TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

Southland Times, Issue 19898, 17 June 1926, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

The enormous production of artificial silk has not displaced any of the older textiles. It already amounts to three times the bulk of natural silk, yet the production of the latter is greater than before. . By adding to the attractiveness of cotton, artificial silk has increased the demand for cotton goods. Speaking at the first exhibition of British artificial silk goods recently, Mr A. M. Samuels, Parliamentary Secretary, Department of Overseas Trade, said he regarded the discovery of the new textile as being as great as the discovery of flying. The principal sources of wealth and the prime factors of commerce had for thousands of years been regarded as gold, silk and ivory, and these materials men had tried to reproduce by artificial means, but it was only now that man, who had failed to make artificial gold, had succeeded in making artificial silk. By a curious paradox, artificial silk, instead of becoming a competitor to the disadvantage of natural silk, had been proved to be its benefactor. Although Japan was the world’s largest producer of raw silk, the Japanese Government was assisting its people to start “rayon” factories. At first Japan feared that artificial silk would injure the sale of natural silk in foreign countries, and particularly in the United States of America, where most of the Japanese raw silk was used. But the Japanese silk makers had come to the conclusion that the use of artificial silk trained the overseas public to buy the more costly article of natural silk. He hoped as the various types of goods made of artificial silk broadened out there would be found for them the attractive names which were attached to British silk goods 120 years ago. Such names were lute-strings, tabinets, tabourtines, paduasoys, mockadoes, camleteens, carsays and grograins, camientries, curelies, busseens, bombazines-of-taffety, tobines, brutoes and alopeens. These were trade names that the silk mercers and shawlmen used for the fabrics in which they clothed our great-grandmothers. The book of Job has long been regarded from many standpoints as a book of unusual characteristics, besides being believed by some authorities to be the oldest book in the Bible. But n ( ow comes along a speaker in London, reported by the London News Agency, who sees in it “statements, allusions, and implications which are truly marvellous when account is taken of the state of human learning at the period when the book was written.” ‘Tor instance,” he explains, “in the sublime words, ‘He hangeth the earth upon nothing,’ the writer of Job cuts across all the puerilities of ancient belief and reaches down to the present day when even the idea of the invisible pull of gravitation is being called into question by the theory of relativity.” But perhaps an even more interesting comment is contained in the following statements :—“One of the outstanding advances of research in the last century is the knowledge of the fact that sound, electricity, and light are all conveyed from their source of origin in undulations, or waves. We are now familiar with new wavelengths through broadcasting. Progress is a property inherent in wave motion. Progression supplies a pathway or direction, and quiescence implies a place; therefore, if waves bearing light get to a place and are stopped there, they cease to bring light, and darkness results. This discovery, one of the triumphs of the ninteenth century, was actually foreshadowed in a passage from Job, which refers to a ‘way’ for, the light and a ‘place’ for the darkness—terms which, though in poetic language and thought, are in perfect accord with modern knowledge.” The Government Meteorologist (Mr D. C. Bates), last night issued the following forecast:—Present indications are for moderate to strong south-westerly to south- easterly winds and fair to cloudy weather generally, but changeable and showery in the southern districts. Barometer has a rising tendency. A Westport Press Association message states that a fire which occurred last week in a section of the Westport Coal Company’s Millerton Mine has practically been sealed off and resumption of coal production was resumed on Monday. A farm in the Longwood District of 536 acres about one mile from Waihoaka Railway Station and Post Office, and suitable for grazing, four-roomed house and outbuildings, was offered for sale by public auction at the price of £l5OO with a deposit of £lOO, at the Lands Office, Invercargill, yesterday, and there being no bid the property was passed-in. It remains open for selection at the upset price. At a sitting of the Children’s Court yesterday afternoon a young man, aged 25 years, was charged with aggravated assault on a girl, aged 13 years. Senior-Sergeant Scandrett appeared for the Police and Mr Gordon Reed for the accused. The SeniorSergeant mentioned that the girl was employed in the office of accused when the alleged offence took place. The Magistrate, (Mr G. Cruickshank), reserved his decision. A meeting of representatives of sports bodies and other organisations interested, convened by the Bluff Borough Council, was held yesterday to consider the Bluff train service, as many residents in the district have found the present time-table to be unsuitable. After some discussion it was unanimously decided that trains from Bluff to Invercargill at 10.35 a.m. and 1.25 p.m. would best suit the convenience of residents. A Palmerston North telegram states that at the annual meeting of the Ayrshire Breeders’ Association, held on Tuesday evening, the committee reported a successful year, the finances being in a satisfactory position. The following officers were elected: President, Mr F. Mills (Hawera), vicepresidents, Mr C. Webb (Levin), and Mr A. H. Hanse (Terehunga). Committee: Messrs Morgan (Woodville), Aitchison (Linton), and H. Webb (Koputaroa). Treasurer Mr T. Webb (Palmerston North). A telegram from Palmerston North states that the annual meeting on Tuesday evening of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association carried a resolution supporting the movement to introduce compulsory grading of cream on a differential basis of payment, and urging the necessity of following it with a similar move in respect of farm and dairy instruction, which the association considered of equal if not of greater importance than compulsory cream grading. Mr J. Morton (Auckland) was elected president for the ensuing year.

