The Week in Review.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 8, 19 February 1913, Page 1

The Week in Review.

The Dominion's Timber Supply. i/ r ROYAL COMMISSION has been f | appointed, to inquire into J I forestry matters in New Zealand. and furnish a report in two months. The ecope -of . inquiry covers a wide field. The Commission is to separate and indicate the finest areas Suitable for conservation dor general purposes and those areas that can more profitably and beneficially be turned into commercial use. The best method of dealing with the indigenous forests in the public interests is to be investigated; also the question of prohibiting the exportation of white pine, the probable future demand for timber for commercial purposes, the nature and kind required, the operations of the State nurseries, and the assistance by the State in treeplantmg by private individuals and local bodies. The personnel of the Commission is:—Henry Douglas 'Morpeth Haszard, JF.R.GLS., Commissioner of Crown Lands and chief .surveyor for the Westland land diistlrict (chairman); Thomas William (Adams, farmer, Greendale, Canterbury; iSamuel Isaac Clarke, builder, Ponsonby, Auckland; Leonard Cockayne, F.R-S.. F.L.S., Ph.D., Christchurch: Frank Yates Lethbridge, farmer. Feilding; and Charles Primrose Murdoch, wood-ware manufact”>-er, Auckland.

A Famine Predicted. Mr S. I. Clarke, who was a member of the Timber Commission of 1909, remarked to an interviewer the other day that a timber famine was bound to come, and the problem for solution was how far the serious effect could be checked. The necessary supply of timber from abroad could not be relied upon. If there was a famine in New Zealand, a shortage iwould be felt elsewhere as well. Importers would also be at the mercy of shipping vagaries, quite apart from any consideration of the prior claims of the users on the spot. At Napier, for instance, they had endeavoured to import timber from Asia for tramway sleepers, but because it was handled by Japanese the seamen and the waterside workers would not allow it to be landed in New Zealand. It was known that systematic growing and “cropping” of timber could, be profitably carried on. That was better than dependence merely on the natural product. In Sweden 40 per cent of the country, and in North Germany 30 per cent of the country is devoted to timber crops. These are both busy industrial countries, and yet they can give so much space for the growing of timber. In addition to the restoration of timber, there was the vital question of the preservation -of water supplies to be studied.

Crime and Debt. Court statistics for 1912 for the Dominion have been completed. They are arranged to show distinct arrests and convictions, excluding multiple charges, and, according to them, on the criminal side, the Courts throughout New Zealand had to deal with 37.0(14 persons, of whom 31,455 were committed (29,398 males and 2.057 females. Convictions are classified thus, according to offences set out: Sexual, 3; other assaults, 630; burglary or robbery, 107; forgery, 3; drunkenness, males, 104*95; drunkenness, females, 856; prohibition orders, males, 2,564; prohibition orders, females, 188; other offences •gainst order, 8,306; Belling liquor without license, H 7; other revenue breaches, Mi; by-Uwa, etc.. 9,719- Wellington provided the most ciiminaj buei-

nesa, judging by the convictions, for there they totalled 4,690, Auckland running up closely with 4,652, while Christchurch lagged respectably behind with 2,820, and Dunedin approached much closer to rectitude with 1,371 convictions. No fewer than 57,079 plaints were entered on the civil side of the Court. Amounts were sued for aggregating £592,942, but the cases actually tried dropped down to £36,815, and the amounts recovered totalled £331,020. Maoris have a special set of statistics for themselves, which enables us to note that they sued each other over £1,152 in 156 cases, they were plaintiffs against Europeans in 82 cases, recovering £7OO, while 3,122 cases were won against Maoris -by European plaintiffs whose aggregate recovery was £26,585. ■Ordinary civil business in the f outchief centres is contrasted thus: Auckland, 3,831 cases, £41,732 recovered; Wellington, 3,139 cases, £44,137; Christchurch, 3,110 cases, £33,718; Dunedin, 1,916 cases, £16,048.

