TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 19255, 20 June 1921, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

During the month of March last there was a slackening of the downward movement of wholesale prices in the United Kingdom. In each of the four preceding months, according to the London Times index number, these prices dropped on an average by a little more than nine per cent. The drop recorded in March was only 2.6 per cent. At the end of March the average increase in British wholesale prices over the corresponding prices in December, 1913, was 89.3 per cent. At their peak, in April last year, wholesale prices were 229.2 per cent above those of December, 1913. Thus sixty-one per cent, or nearly twothirds of the war-time increase in the wholesale prices had disappeared at the end of last March. The commodities to which the Times price-index relates are divided into two main groups—foodstuffs and raw materials. Of these groups materials show by far the most pronounced decline. At the end of March the prices of materials, on an average, were only 50.9 per cent above the prices of December, 1913, while food prices were still 127.7 per cent above those of 1913. The limited fall recorded in March is taken in some quarters to mean that prices have closely approached a level of stability. It seems quite possible, however, that the March decline might have been more pronounced but for the unsettling effect of the coal trouble, and the expectation, since verified, that it was destined to develop on a serious scale.

So far little in the way of intimate knowledge has been available to the public of the unprecedented gold movements which marked the early part of the period covered by the Great War. These were on a colossal scale, and afford, first, a measure of the extent to which Britain was a creditor nation, and, secondly, of the enormous efforts she put forth, to acquire the vast stores of foodstuffs, ammunition, etc., for the prosecution of the war by the Allies. The story of the handling of these great gold movements by the officials of the Canadian Finance Department has now been told in full by Sir Thomas White, M.P., Canadian Minister for Finance from 1911 to 1920. During the late summer and autumn of 1914 gold poured into the vaults of the Finance Department from creditors of Great Britain in the United States and Canada. Early in 1915 the purchases which the Allies were making turned the exchange in the opposite, direction, and a reverse movement set in. Gold was requisitioned in every direction where this was possible and despatched to Ottawa for transfer to the United States. The amount of gold dealt with at Ottawa exceeded 1,200,000,000 dol. (at par of exchange £240,000,000), and the handling of all this treasure without a hitch will always redound to the credit of the Canadian officials responsible for the work.

Ah Chu, who was assaulted and robbed recently, is still in a critical condition.

The Commonwealth Statistician, reports a general increase of three per cent, in cost of food and groceries in May, compared with April, says a Melbourne Press Association message.

A meeting of the Rocks Association was held on Saturday night, when it was decided to run. a bazaar to raise funds for general improvements and committees were appointed to carry out the work.

Edward Donovan, who was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment for breaking, entering, and shooting with intent, at Wanganui, was on Friday sentenced to three years’ hard labour for breaking and entering, and to one year for stealing from the person.

Residents at Matata report that wreckage from the Tasman lies all along the beach, following a heavy storm for the last two days, says a Press Association telegram from Whakatane. Timber, lifebelts etc. are drifting beyond Matata. No wreckage is coming in Whakatane direction.

A London Press Association cable that Mr J. McEwan Hunter, speaking at the World Cotton Congress, said Australia could produce cotton of the desired quality. He anticipated the day when she would be as fully represented at the world congress as America.

The Minister of Agriculture has informed the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union that he is having immediate enquiries made to ascertain whether a disease is prevalent in Australian onion-growing districts. He 'promised, if the circumstances warrant it, to prohibit the importation of Australian onions.—Press. Association.

In connection with the alleged assault on one of the men engaged at the Petone gasworks to take the place of a striker, the Wellington police state that- several men followed the man in a motor era to Taitai. An argument is said to have arisen. The first report was that the man was seriously assaulted but this is denied by the police, who say that a technical assault only was committed; It is stated that further proceedings will be taken.—Press Association.

In the report of Mr Eustace Russell’s address to the Court on Friday in the case against six defendants for alleged poaching at Lake Mavora counsel was made to say that “if the Magistrate entertained the slightest doubt the benefit should be given to the accused.” This was not correct. What Mr Russell said was that if the Court had any “reasonable doubt” as to the guilt of the accused they should get the benefit of it.

