AUCKLAND NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1932, Page 3

AUCKLAND NOTES

STATISTICS OF THE SLUMP).

UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG. YOUTHS

(From our own Correspondent)

AUCKLAND, September 10,

Many sensational figures could;: be quoted' to illustrate*:tile; “slump.” . The moat' sc-nsational; and;-.serious of course was the drop in wool values from over £13,000,000 in 1928 to three and- a half millions )in 1932. . jut ..our decrease, in, impors is rather startlingly illustrated by the figures showing, that in 1925 we purchased' motor vehicles--to the value of £2,261,650. while in 1932 the, value was only £267,113 —a re-d-notion of nearly two millions per year. -.- • ■

The now trade, agreement as between Canada and . New Zealand appears to have; had an almost immediate effect. The steamer Canadian Conqueror 'imp jilst: f brought 8,000 tons )n • Canadian merchandise and .will take aep- much in return cargo from New Zealand, and Australian ports. The Canadian Cruiser is due shortly with full cargo for New Zealand and will take, a full return load without visiting' Australia.

The success of the great British loan conversion scheme and the hope of some tangible results from, the Ottawa Conference may have been responsible in some measure for the rnore optimistic itone in the local Stock Exchange-. There has been a gradual but marked increase in quotations for what’were known as gi'.tedged' securities, and bids are heinr made for industrial shares which, have been for a long time neglected. As ngaiiist this, however, it must be noted that property and rental values have fallen enormously and very little .money is available on mortgage. Uh’ess the lead given by . the British bondholders is followed generally and the rates of .interest on Government and local body loans voluntarily, reduced’ under some comprehensive" conversion scheme 'it is difficult to s e e how that financial readjustment on which the future prosperity of the country is dependent can be brought about, • "

The provision of employment for boys is a problem- which- is rightly causing very great concern locally. :t lias -baon pointed out . tWat; of the thousands .new unemployed, ninety per cent, can -have no possible hop e of becoming civil'servants;, clerks, or tradesmen. Under such conditions iithe absolute necessity of developing small settlement -schemes,' and placing boys on The land is so apparent. 4hat every pi -ssible effort inust be made, arid Without de.lay to cari r y it., into effect. Local committees have been formed .and financial assistance hag been given but failing help from the unemployment funds it .is difficult to keep pace v ith the problem, though good work is being done. A good suggestion. 1 has been made that boys who will have, to go on the land, but who cannot immediately be placed, . should in the meantime, receive at the’ technical school training in elementary branches of carpentery, black-smith work', plumbing painting, engineering, etc., which would St them as “handymen” for the country life in which they must later find their vocation. The -local employment bureau has, I understand, been instrumental- .in placing some 530 boys in positions, mostly with farmers, and the reports received have been on the whole very encouraging. The 'Rev. De Voi] and Nursing ■Dawes left by the Niagara on Tuosfor the British So’omon Islands via Sydney. They expect to be- 'away for three years. The new Southern Cross mission vessel is expected t° arrive about the end of the month. The newly appointed Bishop of Melanesia, the Rev. W. H. Baddeley, U.A., D.L.0., iM.C., will bg confeecrated here on the 30th.

Bathers in the vicinity of the Shelly Beach baths have been troubled recently by a. black-backed seagull’ which attacks swimmers. Cases have boon repotted before, but they are very rare, and no explanation can. be found for the occasional display of' viciousness and bad temper. A live shell, of large calibre and weighing over 2001bs was discovered by some schoolboys on Rangitotq Is 1 and. It had apparently been fired . from the Port on North Head at least 35 years ago. The Defence Department sent oven- ia party of- men who .placed a charge of guncotton under the shell which exploded with considerable force and was completely shattered. Possibly owing to the improved outlook there has recently been a .slight increase in building activities in and iro"”d Auckland. Two or ..three new dwellings are in course- of erection the North 'Shore side; and there if quite a little renovation noticeable on older houses 'end, properties on both r,ides of the harbour.