WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1924, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

WOOL CREDITS,

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 28.

Advices received from Australia indicate that the exchange problem and the currency dillienlty continue to ail'ect the wool market, hut notwithstanding this the market keeps buoyant which only goes to show how very strong is the demand for wool. Inquiries in various directions elicited the iufoiinalion that this wool season in New /.onland will see a greater number of buyers in attendance, indeed the bench will he larger than at tiny time in the history of the Dominion. The buyers from abroad will have no difficulty in establishing credits in New Zealand, as a matter of fact several buyers have already arranged for their credits. New Zealand is not in the same position as Australia for we have no dillienlty about currency and exchange is not so expensive. As to market prospects, brokers are generally agreed that values are not likely to show any improvement. If there is no disturbance in world finance, the sales should prove extremely satisfactory to the growers. The Dominion mills are not enjoying good trade, and their probable operations on the. market cannot be estimated. Their attendance at the sales helps the bidding for they are generally forced to give a farthing to a half-penny more than Bradford or the Continent for the wools they want. The woollen mills are suffering from the importation of fabrics from Bradford and other sources, and it is doubtful whether shutting out shoddy is going to help matters very much. Production costs, owing to a variety of causes, must be much higher in New Zealand than in Bradford or the Continent and the advantages of duty and charges is probably more than off set by the higher cost of production.

WELLINGTON’S AI KAN STREETS. Wellington’s slum creating streets came in for some severe strictures in the Legislative Council, and while much of this was deserved, then l is no denying the fact that the City Council has to grapple with the faults .and short-sightedness of the earlier civic authorities. The growth of the City during the first 10 or 50 years of its existence was gradual, giving to their eit.v fathers little indication that Wellington would grow into a great city and busy port. Wellington has always been hard pressed for land on the Hat. and so narrow streets and narrower lanes were created, which were very gradually hemmed in by buildings. Many blind streets were laid out by those who came into possession of land at an early date, and wished to gain the maximum frontage for houses, without any thought for through communication. Blind streets usually became mean streets, but even these blind si rets served a useful purpose during I In l last sixty or seventy years. A good deal had been done in recent years to rectify the mistakes of the past. Several streets such as Grainger Street and Fraser's lane, the latter with an evil repute, have been wiped out. Grainger Street was a noisome slump ltd years ago. to-dav the site is covered with line commercial buildings, and the same can be said of Fraser's Lane, which was considerably widened and renamed Aitken Street alter the late lion .1. (!. Aitken. who was then Mayor of the city and who took an active part in the reform. .Many of ’Wellington's mean streets would be deserted if the city authorities oll'cred more and cheaper transit facilities. The suburbs are too far from the city, because of the inadequate tram facilities. Few people can all'ord half an hour or more in tram travelling to anil fro. Wellington's big problem is transport facilities. CONTRAST IN CIVIC I’ll IDK.

The Lower Mull, Borough Council furnishes an excellent example of civic pride and borough management. At the last borough election professional and biisine-s men offered their services to the ratepayer, and the latter showed wisdom ill accepting those services. Ever since the new -council

came into existence ;i now <■ r:i of prosol In fur tin 1 borough. ami last neck tlie new civil- ccnlrc ost;i!>li.-lio<l by the llntt Rnroiudi CiniiH'il was .< ll ,cin*f! by Her Excellency, Viscountess 'lellicne. Tlie new eivie ccnlrc ooiii-pri-.es n boil I I', acres of bind in the centre of |bc boruiiglt. uliidi i-. b.-iii;-tastefully laid out in gardens. limns, and play grounds. Situated in tlie park are a ladies’ rest room. with which is associated a dental parlour for I lie free use of the children of the borough, and a I’lunket Home lor the service of mothers. In another corner of l.lie block lias been built a modern lire station and ambulance room. The tea ami rest rooms wore Imilt by the ratepayers, anil the dental ami I’lmiket rums were built by donations from those interested in child and community welfare. It was announced at the o|X'tiin;r ceremony that Messrs K. V. Uidililonl and Erie I?iddiford bad decided to present the borough with modern swimming baths, complete in every detail at a cost of about .Co.ooo. The I!iddilorils Imve long boon eonnccti'd with the borough and this magnificent gift of the family will continue the association for all time. The mayor of the .Ixirinigh (Mr AY. T. Slmnd) is naturally very proud of what has been accomplished and generously acknowledges the wonderful civic spirit shown in (lie llutt Valley. Tf our local bodies could secure the services of more business men. and of lower politicians. civic life would he placed on a higher plane.