DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1926, Page 3

DOMINION ITEMS.

[by TFXF.GRArn— PER PRF.SS ASSOCIATION.]

DOMINION PRODUCE. SC I ENT IFIC A D V FRITS I NO ESSENTIAL. DANNKVIRKE, March 19. The Hon W. Bomber Reeves, in the course of an interview, was asked whether .lie cared to express an opinion on the policy of produce control adopted by New Zealand. He said he only desired to stress the necessity of the Government and the farming community securing the best men available in this country to act upon the control boards. Men with acute- brains in London handled the marketing of the produce—men who had made a specialised study of their business; and tins fact should be realised when appointing the personnel of a control hoard.

Mr Reeves also advocated the scientific advertising of New Zealand products at Il<iiue. Asked when he meant by scientific advertising, he said this could host he done through tile agency of expert- publicity firms at Home, which understood how to get the best value out of newspaper advertising. When he was told that there were advertising agencies in Now Zealand of high standing, who understood English advertising, he said their services might quite well he used. He thought that valuable propaganda might he carried out in instructing British consumers how to cook frozen meat properly.

PACKED FOODSTUFFS. EVEN WEIGHTS TO BE ENFORCED DUNEDIN, .March 19. At the Grocers’ Conference to-day Mr .Myers, of the Department of Health, opened a discussion on weights, measures and foodstuffs. He stated that the Minister had instructed him to issue the statement that the Department intended to introduce the system, already prevailing for butter and tea which requires, in respect of commonly-used foodstuffs sold in paper wrappers and packages, that the weight shall he a pound or an even proportion of a pound. He also stated that the Department, would get into touch with manufacturers and packers in order to determine a date after which it would he necessary that the weight of the contents of a tin or jar ’.should he a pound, or multiple of a pound, or an even fraction of a pound. No less I'hiin two years would lie allowed to manufacturers to enable tin-in to dispose of their stocks prior to the new regulations being enforced. Representatives at the conference spoke generally in favour of the suggestions. hut manufacturers who were present stated that owing to the very dilloroiii weights of the same bulk of many products, manufacturers who bad standardised their container sixes could not. with their machinery, get tlio same weight for all products, while to alter tile machinery would involve great expense.

Mr Myers said the Department would endeavour to draft regulations to meet this difficulty. THE LAND EPILATION. COST'S FACTOR TOO HIGH. WELLINGTON. March 20. Under present conditions, much of I lie undeveloped land of New Zealand would not pay for development unless it was given to the settler for nothing. This radical statement was made by the .Minister of Lands, the lion A. D. McLeod, in the course of his reply to Waikato people who hope that Government money may be put into draining some swamp lands. There is difference of opinion as to whether the productivity of certain undeveloped land, at present working expenses. would give a return oil its development cost—ho alone iis development com plus a value for its present owners. The question is whether the working cost lias become so high n factor in the equation that the owner’s value at the present time is nil.

The Minister stated that in New Zealand ’there was a large area of undeveloped land which, by the time it was brought into lull productivity, would have none of its original value left owing to the large amount of money it would cost to develop. Jlc suggested that chambers of commerce might well take up as a subject of discussion, ‘‘ How Best to Reduce Costings to the Man on the Land.” There wore thousands of acres of bush lands in tliis country that were brought into cultivation twenty years ago at a cost of £5 per acre from the day the axe was put in until the time the produce was sold in the market:. It would cost nearer £lO per acre to do the same ( lass of work to-day. The Minister also referred to small undeveloped areas that were paying only because a man and his family worked on them. If a man holding such land had to pay labour at the standard rates of wages and observe limitation of hours, lie would not, he able to bring it into cultivation at .all.

ALLEGED BREACH. AUCKLAND. March 23. At the Poliie Court, the Inspector of Awards claimed CIO from T. F. Anderson, secretary nl Auckland Seamen’s Union on a charge of having incited or instigated an unlawful strike on the steamer AA’hangape on January Bth. The case arose out of trouble in which coastal seamen refused to work steam valves. It was alleged that the defendant endeavoured to prevent Albert Blackburn sailing in any ship until he paid a fine of £1 imposed by the executive of the AYellington Union. Blackburn, in evidence, admitted that Anderson offered to lend him the money to pay his fine. After argument. the hearing was adjourned till the afternoon on a non-suit point.

train delayed. AUCKLAND. March 23,

The daylight limited express from AA’ellington was delayed at Penrose this morning hy the derailment of a train being shunted. The cars did not capsize, no one was injured and no damage was done to the permanent way or train, beyond the straining of the brakes. The mishap occurred at 7 a.m. and hy 8.15 the way was clear. The Daylight Limited scheduled to leave Auckland at 7.53 did not get awav till 8.34 a.m.

A BIG CLAIM

CHRISTCHURCH. March 23

In the Supreme Court this morning the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op. claimed £12,208 against the trustees of the estate of the late Richard Evans of Kaiapoi in eonnetion with the financial side of large wheat transactions during Evans’ life time. The defence denies the claim. Proceeding.

POSTAL OFFICER CHARGED. TTMARU. March 23.

John AA'illiam Davey, a postal officer, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day with the theft of postal packets eonaining sums of money totalling £ls. He was also charged with extracting £3 from a postal packet while in the process of transmission, and with opening postal packets on two occasions contrary to duty. The accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Timaru for sentence. Bail was allowed.

NEW BISHOP ARRIVES. CHRISTCHURCH, March 23. When Bishop West-Watson arrived at Lyttelton this morning he was met by the whole of the Christchurch clergy and welcomed to the province and esscorted over the hill by way of Sumner to Christchurch. This route had been followed by Bishop Harper, seventy vears ago. The enthronement of the new Bishop takes place to-morrow night. BISHOP’S IMPRESSIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, March 23. "I have read of the Canterbury Pilgrims” said the new Bishop of Cli -istchurch on arrival this morning. "It was a thrilling moment to -see the bridle track aver which the founders of the Province passed in crossing the liil-l. I had an ■ impression that I should unloosen my .slioi-s is this was holy ground.” EXTENSIVE ROAD-.MAKLVO GISBORNE. .March 23.

The last, of the stone required to complete the metalling of the East Coast road between Gisborne and Tola ga Bay was carted out to-day, ensuring flic completion of the most extensive road making undertaking carried out in the Dominion in the course of one season.