Scenic Route to IVaitakere Ranges Auckland. No time is being lost in pushing ahead ■with the proposal to provide suitable access to the Waitakere ranges by constructing a road from Titirangi along the City Council pipe track to Nihotapu bush. The Works Committee has recommended a grant of £ 600, and as the Automobile Association has subscribed £ 100 towards the cost of this new tourist road, it is hoped by the Council to get three miles of the proposed road constructed. The Mayor (Mr O. J. Parr) also intends when on a visit to Wellington shortly to make another endeavour to obtain a grant from the Government towards the construction of this road. Mr H. Atkinson has now added to his former offer to the city by offering a chain wide road leading up to Mount Atkinson through iiis own and his son’s property. He asks that the Council form a zig-zag track .to the hilltop. The Mayor has suggested to Mr Atkinson that the splendid piece of native bush of over 40 acres at Titirangi abutting in the Mnnukau, which Mr Atkinson transferred to a committee of trustees, should be. vested in the city. Mr Atkinson expressed his personal agreement, provided proper conditions were included for the protection of the reserve. The other trustees would have to give their consent, however, though he did not anticipate their refusal to do so. Should this beautiful piece -of bush come under the direct control of the city, a special parks committee will probably be appointed to control this and other city reserves.

A Three Million Loan. The Hon. Jas. Allen, who went to the Old Country specially to negotiate a loan, has succeeded in arranging for three millions, with optional repayment in thirty or fifty years from date. Cabled information states that it is being underwritten at £9B, and the rate of interest is 4 per cent. English criticism is unfavourable. The “Times” declares that the underwriting of the loan has been received with decided disapproval. It is considered by the “Westminster Gazette” that New Zealand is overdoing it. It was not expected that the Dominion would demand anything like £3,000,000, and the natural effect was io depress the market. Some of the usual underwriters refused to underwrite tbo loan.

Mr Massey Satisfied. When interviewed on the subject, the Prime Minister gave it as his opinion that in the circumstances the loan flotation was very satisfactory. It was provided that the money should be repaid at the option of the investors in thirty or in fifty years. “Although our efforts have been so successful,” remarked Mr. Massey, “it will be necessary to exercise both care and economy with regard to our loan money and revenue. The rate at which we were able to raise the loan compares very favourably with the rate secured by- the previous Government in its loan negotiations some eight or nine months ago.” He indicated that about £500,000 of the amount will be devoted to the extinguishing of certain small loans which have fallen due, and with regard to the remainder, part will be set aside for public works, and the balance to such purposes as will be determined by Cabinet. Mr. Allen had also intimated that “the Dominion and the Government both stand well in London.”

The Chief Concern. Speaking on financial matters at Marton, the Prime Minister said it was to be understood there was no difficulty regarding the ordinary revenue. For the ten months ended January 31st it exceeded the revenue for the corresponding period of last year by £382,000. His chief concern was with the public works and land settlement promotion funds. He was pleased to say that difficulties in that connection were disappearing. When the Government came into office it found that it was committed to local bodies to the extent of £750,000 at a lower rate than the money could be procured for. He merely mentioned this to give an idea of the obstacles his party had to contend with. That liability had since been reduced by £30,000. The Dominion would now realise why it was necessary to send Mr. Allen Home to arrange the finances. Short-dated debentures were piling up and had to be arranged for, as well as the' securing of loan money for public works, purchasing lands for settlement, and to meet requirements in connection with advances to settlers and workers.

Suburban Neglect. The frequency of fire in suburban areas and extensive loss of property through inadequate and primitive equipment at least suggest the necessity of action by the local bodies concerned. A case in point occurred on Saturday night, when, at Remuera, two dwelling-houses were burned to the ground. It is asserted that the brigade was half-an-hour late in ar-

riving, and as there was only a gentle breeze blowing it would have been possible by efficiency to have saved one of the buildings, In another recent case it was discovered that the appliances in the neighbouring districts were not interchangeable because of different makes and sizes, and as a result nothing could be done to stay the destruction of a home. The position is serious. Thousands and thousands of pounds have been spent in erecting magnificent residences in the suburbs, yet the valuable property is left to take its chance so far as destruction by fire is concerned. The local bodies are responsible for inattention to such a vital matter, but property owners must, share in the blame. One of the best remedies is amalgamation with the city.

