comprised in the district from Cheviot to Oamaru. ’Hie lectures were principally on subjects related to soil improvement and crop growing, and the attendances totalled about 1000. Mr Chari ns Connolley. of Port, Chalmers, has as iiis hobby the improvement of mechanical contrivances, and his endeavours in that direction liave at times been widely discussed in connection with torpedo diverters, bullets, lifeboat launching on stranded ships, and various other matters. His latest production is an improved, mipuncturable rubber cushioned wheel for motor cars and lorries. The rubber cushion is devised to take the jar off the axle of the vehicle. and to impart resiliency to the locomotion of the wheel. Th® rubber cushion is ingeniously attached to the axle box. with adjustments securing the true running of the wheel. This is claimed to be superior to the pneumatic tyre, which it is aimed to supersede. The new type of wheels have boon tried out, and may now! be seen in a showroom adjoining Mr Oonnollcy’s hairdressing establishment at For# Chalmers. The invention has been patented, and offers to manufacture it and place it) on the market are under consideration. Consent to the Invercargill Borough Council raising a loan of £30.000 for repaying part of its antecedent liability huj been gazetted.

A movement is afoot to have a simpler statement prepared of Ihe doctrines held by the Presbyterian Church. Notice ot motion was given last week to the Dunedin Presbytery by the Rev. Hector Maclean. on behalf of St. Andrew's Church, to overture the General Assembly that the Westminster Confession of Faith was the expression of the thought of a generation far removed from the present in such matters and failed to meet the needs of the present day, and 10 ask, without departing from the Confession as a standard of faith, a statement in a simpler form according* to the mind of the present membership of the Church. .At the Police Court (says a Press Association message from Auckland) a grocer was fined £lO on a charge of selling intoxicating liquor—namely, Winoarnis wine, which contained 30 per cent, proof spirit.

The defence was that it was not medicated wine within the Act, which limits tho strength to 10 per cent. The Magistrate hold that if it were medicated, it was not exempted, as it contained over the maximum allowed by law; and if it were not medicated, it. was intoxicating liquor. A Cl reek fisherman, Constantinos Igonagof Barbos, a naturalised Britisher, was found dead in a whare at the Sounds (says a Blenheim Press Association message). The deceased had not been seen about since Sunday, and the body, was discovered when the whare was visited. The deceased, so far as is known, has no relatives in the dominion. A locifl youth netted two kerosene tins of whitebait one day last week (says the l l 'or ton Herald), and sold the catch for £lO.

A Press Association telegram from Auckland says that the City Council received no tenders for the purchase of the municipal fish market business. The question of its disposal was referred to a committee, with power to negotiate privately. The vexed question of railway versus motor transport came before the Bruce County Council at its meeting last week, when Cr Clark raised the point whether the railway 4 e P ar *' men t could not reduce its freight tariff so as to prevent the motor lorry traffic competing to such a large extent on roads parallel with the railways. Cr Scott bore testimony to the serious damage done to the roads by the increased motor traffic, and said that the Government would have to give them relief. Cr Driver: You won’t get much relief from the Government just now. Cr Scott: Well, who is going to give us relief ? He went on to say it was “foreign” traffic and not their own traffic that was doing the damage. If they did not get any money from those who were wasting the roads, what were they going to do? Cr Clark: We are not only damaging the roads, but losing the railway revenue. It was no use writing to the Minister of Railways, he said, but he thought they should write to the general manager. Cr Scott said he believed the toll gate was the best yet. though it was old-fashioned. It was decided to communicate with the Government pointing out the position to which Cr Clark had drawn attention, and asking if the tariff could not bo reduced. Failure to produce a certificate of marriage was the cause of a divorce petition being held over by Mr Justice Herdman at the Auckland Supreme Court last week. For the petitioner, Mr Singer stated that there was no rule requiring the production of the marriage lines. This requirement had not been made in other cases on which he had boon engaged, and he contended that it was hardly likely that the ‘parties would appear before the Court asking for the dissolution of the marriage if it. had never taken place (states the New Zealand Herald). His Honor said the certificate should be produced before a decree nisi was made. Orders had been, withheld for similar reasons in two cases, in 1918 and 1920. In the opinion of Professor Grossman, who lectured last week at Hamilton, before the world reverts to a stable financial basis, a period of falling prices and reduction • f credit is inevitable (say 9 the Waikato Times). The process must, be gradual, as any attempt to hurry matters would only increase the chaos. The issue of inconvertible paper money has increased to such a,n extent in Russia that the people find these notes useless a.s money, but v.ery satisfactory for repairing the paper on the walls of tlieir homes. In Austria incon vert file bank notes are used as labels for bottles, for the famous Pilsner beer. Upon being asked what means other than the issue of inconvertible notes could have been used during the war period. Professor Grossman stated that his opinion was that the issue, of these notes was inevitable. It was. however, resorted to too soon. Tho British Government would have been better advised had it first of all increased taxation to the fullest extent. It must he understood that the incidence of taxation must fall on those who are able to bear it and not on poor people. When this means had reached the limit, then was the time to fall back on inconvertible paper money. The professor stated that this view had been expressed by Professor Pigou, of Cambridge University. What will be a unique occasion is the meeting to be held at Wellington on September 14, inasmuch as it will be the first occasion on which a delegate from each of the dairy factories of the dominion has been invited to attend (says a Wellington Press Association). The purpose of meeting is to consider the question of a control board for dairy produce, similar to the Meat, Control Board. There have been targe meetings of dairying interests pro. viously, but of delegates only from each provincial district, whereas on this occasion all dairy factories have been asked to each send a representative. Tt is probable that the question of freights and shipping will bo considered again about the same time. A letter from Mr A. H. Allen in regard to the future of Lake Logan was considered bv the executive of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association on Tuesday evening. Tn Mr Allen’s view it is no part of the business of the Harbour Board to provide recreation grounds' for ..the city. Tts business is to its endowments for the purpose of making Dunedin a free port as soon as possible; and if it were to let its endowments for less than a reasonable return or to part with them for a long term of years then tho possibility of making Dunedin a free port would be indefinitely postponed. Mr Allen urged that the association should take some action in the matter. The executive resolved to address the Harbour Board on the subject urging it, to maintain its endowments for the purpose for which they were originally given. The question of the delivery of goods at Dunedin wharves was discussed at the last meeting of the Otago Importers anil Shippers’ Association, and it was resolved to recommend importers to give instructions to their London buyers to ship only by vessels making Dunedin their first or second port of call and giving delivery at Dunedin wharves. A report on the visit of the Whakatane, and the fact t-hal she bad not come rip to Dunedin, was considered. The published explanation was that, it was impossible for her to come because she was drawing 23ft Bin; but the association had information that, while she was drawing 23ft Sin aft she was drawing only 14ft forward, arid it would surely have been possible to trim her to a draught suitable to the Victoria channel. The comment was made that it did not, appear as if the shipping companies were inclined yet to give due consideration to the requirements of Dunedin merchants, and it was resolved to call attention once more to the absolute necessity for delivery at Dunedin wharves, and to urge shippers to encourage no other method.

