MISCELLANEOUS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 4 July 1919, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Paliiatua and Ballancc branches .of the Farmers’ Union have decided to form a sub-provincial area with headquarters at Pahiatua.

The vital statistics recorded at Palmerston North for the month ended 30th June were:'—Births. 39, deaths lt>, and marriages 22;, By a peculiar coincidence the number of births, deaths and marriages registered in Palmerston North for the half-year just ended were Oli in each case.

It is absurd that a country so rich in coal deposits as New Zealand is there should be a jsearcity of eoql for any eause other than a big strike (states the Christchurch “Press”). The recurring difficulty points to the necessity tliut some steps should be taken to protect the public from discomfort and loss before next winter comes round.

An epidemic is said to have overtaken the cats in the Tc Pirita district. and to some extent in Rakuia, >ays an exchange. It is no respecter of the breed of cats, pets and vagrants alike fall victims, and many deaths have occurred, flic animals do not appear to be suffering tiny pain, their fur remains clean and their eyes bright, but they simply become weaker and weaker till death ensues. One veterinary surgeon who prescribed medicine diagnosed the trouble as distemper.

A ACasterton resident was strolling quietly up a street after dark recently when he suddenly came into collision with a block of hardwood, An earnest holy resident was at the other end of it. After the Mastertoniun had been brought round and had his facial and head wounds dressed by a chemist it was explained to him that it was a case of mistaken identity. There had been a slight domestic disagreement, and the hardwood was intended for another gentleman;

The Hon. W. D. s. .MacDonald. Act-ing-President of the Board of Trade, interviewed with reference to the Board’s scheme for standardised boots, stated that the position is that the project cannot be proceeded with until further legislation has been provided. Existing legislation, said a tho ’Minister, does not confer sufficient power to operate the scheme in the form which, as a result of circumstances that have arisen, it is necessary that it should follow. The Board, after consultation

with representatives of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Association, has decided upon a comprehensive range of samples, but further action must, bo held over until the necessary Parliamentary sanction can be obtained.

Features of the Coal Committee’s report were discussed by Mr P. Eraser, M.P.. in the course of an address on “Soc.ialism and Reconstruction” at Wellington. Mr Fraser declared that State enterprise in New Zealand was a mere pretence, and not at all the real thing. As for the proposal made that the State should take, over the coal mines and pay for them by giving stock, with a guaranteed interest rate, and a risk rate,, and possibly bonuses to tin' stockholders, he would have tione of it. He was sure all the companies which were not paying would rush the offer of the Government to relieve them of their unprofitable investments. Possibly. even probably, the scheme as outlined would be accepted by the Government. and an attempt would be made to get Parliamentary sanction for it. He saiil it would be Ihe duty of all the Labour members in the House to oppose any such proposal. The only solution of the problem would be the acquisition by the State of the whole industry. In the present state of things it would probably be necessary to pay compensation to the present owners of the properties. What was required, lie said, was Labour control of the industry in the interests of all classes of the community. A letter received by a Wanganui merchant from a well-known Belgian firm at Charleroi, shows that Belgian manufacturers are already alive to the necessity of placing their goods 'on the foreign market, and are soliciting orders in New Zealand. The letter states that since the armistice was signed in November last, the economic situation had cleared progressively. There is every prospect of resuming the export trade sooner than was expected, and already business has been resumed with neighbouring Allied countries. The Jet tc? admits that prices are rather high owing to the scarcity of raw material. high cost of production, carriage, etc., but it is expected that lower prices will follow the arrival of raw material it* bigger quantities. The quotations for sheet .iron are from £2l per ton for oft up to £2s per ton for 11 sheets per ewt bundle. Rails (2Slb) are £2l, and j about, the same figure is asked for steel i plates. 'Window glass varies from 4Us to 30s per case. j