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Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17606, 23 October 1931, Page 4

Special provision to reduce the duty on British films is made in the Customs Bill now before the Federal Parliament, at Canberra. Australian butter exhibits captured all Empiro butter awards at the National Society’s show at Islington.—Sun cable. The Auckland Mayor’s appeal for the prompt payment of rates has met with a good response., £SOOO having been received in the past few days. Stocks on the Sydney Exchange yesterday showed a strong tone, and the turnover was brisk. There was a define rise in all Commonwealth securities. If Phar Lap wins the Moonee Valiev Stakes at Alelbourne on Saturday, as anticipated, the horse will become the second largest stake winner in the British Empire. An elderly man, Charles Bock, whilst passing along a Sydney suburban streetin a motor car, was shot dead. Two men concerned in the shooting were chased, but escaped. Its brakes being out of order, a motor car dashed down'George street, Sydney, knocked down three men, who were taken to hospital, and crashed into tho window of tho A.U.S.N. Steamship Co. Tho vital statistics just issued show an increase in European population for the year of 1.49 per cent., and of Maoris 1.76 per cent. The Maori figures show a preponderance of girls, bringing a Irettcr balance of the sexes. Curious evidence is being adduced at an inquest in Alelbourne into the poisoning of two elderly men, John and Thomas Harris, aged 67 and 60 years respectively. John died but Thomas is recovering. Four thieves with a revolver, who were disturbed at night in the King Edward Hotel, Bed fern, Sydney, returned at 4 a.m., but found the licensee waiting for them, and they again escaped. A deadlock lias occurred between the two Houses of the Victorian Parliament over the rates of pay to relief workers, and on the motion of Mr. Hogan, the Premier, managers have been appointed to endeavor to effect a compromise.” When the police went to the camp of John Williams, 66, prospector, about eight miles from Bullfinch (W.A.), to bring bis body back to Southern Cross, they found Williams’ dog on guard. The faithful animai had to he shot before they could remoyc Hie body. It was stated by a deputation which waited on tile Prime Alihistcr urging that permission be, granted for a- tram line up Bowen street to afford a new outlet from the city to the western suburbs of Wellington would save 73,000 car miles per annum and £2OOO a year iu running costs.

The Auckland Transport Board is employing 350 men in track -renewal work, and can keep them going for five or six weeks with funds at present available. It is asking the Government for a loan of £20.093 for eight years free of interest, and if this is granted there will be work for the men for several months. The Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, arrived in 'Gisborne yesterday on his first official visit. Air. Strong conferred with the High School board of governors last evening, and visited the High School this morning, and was to leave Gisborne this afternoon for Wellington. En route to Wellington lie will visit the district high schools and native and country schools in order to acquaint himself with tho conditions of working. Mr. A. E. Warner, a pastoralist, ot Talwood station, North Queensland, who returned by R.M.S. Moldavia from a 10 months’ tour of Europe, said that the individual action of the Australian public in subscribing to tho conversion loan had done more to restore confidenco abroad than all the high-sound-dig speeches of politicians. To those Australians resident in the south of Fiance Australia’s gesture had come as a pleasant surprise. Ho was so confident of Australia’s future that lid was returning to acquire more property, and make his permanent home in the” New England district. An important step in the control of cricket in Gisborne is to be attempted to-night, when a meeting will be held with the idea of forming an umpires’ association. Uniformity •of rulings is as big a factor in cricket as in any sport, and it is with a view to supplying this and to inculcate an interest in umpiring among cricketers that an effort is being made to form an organisation. An interesting suggestion to be placed before the meeting is that tho twelfth man in each team should be associated with the umpires’ association, and that, on days that he is not required to play for his team, lie should be allotted to a match for umpiring purposes. AH clubs ami a number of keen wicket supporters have been notified of the intention to hold the meeting, and the convener, Mr G. Lynex, anticipates an attendance of from 20 to 30 with every prospect of success for the proposed organisation.

