LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 29 July 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

In reply to criticisms at Hie Farmers' Union meeting on the delay in handling applications by the Rural Intermediate Credit Board, the commissioner states that the majority of applications from the district whence the complaint emanated were granted within three days. Others presented features requiring further information. There is serious responsibility on the hoard, and the commissioner claims, in effect, that it was only taking ordinary business precautions.—Press Association.

What is a “private car” and what is a "business ear"? The matter was under consideration at a meeting of the North Island .Motor Union's executive last week, when it was decided that better definitions were required. It was estimated that 70 per cent, of car owners describe# their vehicles as “private cars'’ When taking out their third-party insurances. A letter nn the subject was received from the Minister of Transport (the Hon. W. A. Yeitch), who said he would he pleased to receive suggestions relative to the matter. Filially, it was decided to send to the Minister of Transport the following definitions, suggested hv Mr Duff: "A private car is one which is used substantially for private use. A business car is mie'which' is used substantially for business purposes.’’

"What wages are we paying the unemployed engaged on relief work? inquired Councillor W. J. Humphreys at the Blenheim llerougb Council meeting last week (reports the. "Express"). The Mayor replied that married men were being paid 12s per day, and no single men were employed, lor the reason that the number of unemployed married men was so great that, they could nut all he engaged. Councillor Humphreys said he had noted that the Government had raised objection to the rate the River Board was paying ami asked it it was paying subsidy on the Borough vale. His Worship replied in the aflirmative,.

There was an encr.it raging audience at tbe open-air concert given yesterday afternoon at Spring Grove by the Wakefield Citizens Band. The band is playing vetv iiedilably and the items given at’ yesterday's function were Wi ll chosen and rendered with taste. All Hills fruitgrowers are invited In attend at the Mapua Church Hall cm Friday evening next, when orchard manuring will be discussed by Mr 1. li.igg. of the Cawthron Institute. ,Still xuany remarkable bargains at Trot hen's Double Reduction Sale this week,* The Usual Old Tittle Dance will be held in the Vp);na flail to-morrow evening. Trallien’s Double Reduction, Sale has been much appreciated by large crowds of satisfied customers, and will be com tinuM all this week*

| It, has been arranged that aero clubs and aviators Tn New Zealand may forward telegrams to any Postmaster requesting information regarding the slate of the weather. The telegrams are forwarded at a uniform rate of Is for each message (including reply), but the number of words in each telegram must not exceed twelve. If required, the telegram may be made urgent, at double the above rate.

There was a touch of subtle humour about the inquiry made by Mr 11. Y. Monro, at last week’s meeting of the Marlborough A. and P. Association, when ho a,sited if th 0 Finance Committee had yet reported on a circular on the. subject of 1 Customs .tariff barriers which had been inferred to it two or three meetings previously (says the “Express”). “It is such an important matter and has baffled the greatest statesmen in England for hundreds of years,” ho said, “that I am rather interested to know whether the committee has arrived at a conclusion. What is the position?” The secretary stated that the committee had partially considered the matter but had come to no decision as yet. “I think we have asked, the committee to do too much,” remarked Mr Monro, ‘‘but I would like to bear its report.” “I can understand your wanting to hear their report,” observed Mr C .Nees. “You are interested to hear what their solution will be.” Mr Monro: “Exactly.” He formally asked that the committee report to the next meeting without fail."—(Laughter). A man who has listened to the buzz of circular saws for forty years or so mentions the relative infrequency of loss of fingers, although he himself exhibits a pair of hands both denuded of thumbs by planing machines (wrjjt|es: “M.A.T.” in the Auckland “Star”). He mentions, too, that while he worked in an Auckland sawmill there used to be a small saw among the; stacked timber so that stackers coming across boards with a rough end might square them before putting them on the “fillets.” A mate used this saw one morning, flicked his hand as if in. momentary pain, and went on with his work for a minute or two. Then he looked at his hand and said, “Mv word, my finger’s gone!” The old saw hand says" that immediately after first, aid had been given to the*man his one idea was to find the severed finger. “I don’t know what he wanted with it,” says the saw man, "but he found it in the sawdust.”