Tliat Expeditionary Force. In a necessarily abbreviated cablegram it is not always possible to impart the intended meaning of a speech. Lucidity is sacrificed for brevity. This, it appears, has occurred in connection with the reference made by the Hon. dames Allen to an expeditionary force from New Zealand for service abroad to help the Motherland should occasion arise. Mr Allen made the speech at a function connected with the King’s inspection of the battleship New Zealand. The cable message received opposite interpretations. On the one side it was claimed that Mr Alien’s statement was nothing more than an assurance of New Zealand’s loyalty, and an intimation that an expeditionary force ot 8,000 volunteers could with safety be depended upon. The other viewpoint was that a definite offer had been made, and the country had been pledged to furnish such a force for foreign service without the authority of the Government or the people. To clear up the misunderstanding the Prime Minister cabled Mr Allen to repeat as nearly as possible what he had said. The reply, which settles the point in dispute, is as follows:—“ I wished to consult with the Imperial authorities in regard to organisation necessary for expeditionary force, its formation, number, and nature of contingent that would fit in with Imperial unity in case of necessity, so that when men volunteered under our Act everything would be ready for them to go.”

N.Z. Insnrance Company. A satisfactory year’s operations was disclosed by the report submitted by the Hon. »S. Thorne George, as chairman, at the annual meeting of the N.Z. Insurance Company held last week. On the revenue side it was shown that the premium income for the twelve months amounted to £676,097, being an increase.

Compared with the preceding year, of £38,090; while the interest and rent Recount reached a total of £37,722, an increase on the year of £2.344, and returning 4.09 per cent on investments. Against the revenue had to be placed losses aggregating £403,520, exceeding the previous year by £40,000, though not out of proportion to the extension of business; and working expenses amounting to £190,313, showing a ratio of 28.15 per cent on the premium income. The surplus amounted to £121,260, and in addition to a dividend in August absorbing £18,750, a further dividend of 2/6 and bonus 1/ per share was declared, accounting for another £26,250. A sum of £50,000 was transferred to the reserve fund, which now totals £300,000, in addition to £5,000 to the provident fund.

Buoyant Revenue. The Hon. W. Fraser, Acting Minister for Finance, has made a statement showing that the Dominion's revenue for the ten months ended January 31 amounted to £9,021,936, compared with £8,639,634 for the corresponding period of the previous financial year, an increase of £382,302. The expenditure for the ten months of the current y ear to January 31 was £8,639,509, compared with £8,310,995 for the corresponding period of the previous year, an increase of £328,514. The net gain in revenue was thus £53,788. The expenditure for the past ten months was naturally higher, because more interest had to be paid on loans, and expenditure on defence had been greater. There were some other items involving increased expenditure, while in others decreases had been effected. The increase in expenditure in the aggregate amounted to £442,019, and decreases to £ 115,509. Generally speaking, said the Minister, the revenue is in an exceedingly satisfactory and buoyant condition. The land and income receipts, assuming the payments will all be made by the date fixed, will be at least £75,000 above the estimate. Suggestions had been made in some quarters that money had not been advanced by the lending Departments, but in ten months £1,629,125 had been lent out from the advances to settlers, advances to workers, and local authorities’ branches.

Modern Conditions Affect Religion. A report presented at the Methodist < onferenee indicated that there had been a falling off in membership, and it was suggested that the matter should engage careful attention.

The chief causes operating against religious life and progress were set down as follows- — (1) An increase in luxury mid self-indulgence, consequent upon easier conditions of life, had produced an age largely marked by indifference to spiritual appeal and youthful absorption in pleasure and adult preoccupation in money making. (2) Theological unrest, resulting from fracture of old modes of expressing a truth to satisfy the modern mind and hesitancy of the pulpit to adapt itself to provide sufficient answer to questions clamouring for settlement had resulted in wide distrust of the Church as a candid and competent teacher. (3) An overflow of Christian activity into non Church channels had reduced the status of the Church in the eyes of many as a necessary institution in the community. (4) The spread of education, diffusion of literature and growth of culture have brought in an age which demands more uniformity, a higher standard of ministerial equipment than we supply. Without associating itself with all these statements, the committee felt there was matter for anxious thought.

A Governor's Residence in the South. A movement is on foot to secure a Governor's residence in the South Island, mid Christchurch is being put forward as the most suitable centre. It is contended that to maintain two residences in the North Island is unfair to the South, and does not J[ive the latter an equal opportunity of enjoying and benefiting by vice regal visits. Christchurch people are interesting themselves in a suggestion to offer the Government " Holly Lea,” a big property of the Board of Governors of the McLean Institute, in Manchester Street, as a residence for the Governor. It appears that the Board is prepared to hand over the estate to the Government at a very reasonable price.

It is claimed to be an ideal property, containing, , amongst other; tilings, a unique conservatory growing ripe bananas and pineapples at the present time. The residence is ready for immediate occupation, and declared to be equal to places in Wellington and Auckland.

