NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2235, 5 February 1921, Page 1

NEWS AND NOTES.

Tlio present condition of the boot trade in Australia is causing grave concern, not only to the manufiic. hirers and the employees, hut also to sections of the public affected both directly and indirectly (states the Melbourne Age). It is not the existing industry alone which has led to the dislocation of the boot trade. There are other, factory which are equally important. The strikes and shortage of fuel have, in fact, meiv'ly aggravated a situation which waS already serious. Interest in the subject is being manifested by the Bureau of Commerce and Industry, and the director (Mr Stirling Taylor) suggests that much could, be done to remedy the position by tlfe adoption of more efficient sales organisation, and he has made proposals to the boot and shoe manufacturer’s associations in the various States with a view to securing closer co-operation amongst manufacturers’ associations in the various States with a view to securing closer co-operation amongst manufacturers in disposing of their output overseas. South Africa is indicated as a potential market for Australian bools and .'dioes. British manufacturers have regained control of South Africa, which was largely taken from them by America during the war. It certainly does seem, says the Age, that with more efficient organisation for the exploitation of overseas markets much could be done to save (he boot manufacturing business from the disaster which threatens it.

Having conjured up visions* of a rosy hydro-electric future, the Minister of Public Works brought his hearers at Lake Coleridge down to earth rather suddenly on Saturday, a \Ve have to provide for all New Zealand,” he said. “Canterbury is not a pocket borough, and we must make conditions equitable everywhere. You have heard of a place called Auckland, I suppose.” (Laughter.) The Minister then enumerated the big power schemes which the Government is preparing to develop—Arapuni (Auckland), Mangahao (Wellington), and Monowai (Otago). “Industries have grown up in Canterbury in anticipation of power,” he went on. “May 1 say that you have a very long start on the rest of New Zealand ? As far as possible, T will see that the available money is wisely and well spent. If the power from Lake Coleridge were doubled, we could sell it tomorrow, but we must see that other places have the same advantages as Christchurch.” Owing to its natural advantages, Christchurch, and Canterbury with it, had a tremendous future in industry, blit the Government’s duty was to look at New Zealand as a whole. So far as he could see, there was nothing to prevent the development of -10,001) h.p.Jn the province. The only question was how much money was available. II was for the people of Canterbury to assist by helping the Minister of Finance.

The Chief of Police in Shanghai has issued an edict against the extravagant styles now worn by Chinese women. It warns Chinese women against aping foreign styles with the display of ankles and bare arms. “Women’s wearing apparel,” says the edict, “is mostly too short, permitting the exposure of arms and ankles. Some of the clothing is an imitation of foreign styles, making the wearer neither foreign nor Chinese. The wearers are devoid of shame, and frequent public streets without embarrassment. In future all such women will be arrested and lined.”

Nobody would accuse the FrenchSwiss stage of excessive prudery, nor have British playwrights much to learn from it in the way of Puritanism. Yet an English play is the flrst to arouse the wrath of the local censor. Recently a Geneva company produced at Lausanne M. Guy de Pourtlaes’ translation of Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure.” The next day the manager of the theatre received a message from the Chief of Police intimating that he had had many complaints from the public protesting against “the pornographic tendency” of the play. In future such indecent spectacles, jvliich could only “have a bad effect upon the fair reputation of the town,” must not be tolerated. Jhe manager was therefore instructed to submit his repertory for the season of permission to perform would be withheld.

When an egg laid by a hen belonging to a poultry farmer of Stretcord Bridge, Herefordshire, was broken, it was found to contain a penny. The coin w r as bright, but the yolk of the egg was discoloured.