A suggestion was made recently by the Wanganui Automobile Association that an inspection of the overgrowth about level crossings should be made at least once a year, and as the bulk of the growth occurred ia the spring, the inspection should take place in Npvemlicr or December. The General Manager of Railways replied that it was not considered advisable to fix a definite date or period for the inspection of level crossings and the approaches thereto, but that the necessity for keeping down the growth of weeds in such localities had been impressed upon the staff. The North Island Union reiterated the opinion that a definite period should be set aside for the inspection. To this Mr Sterling replied that his Department was willing to remove any obstructions, such as trees, banks, etc., on railway property which impaired the view at level crossings. In tin's connection a crossing improvement programme was being drawn up, and the Railway Department is collaborating with the Public Works Department to improve the visibility in places where the obstructions were on other than railway property. In cases where overgrowth of the kind was likely to occur when the visibility was reasonably good, and which would not come into the improvement programme, lie is of the opinion that his action : n impressing the necessity of keeping down the growth upon the staff reasonably met the position.

It was freely stated at last week's session of the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union that sheen-stealing was rife in many parts of New Zealand, and several instances were quoted. A Poverty Bay delegate said that lie knew personally of a mob of 800 sheep, placed in a paddock near a homestead, being taken over night, and never found. Sheep stolen were never immediately sold, and farmers in his district had come to the conclusion that there must he more than one engaged in the theft—one who received the stolen animals and hold them for some months. Another delegate said that a neighbour bad had sheep stolon five years in succession, and another said that his two sons had lost 400 sheep. The matter had been placed in the hands of detectives, who said that frequently farmers left the reporting of thefts far too long. The last- speaker on tho subject suggested that in cases of sheepstealing trial should be before a jury composed of farmers, and the idea appeared to find favour.

The disastrous effects that a serious drop in the price of wool would have on .New Zealand were referred to by Mr W. H. Field (OtalciJ in the House of Representatives. Mr Field said that he had been informed that the reason why the manufacturers at Homo could not afford to pay high prices was that they were using'obsolete machinery and could not successfully compete with the manufacturers in European countries. He had also heard it stated that there was a general endeavour to keep prices down. Mr Field also said that considerable alarm was being expressed as a result of the increased use being made of artificial silk. In Australia the Commonwealth Government and the State Governments were making money available to assisL the woclgrowers to make known the superiority of wool, and although he did not anticipate that the New Zealand Government would he able to make a very large sum available, he thought they might do something. Any drop in the price of wool was likely to have a very depressing effect on the country as a whole.

Tlow the public taste changes with the years! China tea was all the go at one time. Now it is Indian. In days gone by brandy was the popular spirit. Now it is whisky. Formerly American tobacco was exclusively smoked. Now the demand is for the' brands of the National Tobacco Company. Ltd. (pioneers of the tobacco industry m New Zealand), af nil events in this country. Ordinary tobaccos (too rich in nicotine) are apt In affect heart and nerves if smoked habitually. National Tobacco Co.'s goods are practically free, from nicotine, and quite safe to smoke. Why? Because they are toasted. This process also accounts for their wonderful flavour and boiUjUPt. And—mark this!—they are the only toasted tobaccos. Ask for "Riverhead Gold” (a sweet aromatic), "Navy Cut” (a specially choice blend of medium strength), ”C'tivepdislt” /the renowned sporting mixture, a groat favourite. also medium) or ”L'ul Plug No. 1C” la fine, full-flavoured baccy). These brands (in universal demand) are on sale at nil tobacconists,* Dress Fabrics, Bilks, Millinery, Frocks, Coats, Furs, ete., all at double reduction prices this week.—Trathen's Sale. * A huge success. Trathen’s Reduction Sale still goes on.*' Photos of the principals and chorus in "Going !Jp - ’ have been printed on cardboard sheets and are on view in moot of the shop windows in town, where they are attracting a lot of attention. The first of three performances will be given at the Majestic to-morrow night.

Double reductions in all departments -Trathen’s Sale this week.*

Mr W. H. lorns, chairman of the Dairy Produce Board, ir< his monthly review of the industry, related a curious instance of eilher carelessness in manufacture or wilful mischief. 110 was dealing with insurance cover and explained what it did not insure producers against. “For instance,” ho said, “if cheese develops a bad flavour duo to faulty milk, such deterioration is not cpvered; nor is the loss which was incurred last season by reason of a beer bottle being found embedded in the centre of one of the cheese.” The bottle, apparently, was empty. Education was considered by the New Zealand Fanners’ Uniop Conference last week, when the following remit was carried: “That the conference urges that the new enriched syllabus (with the adoption of form 3 of the primary school syllabus and the proposed bias towards agriculture) should he given a fair trial in our primary schools without the gross transference of senior pupils to other town institutions.”