Trade and Immigration. The Dominions Royal Commission, which will arrive in . New Zealand on the 24th February, marks a new departure in the affairs of the British Empire. Composed as it is of representatives of Great Britain and. Ireland and self-gov-erning Dominions, it is the first Royal Commission of its kind. With headquarters in the heart of the Empire, it yet requires to do a great part of its work in the overseas Dominions. Therefore, so far as the outer empire is concerned, special interest attaches to its proceeedings. Briefly put, the work of the Commission will con-

sist of an inquiry’ of the widest possible charateter into resources and facilities for the production and manufacture of articles, of commerce in the Dominions. It will also inquire into the food and raw material requirements, and the general trade of the Dominions and the United Kingdom, —:th the object of offering suggestions for the development of those resources and for the extension of that trade. The Commission is compiling a great deal of valuable statistical information as to the potential development of natural resources, production, articles of commerce, food, and raw material, while it is charged with making a general inquiry into existing conditions of trade. It is also charged with making special inquiry into the question of migration from the United Kingdom and of settlement in the Dominions. The question of migration has a very close relation to the development Of natural resources and the increased development that may be expected to follow as a consequence of any well-grounded suggestions that may be made. When

the order of conference of th© Commission was published, there was some comment on the fact that the fiscal issue had been excluded. It has, however, now been realised that this would have been a very difficult matter for a commission to. deal with, especially where so many divergent views are held, and that, quite apart from the question of tariffs, the Commission can do good and quite valuable work in the domain of trade and commerce and migration. The Commission has already taken a great deal of valuable evidence in England, and has compiled a large amount of statistical and other information'.

New Zealand Inquiries. lu so far as New Zealand is, concerned, the great bulk of the information asked for. has already been obtained by the New Zealand officer from a variety of sources—official and otherwise—and this was in the hands of the individual com-

The above map shows the raute followed by Captain Amundsen in his successful dash for the Pole. Captain Scott’s winter quarters and Shackleton’s furthest south will also be noted. It was when close to this latter point that the party was broken up at the beginning of last year, Captain Scott pushing on with four companions, and the others returning to the base on McMurdo Sounds.

Why a Woman Never Becomes a Chef. - - The chef of a large hotel, being asked to talk about his noble profession, remarked in the course of much other matter of interest, that while some women are good eooks, no woman ever yet became a chef. And he wondered why. But the explanation is quite simple. Let the average man examine a cookery book prepared for the use of women, and he will understand in a moment why a woman's culinary operations are always in the nature of a gamble, and why she never knows, until the last moment, how her handiwork will turn out. These cookery books are really staggering in their incompetence, in their vagueness, in the haphazard way in which they deal with weights and measures. Such a book we have seen recently, and upon a single page, opened at random, we find instructions to take a “cupful” of sugar, a “little” salt, a. ''lump” of butter, a “spoonful” of this,

missioners in printed form a fortnight before they left London on their first overseas journey. The promptness with which this information was supplied will have enabled the Commission to largely familiarise themselves with various subjects that will engage their attention on the New Zealand tour, and it will also be the means of affecting a considerable saving of time here. There has also been a considerable amount of correspondence with public bodies, trade organisations, and others through out ,the Dominion, with a view to eliciting any suggestions that may benefit trade within the Empire or throw any light upon the very important subject- of migration. In some cases useful information has been received. In others the information asked for has not yet come to hand, and the New Zealand officer states that the work of the Commission hero will be greatly facilitated if all the promised memoranda is sent in at the earliest possible date now, seeing that the Commission will soon be here, and that its time in the Dominion is so limited.

“sufficient” of that, and a “handful” of something else. Now. what kind of result can one expect from recipes of that kind? I f you ask a chef for a recipe you will find that it contains precise measurements, that it assumes the use of good scales, and that instead of spoonfuls, and cupfuls, and handfuls, you will have to deal with pounds and ounces. As a result, the chef knows exactly what he will get when he sets out to cook. There is no guesswork and no uncertainty, and he can repeat the same dish a hundred times and without the slightest variation in the results. ■His formula is as precise as a medical prescription. The same lack of accuracy distinguishes the 'Woman dressmaker, and this is reliably said to be the reason why the best dresses are made by men. The woman dressmaker ignores all measurements lees than a quarter of an inch. The man usee the sixteenth, and the difference in accuracy is shown dearly enough In the result.