IS IT A STRAW IN THE WIND?

Southland Times, Issue 18843, 8 June 1920, Page 4

IS IT A STRAW IN THE WIND?

While people in this country are turning their eyes to affairs in Europe, they should not neglect the Far East where events are of more than ordinary interest to us. One of the incidents that should give us food for thought is the appearance of Dr Solf as German Ambassador to Tokio. Solf was Governor of Gentian Samoa before the war, and later held the post of Minister of the Colonies at a time when Gennany’s Colonial Empire had almost disappeared, but throughout the war and subsequent to the armistice he never missed an opportunity of declaring, in his speeches or his writings, that Germany would regain her oversea possessions. The fact that Dr Solf greatly prized his country’s dependencies in the Pacific may or may not have any connection with his appearance in Japan, but his presence there cannot be other than, a subject of comment to Australia and ourselves. There is no reason for suspecting

the government led by Mr Kara in Japan of any love for the Germans, but until the Japanese constitution gets closer to western ideas of popular control the possibility of the military party taking over the reins of government cannot be dismissed. During the war the military party in Japan was quite openly pro-German. It expected the Germans to bo victorious, and while the Japanese Government did what little it was asked to do by Britain, there was proceeding in that section of the press which supported the militarists a fairly consistent campaign of sniping against British interests. With Dr Solf in Tokio the Pacific question will take on added interest and doubtless he will not fail to make the most use of any incident in our management of tlie old German possessions for the purpose of working on the feelings of the Japanese. Wc may be unduly appro hensivc and may be suspicious where no ground for suspicion exists, but it can hardly he argued that the despatch of Dr Solf to Tokio at this Juncture ia entirely without significance.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Britisher.”—Your letter is unsigned and in any case it does not assist the discussion.

A decided drop in the price of pigs is reported from Taranaki. The total loss on the New Plymouth tramways since they came into operation in 1916, after allowing for depreciation and renewals, is .£13,687. The Labour Department is making inquiries in the country for positions for immigrants, who are arriving weekly from the Old Country. From inquiries made, Mr D. Jones, M.P., has ascertained that potatoes are selling in America at 200 dollars per ton. The freight from New Zealand is about £4 a ton, so that America should offer a lucrative market if .-.hipping is available.

The retail price of fresh eggs in Ashburton (savs the Guardian) has been reduced from 3s to 2s Gd per dozen. Fresh eggs in Ashburton have never touched 3s during any previous winter, the record price last year being 2s 9d.

On her voyage from Panama to Auckland the steamer Paparoa called at Pitcairn Island and unloaded some goods for the inhabitants. Among these was a harmonium. The islanders were quite happy, and had no unusual occurrence to report.

As a result of the high velocity of the south-west gale in Christchurch recently, a remarkable sight is seen on Marshland road. A row of 25 giant trees was levelled to the ground, the up-ended roots and earth forming a solid wall some eight feet high.

The Hokitika water supply is reported unequal to fire prevention requirements in the summer months, and the Guardian says that a long-deferred loan proposal for town improvements is said to be again under discussion, and this scheme might well include a provision for increasing the town water supply.

An officer of the Agricultural Department, while conducting an examination at Wcraroa, asked what Bordeaux spray was composed of (says the Otaki corresjiondent of the N T .Z. Times). The reply promptly came from one quarter, “Greenstone.” The laugh was all against the the “greenhorn,” and he was promptly, but politely, told it was blucstone.

A further draft of over 200 immigrants arrived by the Paparoa at Auckland recently. Unlike the previous draft, these new arrivals had no complaint to make regarding treatment received in England or information given them by the High Commissioner’s office. They are full of hope as to their future, but they are not buoyed up with any false hopes as to there being any easy rood to success here.

In noting the resignation by Colonel F. W. Willey of his position as Wool Controller, the London Tims of April 14 states that the •'home” wool trading account had been brought to a close early this year, but that the liquidation cf the colonial purchase scheme, which was expected to last for 12 months longer, would continue under the direction of Sir Arthur Goldfinch, DirectorGeneral of Raw Materials.

