LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2101, 11 March 1920, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Borough Council has, issued instructions to the Inspector of -Nuisances to make an inspection of all licensed vehicles, and report on their condition at the next meeting of the Council. At .Monday night’s Council meeting it was decided to draw the attention of the authorities to (he quantity of noxious weeds growing in the borough, with the request, that action he taken to compel properly owners to (dear same without delay. Keferringdo the shortage of motor cars, a Palmerston north resident, who has returned from abroad, slated that if the American manufacturers build 1,500,000 cars this year there would still he a shortage of 1,000,000 ears in the United States itself. The War Graves Commission approved of the application from New Zealand for memorials at four sides in Envo)ie, viz: The Somme (factory cornel'), .Messines (the square), Gravenslafel Cross Hoads, and Le ( t hiesuov. it: is not known what transpired regarding the sites nominated at Anzac and In Palestine. The Borough Band was in attendance at Taikorea .-ports yesterday, and they and their lady friends were very bo.-pilably treated. In the Bandsmen's race the prize,-, u pocket wallet an if thermos Hash, were carried off by I In' hand oldcers, Sergeant Newtli lirsf and the Bandmaster a good second. Tin* Band played an enlivening selection, as they passed through the town. A definite decision as to whether the price of beer retailed to the public will be increased Inis not yet been readied by the licensed victuallers of Auckland.- If is slated that the brewers had contemplated making such an increase in tin* wholesale price of ale and stout, to cover the greatly increased cost of production, that the hotelkeepers would have been obliged to raise (he retail prices. it is now considered probable that the brewers will not increase their prices to such an extent as was anticipated, and that I lie licensees will not raise the price of draught beer. It is stated, however, (bat there will probably be an advance in the retail price of bullied beer.

A correspondent in the Daily Mail, who says he is both a sheep farmer and a retail draper (stales the Cost's London correspondent) writes: ‘T am receiving Is (id per ih. for black-faced wool. 1 am retailing wheeling yarn at 12s per lb. Where does this 10s (id per lb. difference go.' Surely (he washing, bleaching, dyeing, together with the profit of the wool broker, the wholesaler, and the draper, does not amount to half of this? There is only* the spinner left. The usual reply is that black-faced wool is mu suitable for the making of wheeling yarn, but even the highest priced of our home-grown wool is only .‘ss per !b., and that still leaves a difference of 9s per lb. between the raw wool and the manufactured yarn.”

The Prime .Minister, in his capacity of Acting-Minister of finance, issued on .Monday a statement of the revenue ami expenditure for the eleven months of the financial year ended February 29th, with the usual comparison with the figures for tho corresponding period of last year. The figures show in effect that increase in revenue is just about balanced by increase in expenditure, but in the last month of the year it always happens that there tire sums, added to revenue which assure a surplus, and it is considered reasonable to hope for a surplus this year, although perhaps not such a surplus as was returned at the end of last year.'

A meeting of the Foxfou Harbour Board will be held aT Palmerston North to-morrow, at J. 30 p.rn. The members of the Presbyterian Radies’ Guild spent an’enjoyable afternoon at the residence of Mr?John Ross on Tuesday. The steamer Ngafiawa, which stranded on the western spit at the Opotiki harbour entrance on the evening of February 18(h, was refloated on Sunday, and berthed at Opotiki wharf; the vessel is practically undamaged. The Town Hall Picture management advise that they have secured another special super-attraction, which they intend to screen on Monday night. Further particulars will appear in Saturday's issue. The denominational school que.--I ion was raised at the Methodist Gonferenee in Auckland. 'Che Rev. (1, S. ('ook ( !hilim , i‘ -l<m N'inh) mid that, owing to the loci that ihcii Clmi'ch had no -cion)- nf it - own, many children under.ih" iidlucncc of other religion.- dcriononalii.ns a I .-.ccomlary chno! • I bey a' - 1 ended. I ine oft he nit ana I>■ "o a (piences, lie aflit nieii, va 1 lia] iosupply of M.eiliodi-.f inini-ter ■■ w.n affected. The conference consider ■ ed that where denominalinnal schools were established the responsibility should he undertaken by syndicates of laymen on behalf of the Church, as had been dune in olher churches. The need for the* improvement of the arterial roads of (he Dominion was mentioned by the Prime 'Minister on Wednesday. Good arterial roads. In* said, wen l absolutely essential to the development of the ennui ry. The country roads must be made good enough for nador Ira Hie if people were to be attracted u> country life. Rots of these mails were, hardly lit for bullock traction at present. Mr Massey added tliai he had legislation in hand designed (o secure the improvement of the arterial roads. He hoped to la* able to plaee it before Parliament during the eoming session. When the completion of arterial roads made it possible for motor ears io rim from Auckland to Wellington, and From Taranaki to Auckland, then I lie Government would be aide to fall back upon the roads of less importance, lie did not believe that good roads would ever interfere with railway (raflic. They would bring fra Hie to the railways, not lake it away from them.