The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1980.) THE WEEK?

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 45

The Otago Witness. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE SOUTHERN MERCURY. (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1980.) THE WEEK?

“Nunquam allud natura, aliud eapientia dixit." ■ -Juvenal. “Good nature and good sense must ever join.”— Pops. The Prime Minister’s statement that the representation of New The Imperial Zealand at the next Conference. Imperial Conference, which will be held in London towards the end of this year, probably in October, has not yet been decided upon does not remove attention from the fact that it would be reasonable for the Government to make an announcement of its intentions. In the ordinary course of events Sir Joseph Ward would naturally be regarded as the New Zealand statesman best fitted to represent the Dominion at the conference, both by virtue of his position as Prime Minister and on account of his unparalleled experience of Imperial affairs, but at the present, time many people may feel that he would be serving the country belter by remaining in New Zealand, and appointing a Government colleague to represent him in London. The coming session promises to be an important one, at which certain matters vitally affecting the domestic life of the Dominion must be considered, and the lesson of the last session was that, m the absence of the Prime Minister, the present Government has the greatest difficulty in pushing forward with its legislative programme. It must be admitted, in fact, that even when Sir Joseph Ward was present Parliament moved very slowly during the session. It is unlikely that even if Parliament reassembled earlier than usual all the business could be conducted in time to allow of the Prime Minister seeing the session through and then sailing in time to attend the Imperial Conference, and it is undesirable that he should depart while the session remains in progress.

Sir Harold Beauchamp, in an address

A Word of Warning.

delivered to a Wellington company recently, made some important

comments on present economic conditions in New Zealand, and stressed the necessity for all classes in the Dominion to “ work harder, spend less on luxuries, and generally to readjust their method of living in such a manner as will enable them to meet the less favourable financial conditions with which we are faced ” —advice which has frequently been stressed in these columns of late, but which will bear repetition when emanating from so reliable an authority on New Zealand finance as Sir Harold. Wool, meat, butter, cheese, sheepskins, tallow, and hemp are all bringing in less money to the Dominion than a year ago, and nobody needs to be reminded that the lessened purchasing power of the farmer will be reflected in New Zealand’s finances generally. The prosperity of the country, as Sir Harold Beauchamp pointed out, is chiefly dependent upon trading and industrial activity in Great Britain, both of which are to-day at a very low ebb. Yet evidence seems to be lacking that the people in this Dominion are observing the necessary caution in regard to personal finance, especially as regards the importing of motor vehicles. There is every reason for predicting that there will be a serious shrinkage in income from exports this year, and this must be. balanced by a diminution in the value of imports if the country is to retain a measure of prosperity.

Sir Joseph Ward’s denial that State

Advances are to be restate Advances strieted is hardly reasand Promises, suring, when the depart-

ment’s attitude is vindicated with the assurance that applications for loans will be dealt with on their merits “ when the housing position generally will be taken into consideration.” Little more than a year has passed since Sir Joseph Ward made his promises to the electors that if he were placed in office he would raise seventy millions sterling at 4| per cent, with the object of advancing it to settlers and workers at 4i| per cent. The seventy millions have not materialised, nor, for that matter, have several other promised blessings, but while the general public will scarcely reproach the Prime Minister for failing to accomplish the obviously impossible, it is not reassuring to find the rate of interest on State bonds sold over the counter raised to 5j per cent., when it is known that the money thus obtained is to he employed in making advances to settlers who were led to believe that under a United Party Administration they would be enabled to secure funds at 4J per cent, plus sinking fund. When the Government first came into office the operations of its Advances Department were speeded up, but recently this policy has undoubtedly been altered, whatever the Prime Minister may say in denial, to one of slowing down. Applicants have been informed that considerations affecting housing must be taken into consideration, and that so long as there are empty houses in their districts it is not regarded as expedient to grant loans for additional dwellings. Sir Joseph Ward’s recent statement is not calculated to dissipate the impression caused by this attitude on the part of the department.

The amount of unemployment among

Married Women as Teachers.

members of the teaching profession, especially in the north, has been responsible for the raising,

once again, of the question of the employment of married women as teachers. Education Boards in various centres appear to be disposed to sympathise with the point of view put forward on behalf of unmarried women that, having their livings to earn, and being dependent on their profession for a livelihood, they should receive preference over women who have husbands capable of supporting them. This attitude will be generally endorsed by the public, but there must also be granted the force of the argument advanced by the organ of the Educational Institute, that when a teaching appointment is to be filled it should be given to the applicant best qualified, of all the candidates, to teach. The Auckland Education Board recently considered a protest by a school committee against the appointment of a married woman as assistant teacher on the grounds that she was the wife of the headmaster of the school to which she was being appointed, and there were single women who were in more urgent need of employment. In this case the woman’s appointment had been recommended by the senior inspector because she had the highest grading marks of any of the applicants. It is essential that a teacher's qualifications should be taken iirto consideration when a position is offering, and it is questionable whether the fact that her state is married or single should be regarded, but it does seem that, in cases where teachers with approximately the same grading marks apply, the appointment should be given to the woman most urgently in need of work.