There was a large attendance at the Theatre last night when Mrs Don delivered a farewell address on prohibition. Mr J. S. Baxter occupied the chair, and the lecturer was assisted by a choir under the baton of Mr W. Quinn. During her address, which was interspersed with humorous stories, Mrs Don was frequently applauded, and she retained the interest of her audience throughout. At the conclusion of her address, Mr J. S. Baxter moved a vote of thanks to the speaker which was carried by acclamation.

Captain Holm, master of the schooner Maroro, was charged at Gisborne on Saturday, says a Press Association telegram, by the Collector of Customs, under the Alien Immigration Act, with berthing a vessel in-bound from Australia without a permit from the Customs. The evidence of the Harbourmaster and several shipmasters was to the effect that in nerve-threatening weather conditions the captain acted most wisely in entering port when he did. The Magistrate held that the circumstances justified his action. It was a technical offence, and he entered a conviction without a fine.

George Bernard Shaw, the famous playwright is said to have taken most of his ideas from the late Samuel Butler, author of “Erewhon,” etc., and what is more, Shaw admits it. Now it happens that Butler spent some time in this country and may be accounted the most noted of New Zealand authors. One of his pet theories is that Homer was a woman, another that Darwinism is all wrong. His works are a mine of caustic comment to be delved into at leisure, and his attitude is in opposition to the new school of sentimental writers headed by J. M. Barrie, John Masefield and John Galsworthy.

“There is nothing can progress in this world unless it gets into the newspapers,” remarked Dr Thacker, M.P., at a meeting at which the Christchurch Local Association of the Dominion Boy Scouts Association for formed. “It’s no matter whether it is getting mud slung at it,” he added, “or whether it is being lauded to the skies, if you don’s get into the paper people don’t khow what is going on.”

A Melbourne Press Association cable states that in the House of Representatives Mr Charlton moved the adjournment to discuss the unsatisfactory arrangements made by the Commonwealth Government regarding immigration. Sir Joseph Cook, replying, said that the only State in which trouble had been experienced in placing immigrants was New South Wales, and that was due to the State Government’s refusal to cooperate with the Federal authorities. The Orient Company states that most of the Ormonde’s steerage passengers were small tradesmen and not unemployed.

A ten-roomed house in Royal Terrace, states a Dunedin Press Association telegram, was completely destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The occupants, Mr Wheatland (a grocer) and his family, escaped in their night clothes. The building was insured for £7OO in the Atlas Company, and the furniture for £4OO in the same office. In a howling gale the brigade had hard wojk to save the adjoining place.

Advice has been received by the War Account and Record branch of the Defence Department that the memorial bronze plaques that are to be issued to the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers may be expected to arrive in New Zealand about the end of August. In the meantime the Department is engaged in issuing the balance of the war illuminated certificates and scrolls, and this work is expected to be completed within the next two months. In this respect a large amount of clerical and search work is entailed in discovering the whereabouts of returned soldiers and next-of-kin, who have changed their address since the records were made out. Another difficulty that has presented itself is the fact that a number of soldiers obtained their discharge from the N.Z.E.F. in England. Many of these men have since returned to the Dominion, but the fact has not been notified to the Department.

The smaller display of flowers in the London parks is not merely a continuation of war economy says the London Times. It is an unexpected result of motor traffic. Most improvements bring with them some disadvantage. The replacement of horses by mechanical transport has made it possible to waterproof roads and streets with a film of tar and pitch. The effect on vegetation can be seen along the edges of the road where the spraying of tar or its hot fumes have killed the herbage. But the trouble has gone further. When the roads carried horse traffic the dust was heavy and blew into the parks only in a strong wind. Even when it reached the flower-beds it did little harm, partly because of its chemical nature, partly because of the relatively large size of its particles. But the new traffic and the new road-surface produce a fine, almost impalpable, dust rising in the lightest breeze, moved even by the eddies which the swiftlymoving vehicles raise. The powder settles on the beds which used to be gay with flowers, chokes mechanically the breathing pores of the leaves, and blights the growth as if it were weed-killer. Perhaps the solution will prove to be some form of rubber pavement. The increasing production and lowered cost of rubber may turn the possibility into fact and tropical plantations may save the flowers of London.