A special class for backward children is to be commenced in the Petone Main School. The idea is to take out from the several junior classes of the primary school children who have' not shown an interest in the ordinary subjects taught, apd, by placing' them in a small class, the teacher, of which can give the children individual attention, an endeavour will be made to find the individual bent of each, and by this means establish a point of contact. It is emphasised that the class is not necessarily for intelligent children, but for those whose particular bent has not been met by the ordinary school course. The Petone Technical School Board of Managers decided recently to grant accommodation for one of the primary school classes, so that room might be found in the primary school build.iK fa; the backward scholars’ class.

According to a Palmerston North telegram, a meeting of Southdown sheepbreeders at the Show on Tuesday decided to form a society to cover the whole of, the Dominion, instead of having separate associations for both Islands. “It is all very well to cry poverty, but it can be overdone,” remarked the Prime Minister at Matakohe. “It is having a bad effect with the lending institutions. In the King Country to-day you cannot get a shilling on land simply because of all the talk about depreciation and bad roads.” “Every farmer and every other man in business should keep a banking account,” commented a solicitor at a bankruptcy meeting in New Plymouth. “They should pay all money into it and pay out everything by cheque. Then they would have a complete record. But the trouble is that they do not take advice until too late.” “The Wembley Exhibition did wonderful work in putting New Zealand butter in English homes,” said Mr R. S. Black, who has just returned from a trip round the world, to an Otago Daily Times reporter. “Surprise is expressed at its excellence,” he added. “It is considered that New Zealand butter, under similar conditions, excels that of Denmark.” A Hamilton message states: —Another burglary occurred at Hamilton between night and morning, the auction mart of Fow and Co., being broken into and a small quantity of jewellery taken from the office. There are indications of an attempt having been made to open the safe, but this failed., This is the sixth business place broken intp since Saturday night. The freezing works in South Canterbury are due to close down for the season towards the end of the present month, but there is still a lot of stock to be slaughtered, and it may be necessary to keep the works open a little longer than is at present intended. The past season has been a good one for stock fattening, and large numbers of sheep have been put through the freezing works. The Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) stated at the official opening of the Waikato Winter Show that the decrease in the value of dairy products exported during the last financial year approximated three million sterling in comparison with ,the previous year. This was made up by a million due to lower prices, a million due to decreased production, and, a million due to increased stocks in store at March 31. The introduction of beavers in the Sounds country of the South Island, said the chairman at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society recently, had been suggested to him by a Canadian gentleman, whd was sure they would thrive there, and assured the speaker that they would do no damage. Inquiries would* have to be made carefully to see that there were no dangers in their importation, but the subject was worth consitering. An interesting fact not generally known is that Iceland is becoming a keen competitor in the European meat markets. According to Colonel Knott, Chief Secretary of the Salvation Army, and a recent arrival from Canada, that Arctic country cannot satisfy the demand of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Russia for its meat. New Zealand should not be too complacent about her markets at Home, Colonel Knott observed while in Palmerston North. If it does it will have to look to the South Pole for trade. It is estimated that about 30,000 cases of local lemons were handled in Auckland last year. The president of the Auckland Fruitgrowers’ Council, Ltd., stated recently that citrus culture was reaching such dimensions that some combined action was needed to guard the industry and to