Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1933. QUANTITATIVE REGULATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18036, 13 March 1933, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1933. QUANTITATIVE REGULATION

The insistence of the Home Government that it is necessary to impose restriction upon the imports of dairy produce into the United Kingdom to prevent a complete collapse of the markets must give cause for sober thought to the producers of the Dominions. Our Australian friends, whose great increase in production in the last few years has been contri-

butary to some extent to the depreciation of the market, have been inclin-

ed to resent the proposed limitation, but on urgent representations made to them by the British Government through their resident Minister in London have reconsidered the matter and are now inclined to fall in with the proposal to which New Zealand has already agreed—a 10 per cent, reduction of shipments, though so far -they have only conceded 6 per cent. With a steadily increasing development of dairying in the Dominions, and with bountiful seasons such as that which is being experienced in New Zealand at the present time, the prospect of limitation of consignments to the British market is indeed at serious one, and unless outlet for our butter can be found in some other direction—the East, for instance —the industry is bound to receive a severe check. At the same time it must be recognised that unless some precautionary measure such as has been suggested is taken there is danger of a complete collapse of the market and of prices falling to an even greater extent than they have done in recent months, leaving the producer absolutely no return for his outlay and his labor. The New Zealand dairy farmer must comfort Himself with the reflection that his lot is no worse than that of the producers of the Homeland, who, laboring under much mo,re severe conditions and be-ing-under the necessity of stall feeding their cattle in winter, have seen their remuneration steadily diminishing in consequence of the flood of imports from overseas. Nor is this oversupply of markets confined to butter. The meat market was saved from complete demoralisation by the measures taken before Christmas to restrict importations. When it was discovered that despite a surfeit of supplies of bacon, one country had planned to treble its exports to England in the current year something had to be done, and that promptly, to meet the situation, and the British Minister for Agriculture called to Whitehall the trade at-, taches of ten nations and asked them to agree to cut their exports of bacon by certain definite amounts. Within a few days an agreement to do this was reached. “One tiling is perfectly clear to anyone with an open mind," said the Minister, Mr. Walter Elliot, in discussing the matter.. ‘‘ln times of glut like these it is only by dealing with the quantities of goods which can come upon the market that prices can be stabilised. Under the old arrangements countries that supplied us with food made any plans they fancied to send as much as they liked to us, irrespective of our needs, irrespective of what others were doing.” And so the Minister implied that in all such situations quantitative regulations wore necessary, or, in plainer words, a system of contracts. lie outlined the new policy as follows: "The country contracts first with its o\v,n people-jor what they can undertake to supply, then with its overseas customers for making up (lie balance. Nothing else is taken. Only in that way can the market boTroed of that spectre of the unknown and unwanted surplus, lurking in the background, which is the most disorganising influence upon prices that we know. The mere fact of the surplus being there drives prices down and down and down." Prices, so far as meat is concerned, have certainly steadied since the restrictions were imposed and it is to be hoped that the same result will be expected in the ease of butter. The only quarrel that the Dominions can have with the Imperial Government in the matter is that in such a situation as lias arisen the self-sufficiency of the Empire should be more fully recognised and that foreign supplies should be greatly minimised or cut off. One of tho factors leading to the glut and debasement of the butter market is the great increase in the importation of Danish butter into England. Denmark, owing to tariff embargoes, having lost markets with' Germany and other Continental countries which she formerly possessed, has been flooding Britain with her produce. The Danish import into Britain increased from 2,466,070 cwts in 1931 to 2,583,664 cwts in 1932. ,So long as British consumers evince a preference for the Danish article irrespective of the considerations that trade should be- kept within tho Empire family and that Denmark is by no moans a large customer for British manufactured goods, so long will the dairymen of the British Isles and the Dominions have ro struggle against unromunerativc returns. Since the war 176,000 men have left tho land in. Britain. Eighty ttiousand have gone in the past four years. It will be impossible for the British Government to stop the drift from the country to the cities am’ to turn tho tide back again to the land until new conditions have been created that will keep the people on the land. The whole problem, as Mr. Elliot pointed out, turns on the question of prices. "When it is possible for men to make a living on the laud then land settlement can really be dealt, with. England could and should produce more of its essential food requirements. It should bn noted (h it quantitative regulation does not involve fixing prices' by the Government or by anyone else. Prices, as heretofore, will be determined by the in* oraction of supply and demand. All that the new scheme proposes to do is to remove one of the causes of violent fluctuation in prices, namely the alternate deficiency and superfluity ot supplies. Our producers have no alternative but to accept it with equanimity, hoping that before long tho improvement which is being gradually manifested in the goner -J trade of the Homeland will lead to an increase''', consumptive demand for their products and to more remunerative prices.

