TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

French Wheat Policy. In France as in Britain the subsidizing of wheat production is creating problems to which critics are drawing attention. In a speech before a farmers’ organization at Fresnay-sur-Sarthe, M. Caillaux strongly criticized the wheat policy of the Government, which he described as uneconomic and inefficient. Referring to the price-fixing legislation recently adopted, M. Caillaux said that it was in practice quite useless for the Government to decree what should be the price of any commodity, since experience had proved that such figures were purely illusory. And if wheat were controlled and taxed, why should not every other agricultural product receive the same treatment? It simply meant that the taxpayer footed the bill, and as the farmers formed a large proportion of the taxpaying community, what they received in one pocket went out from the other. No one could escape blame for the present state of affairs. Over-product-ion had been pushed to such a point that not even the Government knew how great a quantity of surplus wheat was in existence. He personally did not believe in storing large reserves of wheat. The only safe and sensible solution was one founded on sound commercial practice. There was a general tendency on the part of the farmer to blame the merchant for the plight of the industry, but remembering the dangers of over-production, they could themselves improve the situation by producing less grain of better quality.

British Agriculture. The decision of the Import Duties Advisory Committee to recommend an increase to 20 per cent, in the tariff on imported oats and oat products is welcome to Scottish farmers, who have had to accept disastrously low prices for their oats during the past year, states The Times. The new Treasury Order should give a much-needed fillip to the oats trade at a time when the season’s crop is coming forward. More wheat than oats has been grown in England this year, and, although many English farmers are more interested in oats as a feed for stock than as a cash crop, none will grudge a measure of protection to the northern farmer who cannot grow wheat satisfactorily. It will be noted that Canada is co-operating in this endeavour to improve oat prices by agreeing not to increase her shipments to the United Kingdom. Argentina is the chief exporter of oats to Britain, and her shipments with those of other foreign countries will now be subject to a 20 per cent ad valorem duty. The cheese-making industry is to have the benefit of a duty of 3d. a lb on foreign supplies of lactose, which will be helpful to the factories in some small measure. Lactose, or sugar of milk, is the main constituent of whey, and it has a few special uses, one of which is the preparation of infant foods. As the Milk Commission pointed out in their report, facilities for the extraction of lactose exist in the cheese-making industry and are sufficient to supply the country’s entire requirements. The commission suggested that the manufacture of cheese could be assisted indirectly if the utilization of this by-product were made profitable, and they I’ccommended that imports of lactose should be severely discouraged.

America’s Experiment. “No other country in the world passes so many lavzs and pays so little attention to them as the United States,” said Mr C. M. Madsden, a delegate to the British Trades Union Congress. “If all the violators of the National Recovery Act are put into gaol I think that at least the workers in the building trades will be busy for a long time building enough gaols to hold them. Whatever the outcome of the experiment may be, and I am not unduly optimistic about it, it offers an opportunity to Labour such as we have never had before.” The field was now open for organization of the workers, and this the trade unions must do. If the world was to be saved for democracy all democratic forces must join together. Labour was powerful, but not all-powerful. They had recently seen one great nation in Europe hurled back into conditions of barbarism. “The experiment that is being worked out in the United States to-day is fraught with danger to our liberty and democracy. The Industrial Recovery Act is expected to be in operation for two years. After that time what? We will, not go back to the old conditions. Things never become again what they were before. If we fail in our task of organizing the mass of the workers into real organizations with a vision of what the future holds out to them and a will to fight for it, the great powers that are now in the hands of a man who has the cause of humanity at heart may easily pass into other hands and a dictatorship be established in the United States different perhaps from that in any other country, but no less destructive to the cause of human freedom.”

The Dominion Meteorologist last night issued the following information: An anti-cyclone is passing to the northwards, while a depression covers the Western Tasman Sea and barometers are lower over Southern Australia generally. Winds west to north and moderate to strong. Seas in New Zealand waters rough south of Cape Egmont and in the Cook and Foveaux Strait areas. Elsewhere moderate. In the Eastern Tasman Sea moderate to strong northerly winds. Seas rising. Weather for the most part fair to fine and mild, but rain developing in the south-west and extending gradually over western and far southern districts.

Three boys appeared before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., in the Gore Children’s Court yesterday on charges of throwing stones and breaking windows. They were admonished and ordered to pay the expenses.

When describing in the Arbitration Court at Wellington his sensations when being struck on the head by some concrete mixture which was being poured into an excavation in which he was working, .a claimant for damages said that he “saw stars and forked lightning.” “We have all heard before of people seeing stars,” remarked Mr Justice Frazer, “but the addition of forked lightning is a new one to me.”