A married couple who arrived in Auckland by the Paparoa, and were bound for Balfour, Southland, found themselves practically stranded. The Young Women’s Christian Association took charge of the woman, and the Young Men’s Christian Association gave the man quarters. Subsequently they both secured employment in the city, and will not now be going to Balfour. The opinion was expressed in the northern city that the incident emphasised the necessity for establishing an up-to-date branch of the Immigration Department in Auckland (says the Herald), as under existing conditions immigrants being compelled to provide for themselves, may not be able to take up positions arranged for them prior to their arrival in the dominion.

There was a good attendance at the monthly meeting of the Central W.C.T.U. last week. Mrs Lillicrap presided. A motion of sympathy was passed with Mrs Baird, who had been taken suddenly ill. Miss Dewar reported on a visit to the Bluff Union, supported the Bluff Union in sending a protest to the Minister of Railways against drinking in railway carriages between Bluff and Invercargill. Miss Birss spoke about the welfare of young girls, and it was decided to write to headquarters with a view to assistance in ‘ v his matter. It was decided that the next meeting bo White Ribbon day, a collection for Maori work to be taken up. The Victoria Home sale of work will he held on June 9, and donations of cakes, produce, sewing, etc. will be thankfully received by the Home committee.

Some of the effects resulting from the recent contraction of the vaccination habit are amusing to those not victims. ‘‘Mind my arm, please,” has become quite a common expression, where people congregate in crushes, and occasional “O-ohs” and muttered imprecations or “that clumsy beggar” are not unknown. But it is at dances that the listless and carefully guarded limb is most in evidence. The lady must be careful not to let her hand drop down from her partner’s shoulder in the waltzes, wliile the suffering male, besides looking after his own sore spot, must protect that of the lady. These little inconveniences are taken philosophically, and Tie explanation ‘‘Vaccination,” despite its brevity, is sufficient to explain a world of behaviour that would at other times bo looked upon as strange. For instance, the sudden drawing back of a lady from proximity to her gallant is to he no longer interpreted as a gesture of disapproval, and a sotto voce remark on the part of the male is generally looked on as an excusable slip of the tongue.

With the co-operation of the Governments of New South Wales and Queensland, the Institute of Science and Industry proposes to initiate at an early date investigations into cattle tick dips (says the official journal of the institute). Although the present official formula used in Queensland and New South Wales has proved to be efficient and generally satisfactory, it is considered possible that the same parasitical results might be maintained, and the illeffects that sometimes occur obviated, by alteration of the composition of the agent. There is evidence that solutions containing a lower arsenical content than officially stipulated are effective in the hotter parts of Queensland. It is possible that it will be found that the strength of the parasiticide used may with safety be varied according to the time of the year and the climate of the locality where it is used. With a view to determining the limitations a special committee has drawn up a programme of work to be carried out in the Burleigh district, and similar experiments on a more limited scale will be afterwards arranged at Townsville and Bingleburra.

Up to May 31 the rainfall in Auckland this year totalled 25.03 inches. The Hon. A. F. Hawke last night received a telegram notifying that the opening of Parliament will take place on Thursday, June 24. A Press Association message a few days ago stated that the opening would lake place on Jnue 14.

A boy named Lawrence Percy Denton, nine years old, was taken to the Hospital last night. Denton and another boy were riding a bicycle at Bluff when they A'cre knocked down by a motor cycle. Denton broke his leg.

Four steamers will shortly lift over two million feet of timber from Greymouth for Australia (says the Greymouth Star). The Inga will load 500,000 ft for Sydney, and the Joan Craig 200,000 ft for the same port. The Malaita will load 400,000 ft and the Kaituna one million.

The express from Dunedin yesterday arrived in Invercargill about fifteen minutes late. T he train was an unusually full one, a large number of people returning from the Winter Show and the Dunedin races. The exira passenger traffic was probably the cause of the delay.

“A large number of nurses, on account of their experiences at the war, won’t want to see a sick man or sick woman again,” remarked the of Hospitals at the conference of hospital hoards in emphasising the necessity fof making the service as attractive as possible.

At the Police Court yesterday morning oefore Mr W. Barrett, J.P., Archibald Morrison was charged with stealing a bicycle valued at £B, the property of -John Tnnmp ion. On the application of Mr Meredith, who appeared for defendant, a remand until June 9 was granted. Bail was allowed in the sum of £lO, to be deposited.

