CURRENT TOPICS.

Southland Times, Issue 16843, 20 September 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

CONDITION OF TRADE. Following is the report of the Journal of the Labour Department on the condition of industries in Invercargill in the month of August:— There is little change to report in labour conditions for the month of August. In the majority of trades work has been plentiful, and there has been a general complaint of shortage of hands. The building trade is still very active, carpenters and bricklayers being at a premium. Ironworkers have been, if anything, busier than usual, and litters, turners, and blacksmiths have been inquired for. Sales of agricultural implements have been good, and all hands have been busy on stock and order work. General engineering - has been perhaps busier than at any time during the year, and a considerable amount, of overtime has been worked. The boot'trade is still in a precarious state, and prospects for the future is not at all encouraging. The dry weather has affected this trade to such an extent that there does not seem much prospect of a recovery this side of the new year. The repair and retail branches of the trade have suffered from the same cause. Tailors have had a good season, and as the busy time is just commencing, employers are likely to experience some difficulty in keeping pace with their orders. Female operatives are not to he had, and as time goes on the difficulty of procuring a sufficient number of tail cresses to keep pace with the male operatives becomes more apparent. A number of first-class trouser and vest hands could find employment, with lost time reduced to a minimum. Dressmakers are busy, and a number of the factories have been working overtime. The retail clothing trade has

been, if anything, quieter than usual, but in general drapery good business has been done, and bright spring goods are now beginning to lake the place of the more sombre winter lines. The coachbuilding trade in all its branches is still very active, and orders continue to come to band for all classes of vehicles. There is no - apparent sign of slackening off. In tite country districts the advent of spring has livened things up, and the demand for farm hands has been much in excess of the supply. Good ploughmen are daily enquired for. but none is available. There has been a better demand for unskilled labour, but a few men are still idle. After a delay of some weeks work has been resumed on the municipal tramway tracks, and a fairly large gang of men is now busy breaking up the streets preparatory to lay-4 ing the metals. Arrangements have now been completed for a constant supply of broken metal, so that there should not be any further stoppages. From a manufacturer’s point of view prospects for the future are now as bright as at any time in the history of the town. There are trades, certainly, which could: do with more work, but as a general rule employers are partipularly satisfied with what they have In hand. GBOWTH OF AMEBICAH EXPOETS. Tables just Issued by the United States Bureau of Statistics furnish particulars of the great growth of American exports during the year ending June '3oth, 1911. The figures for the twelve-month show an advance of exports over the preceding year of more than £28,000,000. The total value -was £182,000,000, as against a total of £153,200.000 for 1910 and £134,200,000 for 1909. Exports of manufactures are classed under two heads--—manufactures ready for consumption, and manufactures for further use In manufacture. In both classes there was an Increase. The advance in manufactures ready for consumption was £20,300,000, and that in manufactures for ‘ further use £8,300,000. Machinery in its various forms supplied a larger share of this total of increasing exports than any other single class of products of the factory. The group of articles which the Bureau of Statistics classes as machinery shows a growth from £16,000,000 in 1910 to £21,000,000 in 1911, but to this may be added automobiles and parts, which alone shows a growth of nearly £1,000,000 ; agricultural Implements which increased nearly £1,600,000 and scientific instruments, showing £450,000. Australia and New- Zealand were amongst the countries which purchased more largely of American manufactures in the last fiscal year than in the preceding one. F>or instance, the tables show that the exports of agricultural implements to those countries increased from £200,000 to £350,000. To Europe ■ the 'shipments of the same class of exports grew from £l,050.000 to £1,500,000 ; those to Canada from £660,000 to £950,000 ; and those to Argentina from £1,250,000 to £1,500,000. There was an immense expansion in the export of pig copper, classed as a manufacture for further use. This item alone shows a ,gain of £3,000,000 or 20 per cent, over the total for the preceding year. Cotton goods increased from £6,-000,000 to £8,200,000, typewriters from £1,600,000 to £1,920,000, and agricultural implements from £5,600,000 to $7,200,000. The total exports were the largest recorded in the history of the United States. SUEZ CANAL INDEX. As an index of the trend of th» world’s shipping tpade, the official Suez Canal statistics are not without value. They at least reflect the relative activity of the various flags in the trade with the East and Australia. They serve in particular to emphasise the respective positions of Great Britain and Germany. Reckoning ships of all descriptions, we get the following percentages of the nett tonnage using the canal; — 1908. 1909. 1910. United Kingdom 60.9 62.3 62.9 Germany ... .. 16.9 15.5 16.5 The German position, it will be seen, is somewhat less favourable than It was three years ago, and our own is rather better. In the case of the other maritime nations there is no real change. Third and fourth places are occupied by Holland, and France with 5.1 and 5 per cent, respectively. The shipping of the United States passing through the canal is a negligible quantity—less than one ton per 1000. If warships, transports, and Govern-ment-chartered vessels are left out of account, w r e’ get the following comparison in ships and nett tonnage in 1910. Ships. Tons. United Kingdom .. 2,729 10,255,048 Germany 627 2,513,290 It may be noted that the mall steamships which Germany sent through the Suez Canal last year amounted to 1,276,775 tons, as against 927,610 tons in the case of the United Kingdom. Indeed, Germany’s mail tonnage is greater than all the rest of her shipping in this direction. In our case the proportion of mail tonnage is less than onetenth, a fact which suggests that we are still the great cargo-carriers o* the world.

