News of the Dominion

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 17, 24 April 1912, Page 4

News of the Dominion

State Tront Curing. IT is stated that the effort of the Government to establish a troutcuring depot at Tokaanu, near Lake Taupo, has not been attended with much success. An authority declares that to hang trout by the head over a smouldering lire is not the right method, and that trout turned out in this manner has been proved to be unfit for consumption. I Te Aroha's Attractions.

Complaint was made at the ceremony of the opening of Te Aroha’s new post office last week, that the attractions of the district were not being supported by the Government to the extent merited. Air. H. Poland, M.P., said Te Aroha had not been extensively advertised like other resorts by the Government, and urged that vigorous representation should be made to the new Ministry for better attention in the future. Solving a Problem.

The trout in Lake Taupo have been reduced to a poor condition through being attacked by a worm, and the Government, with the assistance of an experieeted euient'ist, is making experiments for the purpose of elucidating the matter. The Auckland Acclimatisation Society has handed over some sound fish, and a number of ducks to be used by the scientist in ascertaining the general habits of the destroying worm. Land Agents’ Commissions. In the course of the hearing of a claim for land agents commission in the Auckland S.M. Court, it was stated that the scale of commissions in force had not been submitted for the approval of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. C. C. Kettle SjM., considered that a useful purpose would be served if something of the kind was done, and a table of charges placed in every agent’s office for ready reference. Invading the Sabbath. In reply to a resolution carried at a Conference of Sunday School teachers, objecting to unnecessary work by cadets in eamp on Sundays, the Minister for Defence, states that orders have been issued to the effect that the striking of camps and travelling by territorials on Sundays were to cease. Auckland University Site. The tug-of-war over the acquisition of a portion of the Metropolitan Grounds as a site for the erection of university college buildings in Auckland is to be renewed. The College Council has decided to make another effort to gain possession of the area in question, despite the opposition of Mr. G. J. Garland, who advocates the Supreme Court site; while the president of the Citizen’s League declares that a watchful eye will bo kept on the movement to invade the rights of citizens so that reserves belonging to the people will be jealously guarded. The Top Rung. Inspector Cullen, who has been elevated to the position of Commissioner of the New Zealand police force, regards his appointment as fixing a precedent in that a man starting from the bottom rung of the ladder may look forward to reaching the top. In the past the Commissioner has been selected from outside the service, and imported'. There were men in the service, in his opinion, will qualified to fill the important position. The Lie Direct. Addressing a meeting of timber workers in support of his Mayoral candidature last week, Mr. C. J. Parr was subjected io mmh insinuation and insult, reflecting not only on his competence to administer the city’s affairs, bint also in his integrity as a citizen. One man asked a series of questions implying improper conduct, and refused to accept the answers given, and finally suggested that Mr. Parr had made private gain by way of brokerage out of the recent flotation of city loans. 'Mr. Parr replied that the loaiui had not been floated, and any statement that he had made brokerage was a lying invention. The questioner persisted, saying he knew the Mayor had made private gain. ''There is

only one answer for you,” deliberately replied Mr. Parr, “and 1 give it to you before all your mates. You are a liar.” Shortage of Labour. In a discussion at a meeting of the general committee of the Wellington Industrial Association, it was stated that the shortage of skilled labour in New Zealand was seriously affecting manufacturing industries, and urged thait the Government should take action to bring to the Dominion skilled artisans, as well as unskilled labour. Woollen industries had been complaining for years. Mr. J. P. Luke declared that the limitation of apprentices was bound to have an affect in the creation of artisans. There was very little incentive to a boy to •learn a" trade, and very little public encouragement. Boys would not go to a trade when they could get equal wages as unskilled labourers. The Government should set up a Commission to consider industrial questions, the effect on the community of the present laws, and the trend of the young men of to-day.

Legion of Frontiersmen. A committee has been formed in Auckland to take in hand the organisation of a command of the Legion of Frontiersmen. At a meetirg held at the Town Hall to consider the matter Mr. C. J. Parr remarked that the movement would have the hearty support of every sane-minded man in the community. It was a movement that was not a belligerent one, nor an aggressive one, but one that made for the spread of the spirit of true British manhood. They wanted to have in this country men who would not be afraid to do their duty when the call came; and if this movement could in any way help towards the attainment of that object, then it had the best wishes of the citizens of Auckland.