Rainfall registered on the gauge at the Gisborne Harbor Board’s signal station for the 24-hour period until 9 a.in. today amounted to 55 points.

Only one notification of infectious disease, in respect of a case of typhoid fever, was received by tho headquarters in Gisborne of the East Capo health district for the week which ended at noon to-day. Expectations have been far exceeded bv children in all parts of Hawke’s Bay who have entered for the white butterfly latching competition which was instituted by the. Hawke’s Bay A. and P. (Society in an endeavor to combat the post which lias proved such a menace to crops in the province during) the past two years. It is expected that when the final count lias been completed it will be found that over 209,000 specimens of this harmful insect will have been destroyed.

Lady Angela St. Clair-Erskine, who is fishing at Taupo, has expressed tho opinion that tiie fishing was all that could be desired, and said she was particularly impressed with the comfort of the fisliine camps as well as the u: heap ness of the sport, compared with that available in England. Good, cheap sport was not obtainable, at Home. With the variety of sport offering in New Zealand’s pleasing climate, it was hard to understand why English people with small incomes did not avail themselves of these advantages, come to tlie Dominion and make their homes in the country.

Through a coffision with a stationary car in Gladstone road this morning, Miss Isabel Quinn, Berry street, received painful injuries, which, however, were not of a serious nature. Miss Quinn was cycling towards town, and in moving over to allow a bus uo pass she failed to notice a car standing at the roadside between Cobden street and Derby street. Miss Quinn’s head struck the back of the car so sharply as to cause a dent in the bodywork, and sne fell heavily, receiving painful bruises on the limbs. She was unconscious wnen picked up, but later recovered sufficiently to be able to return homo, alter receiving attention.

A novel sale was conducted in a Temuka auction room recently, when more than 100 gallons of “home brew beer, confiscated by the police as the result of a recent court judgment, were offered by public auction. This being the first sale of its kind held in Temuka for many years, it attracted a large attendance. As a preliminary to the sale, the auctioneer announced that the purchasers who intended to take tho beer away with them would have to pay the tax of Is 6d a gallon. If they desired the casks alone, the beer would be tipped into a nearby drain. Bidding was not keen, 36 gallon casks realising only ICs each, subject to the tax. Eighty-four bottles of beer netted only Bs, which meant a little over Id a bottle to the vendors—the police.

A movement is on foot to install a digester at Port Chalmers to manufacture manures from fish offal. Fishermen, it is estimated, would be a few pounds in pocket in the course of a year were they able (o (Impose ol present wastage even at nominal prices. As a result ot efforts being made to secure outside markets for the surplus iisli supply the prospects of the fishing industry at Port Chalmers are said to be bettor at present, than lias been the case for some time. Crayfish from Port Chalmers has found a niche on the London market and that is likely to benefit other seaports of the Dominion. Fish from Port Chalmers is also finding a place on. Australian markets.

“The Government is placing the mortgagor in one position as a man who cannot look after his own business, and the mortgagee, in another position virtually as a ’shark.’ Any attempt to adjust difficulties has now to be dragged through the courts,” declared Mr. W. R. Fee at a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, referring to the Mortgagors’ and Tenants’ Relief Amendment Act. It was decided to protest to the Government against the further interference with mortgage conditions by the recent Act, which, by its operation, virtually compelled mortgagees to exercise their power of sale, immediately authority to do so had been obtained, thereby taking away from the mortgagors all future, opportunity of redeeming their property when conditions improved, and making friendly arrangements between mortgagors and mortgagees impossible.