At a sitting of the Gore Police Court yesterday before Mr 11. J. Dixon, S.M., James Robert McKinlay Erskine (Auckland) was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment for disobedience of a maintenance order and arrears amounting to £7 5/-. The Magistrate ordered the warrant to be suspended on payment of 15/- per week, being 10/- per week current maintenance and 5/- per week in reduction of the arrears.

“There are a lot of roads in Taranaki, where there are dairy factories almost every mile. That makes me feel the tax. ought to be on milk carts and not on' motor cars,” said a member at the annual meeting of the North Wellington branch of the New Zealand Society of Engineers, held at Wanganui (reports the Chronicle). Indicating the contrast that existed between Taranaki and localities further south, Mr S. A. R. Mair, engineer to the Rangitikei County, speaking of the main highway from Turakina to Bulls, said that he had not seen a milk cart for 40 years.

“There may be a reasonable hope that hydrogenation of coal for benzine and oils may help us in the future, ’ said the president of the New Zealand Coalmine Owners’ Association (Colonel W. D. Holgate) at the annual conference at Wellington. There are plants working in Germany, and there are a few large plants being erected in England. Whether the process is a commercial success is yet to be proved. In 1919 Germany then imported the whole of her oils and benzine. To-day it is reported that about 40 per cent, of Germany’s requirements are being obtained from carbonization and hydrogenation plants.

The extent to which the practice of ‘filching” electricity profits for relief of rates has grown in the past few years, says the New Zealand Electrical Journal, will be realized when it is seen that no less a sum than £120,000 has been thus transferred for the year ended March 31 last. Of this amount the Wellington City Council Electric Light Department supplied £26,000, Christchurch Municipal Council Department £16,000, and Dunedin Electrical Engineer Department £22,446, a total for the three cities of £64,446. There are two main reasons for this being a thoroughly bad practice, to say nothing of several other important ones. One is that the legitimate incidence of the rating levy is upset, large and small users of electricity being made to contribute more than their share, and secondly, that this “filching” tends to blind the citizen to the real extent of his rating, and thus lead him to think that he is rated less heavily than he really is. The Government seems the only hope in stopping the extension of this vicious practice, and it is to be hoped that legislation somewhat along the lines, but more watertight, of the United Kingdom Act will soon be introduced, prohibiting the diversion of electricity department profits.

The Railway Department’s refreshment'service returned a net profit of £2928 for the year 1932-33 compared with £l6Bl for 1931-32, according to the annual report of the Railways Board. The board was fully seized of the fact that in recent times there had developed a body of public opinion which considered that a reduction of prices could be made to advantage. More recently public opinion had been centring around the charges made for refreshments served over the counter, and the board, after consideration of all the factors, felt that it would be justified in making a reduction in the principal items of consumption in this category, and therefore decided that the price of tea, coffee, and cocoa should be reduced from 4d to 3d per cup and that of sandwiches from 4d to 3d each. This will, of course, involve the department in some loss at the outset, but the board felt that the experiment was worth while with a view to exploring the possibilities. It is the board’s policy to endeavour to provide all of its services at the very lowest possible cost commensurate with sound business operation, and it is hoped that the public appreciation of the decision set out above will manifest itself in such a stimulation of the business as will maintain and possibly improve the financial return to the department and at the same time afford a greater measure of service to the public. The alteration in prices was brought into operation from August 13, 1933.

As the days lengthen, the cold strengthens—if you catch a chill take Mixture 98—there is nothing betterall first class stores stock it. 2/6 a bottle.—Advt. It stands above all others. DEWAR’S WHISKY. —Advt. Being cut in half! The management at Carter’s has decided on account of heavy stocks and new goods arriving to cut stocks down by half. Newest suits and overcoats and all other goods being sacrificed at Carter’s Make Room Sale.—Advt.

Bits of broken glass in joints is how one Arthritis sufferer described his condition. Thanks to Taveners’ Arthritis Prescription he now states that he is completely cured, hasn’t an ache or pain. 5 weeks treatment 17/6 Tavener Chemist and Arthritis Specialist, 183 High St. Ch.Ch.—Advt.

In Thomson and Beattie’s “Man’s Shop” are a number of smart, hew suitings, all the new colours and designs, offered from as low as _ sgns, tailored to your measure. The suits are made on the premises by local craftsmen, from your own choice of material. Call and see them, tweeds, worsteds, and guaranteed navy serge, tailored to your measure from sgns.—Advt.