The record of the Warea Daily Company gives a striking illustration of the increase in production along the Taranaki coast ol late years, due to the more progressive farming methods adopted, comments the “News”. In 1923, the first year the company was separate from the Newall branch, the output)was 226 tons of cheese and 12 tons of creamery butter, the total amount distributed to suppliers being £23,052 11s on; the basis of Is 10(d per" lb. Seven years later the output had increased t0’437 tons of cheese, and though tlip pay-out was based on Is 7d, the. total distributed among suppliers was £29,539 10s. The test had steadily increased from 3.97 to 4.1. Very little fresh country had in the meantime been brought in to dairying, but one farmer’s experience will give some idea of what can be done by more intensive farming. When ,Mr F. Sole took over his property of 364 acres eight years ago the farm was .carrying 80 cows; last year it carried 240 cows.

The possibility that the proceeds of the petrol tax 'might be encroached upon and used for other purposes but tlie making and upkeep of roads, was mentioned during the course of a deputation of motorists to the Prime Minister last week. Mr A. J. Toogood raised the matter and said there appeared to be a belief that the Government was going to encroach on the petrol tax money. They would like an assurance from the Government that such was not the case. The Prime Minister’s reply was brief and to the point. “No, you are not getting any assurance from me,” said Sir Joseph. “I am giving no- indication of anything that might be in the Budget.” Believing that an art union could not be conducted at a reasonable profit, the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association unanimously rejected a proposal that such means should be adopted to raise funds for the sport (states the “Lyttelton Times”). 'lt was stated that the centre, in giving prizes of up to perhaps £IOOO, could not hopo to compete with others which had £4OOO or £SOOO as their prizes. The secretary (Mr G. G. Lockwood) reported that some two or three months ago it became known to executive officers of the centre that art unions would bo permitted again. The speaker wrote to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perelle) to ascertain the position, with the possibility in mind of conducting an art union for athletic purposes. No satisfaction was received from the Minister, who enclosed a form for the centre’s application. The secretary had learned that other bodies were going to run art unions. He did not propose that the centre should conduct one on its own account, but that it should combine with the Canterbury Hockey Association, giving £IOOO as the first prize. Art unions were being started by aviation clubs, which had first preference. The centre could not hope to compete with those art unions which had £4OOO or £SQOO as prizes. Moreover, the prize money had lo be put down first, and in alluvial gold, which would be a difficult matter nowadays. A member: “I suppose they take it in turn, to pass on the alluvial gold, don’t they?” (Laughter.) The secretary (jocularly): “Yes. Apparently one cannot start before tho other finishes.” On tho secretary’s recommendation, and also that of several members, it was decided not to go on with the project.

Signals at railway crossings, and particularly (he waving of a green Hag to order motor traffic to stop, were the subject of two letters received at last week’s meeting of the executive of the North Island Motor Union from the General Manager of Railways (Mr H. 11. Sterling). One letter stated that the Department had in view the question of replacing the flags with suitable signs marked “Stop,” if a suitable type of signal could be devised. A later letter stated that a new lamp would be available shortly, when arrangements would he made to try it. If it were suitable in every respect the Department would push on with the manufacture of a sufficient number of the lamps to meet requirements throughout the Dominion. The construction of placards for day signals would also be put in hand at the same time. Mr Sterling was, however, unable to state definitely when the new system would be introduced.

Hie executive of the Marlborough Dairy Companies Association has decided to proceed with the scheme for handling “bobby'' calves this coining season. Each dairy company will establish depots where the calves will he picked up by the carriers, to be transported to the Picton freezing works. A pleasing feature of the scheme (saws the “Express") is that the freight charges are to be pooled. This will give dairy farmers who live a long way off a chance to come into the scheme. As the movement is a co-ope-rative one and a benefit to the district., it is hoped that the enterprise will be successful. Hie Freezing Company is doing its pari, and it remains with the dairy farmers to endeavour to take the fullest advantage and support the scheme as far as possible.

At last week’s meeting of the Blenheim Borough Council the Fire Brigade Committee reported that it had received advice from (lie Fire Brigade to the efteet that that organisation, does not intend to undertake the necessary preliminaries for the formation, of a Fire Board, but recommends the Council to invite tlie Government Inspector of Fire Brigades to visit Blenheim to advise in regard to the question. The Council contented itself by adopting the report without discussion,