prevent the dumping of imported fruit. Some of the imported lemons shown to him were scaly and grubby, it being hard to understand why they were allowed to be landed. The citrus exhibit at the Dunedin Exhibition was of such a high standard that it created a wonderful impression, and could not fail to have a lasting effect upon the demand for New Zealand grown citrus fruits. “That the Government be urged to pass legislation that all Asiatics be debarred from coming into New Zealand for ten years and that all Canterbury members of Parliament be asked for their support.” A smile went round when the foregoing remit from the Canterbury Association was presented at the Fruitgrowers’ Provincial Conference on Saturday evening. “The Government has already excluded them for one year; why not increase it to ten?” said Mr. E. Freeman. “It’s only nine years more.” “I wish it was for a hundred and twentynine,” said Mr. A. S. Beckett. “The Government will have to get them out altogether. The Otago people have not taken up the remit because the Chinese do not go down there. It is too cold for them. But we know what they are doing here, and so do the North Island associations. They will probably support us.” The remit was approved.—Christchurch correspondent of the Dunedin Evening Star. The Bradford Chamber of Commerce is desirous of seeing wool-growers adopt a brand which will not have an injurious effect on the wool, and it has been experimenting for some years with a marking which, it is claimed, will stand all weather tests, and will disappear when the wool has been scoured. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union has received advice from the British Wool Federation that the big buyers are complaining of the tar and pitch marks in noils, and urging the removal of the tarred bits during sorting. “We have been compelled to spend a lot of time on these, the labour cost being almost ljd per lb on the bulk weight, and still we find that there are occasional small bits left in,” says one complaint. “We removed 141 b like the enclosed sample—it cost over £lO in sorters’ wages and material. Even now it is not free. This is a most serious matter, and we should like you to take it up with the maker to remedy the trouble.” A well-known Sydney city business man has made a vow that he will never again play the Good Samaritan to little boys. The citizen was walking along a lanewayin “The Rocks” district, after having said good-bye to a friend who sailed by the Hobson’s Bay, when a grubby-faced urchin accosted him. “Let me hunger off for me, will yer, please, mister,” he asked in a pleading voice. The citizen replied that he would be pleased to do so. It was evident he was not used to fireworks, but, screwing up his courage, he held the hunger at arm’s length and cautiously ‘applied a lighted match to the wick. There was a spurt of flame, and before the Good Samaritan had time to throw the hunger away it exploded in his hand, which was slightly burnt. It was a “joke” hunger, but the citizen failed to see the humour. The shrill laughter of the urchin as he scurried down the street, and a burst of cheering from his mates, who were hiding round a corner, did not tend to calm him. “The time will come when we shall be broadcasting to the country schools giving them talks on music and similar subjects. We must move with the times. This is not a fancy idea, it is quite within the realm of practical politics.” This prophecy was uttered by Dr. E. Marsden, Assistant-Direc-tor of Education, when the Education Council discussed the provision of a bureau for the distribution of lantern slides. The cinema, it was said, had not been found alI together satisfactory in the schools, but experiments were being made with a new . form of film. Agencies for visualisation, like lantern slides, said Mr. F. Milner, of Waitaki, were essential, and provided an ideal way of impressing abstract and theoretical ideas upon pupils who would otherwise be unable to assimilate such ideas. They were valuable in the teaching of history, geography, and literature, and he had already made a collection of over six thousand slides. A tremendous saving in cost had been effected, it was stated, by dealing with the gramophones and records on the central bureau system, and it was suggested that the Education Department might tackle the lantern slide problem in the same way when .funds allowed.

