TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 21652, 14 March 1932, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Reviewing the activities of the Wool Research Association, the annual report of the British Department, of Scientific and Industrial Research states that cprding machines by which the fibres in a mass ol wool are separated and made parallel have received special attention. The association has now designed a highly satisfactory machine, using only two cylinders, as compared with five or six, which takes up only one-third of the space of the old machine in the mill. • Taking into account the reduction in power and labour and the higher production possible with the new machine, the yarn should be produced at about half the cost of ordinary mule yarn. On the worsted side it has been known for years that the French mule spun yarns contained short fibre materials which the ordinary English frame did not. successfully handle. To meet foreign competition, therefore, the association has shown how the ordinary Bradford spinning frame can be- adapted at small cost to spin yarns of the Continental type superior to those produced on the mule. As a result of laboratory experiments wool products have been produced by the association which strongly resemble leather. Bulk samples of this new artificial leather are being tried out for such uses as gloves, boot uppers and leather coats with wool linings complete.

Speaking on “Finance and the World Crisis,” Sir Basil Blackett said mismanagement of the gold standard had brought about, the troubles. Possibly Britain had set herself too hard a task, politically, socially and internationally. After discussing the need for the recovery of wholesale prices and the elimination of fluctuations he declared that it was upon international trade that modern civilization depended. “What, then, is to be done?” he asked. “Unless we get back to an international currency system we cannot escape the dilemma between unstable exchanges and unstable internal prices. For the time being there appears to be no immediate hope of securing an international agreement for the adoption of an international currency system which will give both stable exchanges and stable prices. Is there any halfway house between an international standard of value and a system of entirely independent local currencies which will at any rate put it in our power to aim at stability of our own internal prices? The fact is that sterling is already something more than a local currency—it. is the form of international currency which, whether it is attached to gold or not, is in use by a considerable portion of the world. And this area is not confined to the Empire; it includes the Argentine and Denmark—l might almost, say Soutli America and Scandinavia. ‘ There are other countries such as Portugal, Egypt, and Japan which have left gold and linked up with sterling. It is impossible to be dogmatic. It does, however, seem as if thtre was a ready-made halfway house between a world wide international standard and a chaos of independent local curremies. What I have called lhe sterling area is sufficiently large and diversified to enable ii to be to a very large extent self-contained.”

The Dominion Meteorologist last evening issued the following weather report, and forecast: A shallow depression las been crossing the Dominion and a noderate anti-cyclone is now approaching from the. Tasman Sea. An intense tropical cyclone has been operating between gu/a and Samoa during the first two days, in centre to-day having been located west of Kejipell Island. Winds southerly, moderate generally, but freshening somewhat in exposed positions. Seas smooth to moder&'e. In the eastern Tasman Sea moderate tl fresh southerly winds and smooth to moderate seas. Weather cool and changeable with scattered showers, more especially in eastern districts and the far north. A fairly general improvement, however, may be expected soon.

Several juvenile offenders were dealt with by Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Children's Court, on Saturday morning. A boy. aged 13, for converting, a pony to his owa use, was committed to the care of the Child Welfare Officer. Three boys, aged 15, 14 and 13 respectively, were each admolished and discharged for converting a beat to their own use. Another boy, who pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing letters from a cloakroom, was placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Officer for two years.

Following their premises being risited by the Police, Joe Young Chi and Ngan Gow were each fined £25 for using them as common gaming houses (states a Wellington Press Association message). It was stated that the places were used’ solely for pak-a-poo playing. Three men were) each fined for being on the premises without lawful excuse.

“There is no doubt that there is an unusually large number of thin stock in the South Canterbury district, and the society’ will have to take a wide outlook this winter in view of the shortage of straw chaff,” said the inspector for the Timaru branch of the Society for the I.revention of Cruelty to Animals at the last meeting.

It is now many’ a year since fish was being railed from Greymouth in such quantities as at present (states the Argus). The increase in the export trade is explained by the recent additions to the local fleet of trawlers. The quantities of fish now being netted are too much for local consumers, with the result that markets further afield have to bo exploited. Fresh fish is now being railed to Christchurch m increasing quantities almost every evening, and it will not be long before a substantial trade is built up.

“A cultured voice is very pleasing to listen to, but it is not everything, remarked the principal of the Timaru Girls High School (Miss J. R. Barr) at. a meeting of the Women’s Division of the rqrmers’ Union at Timaru. We could quite well do without the Oxford accent if public men would show Us more straight thinking and honest" of purpose. ’ Miss Barr pointed out that nowadays our sense of values was so confused that the culture of a man’s voice carried more weight than what he had to say.

