New Zealand General

New Zealand Tablet, 28 July 1910, Page 1179

New Zealand General

• Auckland there are 1539 factories and 1222 shops, m Wellington 1047 factories and 1538 shops, in Christchurch 1310 factories and 1213 shops, and in Dunedin 1174 factories and 1244 shops. It is essential,’ said Mr. F. G-. Bolton, of Wellington, in speaking of his visit to America, ‘that all passenger steamers or a certain capacity should be equipped with wireless telegraphy, and 1 sincerely believe that 'legislation should be passed in New' Zealand and by the Australian otates making it ; compulsory as soon as the land stations are erected. Only the other day H.M.S. Powerful, lying in Sydney, was able to flash" the news of the JeffriesJohnson fight to a warship at Nukualofa, over 2000'miles away and it was whilst .we ; were travelling ,a , lonely sea, on the old Mariposa, between Tahiti and San Francisco that we received the news of the King’s death from a vessel hundreds of miles away.’

The following novel letter has been received by the secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce from a resident of Trevat, Texas:—‘Will you kindly inform me as to the requirements • necessary for' A man entering your country with the idea of becoming a citesson there. Also will you send some litteture discribing the country. I am A mechanic. Mostly, in the saw mill line. But I want to locate myself on some land, as a permanent home, for myself and family, and haying heard a grate-eal of favorable reports from your country, as to health and good government I have about decided to investagate the subject and to come to your country if the investagatibn turns out sa fi 00 ™ as I have hurd thus far.’ The letter -is addressed to the Chamber of Commerce, Willmington, New Zealand.

A very exhaustive inquiry has been made (states the annual report of , the Labor Department) into the question of the rents of houses occupied by workers in the four chief centres of the Dominion. This report is now being'prepared, _ and will be submitted whilst Parliament is sitting, from information supplied to the department, there is Undoubted proof that during the year Just ended the cost of commodities in general use, and even house rents, were somewhat cheaper than for several years past. There has been a decline of from 5 to 10 per cent, in the rents of houses in Wellington City, and although the drop was not a general one, still the evidence i before the department shows that there was a widespread disposition on the part of landlords in most centres perhaps the sole exception of Aucklandto reduce rents. Exactly how long this state of affairs will last it is difficult to' say. In regard to commodities, there was a very decided drop in the price of meat, which had maintained an even price for 17 years. This drop was experienced right throughput the Dominion] and the result is that meat can be purchased at a cheaper rate than for many years past. . Other foodstuffs have also generally been lower in price than during the previous five years. Potatoes, bread, and eggs have been generally cheaper than in previous years butter, flour, and oatmeal have remained much the same as during past years, and have been subject to, the usual variations in price during the twelve months. However, taken all round,: fruit, meat breadstuffs, and rents have shown an. appreciable decline over the prices ruling during the last few years. ' !:U '