An exceedingly well-preserved piece of totara was unearthed when excavating for the heating chamber for the new school at Phillipstown (says the Christchurch Press). 1 A specimen was shown to a reporter by Mr Penlington, the Education Board’s architect. The totara was found at a depth of six feet below th® surface of the ground and either grew where it was or was brought down by a flood in the Waimakariri, and it is estimated from the size of the tree, the diameter being from 24 ft to 3ft, that it was 400 or 500 years old. The piece shown by Mr Penlington had some bark oil it, and the wood itself was in perfect condition, some agency having preserved it completely. The soil in which the tree was found was ordinary silt. The Bathurst correspondent of the Sydney Sun says details have come to light of the case of a resident of Mount McDonald, Henry Newman, aged 93 years, who made his own coffin and dug his own grave on his own plot of land, with instructions in his will that there was to be no graveside “service show.” Newman, who was an Englishman, was widely known and equally well-respected. He lived a strictly independent life, but was known to be sympathetic to others in trouble, and was always ready to do a good turn. The preparations that he made for his death were carried out in order, as he announced, that “no one should be given any trouble.” The instructions were faithfully attended to.

The formation of a Farmers’ Political Party was referred to on Tuesday evening by Mr A. A. Ross irf his presidential address to the Auckland Farmers’ Union Conference. He said that a remit which was unanimously adopted at the last annual conference affirming the desirability of forming a farmers’ political party was placed before the Dominion Conference, where it met with considerable opposition. It was decided to refer the matter back to the provinces, so that delegates could come to the next Dominion Conference with instructions how to vote. “The indications are that when it comes up again it will be rejected,” said Mr Ross, “and if this should happen some action will have to be taken to have the matter settled definitely. So far as this province is concerned, there is an impression among members that the union is altogether barred from politics, but this is a mistake, as in the book of objects, rules, and platform of the union, it is clearly set down that one of the objects is to secure a proper representation of farmers’ interests in Parliament. This, I take it, was what was in the minds of the delegates at the last conference, and it will be the duty of the incoming executive to ascertain if members of the union still hold the same views, and if so, to take the necessary steps to carry the decision into effect in this province. The other provinces will doubtless follow if the idea succeeds here, and we may in a few years see farmers in New Zealand taking the same position, in national affairs as they have done in other parts of the Empire, with great benefit to themselves and to the whole community.

Before the war Vienna was the financial and commercial centre of South-eastern Europe, and this fact is regarded as the key to the reconstruction of Austria. Since the country is poorer in natural wealth than any other European State, it is almost inconceivable that her visible exports can ever balance her imports. It follows that the difference must be made up by an increase in invisible exports, such as banking, exchange, and other services; the alternatives- are charity, starvation, emigration, or absorption by Germany. The necessary invisible exports can only become practicable with the possession of a more stable currency and its concomitant—more stable foreign exchanges. There would seem to bo no possibility of realising such conditions without the provision, in the first instance, of foreign credit in volume sufficient to fill the gap between imports and exports. In -these circumstances, special interest is attached to the announceemnt that the Governments of Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan have decided to release (for a period of years to be determined later) their liens in respect of claims against the Austrian Government for the cost of armies of occupation, for relief credit bonds and reparations, provided other interested Governments agree to similar postponements. The decision has been taken to facilitate the granting of financial assistance under the international credits scheme (i.e., the Ter Meulen scheme). It has been taken on the understanding that the Austrian Government desires tfie application of this scheme to Austria, and is prepared to place the administration of the assigned assets in the hands of the Financial Committee of the League of

A demonstration of distributed fire was held at Trentham by the voluntary course trainers attending the General Headquarters school, when 15 rifles competed against a Lewis-gun. The fire was rapid at thirty standing figures. 168 rounds were fired from the rifles in one minute, and 94 from the Lewis-gun. The rifles registered 27 hits and the Lewis-gun 14.1 per centage of loss inflicted, being 40 and 43.3 respectively. In a concentrated fire test 193 rounds were fired from rifles and 121 from a Lewis-gun, the former registering 126 hits and the latter 106. Major P. B. Henderson, chief instructor, states that the result of the shooting compared very favourably with similar experiments carried out at the small-arms school, at Hythe, England.