. The Chairman of the Ashburton County Council (Mr John Lambie) says we must import the lapwing: and, when It gets a firm footing in the country, there will be no more grass-grubs. The balance-sheet of the Southland Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., will be issued to shareholders in the course of a few days. It is understood that the present position of the “Co-op" is much more satisfactory than it, was a year ago, and that renewed interest is being taken in the Association by the farming community. The annual general meeting of shareholders will be held in die Town Hall, Gore, on October, 6th, to receive the report and -balance-sheet. The retiring directors, Messrs W. J. Johnston, H. P. Henriksen, George Chilton, and Henry Buxton, are the only candidates nominated to fill the four vacancies on the Board, therefore no election of directors Is necessary. On Saturday morning last Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co. telegraphed to Mr Thomas Buxton, M.P. for Geraldine, as follows: —“Kindly advise If Australian restriction Dominion potatoes removed.” Yesterday morning the following reply was received from Mr Buxton from Wellington: “Endeavouring to get Australia to give us free entrance for our potatoes as we give them, and hope to succeed. You can now send to Australia if you can declare potatoes sound and free from disease. I hope to get better terms still; am pegging away.” In declining nomination for the Waltemata seat, Mr E. W; Alison, addressing his supporters, said that the true Liberals in the House were not on the Government benches, but on the other side. They often heard Mr Massey spoken of as a Conservative and the advocate of the wealthy classes. The Leader of the Opposition, however, was neither a wealthy man nor the supporter of the wealthy classes; but, on the other hand, he was one of the most Liberalminded men in New Zealand. Mr Massey, he added, towered over the ordinary Minister like a great racehorse above the ordinary hack. He Is quite competent to take bis place among the leaders of the nation, and if be assumes the reins of office he will pass legislation that will be in the best interests of the whole of the people of Xew Zealand. Reference was made in the Prime Minister’s Budget Speech to the proposed turning to profitable account of the waste products from our butter and cheese factories. The result of such a scheme will he an increased revenue to the dairy farmers of the Dominion. It is understood that skim milk which, to a large is wasted, and at best fed to pigs, may be turned to profitable account in Hie manufacture of casein. The Government may bo asked or may propose to encourage the manufacture of this article from dairy factory by-pro-ducts by the giving of a bonus, as is done in the case of quicksilver and kerosene produced up to a certain quantity. To make buttons, combs, and fancy boxes out of milk is not so impossible as it seems at first sight. But casein can be utilised for such purposes, according to the character of the chemical treatment. It is also used as a cement. It is thought that dairy farmers will ultimately find skim milk more profitable when turned into casein than when turned into pork; but much will depend, of course, upon the value of either commodity at the time the milk supply la in full flow. One Hundred Cups in bottle o£ "CAMP, COFFEEs”