Whangarei Trade. The Whangarei Chamber of Commerce complains that the steamer servaee to that port is quite inadequate to cope ■with the growth of both cargo and passenger trade, and in consequence a great deal of inconvenience, annoyance and loss is 'being suffered throughout the district. Steps are to "be taken to impress on the Northern S.S. Co. the need for improving ’the service. TilrJe in Schools.

A conference of representatives of the Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches was held in Christchurch last week. The general principles of the New •South Wales system were endorsed and a league formed, 'with headquarters at Christchurch. The immediate policy will be to urge the Legislature to take a referendum. A strong executive was appointed, and the general feeling of the conference was that the meeting represented an apoch in the history of the movement, and that the time was ripe for an appeal to public opinion on the whole question.

Auckland’s Valuation. A return of the ratable value of the city of Auckland for the 1912-1913 year gives a total of £079,369, an increase ot £57,611 on the figures for last year, and of £124,237 during the last two years. The 'capital value reaches £14,000,000, a record for the Dominion. Room for Population. A shortage of labour Is reported in Auckland, especially in the building trade, females for factory work, amt domestics, arguing the need for encouragement of immigation on a large scale, or for improvement of working conditions in order to attract the workers when here. In the country districts .1 difficulty is being experienced in getting; hold of the necessary labour. Maoris and Their Land. In the course of a judgment affecting natives and their land, given at Wellington, Sir Robert Stout showed how tlur law had always protected the natives against disposing of their lands without due consideration, and suggested that the legislation was .passed for good reasons. His Honor considered that the üboriginies had neither the foresight nor business ability of the white race, ami unless guarded would soon have been left; landless.

Hard On the Drinkers. It is predicted that a sharp rise in the wholesale price of tea will be made Jn ■the Dominion shortly. The position seems to be that there is an avute shortage of -the China output and in consequence the London market will be affected, enhancing the value of all teas. The trouble in China is due to the refusal of bankers to advance money on standing crops and thus preventing growers handling tea fo.r the market. Too Many Patients.

The Medical Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, Dr. Maguire, this morning reported to the Board that the accommodation of the institution is much taxed at present, and he had had to defer admission of severa 1 cases, owing to having no beds for them. All the female medical beds in the hospital are full. The question of increasing the accommodation of the institution is, says Dr. Maguire, becoming urgent. The number of patients in the hospital totals about 280.

Example and Precept. The Native Minister (the Hon. Te Rangihiroa), on his first visit to Rotorua in that capacity, was welcomed by the Maori chljfs, who congratulated him upon his elevation to the Ministry. They expressed the conviction that matters concerning the Maori raco would receive consideration, and that substantial progress would result. The Minister, in reply, thanked the chiefs for their kindly wishes. He exhorted the members of the native race to adapt themselves to the new atmosphere which surrounded them. He dwelt upon the necessity of their doing nothing to cause disparaging remarks from the pakehas. He reminded the members of th© Arawa Council that their position was an onerous one, and that example was better than precept. The Maori Ambition. The Hon. Te Rangihiroa returned from Rotorua, where he presided last week at the first meeting of the recently-elected Arawa Native Council. Apart from the members of the Council, saad the Minister in the course of conversation last evening, there was a large gathering of natives interested in the work of the Council, and a number of matters relative 4o the welfare and progress of the native race were discussed. Among other things several slight changes in the provisions of the Native. Land Act of 1909 were suggested, while a question which was responsible for a great amount of interest among those assembled was one dealing with advances to settlers. The Maoris are very keen, said Dr. Buck, to get on to the land and to have an opportunity of working it themselves, and 'in connection with this ambition they are very pronounced on the subject of the State advancing money on the security of their land as it does in the case of Europeans. They believe that provided they can obtain the necessary assistance they will be able to prove their mettle as agriculturists, and remove the slur that at present rests on so much of 'the native-owned land and on the husbandry of the owners.”

