NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 71, 25 March 1933, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wellington's Cricket Crowd.

The manner in which, the- English cricketers were received in Wellington made a great impression upon the visitors. On the team's arrival in Christchurch, D. B. Jardine, the captain, paid a fine compliment, to the way in which the large crowd took, the cricket at the Basin Reserve on Wednesday.. He said that the side had greatly enjoyed its game in Wellington, and compared theWellington crowd to a "■vveU-behaved English crowd." .. . • Traffic Breach Prosecutions.' ■ ■ : . A proposal by , ttyj Ifprth Island Motor Union that a private. member 'a Bill be drafted and placed before Parliament, making provisibn for .the taking-of ; evidence on commission: in police prosecutions for traffic breaches, has-received the approval of the South Island Motor Union. ■ \ '■■ "-■'■:. Hospital Board's .Finance. '.' : An announcement -was made at this week's meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board that under' the recentlypassed legislation' 20 per cent, will bo deducted by the board front all interest coupons becoming due rfter April 1. The result will be a saving to the board of £1300. The finance committee reported that bonds aggregating £2050 iad been converted under the national conversion scheme. It was recommended by the same committee that unexpended balanco of loan moneys, amounting to £2000, be invested_ with the board's own sinking fund investment. "Unfair to K.Z. Industries." "Why is.it that when one enters many business places in almost every city in New Zealand and asks for even a penny box of matches, either Swedish or Belgian manufactured matches arc proffered?" %yas asked at the meeting of the executive committee of the Wellington New Zealanders' Association. Members agreed that unfortunately the practice was a common one, and while some thought that it might be only thoughtlessness on the part of either principals or assistants (or both) ethers expressed tie opinion that the practice was so universal that attention should be called to what was inimical to tho interests of the New Zealand manufacturers, who employed a largo number of me-n, women, youths,.and girls. It was decided to again stress the; necessity (particularly at the present time, when so many men and women' were finding it difficult to obtain lucrative employment) of. Dominion residents purchasing New Zealand-mad© goods wherever procui'able, and failing that, to buy. British-made goods. \ ■ ' Governmental Machine. ■ :.<. Reference to the development of tne governmental machine/ Svas. made by Mr^ H. G. Holland at., a meeting of members of the New Zealand Legion in Christcnurch this week.' He' .is Teported as stating that Ministers and mem-, bers of Parliament, who were subjected to constant pressure from opposing interests, were- concerned .chiefly with placating those of their; constituents who spoke- the loudest. He declared that Buch a. state of affairs must stop if New Zealand was to weather the economic: storm. It was the'beginning of a new era in world relations, and new standards must prevail in order to meet the unprecedented conditions. He said that the legion aimed at educating the people to the necessity of bringing about these changes. ' "By means of the legion's operations the criticism and thought, and eSort that are now wasted will be directed into channels in which, they might be of effective service to the country " said Mr. Holland.

No More Raids? Councillor J. W. McEldowney' has given notice of his intention to move at the next meeting of the City Council: "That it be a recommendation to the incoming council to make no further raids, whether by way of loans or allocation on the funds of the Electricity Department until such time as the price of electricity to the Wellington consumer is appreciably reduced." Reflectors on Bridges. The proposals by the Commissioner of Transport to place reflectors on "single traffic" bridges to indicate to traffic likely to meet on the bridge which vehicle has the right-of-way, was discussed by the South Island Motor Union this week. A recommendation that there be a dual notice—a reflector at night and a notice board in the'daytime —was carried. University Fees. Since Training College students received an annual emolument of. £20 a year, the amount they paid as. a fee to the Students' Association of the Auckland University College should be considerably reduced, said Mr. T U AVells at a meeting of, the council'of the college (reports the "Auckland Star ). In response,to such a request from the Education Board, :'of .which Mr. Wells is chairman, the Students' Association had reduced the fee from £1 Is to 12s 6d;: but Mr. Wells; did not think that- 8s 6d was -a large enough reduction. The chairman, Sir George Fowlds, said he thought that the offer of the. Students' Association was a generous one. Facilities had been provided for the convenience of Training College students-and .they were there to be used. The chairman added that he' thought the proposal from tho Students' Association should be accepted. "I will accept a quarter of a loaf," put in Mr. Wells. Attack by Wild Duck. A wild duck is one of the most timid of Nature's creatures, but even, with this shy bird.the maternal instinct will rise ' pre-eminent. Becently' a: party of fishermen -returning .by launch through,the,OhauChamiei. steered, their craft into- the bank to. give Tight of way to a grey, duck; accompanied -by three tiny, ducklings (says the Botorua "Post"). -.Although their intentions were excellent; however, "the wash>: of the /boat lifted- the three ducklings right out of the stream oil to..the bank. Apparently convinced that 7 she was being deprived of her brood, the mother duck suddenly made.a violent assault -upon the launph; and although worsted in the- unequal contest; ' had all the sympathy of/the unwilling interlopers in this scene- of; domestic pfeace. ■ ' ' . : :'■■-.' •;'■' : ''•■■/.■' ;.;■:■ University Finances. ;:" :---'s y-\ The announcement "thatl the-Minister of Education (the Hon. B.: Masters) .is inquiring into, the finances of the 3STew Zealand University. Collegesl is, -wel'cpmed by the Board: of "Goyeriiors;'of Canterbury College, according "to a statement made by the - chairman of the board (Mr. C. T. Aschjnan), reports ■"The Press." Mr. Aschman's statement revealed that; because oi! the falling-off in the Tents of the endowment lands of the college, i^s finances are in-such a difficult;position that,- if assistance is not received; drastic, reductions in'the work of the college will have to be considered.?; ,' ' Souvenir for Sardine. '. -The first ball used, in the ; IiLC.C. team's match with Wellington at the Basin Beservo. on Wednesday is to .be added to the. mementoes of a iaeinorable cricket tour.' The-' Wellington Cricket Association, having xeceived the ball from ono of the . ampirSs,- has decided to have it, suitably inscribed and presented to ' D., B. Jardine, captain of the M.C.C. team, on, his return from Christehureh > next week. The fact that it was the first ball used in the first match of the New Zealand section of the tour will he indicated in the inscription. ; Transport of Cars. ■' The following were among the remits adopted by the South Island Motor Union at its half-yearly meeting:—(l) "That the South- Island Motor Union take up with, the Union Steam Ship Company, Limited, the -matter of:present charges for steamer-freight, on cars, Picton to Wellington and. vice versa, and request that a substantial reduction be made on the present rate." (2) "That the New Zealand Bailways Board be asked to reduce-the wharfage charged on cars being shipped' over the Picton wharf ,to an amount /more in uniformity with the wharfage at o'th.er ports." The union decided to work'in conjunction with tho North Island Motor Union.1 ■• ■ '■;'■ '/;'.':-/ Gold Prospecting Scheme. ■ ' ;. . ; ■ : '■. ■A new scheme providing for assistance for companies and syndicates engaged inj gold prospecting "is ainder consideration, according .to a 'statement by Mr. E. T. Bailey r ;officer..in: charge' of -the Labour Department, Christchurch (reports "The Press"). 'It pro-, vides for the employment of registered unemployed, on a subsidised- basis, vby the companies and syndicates, and is for the purpose of prospecting, their claims with a view to .'establishing' the payable nature of the grounds^propbsod to be worked; The subsidy offered by the.Unemployment Board represents a payment of 20s. a week for married, and 5s a week for single men removed from the unemployment register and employed oil approved prospecting work. The subsidy., is not hard and fast, provision being mado for work of a special nature. It may even be increased ,to 30s and 15s, each application being considered on its merits.