From a discussion in the Bruce County Council on Tuesday it is evident hat Dunedin is not the only place that has difficulties over its Soldiers’ Memorial scheme or the only pla.C3 that has moved slowly in the matter. Cr Russell roused keen criticism by tendering his resignation from the Soldiers’ Memorial Committee on tho ground that his ratepayers disagreed with what was being done and also because a local memorial was to be erected in his own district. Cr Clark said the present position over the war memorial was a disgrace to the place. The men from the district got very little when they went away and very little when they came back. There hail been nothing but wrangling and fighting worse than the Germans! Surely to goodness they could come together and come to some agreement on a matter like this. This quibbling and quarreling was disgraceful and was really making an exhibition of them. It was a pity that a little district like Milburn could not come in with the larger scheme. They should take a. vote even yet as to the two sites and t-lie minority would have to abide by the decision of the majority. Councillors pointed out, that a final decision had already been reached. Or Driver asked why Or Russell had not thought of the memorial in the Milhurn district a little sooner. Ho thought it allowed a very poor spirit on Or Russell’s

part to resign because ho did not agree with ihe majority of the committee. Or Itu—■ II warmly denied that he had been in opposition to the majority of his committee. A prolonged wrangle, chiefly about Mr Rns set's action in resigning followed. At length, the chairman announced to Cr Russell that li is resignation had not been. accepted. ‘‘Oh well,” said Cr Russell, “I'm not going back there anyway. They are only a lot of fighters and quarrellers.” At rhis stage the luncheon adjournment opportunely arrived. A remarkable motor accident happened in one of Wellington’s steepest hillside streets on the Ist (slates the Dominion). While coining down Devon street a small privately owned cor. said to lie driven by its owner, got out of control at one of ihe* most awkward bends. The machine crossed the footpath, crashed through a stout picket fence, survived a ton-foot perpendicular drop, and then, standing on it* four wheels, pitched to the bottom of Ilookway avenue (some 110 feet distant from the roadway and 40 feet below the road level), coining to rest against a dividing fence near the front door of a residence. Ihe driver remained at the wheel during the car’s unexpected and thrilling journey, and he escaped hurt of any kind; apart from a twisted front wheel, the machine, too. appears to have got off very lightly. It was certainly that motorist’s lucky day*

