News in Brief

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1931, Page 6

News in Brief

Interest Rates. “ There was no need for the Government to remain on the market at 5i per cent,” declared Mr Coates, leader of the Opposition, discussing interest rates at a meeting of Reform supporters on Saturday evening. There was, he stated, a strong opinion among men in touch with the present position, that the Government could get money to-day at less than what was offered. The effect of the Government’s action was to peg interest rates at not less than oh pet cent. Among private mortgagees the position was being met in a fine spirit by reduction in the rate of interest in an effort to give farmers a chance. Parade Notices. An effect of the change in the constitution of the territorial force from compulsion to volunteer is the altered tone of the parade notices issued in Auckland. Previously the soldier was “ warned ” to attend a parade and nine out of ten notices had a postscript intimating that absence would entail prosecution. Nowadays, the trainee is “ informed ” that a parade will be held and the postscript is “ a full attendance is requested.’’ “ Foresaw the Slump.” The late Sir Joseph Ward had foreseen that there was going to be a shortage of money, and had been prepared to raise £70,000,000 to tide the country over the difficult period, declared Mr E. J. Howard, Labour M.P. for Christchurch South, at the meeting of Labour supporters last night. Sir Joseph Ward’s programme of railway and other public works would have held off for a long time the great problem of having 40,000 to 45,000 unemployed in the country. The decision of the British Government to return to the gold standard was blamed by Mr Howard for the depression. Fishing Regulations. New regulations affecting anglers in the North and South Canterbury Acclimatisation districts are published in the “ Gazette.” The new North Canterbury regulation states that no person shall fish for, take, or kill any trout, perch, tench or other acclimatised fish otherwise than with one rod and line. Permission is given for the use of a landing gaff or net in order to land the fish once it has been hooked. Mollusca, which includes snails, pipi, fresh or salt-water mussels, oysters, winkles or the like, or any lures or baits other than natural or artificial flies, worms or fish are prohibited for use as bait. The new rule affecting South Canterbury states that no person shall use worms or creeper for bait when fishing for trout or other acclimatised fish in the Opihi River below the Pleasant Point traffic bridge, or any bait other than artificial flies when fishing in Lakes Tui, Hartley, Stony and Sunday.