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Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1920, Page 2

The Westland Electric-Power Board, recently constituted, and which held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday night, should, as it proceeds with its responsible duties, provide the means for very important developments in Westland. Tho Board is a representative institution, its membership including those who have a good knowledge of the district. Mr Butler, elected Chairman, is new to the life of local bodies, but be has had very considerable lixperienco in directing large public companies, and as an active member of semi-public bodies has proved a useful member with ideas and suggestions, always making for the public good. The Board’s work at tho outset will be largely preliminary probing electric power, for a- scheme which will bo central of substantial power, and within a reasonable cost. Electric power wherever possible in the world is making great progress. There was just the other day the announcement of the huge scheme to harness the tidal waters of the river Severn in England. The great project—the largest in the world would hardly be contemplated unless it carried in its train the means to provide a great industrial achievement. As Mr Butler thoughtfully remarked tho other evening, a nation’s greatness is now being measured by the horse-power available per head of population for industry. America, thanks to the application of machinery which is being propelled more and more by electric power, has made great strides industrially, and as was mentioned in a thought for the times the other day, this fact is tlie secret of the power, wealth and population of that great country. Here one of the tilings we lack is tho opening for secondary industries. We talk of the gold eventually being worked out, of the timber being cut out, and what industrial occupations are to replace these? Settlement we will have more and more, but secondary industries are a useful adjunct, assisting as they would by the provision of cheaper commodities to help the man on the land. The experience in other counties is that where there is cheap motive power, there you will find industrial expansion. New Zealand is just experiencing this, as witness the industrial development in Canterbury. Hero where there are available sources of power there should be the ambition and enterprise to do what other places arc doing, and we hope the Westland Electric Power Board will advance rapidly along a like fine 0 f development.

Nominations for all events at the Hokitika races close to-night at 9 o’clock.

The Committee of the Westland Rnc. ing Club meets to-night at 8.30 o’clock. As there is some business of importance to transact a full attendance is requested,

It’s your turn for a swim, the water is fine, so are H,B. swimming suits! Two piece and plain bathing suits, men’s and boy’s 3/6, 3/11, 4/9, 5/6, also a full range of trunks in stock at the N Z. Clothing Factory. The Hon Mark Cohen, who has been editor of the Dunedin “Evening Star” for more than a generation, vacated the chair on Wednesday morning. His successor is Mr W. F. Alexander, who for the past ten years has been editor of the Timaru “Herald.”

Questioned at Wellington regarding New Zealand’s representation at the June Imperial Conference, the Prime Minister (Rt Hon W. F. Massey) stated that there was yet a possibility that he would be able to attend. The probability was that, owing to important business, requiring his personal attention, and the possibilities of the industrial situation, he would be unable to leave the Dominion, in whicli case New Zealand would be represented by Sir Francis Bell and the High Commissioner ,(Sir James Allen).

Hay Fever ib speedily relieved by breathing in “NAZOL.” 60 doses Is 6d. Use the Nazol Inhaler. “The THINKERS Pictorial Exercise Books are having a distinctly refining influence on New Zealand school children.

£l3 10s invested in one of Tooliey’s bicycles will never bo regretted. Call and see him to-day.—~ Advt. The Borough Council is inviting tenders for the supply of fifty loads of grit. Tenders close on Wednesday next. The indications are for summer weather now. Call to the “H. 8.” for your Summer head gear, -where you will find an uncommonly good selection to choose from. Men’s straw boaters 9/6, 10/6, 12/6; Men’s Panama. Hats 9/11, 11/6, 15/6, to 30/-. Children’s straw bats from 2/11 each at the New Zealand Clothing Factory. Sub-Inspector Mathieson, who has been promoted to Inspector at Greymouth, joined the force at Dunedin in 1885. About 1905 be was promoted to sergeant, and after transfers to various parts of the Dominion was for four years senior sergeant at Christchurch, leaving there in 1917 to become subinspector at Dunedin.