•‘Those with largo families who depend on a weekly wage have had a very hard time even when in constant work to make both end 9 meet for a long time past, and what must it be for those who are not in regular employment?” was what was aaid in Auckland on Thursday by one of the leading social workers in the city. “On that day two cases had come under notioe where one family was composed of 11 children and another 18, and in neither case had any of the older children been able to help 'their parents very much because of the reducing of hands in the places where they worked. When the families are bo large very little separates their ages, and the mother’s duties in caring for them, especially in regard to preparing the meals and washing the clothes, makes it imperative that the older girls of the family have to materially help their mother.” “Big families are the hope of the British race,” continued the social worker, ‘‘and we endow motherhood we are going to fall off and have families of one or two.” Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) has received a letter from the Minister of .Education, stating that regulations dealing with free places in secondary schools have been amended to provide that any pupil who, by reason of age, is not qualified for a free place. may within six months after obtaining a certificate of proficiency be admitted to a free place, if recommended by a. senior inspector of schools, and undertaking a course of instruction which meets with the approval of the Director of Education (wires our Welllfngton correspondent). This clause, the Minister states, has been framed so that any pupil whose progress has been hindered through no fault of his own, may secure the secondary course.. In cases of pupils who, owing to dullness of intellect, are late in passing Standard VI, and who would therefore not be able to benefit from the literary course of secondary instruction, permission will be granted to take only a course of an industrial character. A romance that had its beginning under .•ircumstances such as occur mostly in novels bad its culmination in a wedding ceremony in Dunedin the other day. Some two years ago a marine engineer with a considerable number of war adventures to his credit, through which he had come scathless, had the misfortune to be dangerously wounded at Port Chalmers by a shot fired by a drunken mate. Long weeks in the hospital followed —weeks when the wounded man’s life hung in the balance. One night bis temperature soared even higher than usual, and it took three men to keep him in bed. If the stitches in his wound had ourst, as they assuredly would if the struggle itad been prolonged, it is presumed that the [>atient would have left his suffering behind him for ever. Then a nurse appeared on the scene and spoke. At her command to ae still the fevered brain, strangely enough, became calmed, and the life of the seaman was saved. One day a few weeks ago the parties to the occurrence were married in Dunedin —surely a fitting sequel. Details of the liner Hollywood’s experiences when she encountered square miles of pumice off Xew Caledonia were given when the steamer arrived at Sydney recently from San Francisco. The finer was pOO miles from Xew Caledonia when the man on the lookout reported “pumice ahead.” It was expected that the big ship would have to slow down, but the pumice was like floating ash. Through it she Hollywood plunged without interference. An officer said that, the lava could have been mistaken for a brownish oil, the water was discoloured for a depth of 10ft. For four days and four nights the Hollywood was surrounded as far as the eye xrald see by the waves of pumice. “None pf us had ever seen anything like it,” remarked the officer. “Beyond doubt it was rom a submerged volcano, but we felt- nothing.” The master of the Hollywood las reported the phenomenon to the Hydrographic Department of the United States. At a recent annual meeting of sharelolders in a certain Manawatu dairy company (states the Levin Chronicle) four of :he original directors were rejected, and lew men put in their places. The debated directors evidently considered that f they were not good enough to remain m the board,- the company would have no leed of their financial backing. They herefore withdrew their joint and several guarantees at the bank, with the result that when the twentieth of the month came he suppliers did not. get. their milk cheques, ft is stated that the signatures of all the shareholders are now required to the guarantee b fore the needful finance will be ivailable. The increasing attention being paid to he education of children in tile country listricts was again emphasised by the Hon. 3. J. Parr (Minister of Education) in be House when presenting the annual report of his department (wy-es our Wellington correspondent). He said that : or every school erected in the cities cosing £20.000 100 schools costing up to £IOO3 sach were built in the country. The country schools accommodated from nine to 55 pupils each. The department was also gradually reducing the number of uncerilicated t< achers. Instf dfl of training from 10C to 500 teachers they were now training rom 900 to 1000 per year. The full benefit of this would be felt within the icxt two or three years. This year they vould turn out 600 eertificated teachers vho would largely take the place of nn>ertifioated teachers, and education, parjet i lari y in the country districts, would benefit as the result. The department had ilready reduced the number of uncertificated eauhers by 12 per cent. The Minister iddcd that he would like to see the children of from 12 to 15 years of age attendng small country schools, transferred to central, well-equipped. and adequatelyitaffed junior high schools. By this means i,lso the education of the country children vould greatly benefit. Boring for coal has been progressing in :he I inton and Birehwood districts for K>me months paet. One bore now being mnk for Mr A. W. Rodger, at Bircbwood. s down over 450 feet. Another bore i- in trogrees at the Waitaki Dairy for the purrose of obtaining a water supply.

That anybody should become a voluntary boarder at a mental hospital may appear strange to some. Dr Frank Hay, Inspec-tor-general, in his report to the Minister, states:—“There is a growing opinion in England favourable to treatment in ratesupported institutions of less pronounced and unconfirmed cases of mental disorder as voluntary boarders. Our experience is not unfavourable. Since the introduction of the principle in the 1911 Act; each year has shown an advance in the number of persons so placing themselves under treatment. Carried over from 1920 were 86, and, during 1921, 10+ were admitted, making a total under the care during the year of 190. That number has included examples of mental disorder ranging from many incipient to a few fairly advanced, yet capable of comprehending what the procedure entailed. There have been also persons labouring under neurasthenia, senility, and organic brain-disease needing nursing, care, and medical treatment. It is noteworthy that five boarders only, representing 2.65 per cent, of the total number under care, showed mental disease in degree sufficiently pronounced ■ and sustained to render it improper for them to continue as voluntary boarders, and they had to be transferred to the register of patients. The discharges numbered 80, and six died, leaving at the end of the year 99. The daily average of voluntary boarders was 91.”