LOCAL AND GENERAL

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 23 February 1921, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Try V. Jones, Egmont Street, for plumbing and tinsmithing repairs. Telephone 111. *

Daring u recent Jersey judging competition held somewhere in' New Zealand for ladies, the reason given for placing a certain cow first was typically feminine, viz.. “Because if given my choice to take one, this is the one I worn! take home.”

“It would be probably well on in 1022 before any metal in large quantities would be available from the Mt. Egmont quarry,” said the Minister of Public Works in a letter read at the last meeting of the Inglewood County Council, and we pride ourselves on being a progressive country !

“Gentlemen, all the schemes which promise high wages without relation to production arc illusory—are mere will of the wisps,” remarked Mr. C. P. Skerrett in his presidential address .to the Welfare League conference on Thursday. “It does not matter.” he added, “whether the system is capitalist or Bolshevik, or whether the industries arc nationalised —there is a. constant relationship between wages, or the standard of living, and production. You cannot for any lengthened period and tinder normal conditions, under any system have high wages or a high standard of comfort unless it is reflected in the increased production of the country. ’ ’

An advertiser wants a four or five roomed house.

A war memorial in the form of a Celtic Cross was unveiled in the Fcilding- Anglican Church on Monday by Major W. H. McLean, M.C., before a big congregation of parishioners. The Von. Archdeacon limes-Jones spoke impressively before the unveiling.

The dispute at the Eltham Bacon Factory has ended and work is proceeding- as usual. The terms of the settlement have nor been made public.

A Now Zealand farmer in England was talking to a local farmer, who vouchsafed the information that he had just sold his wool for 4-8 per lb. “It's not a bad price,'-' he added, “bur 1 thought I ninght have got 2d more.’’

The New Zealand bowlers who intend touring Great Britain left Wellington on Friday night for Sydney, on route for the Old Country. A large number of bowling enthusiasts assembled on the wharf for the purpose of giving them a fitting farewell.

According to a recent cable from London an Anglo-New Zealand firm, Messrs. Noagle, has purchased 150,000 tons of Welsh coal on behalf of the New Zealand Government for use on the railways. Sir James Allen had previously purchased 30,000 tons. It is explained that Welsh coal is now cheaper than American.

A cablegram from London states that the Comptroller-General has issued a report on the expenditure for special war missions and the Prince of Wales’ tour of Australia and Xew Zealand, the cost of which was £l9,ldKh An unexpended balance of £20,000 has been returned to the Exchequer. The whole £oooo granted for the Canadian mission was spent.

The theatre cat at Wvudham’s Theatre London, apparently is possessed of the accomplishments ascribed to its legendary forbears, the black companion of the witches, and has in addition, a perfect stage sang-froid. Having made an alarmingly sudden appearance on the stage one Saturday night from .tliedepths of the orchestra “dugout,” it sat down, Icisurly surveyed the large audience, scratched its left car, walked (a gentlemanly consideration) behind Miss Emily Brooke, and made a sensational exit by marching through the middle of the drawing room fire. It reappeared in the following act withnot a single hair singed!

Xow that the Prince of Wales is in England once more many new stories brought back by the members of his suite, are being circnb-JeJ conccnrng him. One of the best refers do an incident in Australia. The Prince was taking an early morning gallop amne. when he had some trouble with his saddle, an! dismounted.. An Australian boundary rider happened to pa-’s, and, seeing a stranger in dlfli mitres, lent a hand. The girths adjusted, the Prince thanked the Aussie cordially for his help. The. Aussie recognised the English accent, and asked the Prince whom uc might up. ‘I am the Prince of Wales,-" was vhe answer. “Huh!” sail iVic Aussie, who thought his log was '.icing pulled. “Are vou? Well, I’m his father!” With that he rode away. The next day (says Pearson’s Weekly) the Prince saw at a reception his friend the boundary rider. Pushing his way through the crowd, ho seized hun by .the hand. “HuTo ; dad,” he said.