“Too large a proportion of small apples is being shipped to England,” said Mr H. E. Stevens at the Fruitgrowers’ Conference at Christchurch on Saturday evening.’ Complaints to this effect were being received from Home, he said. “The word ‘control’ has become obnoxious in New Zealand,” said one of the speakers at the Fruitgrowers’ Conference at Christchurch on Saturday evening. Mr F. W. Cone, the chairman, agreed with this remark. “People will begin to think we want to control prices at Home if we use the word too much,” he said. “We can’t do that, no matter what the dairy people may do.” “Motor competition with New Zealand railways has been followed by reduced rail freights and fares and improved services of both railway and tramway authorities. More than £6,000,000 is invested in New Zealand in unopened railway lines, and in view of motor development it is believed that these lines will never be completed.”— Mr H. L. Rodgers, Wellington, in the course of an address on rail and motor transport. “Of course, this investment of money in debentures is naturally interfering with the amount of capital which would be available for other developmental works,” replied a Dunedin bank manager to a question as to the state of the money market, “but I think that money is in fair supply. We must not take on a glum look because things are slacker now than during the Exhibition period, for we are getting back to normal. There is nothing alarming in the financial position. With the lower values which producers have had to accept this year, and the large amount which apparently will be needed for development works, I think credit is bound to be in short supply, and money may be hard to obtain.” There has been some agitation in New South Wales concerning the noxious weed St. John’s wort. The agitation seems to have produced at least a pamphlet. Says a Sydney paper—“lnvestigations showed that the distribution of the pest extended over a much greater area of the State than was expected, and that in many quarters the seriousness of the danger was not realised, while among many landholders a lack of knowledge of even the characteristics of the plant was evident. In one shire, where inspection disclosed serious infestations, the council was unaware of the existence of the weed. The officers who had been entrusted with the work visited the Ovens Valley, in Victoria, to get first-hand information about the general characteristics of the plant, and the best means of combating it. In addition, the available literature from all parts of the world was drawn upon to get the latest knowledge on the subject. The result of the inquiries has been embodied in an illustrated pamphlet, which already has had excellent educational results.” St. John’s wort is not altogether unknown in New Zealand. The Right Spirit—“BULLOCH LADE,” Gold Label Whisky. (Advt.) Friday evening Waihopai Bowling Club hold their annual meeting to elect officers for the season 1926-27 when all members and intending members are requested to attend. Come along! (Advt.) Make your travel arrangements by telephone. GOVERNMENT TOURIST BUREAU, ESK STREET—’PHONE 49. It costs no more to travel the Tourist Department’s way.—(advt.) There are hundreds of ladies throughout New Zealand who have vivid recollections of the wonderful bargains that have been offered from time to time by Arthur Barnett Ltd., Dunedin, but great as these have been, they pale into insignificance compared with the sensational offerings that will be made to-morrow in fashionable coats, costumes and frocks. Premises lately occupied by the Hardware Compaxiy (next Grand Hotel) have been taken, and for the next few days ladies of Invercargill and district will be given the opportunity of obtaining the latest imported models in coats, costumes and frocks at half-marked prices.—(Advt.) For Winter Time —Big shipments of very choice dried Fruits—Dates, Figs, Prunes, Raisins, Sultanas, Preserved Ginger, Almonds, Walnuts. Small profits, quick returns at BAXTER’S. —(Advt.) Our Watches are reliable day after day, and they will not fail you. Expert workmanship produces perfect timekeepers. Give one of our watches a trial and you will find it Right All The Time. For Watches and Clocks of every kind—at every price—Come to T. M. Rankin, Watchmaker, Tay Street. (Advt.) To-morrow is the opening day of the Bible Depot’s Lease Expiry Sale. Stocks must be greatly reduced ere we remove next month to our Esk Street premises. Commencing to-morrow, all books and stationery will be subject to 10 per cent, discount, except latest fiction, which will be offered at 4/6 instead of 6/-, and popular 2/6 reprints at 2/1, or 5 for 10/-. — (advt.) Don’t blame the car—blame the petrol in the tank—inferior motor spirit is the cause of carburettor trouble. Specify “BIG TREE” always—easier starting and cleaner engine.—(Advt.) The Albion Salon on the first floor of the Albion Buildings, Dee Street, are holding their annual stocktaking sale of ladies’ velour coats, costumes, coat frocks, jersey suits, raincoats, etc. Pay a visit to the Salon and participate in the reductions we are making to-day. Nothing but the best class goods stocked and our prices defy competition. Entrance Albion Picture vestibule, Dee Street. W. F. Lewis, manager.— (advt.) Many lines of interest to the careful housewife axe finding their way on to the bargain tables at Thomson and Beattie’s during their stocktaking. Brown linen towels 5/6 for 3/11 each. Pillow twill 2/3 for 1/9. Floral silks 12/6 to 15/6 to clear at 5/6 per yard. Fifty dozen lovely quality men’s socks 4/6 to 5/6, to go at 2/11 per pair. Double bed blankets good, 27/6 per pair. A visit to Thomson and Beattie’s during stocktaking is always profitable.— (advt.) KODAK DEVELOPING IS BETTER. Have your Films developed the Kodak way at Brown’s Pharmacy. Get better holiday snaps! Developing films is a work of skill; you will get better results if you let Brown’s develop your holiday snapshot for you. In the developing, printing and enlarging of both films and plates we are second to none; our workrooms are fully equipped with the best appliances for turning out successful work. We employ specialists in every branch and all orders are finished promptly in the shortest time possible. To ensure getting the best results from your negatives entrust the developing and printing to Brown’s same-day service. There is no organisation which can quite equal Brown’s quality. At Brown's Pharmacy is the largest and. most varied stock of Cameras and Photographic Goods to be found m any shop in Southland. Ensigns, Carbines, Kodaks, and Brownies to be had in box form, folding models, watch pocket models, Reflex models, which sell at prices ranging from 10/6 to £36 17/6 at Brown’s Pharmacy, the House for Good Cameras. G. H. BROWN, Chemist and Optician, Dee Street, Invercargill. We will be glad to give you further particulars.—Advt. “Bottles of unfamilar outline and content are everywhere”—Proctor. Don’t hazard your health by trying many unfamilar remedies and so called cough cures. Baxter’s Lung Preserver, with its sixty years’ reputation of successful cures, offers you a safe protection from all coughs, colds and chest maladies. "Baxter’s” is also helpful as a tonic. Buy Baxter’s Lung Preserver at any chemist or store. Generous-sized bottle 2s 6d; family size 4s 6d. Be certain you get "Bax-