A rather uncomplimentary reference to New Zealand members of Parliament is contained in Vincount Bryce’s book, “Modern Democracies.” Viscount Bryce says:—“The New Zealand House of Representatives is in one sense too representative, for its members are little above the average of their electors in knowledge or ability. . . . The Assembly is left to persons five-sixths of whom do not rise above the level of the town councillors of an English town. . . . The standard not only of entertainments, but of debates and of manners also, leaves something to be desired. Thinking bears a low ratio to talking. . ‘ . . There is certainly what one may call a sort of commonness, a want of that elevation and dignity which ought to raise above their ordinary level those who administer the affairs of a selfgoverning community with a great future, and this lowers the moral influence of Parliament upon the community itself.” An important sale of pedigree Jersey cattle which took place at New Plymouth was attended by Jersey breeders from all parts of the dominion, one enthusiastic buyer being Dr Pickerill, of Dunedin, who paid lolgns for a 20-month-old heifer, Hully Oaks; 139 gns for a two-year-old heifer, Royal Oaks Lady; and 108 gns for a twomonths heifer, Holly Oaks Tiny. Another outstanding purchase was that of Silver Buttercup, a two-year-old, by Messrs H. Sutton and Co., Longbush, Carterton, for 251 gns. The same buyers secured a 20-month-old hetifer, Holly Oaks Pretty, for 137gns. As an evidence of the high value placed upon these pedigree Jersey cattle, which had been offered by two or three vendors, the total sum of 4201 gns was realised, one vendor’s penning of heifers averaging 112igns. ■ This very high average is an evidence of the confidence of breeders in the future of the dairy industry.

George Bernard Shaw, the famous playwright, is said to have taken most of his ideas from Samuel Butler, author of "Erewhon,” and other books. Butler, whose recent biography in two large volumes, by Mr H. Festing-Jones, is on the shelves of the Athenaeum, will be the subject of a W.E.A. lecture by Professor Herbert Ramsay, of Otago University, Chair of Literature, in St. Paul’s S.’S. Hall, Dee street, to-night at 8. Rev. J. A. Lush, of St. John’s, will oc cupy the chair. No one interested in the trend of modern letters can afford to miss this intellectual tonic.— (Advt.) Coat Frocks at half price is the latest at THOMSON &BEATTIE’S. Coat Frocks are daily growing more popular, and from ap-. pearances will be very popular next season. The ones offered here are the very latest and were originally intended for spring business. Styles, tunic effect and large pockets; some trimmed braid and stitching, others plain; ideal for afternoons; all sizes; colours include Mole, Saxe, Helio, Oyster, Rose, Grey, Navy, etc. The usual prices for these have been from 95/- to 12 guineas. Now priced at 75/- to 6 guineas. See window display.— (Advt.) Trays at less than cost price! Nine special lots of English nickel-plated, embossed trays are offered by Hyndman’s, Dee street, at these low prices: 1/9, 2/6, 2/11, 3/9, 4/6, 5/11, 6/6, 7/6, 8/6. There are three shapes, round, oblong, and oval, with and without side handles. These eminently useful trays were specially purchased at a big discount off landed cost, and provide a distinct buying opportunity. Artificial Light Display of High-grade Evening Frocks.—ln order that prospective buyers of Evening Frocks may have an opportunity of procuring such beautiful creations as the Exclusive Models, we are at present showing at sale prices, we are making a special showing from Friday, 17th inst., to Tuesday, 21st inst., inclusive. This display w r iU be arranged on the second floor. Every Frock has been reduced on a sale value basis, and is a preliminary to our 118th Bi-annual Clearance, which is to commence on Friday, 24th inst. Quality for quality the values at this big clearance are to be incomparable. We have a reputation to maintain, and we back this statement by it. LEWIS’S, LTD., Southland’s Shopping Centre, Invercargill.—(Advt) GROCERlES.—Groceries at low popular prices, and of very high quality. This is effected by our method of business, namely, prompt cash payments. BAXTER’S motto as usual is: Small profits, quick returns.— (Advt.) Young men can save on their smokes by using Red Jacket Cigarette Tobacco. The most economical and good smoke. Improved conditions for the public, brought about by cutting prices to the very bedrock. We are right out for your busi ness, and again commend these striking bar gains. You cannot fail to relish these: In our Showroom we are making a special clearance. A large table of Winter Millinery in Velours, Ready-to-wears, and Untrimmed, value for 35/- to 49/6, your choice all 15/6. A special bargain table of Pull-on Hats, value for 15/6 and 19/6, all to clear at 7/6. A big stir in our Costume Department. We are offering the whole of our beautfiul Costumes at prices far below the cost of production, 210/-; Costumes for 105/-. We are making a big clearance in Furs. The prices marked are for a speedy clearance. One only beautiful Fur Coat, to clear, a real bargain. Sweeping price reductions on all our beautiful Winter Coats. 200 Dress Skirts to clear regardless of cost. Inspection invited at H. & J. SMITH, Ltd., Tay street, Invercargill, and Main street, Gore.—(Advt.)