“Itvery school board in the big towns of the Old Country,” said Dr Neil McDougall, in the course of a lecture on Radium and Its Uses,” given at the Leys Institute, Auckland, last week, “has its own X-ray plant for curing head ringworm in school children. The children are put under a five-day treatment, one portion of the scalp being treated on each occasion, and each sitting lasts about six minutes. The diseased hairs are thus caused to fall out, and with it the ringworm fungus.”

The fact that last year an average of only 20.4 per cent, of the total claims for fees was collected bv hospital boards throughout the dominion was adversely commented on by the Minister of Public Health (the Hon. C. J. Parr) in addressing the conlerence of hospital boards in Wellington on Tuesday. This small percentage, ha said, was not a matter for congratulation. Some boards were more diligent than others in collecting patients’ accounts. Some secured 16 ]>er cent., others 17, 20, and 25 per cent., while ,■« board collected 11 per cent., and another only 5 per cent. Others again collected 38 and 40 per cent. To his mind 20 per cent, was not the true measure of the ability of hospital patients to pay for their treatment. The whole question should be overhauled.

Despite the shortage of timber in Christchurch some builders appear to be able to obtain fair supplies, says the Sun. One firm has recently completed a contract in which 500,000 feet were used. The building concerned took three months to erect. In this instance, a vessel was privately chartered to bring supplies of timber from the West Coast. “My firm has not been retarded in its operations through the shortage, and we have had big contracts," said a representative of this concern. “It has been mainly a matter of looking around for ourselves.”

“While it is natural and proper for producers to demand a free market in anticipation of high prices, conditions in Britain have to be considered,” was the dictum of Mr J. G. Harkness, secretary to the National Dairy Association when discussing the butter producers’ demand for a free market at the Dairymen’s Conference, “The Imperial Government,” he continued, “is confronted with problems unparalleled in the history of civilisation. Tt has to consider what is best for the Empire, and this perhaps might include the limiting of prices for a further period.”

The following additional regulation to those at present governing the burial expenses of members of the N.Z.E.F. is published by General Headquarters;— All exsoldiers of the N.Z.E.F. who die within twelve months of discharge from that force, or who are under medical treatment authorised by an officer of the New Zealand Medical Corps, ami whose death is certified to have been caused by disabilities contracted or so aggravated in the service as to cause death shall be provided with a funeral at State expense on the application of the next-of-kin, and under instructions of the General Officer in Charge Administration This provision may also be extended to cases not under treatment at the time of death, but in which indigence is proved without reference to the length of time since discharge took effect.

Leeds has adopted as a slogan the warcry of the Maoris of New Zealand, beginning "Komate, Komatc,” and ending with the grand climax, “Akc, ake, ake’' (says the Auckland Star). The cry was introduced at the University many years ago by someone who had met the New Zealand Mounted Rifles during the South African War. Its origin may probably be traced to th e time of the Maori war, when, at the sieae of the strongly fortified Gate Pa, the Maori leader returned to the British officer in charge of the besieging troops the proud messaae, concluding with the words, Iva whawiiai tonu, ake, ake, ake.” “We shall fight on for ever and ever and ever.” The most historic occasion on which the war cry has been ever given was at Suvla Bay in the great war, when the Maori battalion made ’ its historic attack and settled the oft-debated question whether the finest of the coloured races can fight as well with the rifle and bayonet as with the old greenstone club.

The Dargaville correspondent of the Auckland Herald says that in replying to a request from the Otamate.a County Council a few days ago that the construction of the Waircrc tunnel should bo let by contract, the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Public Works) said that the history of tunnels built by contract in the dominion was disastrous. However, he was prepared to let the work in question by contract, butdoubled if engineers would undertake it. The Government was prepared to let tunnel work to a body of men at a straightout price, say at so much per yard. Few men in New Zealand had the plant, however, and he doubted if engineers would come from abroad. Several public works had been let at a straightout price, and he proposed to Jet others. Continuing, Mr Coatos said (he Otira, Okahukura, Huarau, and other tunnels were all delayed by a shortage of cement, steel girders, hardwood, and timber.