Schroders are now allowing 3s in the pound on all their trimmed hats for easlwThis week we are opening out a splendid range of carpet runners, hearth rugs, curtains in net, Madras, casement curtains, cretons and serges, suitable for hall curtains, all marked at reduced price. Inspection invited at Schroders.—Advt.

At Addington stock sales on Wednes- ; day there was a good entry of fat pigs offered, but the demand was not at all keen. Values were as follows:—Chop-, pers £6 to £9, light baconers £5 5s to £5 15s, heavy baconers £6 to £7, extra heavy baconers £8 12s, average price per lb, lOd to lOjd, light porkers £3 15s to £4, heavy porkers £4 10s to £5, average price per lb to 11*. A medium entry of store pigs came forward, mostly small pigs. The demand was not at all keen, except for good pigs. Values were as follows: —Medium stores £3 10s to £4 12s, small stores £2 12s to £2 19s, weaners 25s to 49s 6d, sows in pig £9 10s to £l4 3s 6d. Sir Franeis Bell, Attorney-General, will leave for England in the Athenic in March, and will not be back in time for the session. Although he is going to England, for private reasons, be will most probably represent New Zealand at the Imperial Conference in June. The High Commissioner will probably also attend the Conference as a New Zealand representative. All this, of course, is contingent upon the Prime Minister’s inability to leave the Dominion. At present the indications are that Mr Massey will have to remain at the helm. In Sir Francis Bell’s absence the duties of Attorney-General will probably be undertaken by the Solicitor General, and Sir Francis’s other portfolios will be distributed among various members of the Executive. Sir William Fraser will probably act as Leader in the Legislative Council. The following resolutions in regard to the Otira tunnel were passed by the Canterbury Industrial Association at its annual meeting on Wednesday evening:—“(l) That this large and representative meeting of industrialists and business men of Canterbury views with consternation and alarm the grave delay that is taking place in the construction of the Otira tunnel, consequent upon tlie failure of the Government to keep up adequate supplies of cement, and after fully reviewing the position, this meeeting considers it essential in the interests of true national economy and efficiency, that, failing adequate supplies of cement being procurable in the Dominion, tlie Government should at once take steps to obtain outside supplies in such quantities as will enable the work at, the tunnel to proceed without further interruption. (2) In the opinion of this meeting the extra cost attaching to importation of cement is trifling, and would be more than fully compensated for by the great saving that would follow continuous progress of the work towards completion of the tunnel.” A significant circular sent to permanent heads of Government Departments by the Public Service Commissioner is reproduced by tlie Public Service Journal, as follows: —“I shall be glad if you will kindly supply a list of all temporary employees in your De- ' partment, giving particulars of thp date of appointment; their present remuneration ; the date from whiph payable; the nature of duties on which employed ; estimated period services likely to be required; whether regarded as addition to staff or replacing an officer. In the latter case tho name of the officer replaced is to be stated. lam further directed to refer you to the provisions of section 45 of the Public Service Act, and to advise that now that the war is over and the necessity for the retention of the services of temporary clerks is not so real it will be necessary for such employment to be in terms of that section i.e., employment in each case will he for a period not exceeding three months. In the event of the termination of the employment of such officer, ,ho shall not be eligible for temporary re-employment during the six months next following termination.”

The Wellington Blouse Company has gone bankrupt and McGruer and Co. bought at half the ordinary wholesale prices tho entire stock of over 1,000 up-to-date'blouses. This special purchase will be cleared out at half usual prices at the great Blouse Sale commencing on Saturday, Dec. 4th, and ending on Saturday, Dec. 11th. See price list in this newspaper, McGruer and Co., Hokitika and Greymouth.— Advt. There are NORTH BRITISH SOLID TRUCK TYRES for every truck. Form-a-trucks, Ford one-trucks, and every kind of runabout. Giving the world’s best service always.