THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 30 April 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

More Justices Wanted.

There is urgent need for the appointment of some additional justices of the pence in Otaki. Tor years past this need has been felt, often causing considerable inconvenience, and sometimes leading to serious delay in the conduct of court business. With the departure of Mr M. Carkcck from the district, and the death of the lute Mr F. H. Bright, the list of men available has been yet further reduced, until now there arc only three justices of the peace upon whom the public"can rely for any measure of assistance. This means that these gentlemen have to devote a very considerable portion of their time to public duties, often causing them serious personal inconvenience, and it is altogether unreasonable to expect them to take the whole of these responsibilities, on their shoulders. We do not believe there is a to-wn of its size and importance in New Zealand so badly off for local justices. Time and again the police officer has great, difficulty in securing justices to preside at police court sitting', while the general public frequently experiences inconvenience through the difficulty in finding a J.P. to sign legal documents, etc. The want is a very real one, and in the public interest wo would urge the Town Board and the member for the district to make representations to the proper authorities to have sonic additional justices appointed. In the past diffieulty has been experienced in getting local residents to consent to appointment, but surely there arc a few capable" townsmen who have sufficient sense of their responsibilities as citizens to assist the good government of the place in this way.

\ Notice Boards Wanted. Some little time, back the Horo--whcnua County Council had finger-posts erected at certain road intersections, for the direction of traveller?, and also giving the names of roads. These were much appreciated, and have served a useful purpose. However, unfortunately, a few of the very worst comers arc "still unmarked, and these are a continual source of annoyance and inconvenience to strangers who have occasion to use the roads, and especially to motorists. As an example, we would refer to the perplexing corner near Moutere House, Otaki, at the junction of the main county road with Hill road (this is a Town Board matter). There is nothing to guide the traveller at this corner, which has led many an unwary motorist to take the wrong turning, and we have heard of several travellers journeying southwards who have followed Mill road right to the beach, and they had to turn back to the railway station to get on the main road again. At this and a few other corners, especially on the main arterial road, the erection of finger-posts would be a very great public convenience, and seeing the cost is only a small one, the Town Board and County Council should Have the matter attended to. While touching on this matter, it is a very great pity that, in erecting names of Toads, more care is not exercised, as in one or two instance? the names hare- been mis- , spelt, and are a constant source of irri- - ration —as instanced is the name Wai- | iohu Hoad, mis-spelt "WaitohotL" , Edifying (?) News. The cable aian must have a queer idea of the tastes of jbs New Zealand- j ers in the way of news, judging by the matter he serves up to us. A fine ex- I ample was cabled through to all the , New Zealand newspapers-a. day or. two] 3go as follows:—"The Prince of Wales , has been elected a member of the f Jockey Ciub. It Is reported that be -j will shortly become .at.Freemasos. The » Dsske of Connaught will conduct his | initiation." How very interesting! ) What a pity the cable man did not tell' as what the Frix.ee ox 3Fales lias for

breakfast; or" the colour of his latest; necktie! Evidently nows worthy of the' name must be scarce in the Old Country When this sort, of .twaddle is sent out to* us, and the newspapers have to pay for such piffle! Famine • - ■ .»-:." ~ •. Prices. " ■.. X-. :.;■*: Among the many inexplicable rises in the cost of living is the enormous increase in the cost of fresh fish in 'Wellington and other parts of the Doming ion. p According to the "Evening , Post,'' hapuka sold in the Wellington market a few days ago at Is per pound wholesale; it used to be, not very long ago, 4d per,pound retail.-- Hake, weigh - i ing 4-Jlb, 'sold at 6s, and this fish used to be retailed at id to 6d per pound. To quote the "Post," "It would seem that the humble groper cutlet as a breakfast delicacy will -have to take ! its place with the new-laid egg —in the museum, along with the other extinct ■ things there, and posterity will point 'to the fish and egg as some of. the food its ancestors once ate." It is preposterous in a country like New Zealand, where the waters teem with fish of all i kinds, that such an essential item of I food as fresh fish should be at such a I prohibitive price. It seems difficult to ; ascertain where the blame lies, but the ! retailers stoutly contend that they arc ! not overcharging. One thing is certain, ! and that is that the state of affairs '< should bo remedied, and the Govern- ' meat should take up the matter as one ' of great importance to the working j people, to whom fish should be a cheap : itsm of food, to bo had in plenty, i whereas it is now a luxury altogether I beyond the slender purses of the major- ; ity. If fishing were done properly, and tho sale regulated by Government, there j should always be a plentiful supply available at reasonable prices, and the public look to the Government to assist them in this matter.