In the Police Court, on Saturday morning, before Mr E. C. Levvcy, S.M., a young woman, aged 26 years, who was represented by counsel, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to commit suicide. Her counsel, in urging leniency, said lhe accused was depressed at the time and now regretted her action. Conditional on her undertaking to return to her people in Dunedin, the accused was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within the next six months, while she was also ordered to pay £4 7/6 hospital and medical expenses. Her mime was suppressed from publication.

“There are hundreds of houses about Christchurch that are going to nieces for lack of a coat of paint,” said Councillor W. G. Chapman at a meeting of the Waitnairi County Council, “and if the relief workers could be put to work under the No. 5 scheme to paint them it would benefit. everyone. Many people can afford to pay for’the materials, but they cannot afford the labour, and I am certain that there are any number of men who would rather be painting houses than chipping grass on the roads.”

A mission for the advancement of Eastern doctrines in New’ Zealand is responsible for the visit to Wellington of four picturesque Indians (states the Dominion), lhe appearance of these bearded and turbaned figures in the streets has been the subject of some speculation. In charge of the party is Swami Gopaldas, who represents a school of philosophy’ in Amritzar, North India. The title “Swami” implies that the missionary has demonstrated high teaching ability together with a capacity to overcome the material side of life.

Mr George Klein, North Auckland, has been successful in evolving a new stone fruit, a cross between a peach and a Satsuma plum grown from a seedling (says an exchange). The fruit, which is of a good 'size, has every outside appearance of a peach, the stone also having all the characteristics of a peach. The flesh, however. is of the same blood-red colour and texture of the Satsuma plum. Although not so palatable for desert as most peaches, they arc excellent for bottling and jammaking. The tree is also a prolific cropper, as is shown by the quantity of fruit picked by Mr Klein this season from the one tree.

“I wonder if wc can do anything in this country without a ‘commission?’” asked Mr A.'McLean at a meeting of the Southern Hawkes Bay provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union when referring to the number of commissions recently appointed. Speaking of the commission set up under the Mortgagors Relief Act, the president. (Mr J. Livingston) remarked that although he was a member of a land board, he was of the opinion that the whole of this work could have been done by these boards. He was quite satisfied the commission need not have been appointed. He would have been in favour of the appointment of an honorary commission which could have acted in an advisory capacity.

A remarkable instance of canine intelligence or instinct was witnessed at the week-end by a Herne Bay family (says the Auckland Star). The dog, a halfbred cattle dog, had changed hands three, or four days previously, and during that time had been kept tied up. His previous home was on the Pasadena estate, Point Chevalier, and the dog, which had never been further afield than a few hundred yards from the house, was conveyed .in a closed car. However, he escaped from’his new home on Sunday morning at 11 o’clock, and could not be found. At 4.30 p.m. a telephone call informed the Herne Bay owners that the animal had arrived at his old home.

The following donations have been received at the Central Relief Depot and are gratefully acknowledged by the committee: A large contribution of vegetables from the South Invercargill School Flower Show; one parcel of clothing “Anonymous”; jam, Miss Hardy; one bag potatoes, “Anonymous”; three bags clothing, “Anonymous”; two 2001 b bags flour, one 501 b and 251 b oatmeal, one dozen tins jam from the Southland Justices of the Peace Association; one sack of pigs’ heads, five pots jam, Mrs Roscoe; one dozen pots jam, Mrs White. Empty jam bottles are urgently required to give to people making jam who have promised to supply this commodity to the depot provided they are given the bottles. During Laster week, when men working on the County Council unemployment schemes have their week off, the depot will be open from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22 and 23, instead of Thursday and Friday of that week.

A mild offence which he had committed' in his youth was recalled by Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., in impressing on a defendant in the Napier Police Court the fact that the action for which he was appearing could in no way be excused, lhe defendant, charged with not having a heavy traffic licence exposed ok his lorry, claimed that he was new to the business, and did not know that such a regulation had to be complied with. “That is no reason why you should plead not guilty,” the Magistrate pointed out. “When I was much younger than I am now, I once appeared before a Magistrate for riding a bicycle on the footpath." “Oh, yes. But you may have done it deliberately,” replied the defendant, amid laughter. “Certainly. Mine was a commission, but yours is an omission, which is just as much an offence,” said Mr Mowlem.

“Men who go mountaineering make all kinds of little mistakes, which let them into trouble, no matter how experienced they are. They will take , unnecessary risks,” said Sir Arthur Dudley Dobson at a dinner given by the New Zealand Alpine Club at Christchurch on Tuesday evening. Sir Arthur related an experience of his own, when he was stationed on the West Coast. With two companions, he set out to climb a small traverse, and contrary to Sir Arthur’s advice the others did not go adequately prepared for a long stay in the mountains. With the approach of darkness the party made for where the camp was supposed to be, but found themselves in a stony riverbed. They spent the night there, and next day, late in the afternoon, arrived at the camij. Had it not been for the fact that Sir Arthur had taken a leg of lainb from the hotel, they would have fared ill for food. As it was, the two others were soaked in pouring rain, but Sir Arthur had taken a light mackintosh with him, despite the fact that when they set out there was no threat of rain in the gloriously sunny day.