The .Stratford correspondent of the Taranaki Herald refers to the Wat oral dors’ refusal to work overtime as follows: —‘‘Just why the wharf men should decline to work after 5 o’clock these fine evenings is what no one behind the scenes of the present day labour movement can do more than guess. It can hardly be a mere question of wages, for surely, even in those times, four shillings an hour is remarkably good remuneration. One suspects the motive to be political, a part of the poliev whoso aim it is to destroy the existing system of production and distribution and substitute some one or other of the quack remedies for its acknowledged imperfections. The only practical result of the recent tactics will be to still further delay the arrival of our produce on the English market, meaning lower prices, increased expenditure in the way ot storage and interests, and probably a stiffening of the rates of freight. These considerations, however, weigh little or nothing with the majority of .the men, composed as it is of those who carry all their responsibilities under their hats. From this class arc drawn the disciples of the fanatical theorists and dupes of the plausible rogues who, as extremists seize the lead in all revolutionary movements.

The quest for oil still goc? on in manv parts of Australia, and it is hoped that one day the nation will rejoice at the announcement that one of the lucky prospectors has made the (bid which moans great wealth to the Commonwealth (says the ’Melbourne Age). In each .State, in the Northern Territory, and in New Guinea prospectors are now earnestly at work, boring, testing, and searching lor ‘ indications,” but although many favourable reports have reached the Department of Homo and Territories, and some prospectors have come to announce definitely that they have “struck oil,” the reward of £50,001) to be paid to the man who first finds oil in payable quantities is still unclaimed. Decent reports have suggested renewed activity in the search in Western Australia, where there are parties at work both in the extreme south and the far north. Promising indications have, it Is asserted, detected in both districts, hut the real and eagerly-sought for find lias not yet been made. In the Aorthorn Territory lenses have been granted, and optimistic prospectors arc intent on the search, and in Papua the experts deputed by .the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, under the terms of the agreement with the Commonwealth Government, arc testing now country.

In the South Island Mr. Massey was asked if Parliament would have an opportunity of discussing the naval and military policy of the Dominion prior to his departure for rhe Imperial Conference. “So for as I am able to judge,” ho replied.! “there will no be a good opportunity to discuss those matters until I come back to the Dominion. I am very strongly in favour of a proper scheme of naval defence, not only for the Pacific, but for the whole Empire. I feel very strongly about it, for 1 convinced that the future of the Empire depends upon the maintainanee of our naval supremacy. [ do not believe for a moment in a socalled '"naval holiday 1 . We cannot afford it.”

Mr. Massey, addressing the school at Hangiora on Wednesday (reports the Lyttelton "film's), said that there was one branch of education which he did not see represented. “Whore is your Xcw Zealand ting,” he asked Air. W. A. Banks. “We could ’nt find one.” Mr. Massey: “I won’t take that excuse. It should he part of the education of every Xew Zealander to be taught to respect the Xcw Zealand flag —in other words, the way in which rising generations are taught tn respect their countin’. We in the British Empire live under the freest Government of the world. Xext time I visit this school 1 do hope to see. a flag worthy of the Empire at the top of the pole here.”

If ydu want the finest wool, where do you come? asked Mr. G. D. Greenwood addressing- the. Prime Minister at Amhcrly on Wednesday. If you want the primest mutton where do you come’ 1 To Xorth Canterbury! If you want wheat to feed our people, where do you conic/ To Xorth Canterbury! And if yon want a champion record breaking horse whore do you come'” Mr. Greenwood’s answer to this question was drowned in laughter. Mr. Greenwood is a well-known owner. “Last night when I shook hands with the "Prime- Minister, ’’ he concluded, ‘he recognised me, 1 suppose by these (motioning to the ends of hJo somen hat elongated moustache). ‘How is Gloaming.” said he!’ ’ - —Lyttleton Times.