LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 29 November 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Shipment of Gyosum A consignment of 2000 tons of gypsum was brought to buckland this week by the motor-ship Kauri. Gypsum is used in plaster wallboard and fibrous plaster processes and has been in short supply. Meaning of Demagogue A surprise was sprung on Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court at Auckland when he had concluded his summing up in a civil action. The foreman said that before retiring he had been reauested by a juryman to ask His Honour for a true interpretation of the word "demagogue." After brief ireflection His Honour said: "I think it must be generally conceded that it is not a word of flattering import: In this action, in this article and used where it is, I think it is fairly open to you to conclude it means a person having the power, capacity and opportunity to excite the mass emotions of men and who does so unwisely and - mischievously. It is not a pretty word, and was not intended to be a pretty word." High Wage for Fishermen Two hundred applications have been received in reply to the call by Unrra for 30 New Zealanders to act as instructors for Chinese fishermen. The interviewing of applicants is being carried- out by Mr. David Cairns, a fishery biologist on the staff of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington, who has been seconded to Unrra's China mission. Applications have been received fro.m all oyer New Zealand, no doubt due to the wages offered. Fishing masters are offered £280 a month in New Zealand currency, fishing e'ngiiieers, £234, and fishermen deck hands £187. Free subsistence and lodging are provided, as well as a bonus on the poundage of fish landed. . The successful applicants will be engaged aSrStaff at the fisheries school at Shahghai. Strange Foods ■ , A large and varied consignment of Chinese foods is among the unusual cargo from India and the East carried by a British steanier to Auckland. The largest shipment | for some years, it will be sent to Chinese communities. New Zealand housewives are familiar with items such as preserved ginger and fruits, but other foods on the manifest would be strange to them. For instance, dried lily flowers and seed are not meant to be put in a vase or planted in the garden, but make a palatable dish, resembling cabbage, when they are soaked in water and cooked. . Fungus, moss, vand bamboo shoots, when properly prepared, also appeal to the Chihese. Salted eggs, dried and salted fish, Chinese herbs,, dried orange skin, bean sticks, bit'ter melon, and a variety of sauces are other unusual items in the list. Several cases of 'joss sticks are also included in the manifest. Who Would be Saved? The hall was fille'd to capacity. Seated in the front row (says the Auckland Star) was an elderly nian who seemed to be taking a lively interest in the audience as it awaited the arrival of the cantiidate. When the chairman rose to introduce the speaker the old man asked whether he could put a question to the candidate before he began hiaaddress. "I know this is an unusual request," he told the chairman, "but owing to my health I will be unable to sit right throUgh the meeting. After consulting the candidate, the chairman agreed. "If Mr. Fraser, Mr. Nash, Mr. Semple, Mr. Sullivan,- and Mr. Nordmeyer were shipwrecked and cast up on a desert island, who would be saved?" The chairman protested. "Tliat's not a questibn, it's a conundrum. And I suppbse you know the answer. Well, who would be saved?" "New Zealand," said the old man and strolled out into the nighfc, ;

Australian Housing Shortage "Australia t is" "251)7000 homes short," said Mr. A. R. Cutler, V.C., Australian High Oommissioher in New Zealand, in an address tb the Auckland Rotary Club. Mr. Cutler said that finding a house in Sydiiey was harder than in Auckland or Wellington, however difficult that might fee to bfelieve. Becausfe Australia would have to build new homes for many years, there would be a ready demand for New Zealand softwoods.