The G.s. Hinemoa will, weather permitting, leave Bluff for Cromarty and West Coast Sounds on Thursday evening about S o’clock. The mails for United Kingdom despatched from Invercargill on 10th August via Brindisi arrived in Loudon on the afternoon of 16th inst., one day early. The Aparima and Thornbury Dairy Factories will be opened on Monday 25th September. The Mataura dairy factory was open to receive milk yesterday morning, when 29 suppliers put in an appearance. The total amount of milk received was 700 gallons, which is slightly below the amount received at the opening day last year, the shortage being due to the fact that many cows are not yet ready. The only spirited bidding experienced yesterday at the Gore saleyards, says the “Ensign," was when Mr J. 11. Reed, of the Loan Company, submitted a fat lamb —the first of the season —for sale. The first bid was os and it speedily run up to 15s when the purchaser declared amid laughter he would have a good dinner next Sunday. The Southland Acclimatisation Society Is inviting applications (to close on Monday next) for the position of secretary at a salary of £SO per annum. Inspectors of Factories throughout the Dominion have been appointed census sub-enumerators under the Census and Statistics Act, 1910, for the purpose of assisting in the collection of Industrial statistics. The opening of the new hall built by the members of the South Invercargill Anglican Church and described in these columns some time ago, will be formally celebrated on Sunday next at 3 p.m. The service will be conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Stocker and the Rev. AY. Swinburne. Next week a sale of work will be held in connection with the hall. A.private company, to be known as the Walrlo-Birchwood Railway and Coal Company, has been registered, with a capital of £IO,OOO, consisting of 10,000 shares of £1 each. The objects of the company are to construct and operate the railway from Wairlo to Blrchwood and to work coal mines in the Wallace district. The original shareholders are : Messrs J. More (Invercargill), T. More J. More, jun.. and A. More (Riverton), each of whom holds 2500 shares. Speaking of cow-testing, the chairman of a South Taranaki dairy company said he had recently listened to an address in Auckland, in which it was stated that tests had been made'with p»or cows and good cows. The former yielded an average of 133t01b of butter-fat, and the latter an average of 3011b. There was a net profit from the former of £2l 10s, and from the latter of £9OO. Twenty-five of tfoe best cows were equivalent to 102 of the poor ones. These figures opened their eyes, and made them think of the value of testing. By testing they might be able to counteract the effects of the Increase In the price of land. After receiving requests from begging letters, writers for sums amounting In all to £22,000,000, Mrs E. H. Harriman, the widow of the railway magnate, has appealed to the Bureau of Municipal Research to superintend her mendicant mail and to assist her in wisely dispensing charity. Mrs Harriman began her widowhood with the firm determination of personally perusing and deciding upon all letters from • persons In need, but soon found that it would be necessary to devote all her time to this task. She is not alone in discovering herself the target of innumerable professional begging letters. Miss Helen Gould has received In the last twelve months 50,000 such letters containing requests for sums amounting to £400,000, and Mrs Russell Sage is in even worse plight.