“Those of us who come fron\ the Himalayas thought that we were the only people who had hills to climb to get to their homes, but since coming to Wellington we have found out our mistake,” remarked Captain Cowan at a civic reception at Wellington to the Indian Army hockey team.

In an effort to deal with the unemployment of teachers, the Council of Education resolved to recommend that all qualified teachers who, having failed to obtain positions after repeated applications, are in the judgment of the senior inspector of the district unemployed through no fault of their own shall where possible, three months after the termination of the training college period, be provided with temporary positions where their services may be utilised most usefully.

Rats choose some strange places in which to nest, but perhaps the oddest choice was that of a Devonport rat which selected the top of the engine of a motor-car to commence building a home. The first evidence of the rat’s enterprise was noticed last Thursday, when the motorist had to clear away from his engine a little bundle of straw, paper, and chips before taking his car out. Undismayed by this eviction, however, the rat resumed its operations, and on Saturday morning was again well on the way to making a cosy nest for the winter. It is thought that the warmth of the engine when the car was housed after the run induced the rat to build the second time in spite of its first discouragement.

“When I have represented Lyttelton for twelve years and some young man comes along with a set of political convictions more in accord with the sentiment of the electorate and scatters my wickets in his finrt over, then I will be prepared to put my bat down and go to the pavilion without wrangling with the umpire. I hope that when the day comes I will be man enough to wish him well as he walks out with the pads on.”—Mr M. E. Lyons, speaking at a big social gathering tendered to him by the Reform Party to mark the party’s appreciation of the manner in which he had won the Lyttelton seat at the general election, and from which he was subsequently removed on the petition of Mr J. McCombs.

The disabilities under which the schools in some of the country districts have to work compared with the more fortunate schools in the towns were mentioned at a meeting of the Council of Education. The question of travelling dental clinics was brought up for discussion, and it was stated that it did not seem fair that children in the country should have to pay for their dental attention while those in the towns got it free Mr. J. R. Kirk suggested a travelling motor-car clinic, providing sleeping accommodation for those in charge, and a motion standing in his name was passed recommending the department to provide such a travelling clinic before proceeding with the multiplication or extension of local clinics.

“It was not the armies in the field, the ships on the sea, nor the squadrons in the air that won the war,” declared Mr W. Perry, one of the representatives of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, at the patriotic societies’ conference: “It was the spirit of the people.” The returned soldiers, he said, had not forgotten the efforts made by the people on their behalf, and were thankful that their interests had been watched. Many men returned from the war with the idea that they could consume indiscriminately the funds that had been accumulated for service men’. Fortunately, the R.S.A. and the patriotic societies thought otherwise, with the result that there was still a great deal of money available for the men.

The police are showing considerable activity at present in regard to strict observance of the provisions of the law in connection with motor vehicles and their owners and drivers (states the Wellington Evening Post). In many localities on Sunday last cars were being stopped with a request for the production of drivers’ licenses. The Petone police, on the occasion of the last race meeting at Trentham, held a field day, as the outcome of which 65 owners were charged on Tuesday with having failed to procure licenses for the current year. The charges were heard before two Justices of the Peace at Petone, and were put through at the rate of one a minute, the sitting occupying just over one hour. A fine of 15s, with costs, was imposed in each case.