Big Millinery Revel at THE “ECONOMIC,” Ladies’ Outfitters. Hundreds of beautiful Hats being sold at a fraction of the original cost. Hurry along!—(Advt.) In the Ladies’ and Children’s Outfitting and Underclothing Department, PRICE & BULLEID, Ltd., are offering exceptional and unprecedented values at the present time—Children’s Woven Stays, assorted sizes, 2/6, 2/9, 2/11, 3/6; Children’s Corsets, 1/6 pair; Children’s Combies, assorted sizes, at 2/11 pair, reduced from 5/11 and 7/6; Ladies’ Fancy Bloomers, Directoire shape, 5/11, 6/11; Ladies’ White Cotton Bloomers, 3/11 pair; Ladies’ Fleecy Underskirts, 8/11, 9/11, 10/6; Ladies’ Dainty Evening Vests, 3/11 each; Ladies’ Cream super-quality Flannelette Nightdresses, only 13/11 each; Ladies’ Winceyette Nightdresses, 12/6 each; Ladies’ Woven Bodices, long sleeves, 3/3, 3/11, 4/6; ditto, short sleeves, 1/11; Ladies’ Corsets, 3/11, 4/11, 5/11, 7/6, 8/11, 12/6, assorted sizes and makes; Children’s Bibs, 7d, 9d, 1/3, 1/6; Children’s Cream Fleecy Gaiters, 3/6; knitted do., 3/3; Infants' Cream Teddy Bear Coats, 19/6, were 39/6; 1 only Child's Cream Cord Velveteen Coat, 20in, 18/6; 1 only Child’s Oil Silk Cape, with hood, 33in, 15/-, was 29/6.—(Advt.) INFLUENZA PRECAUTIOxNS. An absolute safeguard against influenza is to keep the nasal and throat passages irrigated and disinfected twice daily by gargling and sniffing up “FLUENZOL.” 1/6 and 2/6—(Advt.) Quality English Hats at Big Reductions. —UNDRILL’S, The Hatters, Dee street, opposite Post Office.— (Advt.) The cultivated palatee of experienced smokers sense the pure wholesomeness of Red Jacket Cigarette Tobacco. MASTERS, LTD., were the originators of the 10 per cent, discount to returned soldiers. Other storekeepers have copied us, and we now go one better. We now invite all discharged soldiers and those writing discharge to have their military hats reblocked, free of all cost, by the only hatter in Southland. We still give a 10 per cent, reduction to 'all returned soldiers. — •''ASTERS, Ltd., Doe street.-—(Advt.)