STATE ADVANCES OFFICE

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 34

STATE ADVANCES OFFICE

EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS LOANS EXCEED SEVENTY MILLIONS. WELLINGTON, June 13. The magnitude of the work of the State Advances Department and the financial assistance it has rendered to settlers, workers, and local bodies were briefly referred to by the ex-superinten-dent of the department, Mr W. Waddel, in the course of some remarks at a function in his honour to-day. Since the inception of the department in 1895, said Mr Waddel, no less a sum than £74,750,000 had been advanced to borrowers, and of that amount £29,350,000 had been repaid, leaving a balance owing by borrowers of £45,400,000. After payment of salaries, income tax, and loan charges, the net profit from advances to settlers, workers, and local authorities and rural advances for the year just ended was £64,803, an increase over the profit of the previous year of £16,159, which must be regarded as highly satisfactory. The accumulated net profits of the department now reach a grand total of £1,891,929.

A short open season for pukeko was advocated by Mr C. H. Lawrence at the

meeting of the council of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society on Thursday evening. “ Unless we get a short open season,” he said, “ the birds will be poisoned and that will mean wiping them out altogether.” He urged that property owners who suffered from the depredations of pukeko should report the facts to the Government in order that attention should be given to the matter. The council approved of pukeko being destroyed on two properties where damage was being done. An unusual point was argued at Timaru on Thursday between Mr E. J. Anderson (Dunedin), counsel for a Mosgiel resident charged with using an automatic shotgun to kill native game, and Mr W. D. Campbell, counsel for the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The issue was whether or not a Winchester repeating shotgun was an automatic weapon. Mr Anderson contended that the gun was nonautomatic, as the human agency had to be introduced and only one shot could be fired without reloading, which was done by pulling back the hand-piece under the barrel and pushing it forward again, which ejected the spent cartridge and reloaded the gun. He quoted Webster’s dictionary to support his argument that the gun was not automatic. Mr Campbell argued that even if the gun were not automatic, it was auto-loading. The society’s ranger admitted that he was not an authority on guns. In dimissing the information, Mr C. R- Orr Walker, S.M.. said that even though the gun was autoloading, it was not automatic, and aim had to be taken with each shot.

At a meeting of the Rural Intermediate Credits Board it was reported that the period which had elapsed since the last meeting had been a busy one, as it had been necessary to bring into operation the special conditions under which loans are being made available to farmers for the purchase of fertilisers. A large number of inquiries had been received and arrangements had been made with several companies for the acceptance of their guarantees to enable them to assist their clients or suppliers to obtain loans from the board.

No great quantities of Russian goods have come to New Zealand this or last year (says our special correspondent in Wellington), the principal commodity being matches. For the first five months of the present year 64 gallons of motor spirit, valued at £B, were imported to Auckland, presumably from the United States, although the country of origin was Russia. Last year 561 b of cigarettes, valued at £B, and 1500 gross boxes of matches, valued at £lB3, came in from Russia, and for the first four months of 1931 the figures were 1471 b of cigarettes, valued at £33, and 500 gross boxes of matches, valued at £62. ‘ Acting on information received at the beginning of last week the Collector of Customs in Invercargill (Mr H. S. Cordery) and a party of police made a raid in a certain bush-clad district on Wednesday and seized a quantity of equipment and materials allegedly associated with the illicit distilling of spirits. Officials are reticent on the question (says the Southland Times), but it is understood that the incident will probably have a sequel in the Police Court at a future date.

Reconsideration is being given by the New Zealand Council of Fire Underwriters’ Associations in Wellington to the question of earthquake insurance premiums, and a new scale will probably be announced at an early date. The rates now in force were adopted shortly after the Hawke’s Bay earthquake as a temporary measure, and sufficient time has now elapsed to allow a revision to be made. Insurance companies take the view that the Hawke’s Bay disaster disclosed a grave danger of the repetition of such au occurrence in other parts of the Dominion, and nobody can say whether the new scale is a payable one or not. They contend that the premiums charged in the past and since the earthquake have not been inequitable. Neither the Government nor the companies can arbitrarily decide whether or not the rates are reasonable, and it is acknowledged that the whole matter is still in the melting pot.