“It may help our understanding of the .situation to think in terms of commodities rather ■ than in terms of currency,” stated Mr. A. I. 1 , Mitchell, president of the New Zealand Employeis’ Federation, at the annual meeting in Wellington to-day. “A farmer producing wool, meat and dairy produce,, and exchanging these commodities for furniture, clothing, groceries mid other commodities which go to make up the ordinary list of requirements of the average household finds to-day that lie has to produce just twice as much as he did in 1914 to exchange for the same goods. If lie were exchanging wool only lie would have to give three bales of wool for the same commodities for which he gave one bale in 1914. Conversely, if the increase of farm production be not taken into aecount those who sell io the farmer on a mixed farm must now he content to sell just half the former quantity of goods and to the wool grower one-third the quantity formerly supplied or reduce tho price of his goods by 50 per cent, in tho one case and 66 per cent, in the other. There is no other way by which the former volume of trade can be maintained and the same number .of persons be employed.”—Special.

Three prospectors struck a Jeef in the Cowra district (N.S.W.) from which they claim, they took 80oz. of gold in two hours. The iind was struck about 3ft. from the shaft of a mine which was m operation more than 20 years ago. Thieves broke a window in the shop of Mr. J. O’Regan, watclunaker and jeweller, of Brunswick street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, with a brick wrapped in newspaper, and stole diamond rings valued at between £3OO and £4OO. At a wireless conference in Sydney the work that is being done by. amateurs was described as “little short of marvellous.” Mr. Fisk said the factors limiting the development of television would probably be overcome by the calthode ray and ultra-short waves. The Federal Viticulturnl Council estimates the production of wine in Australia during the 1931 season at 13,192,034 gallons. This represents a reduction of 2,877,078 gallons on last year’s figures, and is the lowest sinco 1923. Prospects appear bright for a good honey season, according to Gisborne apiarists who have just opened their hives. They report that the recent warm, dry weather, with plenty of sun shine, has given the bees a remarkably good start. They are now working particularly well, and are in the best condition seen for years at this time of the season.

The methods adopted by the meat export slaughtermen in Melbourne have been adopted by the slaughtermen of the Ballarat and Bendigo works of the Amalgamated Freezing Co., in which the Government, is substantially interested. These works were only (recently opened. In the case of Bendigo the works had been idle for years, and one of the conditions of the reopening was that producers' should guarantee to supply 80,000 lambs for the season. This guarantee was given. ‘.‘Most of you girls are inclined to think that you have no say in the affairs of the country, apart from exercising the vote which will be yours in a few vears,” said the Director of Education, Mil T. B, Strong, in an address at the Gisborne High School this morning. “But there is nothing to prevent a constituency from electing a woman to Parliament. There are women in Parliament and at the head of affairs in England, and there is no reason why this should not be the case in New Zealand also ” In connection with the- recent tournament conducted by the Gisborne Wrestling Association, it lias been disclosed that the profit from the entertainment was very small, and that the professional wrestlers who provided the main bout received nothing beyond their expenses for their'trouble. In view of the fact that Scotty MeDougnll and King Elliott, the wrestlers, must have known before they entered the ring that there was practically nothing in the financial end of the contest for them, patrons of the mat game will agree that the display given by the professionals was especially praiseworthy. If McDougall and Elliott gained little by their visit to Gisborne, tile sport of wrestling in this district gained substantially. , A crash of glass startled people in the streets and in shops in Opunake last Saturday night. A motor car driven by Miss Fleming was travelling at a very modest speed to a packing place at the kerb, when it suddenly jumped on to the footpath and crashed into Mr. J. Burton’s plateglass show window. Mi'. Frank Maiudonakl, who was passing by, was caught by the motor car and pushed through the window on to his back amongst men’s clothing. Part of the front wheels of the car entered the shop through the window. Mr. Maindonald escaped with a cut over the right eye and cuts on the arm, but his injuries arc not serious. r lho car did not appear to be much damaged.

The caretaker of a Cathedral Square, Christchurch, office block, who is doubtless not alone in the demand which is being made on him, J lir re ' sentrnont in the latest manifestation of the s?ope of the special wages-tax for unemployment relief. The manager of the 'business firm occupying the premises has received from the. Income Tax Department n request for information as to what allowance for rent might reasonably be made for the rooms which the caretaker and his family occupy, free of charge, and for the lighting which they use. In addition to the tax on his actual' wage, evidently, the caretaker is to be charged additional' amounts for what lie might be expected to pay for rent and lighting, if he had to meet these charges.