A further concession lias been granted to the fatteners of cattle in Coast districts so far as the cattle tick reguiaions are concerned. Last year, fat cattle were permitted to come to the Kaiti feezing works from the A area without being dipped, between April 15 and August 20. The stock inspector, Air J. D. Anderson, advises that tliis period has been extended to include March 1 onwards up to August 20. This applies only to cattle being sent to the Kaiti works for immediate slaughter, and a permit must bo obtained for all such cattle passing across tho boundary into tho B area. Each mob is to he inspected by the inspector at Tolaga Bay and must be perfectly clean before a permit will be issued. If only one tick is discovered in a mob, the whole line will have to be dipped before proceeding.

The alarm of Wairoa County people respecting tho intentions of the Government in relation to the county loans interest was hardly justified by tho terms of the correspondence read to the House of Representatives last week by the Minister of Internal Affairs, stated the district member, Mr. D. W. Coleman, today. Talk of a receiver being appointed evidently arose out of a misunderstanding of the terms used by the Minister, and lie was quite satisfied that if the County Council studied the letters it would realise its alarm to be unfounded. The Minister evidently had been under the impression that the county might have made more energetic endeavors to collect rates from its area, and was prepared to offer the. support and advice of a commissioner as an alternative to a possibility of default, which would bring in its train the likelihood of a receivership. Mr. Coleman mentioned that he would take an early opportunity of seeking a discussion with the Wairoa County Council on the subject.

Discussing to-day tho Parliamentary session just closed, Mr. I). \V. Coleman, M.P., commented that district business bad been in the. background throughout the session, policy mailers of a national character having) absorbed Hie time and attention of Parliament through hardfought debates. 11 is party’s attitude on the var.ous proposals of the Government, and its strong Antipathy to certain measures in particular, had been well established in the House during those debates, and there seemed to he little to say now on the matters dealt with. Time alone could show which view was correct, but he looked forward confidently to a vindication of his party’s attitude on all major questions of policy. One of the serious disadvantages of the private members of Parliament throughout the most strenuous weeks of the session nioso from tho method of introducing hills dealing with major • roblcms, these being introduced by Governor’s message and pressed to finality without an opportunity being •Hvon to compare their provisions with those of statutes which would be affected. Mr. Coleman did not regard very seriously the threat to change methods of legislation, in tho direction of removing from tho sphere of Parliamentary debate tha details of legislation,

Tint Mackay (Q.) Harbor Board has ieb a contract to Air. 0. W. Tims at £BBO,OOO lor the construction of a harbor. Mackay is the port of export for an extensive sugar district.

Advice has been received by the Tanranga Borough Council that the Audit Oilice is of opinion that the council cannot lawfully grant to relief workers a rebate of lialf the rates for electricity used.

The Fcatherston Borough Council has been advised tiiat under the will of the late Air. W. E. llidwill, 0.8. E., of itolotowai, £SOO lias been bequeathed to tile Municipal Council of Fcatherston, aim £SOO to Hie Fcatherston Literary Institute.

An area of 10,000 acres, mostly rich river Hat ana typical dairying country, will be brougnt into prouuction as a result of the Manga'pu Drainage Board’s operations at Te Kuiti. Tins i.s tiie largest undertaking of the kind attempted in the King Country. it was commenced two years ago with a loan of £8750.

At a bankruptcy meeting in Whutigarei Ethel Cook, restaurant proprietress, to xxaikohe, intimated that she wished to forgo Jier claim for exemption of .1150 worth of furniture in order that everything sliould be made available to tier creditors, tier action was the subject of much favorable comment. The schedule showed assets at £4O, liabilities Dl-o, ancf deJieieiicy £lO5. An unusual happening in thermal activity occurred at Whakurewarewa on t’liursday when a shot of boiling mud and steam was thrown a height of 201 t. I'lie display lasted 10 minutes. The activity occurred on a Hat about 40lt. in diameter m the Government reserve, where there is a considerable number of small boiling mud-holes. These are more or less always active, but it. is seldom that a shot is thrown up from them.