One of the'passengers from Melbourne for Bluff by the s.s. Manuka on Monday was Mr Sigurd Bentzon, the Norwegian Consul-General for Australasia. Mr Bentzon Is making an official visit to New Zealand, and his stay in the country will be only a short one. He' left for the North by the second express from Invercargill yesterday, an itinerary which will enable him to make the fullest use of the time at his disposal having been prepared for him by Mr T. F. McLaughlin, local representative of the Tourist Department. It is Mr Bentzon’s intention to spend >a few days at Rotorua. Immediately after his return to Australia, early next month, he Will leave on a holiday visit to Norway. The following land has been declared a reserve under the Scenery Preservation Act, 190S:—All that area In the Southland Land District, containing by admeasurement IS acres, more or less, being Sections Nos. 120 and 121, Block XX, Invercargill Hundred. Bounded towards the north by Section No. 119, Block XX. Invercargill Hundred; towards the east by a public road; towards the west by Section No. 122 of the said block. Also all that area in the Southland Land District, containing by admeasurement S acres, more or less, being Section No. 124, Block XX, Invercargill Hundred. Bounded towards the east by Section No. 123, Block XX, Invercargill Hundred; towards the south by a road along the Oreti River; and towards the north-west by Section No. 81 of the said block. Soon after the Typer liner Tomoana, which arrived last week at Melbourne, had left St. Vincent, in the North Atlantic Ocean. and while she was yet within about three miles of the Island an exciting incident occurred on board. One of the islanders —a coloured man—who had stowed away, was found by the chief steward and brought before Captain S. W. Hayter. Being unable to speak English, the islander could, of course, give no reason for stowing away, and Captain Hayter was about to “slow down” and send - the man ashore in a boat, when the latter suddenly jumped overboard and disappeared. It was Just growing dark at the time, and as the Tomoana was steaming at full speed, all efforts to pick up traces of the man proved futile. The natives of St. Vincent are said to be great swimmers, and Captain Hayter believes that it was with the full intention of swimming ashore that the intrepid stowaway leapt into the sea. He was a young man, apparently about twenty-six years of age. The monthly meeting of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, which should in ordinary circumstances be held to-morrow (Thursday) evening, will be ' adjourned till the following Tuesday. It is necessary under the constitution to hold the meeting on the statutory night, but the occasion is unsuitable, and, as members understand the position, there will not bo a quorum present and the meeting will be formally adjourned to Tuesday (26th inst). In the meantime applications will be called for the position of secretary rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr A. A. Paape, who has been appointed secretary of the recently formed N.Z. Sports Federation.

Members of the Southland Caledonian Pipe Band attended in force at the annual meeting _of the Caledonian Society last night. The president of the Society (Mr Jno. Matheson) announced the reason of the visit as follows; “Gentlemen —Since last we met throe of our members have crossed to tiie Land of the Leal. I refer to John Angus Mitchell, George Thompson Smyth, and Alexander McLean, than whom no more loyal men were ever associated with this Society. I have, therefore, asked the Pipe Band to come to the meeting to-night, and before we conduct any business they will play ‘The Flowers of the Forest,’ in memory of our late colleagues.” All present remained standing while the band, led by PipeMajor C. VT. Wilson, and conducted by Drum-Major Jas. Macgregor, gave an appealing rendering of this impressive lament.

Regarding the representations made by a deputation at Otautau to the Acting Prime Minister in June last with respect to land settlement, the Minister of Lands has informed the member for Wallace that the Chief Commissioner reports that owing to the peculiar contour of the country it is necessary that one surveyor should locate a main road, and when this work is sufficiently advanced, another surveyor, if available, ■will assist in the survey of the remaining roads, and the subdivision of the Crown lands referred to. There are three surveyors at work in Wallace County, and considering the difficulty of fitting in as between sawmiller and miner the work of subdivision for closer settlement is being proceeded with as fast as is possible under the circumstances. On the l!Uh inst., Mr Thomson brought the matter forward in Parliament, because it had been stated that the survey work would take two years. In reply to his cpiestiun on that point the Minister of Lands stated that the Commissioner of Crown Lands reports that the subdivision work will he completed during the coming summer, and the land will probably be opened for selection in February or March next.

In the report of Dr Hendry's lecture on ‘The effects of alcohol" in yesterday’s issue two or three errors crept in. Dr Hendry was made to say that "The effect of chloroform taken in small doses was similar to the injection of a comparatively small quantity of alcohol.” "Injection” should read

“ingestion," Further down the report read ; "A numbing, perverting, and deluding force, not usually recognised, hut which had been clearly demonstrated ; an effect, in short, which was opposed to everything rational as day was to night. Alcohol did not stimulate the mental powers." The substance of Dr Hendry's remarks was that the effect was opposed, as day was to night, to the popular belief that alcohol stimulated the mental powers. Again, the biblical quotation at the conclusion of report was made to read : "Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish., and woe unto those that be of heavy heart.” ‘"Woe” in this instance should be "wine."

