NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 138, 6 March 1920, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

The discussion of hydro-clcctric development, at the Chambers o£ Commerce Conference on Thursday was chielly remarkable for the unanimity of the delegates. That unanimity was centred on the shortcomings of the Public AVprks Department and its modest rate of progress with _ the schemes. The scarcity and costliness of coal have intensified the demand for cheap clectric power, and it is 1 plain that the unhurried methods of construction which have sufficed for most of our public works in the past are inadequate for meeting this urgent need. We do not doubt that Mb. Holmes is doing his best to push oh the work at Mangahao under difficult circumstances with the prevailing shortages.of material and labour.- But the public is becoming imbued with a belief that the obstacles in the way of more rapid progress are much more clearly visualised by the Departmont_ than is the urgency of that rapidity. Public impatience is rising, and traditional methods of construction will not allay it. The' difficulties may be enormous, biit tho need of cheap power is very great, and difficulties are only made to be overcome. A touch of that "ruthlessj relentless, remorseless" determination with which Lord Fisher defied the croakers and rebuilt the British Navy is an ingredient badly needed, but not as yet conspicuously present, in our hydro-clcctric police.

**. * # A decision of interest to all concorned in the sale of second-hand cycles and motors was given in the Invercargill Magistrate's Court last week. A local cycle agent in the ordinary course of business had purchased a bicycle which subsequently proved to have been stolen by the seller. The upshot was the appearance of the agent as defendant pn a charge of carrying on the business of a second-hand dealer without a license. Under the Act of 1908 a second-hand dealer is defined as any person who carries 'on the business of buying, selling, or exchanging second-hand articles at a shop, store, ,or place of business. The Magistrate,- Mr. G. Cruickshank, decided that the cycle dealer, by making a practice of buying and selling second-hand machines from time to time, although as a subsidiary part of his business, cam« within the meaning of the Act, and 'should have' obtained 1 a liccnsc. He was therefore convicted _ and discharged. This ruling, if upheld, gives a new. and wide extension to the Second-hand Dcalors Act, which was originally designed to prevent the formation of'depots for the disposal of stolen property. Bicycles, motor-bicycles, and- motor-cars also have necessarily to be left in Ib.i streets while their owners are making business and other calls, unci arc particularly .easy things to steal. It woiild therefore appear no rooro than reasonable to call upon thos» who deal in them at second-hand t" obtain a license and keep a register of- their transactions.

Immigration into the United States was a few weoks back stated officially to bo now proceeding at th« rate of 540,000 a year. In January a Naples dispatch -in _ the American Press.told of an Italian "wave of immigration which is sotting towards America as fast as ships can carry th6.;'immigranfe.','.'..lt would thus,appear .thjit', enough shipping is already available to ensure a notable'annual addition to even the United States of 100 millions. ' In • normal times the p.coples "of Central and' Southern Europe .had. America before their eyes as a land of . promise and plenty. Yesterday, we were told that-a- million children are underfed in Germany, -100,000 each in Franco, and Italy, 300,000 in Austria, 100,000 in Hungary, and 350,000 in the Baltic States—making in all about two and ft half millions of starved or half-starved children in' Europe.' To the-parents of many of these children any' possibility-'oi transportation to, a land of prosperity and normal- conditions must- be like a chaiice-of Heaven. A new wave of migration from Etiropo to the United States will mean that once again thc' r misfort~nnfa' 'of' Europe contribute to'tlie. bu.ilding.iip of America, America's, greatness' was predestined by . lier immense natural resources, but'.perhaps: the; "historian of the future mav place'as. : lhe outstanding result of the great war the impetus rriven to :i the development of the United. States

The Bolshevik movement against Dekjkin's-Army recorded this morning placcs this last anti-Red force in Russia in.-a situation of great peril. The -Bolshevik-operations against it, -anti. - in." fact : all iiiei'r reesnt offensives,'are'remarkable as having been snceessfully eoilclnetecl .in.the d'enths 'of the Bussian winter.; That "General February/' which was so disastrous to NApntfos-in 1812; has been apparently of little hindrance to the Bed armies in 1920.' This fact".suggests"''that ■eith'ir the Bolshevik military organisation .is very efficient or •that its opnonents are able to offer only the feeblest resistance—which seems the iirobahlc case.