National Reference Library. The Palmerston North Borough Council resolved: “That the resolution of

the Libraries Conference, that the ParHamentary Library ’be made the ntU cfeus of a national reference library! be strongly approved, and that tha executive of the conference be in? strticted to use all the means in it* power to have it carried into effect?* , Fire Alarms. The Government has had under coni sideration for some time the question of installing automatic fire alarms in a number of public buildings in the four centres, and has decided to instal thej May Oatway alarm in the Custonj House and Post Offices at Auckland, the Law Courts and Post Office at Christchurch, and the Law Courts and' Post! Office at Dunedin. Contracts have been entered into, and installation work will be commenced shortly. The Imperial Bond. His Excellency Lord Islington in opening a branch of the Overseas Club iq Auckland yesterday, laid stress On the object-lesson of British brotherhooq "which was evident in the amazing growth of the Overseas Club mOivemenS since its inception less than two years ago. And he also pointed to the niovei ment as a healthy corrective against 4,

100 narrowing outlook, which threatened New Zealand and the other Dosninions da they grew, each into its own sense of nationality and semi -independence. There was an old-fashioned idea that a distant Dominion could, during its years of development, enjoy the privileges of fatherly shelter and protection l>y the Old Country, and then, when it was able to walk and advance itself, Could throw off that protection and go independently. That view had now practically been Exploded, and the Overseas Club could advance and (strengthen the growing opinion that Ifhe Dominions could not do withojut the strength and mutual cohesion of the Empire. (Hearty applause.) New Zealand and the other countries could no longer look to Britain as their sure and sole means Off security aud protection; but neither could they, as individual units, look to themselves, by themselves as a body, to be able to fight against the dangers that could be found throughout the world. What the pominions could do was. by joining together and by consolidation, to present puch a front to the world that the combination would lie irresistible in its force, ®ind would be the greatest factor in the peace of the world. He believed an (organic Empire, in the future, was perfectly compatible with the freedom of Dominion autonomy throughout the Empire. (Applause.)

A National Gallery. There is now fair prospect of the old and inflammable building vvlilich inade-" quately houses the treasures of the Dominion museum in Wellington being replaced by a suitable structure. The Minister in charge of the museum (the Hon. ,G. W. Russell) has spent a good deal of time with the Dominion architect deciding the final plans of the new Dominion museum, and it was intended to put the building on the fiydney-street frontage running towards the old museum, so that there would be housing room for all the material in the old building when it had to "be pulled down to make room, for further extension of the museum. “The urgent need/’ said the Minister, “is a national museum, and that is what we have to deal with now. I don’t consider that the Wellington Art Gallery should be provided by the State. Any gallery which may be built in the future will be a national one and. strictly on that basis.’’ Empire Day. Discussing the proposal to celebrate Empire Day on June 22, which combines the anniversaries of the King’s Coronation and Queen Victoria’s Diamond Uubilee, Sir Joseph Ward said that at the Imperial Conference he had urged that Empire Day should be celebrated on the birthday of the reigning sovereign. He was still of that opinion, believing that it was desirable to have one general day fixed throughout the Empire. When Queen Victoria died Empire Day was appointed for May 24. AVhen later on King Edward passed away a difficulty arose about recognising his birthday. As the custom throughout the Empire was to recognise the birth day of the reigning sovereign, there seemed to be a danger of a multiplicity of holidays. It seemed to him that the best plan was to celebrate Empire Day on the King’s Birthday. He was con vinced that Empire Day would receive more enthusiastic and united support from the people throughout the Empire if some arrangement of that kind was come to. Auckland Post Office. Upon the completion of the new post office in Queen-street, which is expected to be ready for business about the beginning of June, the present building will' be relegated to the portion of a branch office. All postal and telegraphic matter will be received andi forwarded to the main office by pneumatic tube. The money order and postal note business will also be transacted through the same office. As the whole of the building will not be required in future, a portion of it will be utilised for other purposes. The Bank of Australasia will use it as a business premises for a period of 15 months during which the present building is being rebuilt. Betting Raida.

A sequel to the recent lietting raid in Auckland was the prosecution of the persons arrested. The principals in cacti case were fined £75 and costs, and those found on the premises were generally fined £1 and costa.