NEWS OF THE DAY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 39, 12 September 1930, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

End of (lie Session. Gossip iu th e Parliamentary lobbies indicates that the session may end in three or four weeks. Signposting 1 Costs Money. The sum of £3lB has been spent by the Hawke’s Bay Automobile Association during the past year on the erection' of new sign posts. “Conversion” of Cars. Th e epidemic of unlawful converting of motor cars which broke, out in Palmerston North last week, continues. In almost every instaoc-; the cars have been recovered in side streets within a few hours of thm; removal. A Par,. Whale. It is reported that a sulphur-bot-tom whale, a rare species in these parts, was captured by the Te Awaite whalers the other day (states the Marlborough Express). It is said to be the iirst of its kind brought to the Tory Channel boiling-down works. Power of Advertisement “The povyer of advertisement is the greatest power on earth nowadays,” declared Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, in speak Nig of Health Week propaganda at a public meeting in Christchurch. “If one does not advertise one might as well be in Bromley,” Bromley is one of the «.:iristchurch cemeteries. / The incidence of Banking, The Labour member for Wellington North, Mr C. H. Chapman', intimated iti the House of Representatives on Tuesday that he intends to ask the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to have an inquiry made into the general incidence of banking for th e purpose of relieving industry cf the exactions of banking and financial institutions, which place enormous burdens on all forms of industry. “The profits of the banks operating in New Zealand,” said Mr Chapman, “show profits to mi Cons of pounds, even in times of depression.”

Fred Ebert, Comedian. Fred Ebert, the Austrian professional wrestler, is a comedian a-s well. He was training at the Ccntrla Fii’e Station in Wellington on Thursday evening (says the Dominion) in presence of a large and interested gallery, and was having L'.ief tussles wtih some of the amateurs. After four or five had had a “workout” with him, the next candidate for honour ushered in a few minutes of comedy. He was w ell budt, but

on a surprisingly small s ;ula .Against" Ebert his slightness was even more prominently brought out. Peals of laughter ran out as he struck an. attitude, and the two began to circle round each other, Ebn;t with an admirable expression of scared Cmhlity. The little man rushed, in dmid laughter, ami Ebert’s expression

changed to one of stark terror. He was bowled over absurdly on to bis back, and the little chap climbed on

lop, pressing Ebert’s shmlders to the mat. The Austrian tapped a frantic surrender, arid the gallery was delighted and amused beyond measure. The second and third acts

of the comedy were more or less similar, and Ebert was pinned every time, finally refusing to be pitted any further against such a dangerous opponent.

Children’s Health Camps. The Guild Beautifying Society has planted trees and shrubs on the five acres of land generously given by Mr Byron Brown as the site for a childrens health camp at Otaki. So far, tenders have not been called fur the necessary buildings for the camp. Local residents state that if anything is to be dene in the way of erecting buildings in time for 'next summer, steps should he taken without delay. The sum of £2500, the result cf the last Christmas S<;al appeal, is available for the purpose, it is urged that this money should be used before the time arrives for the next issue of Christmas seals or stamps. Birth Control. '' ' “It is hard to draw any safe conclusions from the newspaper cablegram as to the resolution's of the bishops at Lambeth, and comment in the absence of fuller particulars' is better withheld” (states the Church News). “On th e birth control question, opinion must be suspended until the full text o% the resolutions is available. It is nonsense to assert that the bishops intended to encourage the practice, which even under the most favourable conditions for excuse by conscience must labour under the stigma of impropriety. What the bishops appear to have said is that interference under any cirrumstances insut bo suspect of sin, throwing the onus of proving the contrary on the conscience of the individual.” , Woman’s Work, Fo r a woman to have to work for less wages than a man is a dishonourable practice, in that it introduces cheap labour, which is abhorrent to any sound Government according; to Dr. Violette Bergere, a noted woman physician', who is touring the world and studying the effect of the late war upon human character. Iu

the course of an interview* with a representative of the Christchurch Press, Dr. Bergere said that a great many things dear to the heart of women had faded away on account of the huge production of materials by machinery. “All the little delicate things which gave such a great deal of employment have lost their interest,” she said. “There is a saying in America now, ‘lf the can opener is lost, how can the dinner be made?’ A woman* must always be regarded as the element that makes a home.” Soil for Cricket Pitch. Somewhere in the middle of the Basin Reserve,, Wellington, there is what is known as the Napier soil wicket (stales th e Evening Post). It was laid down eight years ago, but it has long since disappeared under several inches of top-dressing. The Wellington Cricket Association’ is now arranging to have the topdressing replaced by more suitable soil, which will also be used in preparing other wickets. A favourable report has been received regarding Port Albert and Oamaru soil. The latter, according to Dr. Cockayne, of the Department of Agriculture, is practically identical with the Napier soil. The Cricket Association’s committee authorised the director of Parks and Reserves to visit Oamaru and inspect the soil there, and as a result of this inspection h e has recommended that 5() or 60 tons of this soil he obtained to enable match, and practice wickets to be laid down and maintained oyer a period of five years.