A thick and sturdy self-sown growth of seedling pines and macrocarpas has appeared on portions of the area of 40 acres of plantation at Bromley which was swept by lire last year, reports tile Christchurch Sun. It is assumed that the growth was provided by seeds escaping from suen cones off tile original trees as were not destroyed in the tire, but were opened up by the heat. Hie thick layer of wood ash which was laid over the sand has assisted germination and growth. The now trees are springing up on ridges, as well as in hollows. It is an interesting example of the natural regeneration of a forest. Messrs. A. Bollock and J. Watson, in the launch Nautilus, were fortunate in capturing a line specimen of Callorhynchus Antarcticus, popularly known in the south as “elephant fish” on account of the proboscis-like appendage to its upper jaw, says a Southland exchange. Although they are sometimes caught while trawling on the other side of Foveaux Strait, they are rarely obtained at Stewart Island. An unusual feature of llio capture is the, fact that it was caught on a line and was properly hooked. Strange to say, most of the elephant fish caught on the coasts of New Zealand are females, males being very rare.

Reports have been in circulation in Gisborne recently that Mr John Jackson had decided to retire- from the Mayoralty contest. Mr Jackson intimated to-day that this was not the case, and that he still intended to con test the position. A meeting of ab interested in Mr Jackson’s candidature will be held in the A. and B. Asso ciation’s rooms, New Zealand Insurance Company’s buildings, Lowe street, on Thursday evening with a view to forming a strong committee tc secure Mr Jackson’s return. it is reported that there is a considerable amount of enrolment to be undertaken, as large numbers have been disfranchised.

“There is an adage in petroleum circles that oil is where you find it,”

said Mr. F,. A. Jones, Christchurch manager of the Vacuum Oil Company, in an address on "The Age of Oil,” delivered to tlie Christchurch Business Men’s Club. “Only the drill boring through the. trust of tlie earth can determine whether ail oil reservoir or just an oil pool will be found. Yet the modern search for oil is conducted along scientific lines, and the application of the sciences of geology and geophysics is helping to remove uncertainties. In the early days of Die oil industry in the United .States, they relied mostly on what are called ‘hunches,’ and on superstitions—sites close to cemeteries were preferred—but of course the years of experience since gained, coupled with the ■sciences, give the prospe tor great ability to locate favorable drilling sites.”

A side of the Salvation Army activities of which little is heard is the inquiry department. At the anniversary services of the .South Wellington Corps, Commissioner Cunningham reminded members of the useful service done through the inquiry branch. He quoted a recent case of an inquiry from an old couple in Norway about a son, from whom they had not heard for 30 years. The only clue given was that the son was a seafarer and was engaged in a ship somewhere in New Zealand. The Inquiry was put through Die 400 centres of the Army in New Zealand, with the result that tlie Norwegian wanderer was located in a ship touching at Wellington, and was again put in communication with is parents.

Dunedin motorists have been warned by Mr J. H. Pennington, lubricating mginecr, against using power kerosene as fuel, or, using kerosene mixed with petrol. He explains that to get Die maximum power out of fuel vuporisaion of the whole fuel is necessary. I r power kerosene were used in a

aotor car or truck Die whole of the uel would not he vaporised and the unburnt portions would remain in the •ylinders, thinning the lubricating oil on the cylinder walls, and then pass down to the crankcase, causing crankcase dilution. Further, heavy kerosene ends would form carbon deposits, necessitating the engine being taken down more often for decarbonising purposes. “Definitely it is iuulvisable to use power kerosene, 'be-

cause tlio fuel is not refined for the ear ir truck type of engine,” said Mr Pennington.

The record of the ineffectual searchings for work by two Aucklanders who traversed the Dominion and appear to have been handicapped liy being decently dressed brings to mind the early

I experience of an Otago man who died some years ago leaving a few thousands, remarks the Dunedin Star. Asked one day by a reporter as to bis first start in New Zealand, ho said : “I came out in one of Patrick lfenderson’s ships in the steerage, landed at Port Chalmers, put on my Sunday suit in preference to flu' only other I had, thinking 1 would he looked on ns a vagabond if I went about in my working clothes, and walked to Dunedin, thence starting to tramp up country. At every farm where I inquired I was met with a refusal, till at last I came across a farmer who told me I would never get a job as I was —I didn’t look a.s if I wanted one—and he suggested that T should take from him the loan of a ronseabont suit and trv my luck that way. I accepted his offer, trudged on, and at the very next inquiry was engaged on trial by •Tames Smith, of Greenfield. That led to a life that I wouldn’t mind living over again,"