The cables and telegraph wires have been

The Wool Industry.

kept humming recently, while experts, and others hardly qualified to speak, have discussed the de-

pressed state of the wool trade and advanced their views on how the slump may best be overcome. Several suggestions have come from Australia and London regarding the remedying of the position, but while they may be valuable in theory they do not appear to be likely to be of much immediate use to the growers who have had to stand by and see their wool knocked down at prices that in many eases do not repay them for their year’s labour and expenditure. The second sale, which was held in Dunedin last week, was not characterised by as serious a decline as had been gloomily anticipated, but growers had to content themselves with returns even lower than those obtained at the December sales. The fall in values, indeed, when compared with those ruling at the sales a year ago, represents a decline in respect to some classes of wool of 100 per cent., and all classes have suffered in the general slump. The great problem confronting those in the wool trade to-day is that of stabilising prices. It cannot be hoped to secure stability at the values which ruled in happy seasons now departed—they may be brought to rest on a lower level than now prevails, though that is not expected—but the important fact remains that until some method is devised whereby values can be steadied on a safe and reasonable level neither the grower nor the consumer can rest content.

The proposal to establish a children’s

A Boon For Mothers.

day nursery on a central site in Dunedin is one which may be expected to receive support both id country residents. The

from town an<

Dunedin City • Council has shown its approval of and interest in the scheme with a donation of £lOO per annum for

five years, and an effort is being made by a committee of public-spirited women to raise further funds which will enable the nursery to be opened as soon as

possible. The rest rooms in the city, situated in Princes street and at the Botanic Gardens, have proved themselves a boon to women, especially mothers from the country with children, and it is obvious that a day nursery will be even more useful. For the mother who works during the day, or who visits the city for a day's shopping, coming by train or motor ear from a considerable distance, a place where she can leave her children in good hands while she goes about her business will be very welcome, and its advantages should be recognised by all who have a feeling of sympathy for the wives who are seen daily toiling along uncomplainingly in the principal streets overburdened with parcels and small charges.

A resident of Taupo writes as follows: “The Otago Witness, of January 7, contained some remarks by a tourist that at no hotel at Rotorua or Taupo could fresh fish be found on the menu. At Lake Hotel, Taupo, from the opening of the season until its close there is trout of all descriptions on the menu, and not oxi any occasion less than twice per day. I have had several seasons here, and can vouch for what I am writing.” Piloted by Mr J. M. Buckeiidge, who

had with him Mr 11. M. Mackay, manager of the company, the second SimmondsSpartan biplane imported by the New Zealand Airways Company arrived from Sockburn at the Green Island aerodrome on Friday afternoon. The machine left Christchurch at 11.50 a.m. and two hours later reached Oamaru. where a stop was made for lunch and re-fuelling. Leaving Oamaru at 3.45 p.m., the flyers made good time southward, and after circling Dunedin the plane effected a perfect landing at Green Island exactly 50 minutes later. The plane is a beautiful little machine of the same type as the Simmonds-Spar-tan biplane which was landed in Dunedin recently by the company, with the exception that the one that arrived on Friday is a two-seater, whilst the other is a three-seater. These two planes, which will be stationed in Dunedin, will form the nucleus of a fleet with which the company proposes to run commercial air services between the principal towns of New Zealand, and it is expected that a definite policy as to the running of the services will be released by the company very shortly. Mr Buckeridge, who is stated to be one of the most promising pilots who have passed through the Soekburn Aviation School, will be in charge of the machines in the meantime, but another appointment is to be made later, and in this case the pilot will be a qualified instructor. Both machines will fly to Sockburn on Friday next to participate in the great aerial pageant. Mr Buckeridge will fly the larger machine, whilst Miss Aroha Clifford, of Christchurch, is expected to arrive here ou Wednesday next to pilot the smaller plane.

The Port of London Authority has decided to make certain reductions in the dues on ships using its docks, and has adopted a revised schedule of rates which were to come into force on January 1 last. The principal alteration relates to vessels in Class I —vessels laden from, or for, porta outside Europe, outside the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. The rate on these ships, which was formerly 2s 21d per net registered ton less 10 per cent., has been reduced to a net figure of Is lOd per net registered ton. There are several other alterations and revisions which are more or less consequential on the reduction to Class I ships. The saving to ship owners represented by the new schedule is estimated at about £75,000 per annum.

“ The church people of the Auckland district have responded nobly to the appeal for funds for home and foreign missions, and the fact that practically the whole sum assessed should have been contributed in such a troublous year as 1929 says a great deal for their generosity.” said the Rev. G. Budd at a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery (says the New Zealand Herald). The clerk, the Rev. D. D. Scott, reported that of a total assessment of £5533 the churches in the Auckland district had contributed £5370 in the form of voluntary donations.

A queer sea snake was caught by Master Roy Pemberton on the beach in the direction of Welcome Bay on Sunday week (states the New Zealand Herald Tauranga correspondent). It is three feet three inches long with a body that could be passed through a seven-eighths inch ring. It is golden coloured on the back and white underneath. As far as can be ascertained it is the first specimen of the kind that, has been seen or found in the Tauranga Harbour. It has not been identified and information will be sought in Auckland.

Two residents of Rabaul, New Guinea, were married in the course of their voyage on the steamer Montoro. which arrived at Sydney last week. A Gold Company official. Mr E. G. N. Helton, was the bridegroom and his bride was Miss P. Cassell, of Rabaul. The couple had known each other for some time and would probably have been married in New Guinea, but there was only limited time available before the steamer sailed. Once on board they decided to have the marriage celebrated before they reached Sydney, as they were among friends. The Rev. F. T. Walker performed the ceremony.