Mr James B. Hammond, the millionaire Inventor of the type writer which bears his name, who is 73 years of age, has resolved never to live on shore again, but to make the sea his home for the rest of his life. “ 1 am departing on a 27 years' cruise,” he said to a press interviewer before leaving New York. “1 expect to live to be a hundred. I shall then retire, and present the yacht to the American Government as a perfect model of a twentieth century sea-bout. The yacht is a marvel of luxury, and includes many novel features.. including a garage which will accommodate a large motor car. The yacht is 95 feet long, apd has a maximum speed of fifteen knots, with engine and sail power. Mr Hammond has gone to sea with an aquarium of goldfish, a- prize fox terrier, a bull terrier with a litter of six pups, and several canary birds. He is suffering from rheumatism, and cannot walk unassisted. He is attended by a masseur, a nurse, a secretary and a chauffeur. The skipper of the yacht is a native of Finland, and the skipper’s wife is cook, while his cousin is the wireless operator, and his brother-in-law is boatswain. The yacht is equipped with hot and cold air plants, to preserve an even temperature in all climates. A few years ago an attempt was made to have the courts declare Mr Hammond Incapable of managing hls own affairs, but the millionaire successfully fought the suit.

Silks were the leading dress material during the last London season. Thomson and Beattie, alive to fashion's demands. are showing some of the most popular makes and designs. Printed foulards In small geometrical patterns single widths 4s 9d, double widths 9s 6d per yard in the newest colourings ; plain satins for dresses veiled or partly veiled 68s 6d per dress. Soft chiffon taffetas in all colours from 2s lid single width to 8s 6d double width, and black and white striped chiffon taffetas 4s 9d per yard. BICYCLES —100 to clear. Genuine 8.5.A., £ll 10s. Free gift of a set of tyres to any one who can prove there is better value given in Invercargill than we are offering. Call and inspect, judge, and you will buy.—Russell and Co., Motor and Cycle Agents, Dee street. 2843 TO-DAf THE BIG BOOT CAMPAIGN stands out as Southland’s Best Boot Sale. McDonald’s is the name for biggest value ever given in the Boot Tiade. It is the name for quality. It is the name ror all that is stylish. Just now it is the name for the lowest prices in the City. Visit the Big Boot Campaign at the City Boot Palace today. Interest for the moment is centred upon the charming display of Millinery now showing at PRICE & BIJLLEID’S. Distinctly novel and beautiful effects .are developed in the models drawn from fashions favourite haunts. The Window Exhibit is the first outward display that has been made this Spring, and is characteristic of this firm's methods of doing business. The floral decorations with the back ground of lattice work, surmounted with trailing roses, is in itself pleasing to the eye, and the fact of the large concourse of people who constantly throng the pavement Is indicative of the interest shown. Such window displays as these are not often to be seen In li}verca,rglll. The new Showrooms in the rear of the building are splendidly rearranged with the new shipment of Millinery, Costumes, Blouses, Skirts, etc., that were only opened TO-DAY, and especially got together for Show on THURSDAY, FRIDAY, and SATURDAY this week. SYNOPSIS NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Oh Page I. Wanted —A girl. For Sale—Motor. Wanted—Shepherd. Wanted —Canvassers. To-day’s property news—See Brooks’s advt. Applications invited for pdsitlon of secretary to Acclimatisation Society. W. A. Ott and Co. have five sections for sale. On Page 2. See Lewis’s special announcement for the Spring and Summer season on this page. On Page 3. — Price list cycle enamelling, overhauling, cleaning, etc. —See Wilson, Fraser and Co.’s advt. On Page 4. Jn Price On Page 6. Fuller’s Pictures to-night at S. Hayward’s Pictures to-night at S. List of warehouses closing to-day. Closing night of Baptist Church Band Of Hope to-night. Southland Boxing Association-—Novice tournament in Theatre on 27th inst. Meeting of Starr-Bowkett Society on Tuesday, 26th inst. Special Emergency Meeting of Lodges Southern Cross, St. John and Victoria to-morrow night. Land Transfer Act Notice re discharge of mortgage in favour of .las. Irvine. Niagara Sawmilling Company—Notice, to creditors. Bus leave Post Office on Friday night for Underwood Hockey Club social and dance. Land Transfer Act Notice re discharge of mortgage in favour of J. T. Guise. On Page 7. Tiger Teas always on top. New Season’s Goods now open at the N.Z. Clothing Factory. A Shoe Sale that establishes a record —Kingsland’s Sovereign Stretching Sale. On Page 8. — Wm. Todd and Co. hold weekly furniture sale to-morrow.