GENERAL NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14255, 5 January 1920, Page 2

GENERAL NEWS

One great secret was preserved l>y Captain Ross Smith in his successful Australian flight, and this was tho construction by the Dutch Government of aerodromes at three places. A special cable to th e Sydney Sun on the 3rd ult. stated as follows:—It is now possible to disclose Ross Smith's great secret which has hitherto been jealously guarded from other competitors. Ross Smith knew the supreme difficulties of the last long lap to Darwin, and arranged with tho Dutch Government, at Vickers' expense, to construct special aerodromes at Soembawa, I lores Island, and Timor. Holland promised to havo these ready by the end of November. Ross Smith could have started th e first week in November, but timed his arrival at Bangkok for the date when the new aerodromes would be ready. Supplies of petrol were also arranged in readiness for the aviator at each place. ' According to a southern horticultural! authority (states the Brisbane Couier) tomatoes of choice, variety, "occasionally reach one pound in •weight." A specimen which was displayed came within this description, for it weighed one pound, and, what was more remarkable, was grown during a very dry season, when the restrictions placed upon consumption of water by ; the authorities militated against lavish watering. The specimen under notice Shows what can be accomplished with the assistance of water, even during drought. In this connection it may be mentioned that a Chinese gardener at Mftchelton has turned his attention - solely to tomato-growing for the Melbourne markejt, and, forsaking the primitive pole and bucket method of irrigation of his native country, has adopted the oil engine and pump, with the result that this season he has turfled off an immense crop, which it is said- has brought in a gross return of £IOOO, and this Chinaman employs white labour at "white" wages! The Bishop of Lichfield, at the Diocesan Conference, recently held at Wolverhampton, said the most pressing problem, in the diocese was the poverty of the clergy. They were now almost the worst paid section of the community. In face of the facts it was intolerable cant for comfortable people to commend "holy poverty." Bishops and clergy ought to set an example of simplicity in living, but it was a scand ll to the whole Church if a parson's children were cold and underfed. The Bishop suggested the combination of B many small parishes, radical reform with regard to the tenure of parsonag.3 houses, and a redistribution of the churches' existing resources. Side by side with the Bishop's remarks the following advertisement will be read with S Interest: —"Epping Guardians have decided to advertise for a chaplain at a salary of £IOO a year." "There is in New Zealand much misery and trouble," said Dr. Newman eA Wellington a few days ago, "and every year sees an increase in the hosI pital and charitable aid rates. There must be a policy of uplift and a stricter inquirv into the cause of poverty and . wretchedness. During the last session tie pensions to the aged had been in- ■ creased, and pensions had been granted to epidemic widows. But why stop at j fhaf? "Why not pensions to widows of J men wiio died from cancer and conl sumption? A pension had been granted I to widows with children, but they did 1 not get so much a# M epidemic widows, They must readjust their ideas "on these questions. The old notion was I thai the weakest should go to the wall, I but different notions prevailed now 7 and : the State should see that the lot of innocent sufferers should be made easier. There was insurance against death and ; accident. Why not insurance against . sickness? I am one who thinks that I an active war should be waged against ' ill health and disease, said Dr. NewI man. - In the old days, New Zealand ~; was regarded as a health resort, and consumptives were allowed to come in ; freely, and spread the disease. They ■ haTl* to fight it hard, and as the result I tEe deaths from consumption, once 18 in 10,000, were reduced to 14, then 10, j 8,7, and it was now 6J per 10,000, and in a few years he hoped the disease ! would be stamped out altogether in New j Zealand. (Applause.) "Typhoid was I once prevalent in Wellington, but it ( haa* been stamped out, thanks to an j excellent system of drainage. They i should now" make a crusade against | cancer., which, if tackled in earnest | PB»JS 1)0 reduced, as was consumption AU tvpiieiu." (Hear, hear.).'