Why worry? Send your films to GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, and you know they’ll be safe. Expert developing brings out the best in each negative. The famous Kodak-made VELOX PAPER picks up the detail, softens too harsh contrasts and in all ways meets the amateur’s needs. Velox is made in three grades, and three surfaces. We use the grade and the surface best suited to your snaps. Careful return of all negatives. GEORGE H. BROWN, Chemist, 125 Dee street. Make no ’stake—BßOWN, The Chemist. We have no agents, post direct to us. Our prices have been considerably reduced.—Advt,

A curious fish was discovered at the Kohimarama wharf (Auckland), when piles were being removed in the course of repair work on the wharf. It was about nine inches long by an inch and a-half thick, and was discovered in a hole in a pile. It was brown and white in colour, and had suckers underneath with which it clung tightly to a kerosene tin in which it was placed, and it had a number of pointed lumps along its back. Mr A. W. B. Powell, of the War Memorial Museum, considers from the description that it was one of the mudibranch species of soft-bodied shell-less fish. They come into the harbour at about this time of the year, but are not frequently found.

Tuwehirangi, Taranaki’s oldest woman, has lived a Manutahi, near Hawera, for over 100 years. No one can tell her exact age, but all the Natives in the little Manutahi pa agree that this remarkable old woman, who still tends her garden, chops firewood and walks a mile to the store, is over 100 years old. A common estimate is 115 years. The most definite date that can be established is that of her second marriage, which occurred about 1864, at the close of the Hau-Hau rebellion. She was first married to Topito, a distant connection of the present chief Tupito at Patea. Her husband and his younger brother, Tutangi, fought in the rebellion and, when it was over, were arrested and taken as prisoners to Patea.

For good value in Corsets and Corselettes try us. Corsets from 4/11 to 17/6. Corselettes 3/6 to 22/6 at Miss Noble’s, The Baby Shop, Dee street.— Advt.

We have the largest selection of Ladies’ Vests in town. Our prices are right, too. Big fitting garments from 1/-. Wicks’ Ltd., Cash Drapers, Dee street. —Advt.

Sweets cheap. Delicious wrapped toffees only lOd per lb. Cakes of chocolate 9d, instead of 1/-, at Ayson’s 2 shops, 5 and 72 Dee street. —Advt.

We invite you to call and see our large stock of ’XMAS ANNUALS for sending OVERSEAS. Tui’s Annual 2/-; Otago Witness 2/-; Auckland Weekly News 2/-; N.Z. Free Lance 2/-; N.Z. Illustrated 2/-; Christchurch Star 2/-; N.Z. Traveller 1/6. Postage: British Dominions Id; foreign countries 4d. Next mail closes October 29. N.Z. BOOK DEPOT, 49-51 Esk street, Invercargill. (Advt.)

Marvellous Discovery! Cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis: In November last year, Canterbury lady (65) was carried into consulting room, completely crippled. After 5 bottles of Tavener’s Arthritis Prescription, she is able to work and walk as she has never done for years. 5 weeks treatment 17/6 Tavener, Chemist, 183 High St., Ch. Ch—- .

SCENE IN TEA ROOMS. ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN’S ANNOYANCE. An unusual but diverting scene was witnessed recently by the gathering of fashionable women who make a certain leading tea-rooms their afternoon rendezvous. An attractive young woman, obviously belonging to the smart set had just indignantly informed the manager that she was very dissatisfied with the quality of the refreshments served in this exclusive cafe. “Why is it,” she demanded, “impossible for me to get a really good cup of tea here? One rather expects the best in a place like this. And goodness knows that would be easy enough for you. If you’d only serve ‘Tiger Tea,’ everyone would be satisfied. You can get it from any grocer and it’s only 2/8 a lb.”—Advt. BRITISH TOOTHBRUSHES. CHEMIST’S QUALITY. Four-row Pure Bristle. 9d EACH. 3 FOR 2/-. Sterilized, Prophylactic. STEWARTS’ PHARMACY, Corner Dee & Don Streets. —Advt. NIGHT IS THE MOTHER OF THOUGHT. How often have you been kept awake at night with a raking cough, determined to get a bottle of Baxter’s Lung Preserver first thing in the morning. Never be without “Baxter’s”. Keep it handy in the house so that without delay you can get the wonderful relief that “Baxter's” brings. 1/6, 2/6 and 4/6 from all chemists and stores in New Zealandr-Advt,