"The British Fleet in the Far East would be in a very parlous position should serious trouble develop there at present,” said Mr J. J. Dougall, chairman of the Navy League Committee, which met in Christchurch on Thursday (reports the Christchurch Times). “The British Fleet is inferior in strength to that of the United States, and hardly superior to that of Japan. This is an excellent reason for work to be continued on the Singapore naval base.” At the sitting of a court in a Canterbury town the other day, the magistrate, after hearing cases of motor speeding, said: “It used to be said that licensing cases were notorious for the number of lies told in the witness box. Licensees, however, have now come to the conclusion that it pays to (ell the truth. I am sorry to say that motor cases are putting licensing cases in the shade. I dare say it will be a number of years before motorists learn the same lesson.” The management of the Empire Pictures, Riverton, extends an invitation to all unemployed men and families to see "Daddy Long Legs” on Monday, 14th March. — Advt. Hurry along and see the Chocolate Eggs and Chicks selling in hundreds at Ayson’s Shops, Dee Street. —Advt. All Linen Coloured Border Supper Cloths, 45 x 45, 3/6. All Linen Serviettes, 10jd. Tea Towels, Gd. Coloured Towels, lOJd—at' Wicks’ Hose and Vest Shop, Dee Street. —Advt. Values in Corselettcs; sizes 30 to 38, at 4/3. Corselcttes, with underbelt, 32 to 42, from 6/6 to 12/6 —at Miss Noble’s, the Baby Shop, Dee Street. —Advt. The right Spirit:— DEWAR'S WHISKY. —Advt Big purchase of Quality Shirts (manufacturers samples). Worth 8/6 and 9/6. Now selling for 5/5. Collars to match 6d. Carter’s Clothing Store. —Advt. Already the fashion displays at Thomson I and Beattie are the “talk of the City”—l see the “Green and Black” creations, also the Coats, Frocks and Accessories in “Wine” and “Brown.” Don’t let T. and B’s fashion Exposition slip by without paying at least one visit to the Greater Exhibition. —Advt. AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS. For Best Results, let STEWART'S PHARMACY Do Your DEVELOPING AND PRINTING. —Advt. It will pay you to shop now at the N.Z. BOOK DEPOT'S LIQUIDATION SALE. Such reductions as these are unprecedented: World’s Classics, usually 2/6, for 6d; Bibles, 20 per cent discount; The Pursuit of the Houseboat (Bang’s well-known humorous book), usually 4/-, for 2/6; Latest Popular 2/6 Reprint Novels for 1/9, 3 for 5/-; Ivanhoe (beautiful presentation edition), 10/-, for 7/6; Pip and Squeak Annual, 8/-, for G/-; Famous Paintings (a handsome volume), 26/6, for 20/-. Address: Esk Street, Phone 327. Sec our 1/-, one price window. —Advt.

HOW “BAXTER’S” HELPS NATURE. Throat, chest and bronchial ailments', and even an ordinary cold leave the air passages congested and inflamed. That is when nature sends an S.O.S. for “Baxter’s.” This popular and palatable rich, red compound, penetrates to the seat of the trouble and clears away congestion. “Baxter’s” also helps nature to rebuild inflamed ti§ue and strengthen it against further attacks. Always demand “Baxter’s." 1/6., 2/6. and 4/6. The larger sizes are more econ omical. —Advt. The very latest fashions in Fur Coats are full lengths 44 to 48, with a slight fitting effect at the waist which undoubtedly is very smart and has a very slimming- effect. Any lady so desiring can have her fur coat re-cut to this new style at a moderate cost with workmanship and satisfaction guaranteed. The Mutual Fur Coy., Tay street.— Advt.

Baby wants medicine occasionally, and he should always have the best. You want him to get well quickly when he is ill or out of sorts. Do not give him cheap medicines from cut-rate stores or grocers, which are inferior in quality and made cheap to sell for profit. Always give baby the best medicines procurable. Buy with confidence from GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist —Milk of Magnesia, Glycerine, Castor Oil, Boracic Acid, and those things necessary for baby’s health. All medicines guaranteed full strength according to the British Pharmacopoeia, and guaranteed pure. The best mediejnes are only sold by your family chemist. Make GEO. H. BROWN your Chemist, and know the medicines you are using are of the highest quality. GEO. H. BROWN, Chemist-Optician, 125 Dee street, Telephone 328. Use your telephone. We deliver to any part of Invercargill free of charge.—Advt.