AUCKLAND NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1933, Page 2

AUCKLAND NOTES

(Special Correspondent.) The news of t,he ideath of Mrs Broderick (nee Jessio Ilalfe) which appeared in the “Guardian,” and the various reminiscences which later appeared have caused considerable interest amongst the old West Coasters in this didh'ic't. Many of (these were pupils in the old schools which half a century ago provided the education.il facilities for those who in late r year, 3 have done good work in their various walks of life.

One of the strongest arguments in favour of the Small Farms Scheme is that it will provide reproduction development work for many of the unemployed. It is a very sad. feature of the unemployment problem that , r,s your Wellington correspondent points out, nearly half the unemployed appear unable or unwilling ’to give a fair days’ service for the wage they now receive. 'Local observation confirms this nncl probably only about 25 per cent, of the money now being expended gives an adequate return in work performed. The enormous demand for paper was illustrated this week when the Danish motor ship Lindley .arrived with an all-paper cargo from Nova Scotia. This is the second all-paper shipment brought to thi, s port. The time appears do be not fa r distant when the wood-pulp industry in New (Zealand—in which I am informed some £4,000,000 is hew invested—will, enable local industry to enter 'a field where there is every likelihood of success, as all authorities appear to agree that within the next few years there will be <a world shortage in t-hiis commodity.

The Winter Show closed last night. It was a wonderfully successful demonstration of what New Zealand earn produce and is producing. One exhibit of the products from a “one man farm’’ was simply marvellous, showing how nearly all requirements in food, and even clothing could bv skill and industry be obtained directly from the land. Even ■«, spinning wheel and small loom were in evidence. Our worthy Governor-General wa s so impressed that he expressed the desire to visit this small hnldng, and a$ ,a practical farmer investigate th 0 possibilities of these small allotments. As I was standing ip front of a most interesting stall in the ’ Winter Show, handling skeins, of apparently beautiful soft isilk and the garments worn from it, the 'attendant caWed my attention to sheets of - “iclarifoil” or “cellophane’’ transparent, as ,glass,. ( in which butter, meat, bread and other. perishable goods were wrapped ; , a lso to a sherry-coloured lacquer. All these were products from phorrmum tenax, or . New Zealand flax prepared by a new, chemical process. It has tong been, recognised that at ~sp; r pe ..future,, tfme,, tips ..flax ; would be regarded as one of ..the most valuable and profitable products of Now Zealand. Fortunes have been spent in experiments on the preparation of flax, and the results have been probably, on the whole, disappointing. But if (success . has now been 'attained there should be a. marvellous future for the flax industry. It will have a redaction on the. dairying Industry, r<s experts are of opinion that butter will in the near, future be packed in lib clarifoil pilote<s;ed wrappers, which will prevent any taint 'from the packing cases, n,nd prevent the .blending of New Zealand butter with inferior grades produced in other countries. In America I understand nearly all food stuffs are protected by some form of cellulose wrapper.

The .action of the banks in reducing the rate on, fixed deposits to three per cent, and under should have some effect in loosening up the amounts now tied up in this manner. Unfortunately the rates for advances have not yet fallen in proportion, 'as six and seven per cent. i s gfiU being demanded in the vast majority of cases.

In Maiy last a, one-legged man, Mr W. Adamson, left Auckland to walk t,o the Bluff and back. He .returned this week having accomplished what surely must remain for some time a ('accord. He accepted rides in motor oars when offered, but never asked for a ride.

The Dougla 6 Credit movement has been pretty effectively exposed by the two local daily papers, who have quite fairly given Colonel Closey, the leading exponent of the system, a chance t 0 reply at length. The reply, however, which was rather a remarkable example of faulty reasoning based on false premise was probably mor c dam-

aging to the cause of the “Dougfasites’ - th itf the criticism itself. It should locally at least dispose once and for all of ia,theory which Mr Stevens, the N.S.W, Premier, tersely summed up us “more active than accurate, move versatile than valuable.’’ Nevertheless it was no doubt a. well intentioned effort, and it has directed .attention t 0 certain elements of truth which are likely to have wide reaching effects in the economic history of the world. iSome confusion of thought may- well follow laboured attempts to flounder through economic problems, but statement of facts is inexcusable. Comment had been made about the number of returned soldiers who were apparently identifying themselves with the Douglas credit movement. Colonel Closey replied that man who left Now Zealand during the War normally entrusted his money to the care of the banks, 'and his experience was that upon hi s return there was returned to him a depreciated currency worfii 11s 3d in the £. He was financially helped by a, grateful country in .the shape of generous loans at this same collapsed ratio.” Now as a matter of fact the war ended in 1918, and it war, not unti] 'ten years afterwards that the exchange rate started to go against New Zealand. In 1930 it was only 4-£ per cent. When our . soldiers returned those of them who had money in the banks could have drawn it out in currency which was then on parity with gold, and the “generous loans” referred to were made in such currency. The ,sad new,g of the death of, Mr T. H. Gill, which ocoura’ed last week in Wellington, will have been received with the sincerest regret by old West Coasters. Mr Gill was' Rector of the District High School for many years, 1 was a. man of outstanding personality, and sterling worth. Many men holding leading and responsible positions, and who have made a name for themselves were pupils under Mr Gill, and have frankly attributed much of their success ito his influence and example. He was ia keen student of economics, a brilliant debater, and a man of exceptionally genial land kindly nature. Those who had the privilege of his friendship will feel the loss keenly, and the widest sympathy will be felt ( ■for Mrs Gill and the family in their | bereavement. , I