An interesting point was touched upon by the Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr T. H. A. Valintine) in ihe course of his address to the Hospital Boards’ conference in Wellington. He drew attention to the accommodation of patients who were able to pay full fees for medical and nursing attendance. As matters were now, e.si>ecially in the country districts, the better-to-do patient was badly circumstrrced, as he was not able to secure treatment in the local public hospital, but had peiforce to go to a private hospital, where me advantages were iiot to be compared with those available in a public hospital. Dr Valintine said he was particularly interested in a remit from the North Canterbury Board in connection with a recommendation on this subject made by the committee sel up to consider the question of a State medical service at the recent meeting of the British Medical Association in Dunedin, to the effect that special wards should be erected for patients who could pay full fees for medical and nursing attendance. H: considered that hospital accommodation of the very best should be available for all classes of the community, and those who were able to pay should be made to pay the full fee for the benefits they received from the institutions.

“For goodness sake don’t ask to convert old buildings into hospitals or maternity homes,” said Dr Valintine, Inspector-Gen-eral of Public Health, at the Hospitals Conference in Wellington. “We have a perfect genius in this conversion in Dr Frengley, but don’t ask him to try any more of these conundrums.” A delegate mentioned that the Department had at one time recommended the purchase to his board of ’an old building for hospital purposes. It was in the time of the Hon. Mr Russell. Voices: “Ah!”

“The suggestion that thf-i.e shouid be some measure of .superannuation for nurses meets with my hearty approval and support,” rein arked the Minister of Public Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) before the conference of hospital boards. He added that he could see some practical difficulties in the way of establishing such a system, but these were not insurmountable. One difficulty was that many nurses were in a public hospital today and a private institution to-morrow. Something shouid be dune, however, for “these splendid women,” many of whom “in the autumn of their days had a pretty Lard time.”

Interesting details of the former German possessions in the Pacific over which the Commonwealth has been promised mandates by the League of Nations are given in the ■report of the Royal Commission which was sent to the mandated territory last year by the Commonwealth Government. The territory’ is not a compact area, but consists of a portion of the mainland of the great island of New Guinea, and a large number of smaller islands, which are grouped geographically into the Bismarck Archipelago, the Admiralty Islands and the German Solomons. Some of the islands are of substantial size. For instance, New Britain contains 10,000 s-quare miles and New Ireland -1000 square miles; others are of varying areas down to tiny coral islets and reefs. The small islands are mostly of coral formation on a sandy soil, usually regarded as being the best for cocoanut cultivation, provided it is of the necessary depth. Nowhere arc there larger animals than the pig and wallaby. The mandated territory as a whole is not thickly populated, and the best judges consider that the natives do not number more than 350,000. As in Papua many of the tribes were originally cannibals, and cannibalism still prevails in regions that have not yet come within the sphere of Governmental influence.

Teapots! Chinaware! The sturdy, clean finished, honest value goods of old England are now on sale at Hyndman’s, Deo street. Teapots from Lingard Webster’s Stoke-on-Trent potteries; chinaware from I'hos. Forester and Sons, of Longton. Infinitely better value than Japanese goods. See our values at once.

For special value in Men’s Hats seo THOMSON & BEATTIE’S range. Men’s All Fur Felt Hats in Fawns, Greys, Blacks, Browns, etc., at 21/-, 22/6, to 35/-. Men’s Velour Hats in a fine assortment of shades attd shapes, 30/- to 40/-. Men's Tweed Hats from 0/6 to 15/6. — (Advt.)

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MASTERS, LTD., were the originators o| urn iO per cent, discount to returned soldiers. Other storekeepers have copied ua and we now go one better. We now invite all discharged soldiers and those waiting discharge to have their military hats reblocked, free of all cost, by the only hatter in Southland. We still give a 10 per cent, reduction to all returned soldiers.—• MASTERS, LTD., Dee street.— (Advt.)

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A Special Display of Exclusive Evening Frocks, Silk Dress Skirts and Blouses, now being made at THE ‘‘ECONOMIC,” Ladie®’ Outfitters, Prices exceedingly reasonable, (Advt.)

HATS for men, youths, and boys—a fine showing of all the popular styles and value prices. UNDHILL’S, opp. P.O. — (Advt.)

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