Strong objections to the cigarette coupon system were raised at a meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last week. It had been suggested by the Associated Chambers of Commerce that the local chamber might approach local members of Parliament, but it was decided to take steps to find out immediately the policy of the Government. Mr M. M. Heinemann said that in view of the decision reached at the last meeting he was surprised that nothing had been done. He quoted a letter from one tobacco company stating that owing to the dropping of the proposed legislation it was continuing its coupon system indefinitely and enlarging the range of prizes."" The company’s proposals were not only extremely detrimental to the watchmakers and jewellers, but also seriously affected leather goods traders and others. Members of the Watchmakers and Jewellers’ Association had agreed that their sales of watches had dwindled by 50 per cent, since the coupon system had commenced. The matter was so serious that many of the small shopkeepers might be forced out of business. They should learn immediately the Government’s policy, and he moved that the matter be taken up with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industries and Commerce without delay. Mr . Myers considered that the matter should be referred to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, asking it to arrange a deputation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industries and Commerce. After some discussion a motion on these lines was moved by Mr Heinemann and carried.

According to a letter received by a hairdresser in a country district, in response to an advertisement for an assistant, one of the chief qualifications of a barber is good looks. The letter reads: — “ I am writing this on behalf of my brother, who had a few months’ experience in the trade in Greece. He has been in this country only a few months, and can't talk much English. He is 20 years of age. smart and good looking—just the cut for a barber. He can cut hair and shave, but is not an expert, but has got the talent for the trade. He will work for his keep till he becomes an expert, and then you can pay according to his experience.”

At Palmerston ou Saturday afternoon a deputation of settlers from the surround ing district approached the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr P. A. de la Perrelle) to request that he should make representations to the Government to allow a brief open season for the shooting of pukeko Mr J. Gordon, who introduced the deputation, said that the position with regard to pukekos in the outlying districts was becoming serious, and during the time when the swamps were frozen these birds, unable to find their natural food, resorted to the stacks of the farmers. They did a great amount of damage, and he thought that if a brief open season were allowed they would become wilder and keep further away from civilisation. Mr S. C. Greer supported Mr Gordon’s remarks and pointed out that, even when there was an open season for pukeko, they increased out of all proportion to the number that was shot. If an open season of only a week were allowed he thought it would meet the position. The Minister pointed out that any farmer who wished to shoot pukeko on his own land could get permission from the Department of Internal Affairs to do so, but as soon as he reached Wellington he would bring the deputation’s request for an open season before the proper authorities.

“It will not be thought out of place if I make a brief reference to the causes which necessitated the postponement of the sitting which should have been held here on February 16,” said the Chief Justice, his Honor Sir Michael Myers, in the course of his charge to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Court sessions in Napier the other morning. “ I would like to express to you as representatives of the people my own sympathy anad that of my fellow judges for the disaster that has befallen your beautiful province. This sitting is being held in the shadow of disaster, but I hope that in the sittings which follow, the sun will shine more and more brightly on your district, which will be more happy, more and more beautiful than ever.”

Hedgehogs are becoming popular around Auckland (says the Star) because of their protective influence over tender plants which are liable to the raids of slugs and snails, and for this reason the Ik ‘g. hog is sometimes referred to as the gardeners’ friend. From another viewpoint, however, the hedgehog is one of the worst nuisances. Mr L. O. 11. Tripp, president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation Society, said at Timaru that hedgehogs ate eggs, young birds, and chickens. He did not think effective measures could be taken to exterminate the pest until it was possible to trap them, as was done in England. At Karioi on a recent Sunday a number of followers of Ratana, who had gathe-. c l for service under the leadership of Mr L. A. Eastman, visited the congregation of Maoris meeting under the auspices of the Four Rules of Jehovah denomination (reports the Wanganui Chronicle). A cordial welcome was given the Ratana-ites and Mr Eastman invited the others to return the visit, which will probably be done at an early date. The doctrine and laws of the congregation worshipping under the name of the Four Rules of Jehovah were explained at length in due Native fashion, and the 50 to 60 Maoris appeared to be very interested in the fraternal visit.