HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 303, 7 December 1936, Page 3

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

GLEANINGS OF DOMINION NEWS.

Death of Lambs. The recent spell of wet weather has been a mixed blessing in Waimate. The abundance of moisture has changed the whole outlook for agriculturists, but many sheep owners were taken off their guard by the storm. Several heavy losses of newlyshorn sheep are reported, especially from the Morven and WMhaorunga .districts. Two farmers have lost nearly 200 sheep between them, and other losses of about 20 are reported. Paddock sheep had some shelter from the rain but many farmers had returned shorn flocks to the run. Some lambs which have lost their mothers in this way are. yet too! young to be weaned successfully, and further mortality among them is feared.

N.Z. Industries. “Now we have found., shall I say’, the Prince Charming, who see! that manufacturing industries occupy a position of greater prestige and importance. In the past we have acted the part of Cinderella in the community.” These were the words today of Mr D. Henry, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, addressing the annual conference. One of the most important events in the past year has been the placing of the Industrial Efficiency Act on .the Statute Book, said Mr Henry. If he interpreted it" correctly, it could be treated as a definite proclamation that the Dominion was now setting out, deliberately and systematically, to build up her Tnanufacturing industries. It meant that the Government openly recognised the importance of the part manufacturing industries might play yt the future development, of New Zealand.

Rush Job At Napier. To have had cohatructed and ready for occupation a building covering an area of an acre in 12 weeks from the time the former building was actually in flames, is the achievement of the Hawkes Bay Farmers’ Co-operative Association. The new building replaces the wool store at Port Ahuriri which was destroyed in a spectacular early morning outbreak of fire. Within 12 hours of the beginning of the fire 13 weeks ago arrangements were made for the rebuilding of the store, and a start was made to clear the site .seven days later. The newi building, which has cost about. £35,000, is regarded as one of the niost up-to-date in the Dominion. To support the roof 90 .tons of rolled, steel hoists were required, and 23,000 square feet of glass and 2? tons off sheet iron were used for the roof.

New Magistrates? The names of Messrs J. M. Adam, registrar of the Supreme Court in Dunedin; G. G. Chisholm, clerk of the court, Napier; and A. E. Dobbie, deputy-registrar of the Supreme Court, Auckland, are being whispered in connection with pending appointments to the ranks of magistrates, states the “Otago Daily Times.” It will be interesting to see whether the New Zealand Law Society's suggestion to the Minister is adopted, that appointments should be confined to members of the bar. The present state of the law requires any person appointed to be a barrister and solicitor of (the 1 . Supreme Court of New Zealand of not less than five years’ standing, or a Justice Department officer of not less than 10 years’ service, qualified as a barrister and solicitor, and with not less than five years’ service as a clerk of the court.

A New “Lord Mayor.” Amusement was caused at a meeting of 'the Morrinsville Borough Council, when a circular from a German firm was received addressed to the “Lord Mayor of Morrinsville “I felt quite bucked up when I received this,” remarked the Mayor, Mr W. T. Osborne. It would appear that the senders had a high opinion of the standing of Morrinsville among the municipalities of the Empire.

New Railway Station. The first step towards the construction of the new railway station at Christchurch has been taken by the Railways Department, which has invited tenders for the sale for removal of two houses in Mowbray' Street. The land on which the houses now stand is wanted by the departmen.ii for incorporation in the new station yard. The properties were purchased by the department a few months ago. They are situated between Palsgrave Street and Wilson’s Road.

More Public Works. “It is my hope that land irrigation ■will be one of .the future major public works undertakings of the Dominion,” said the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) to-day, in announcing that investigations were now well in hand into the possibilities of irrigating a large tract of country near Blenheim. The department’s officers were at present engaged in surveying about 40,000 acres, to the possibilities of an irrigation scheme for this district, and its probable cost. The potentialities of irrigation in this particular district were considered to be good.

Will Still Be Professor. Professor Shelley, who has taken up his new duties .as director of broadcasting, told an inquirer in Wellington that he did not mind whether hq was called “Mister” or “Professor,” and he added .that he had. been called Professor 'since 1913, except during the war, when he was first “private” and theai “major.” The question arises as to when a professor ceases to be a professor. The title is conferred upon the occupant) of what is known as a chair, or professorship, in a university, but not upon one who is merely a lecturer. Unless the professor retires from active work —when he usually receives the title of professor emeritus —he does not carry the title if he gives up the professorship, but it usually' sticks to him, and it seems that the Director of Broadcasting will continue to be “Professor” Shelley.

Demand For Oranges. Oranges are very much in the public mind at .the present time, and it is a somewhat surprising fact that, despite scarcity and high prices, the demand is exceptional, states the Auckland “Star.” “Whether it is due to the fact that people have* more money to spend, or to a realisation of the health-giving value of the fruit, I do not know,” said an Auckland retailer to-day, “but the fact remainsi that the demand is almost unprecedented.” Another retailer, who said the inquiry was at. present brisker than he had known during 30 years’ experience, inclined to to the view that medical commendation of oranges through the public Press was an important factor. “When the public reads in the news column that oranges supply valuable vitamins, and so on, they take notice,” he said. “Quite a number of customers have mentioned this factor stating that, they were not previously aware that oranges were so markedly beneficial to the human system.”

Nurses and Tuberculosis. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a new block of buildings at the Palmerston North public Hospital on Wednesday, the Hon. Peter Fraser, Minister of Health, said he had .the night before signed the first authority under the recent amendment to the legislation governing hospital administration enabling boards do make provison for nurses who in 'the course' of duty contracted tuberculosis. During the short period he had been;' Minister some .tragic cases had come before him, he said'. Young girls entering the nursing profession in good health had in a few years contracted 'tuberculosis. Some of these were lying in hospitals, hopeless victims of the disease. Until tho legislative amendment was made, it was impossible for the boards to make provision for them. The girl for whom he signed the authority was one; who had had a brilliant career ahead of her until stricken with tho disease in the course of her duty’.

Air-mail Services Extended. New Zealand’s air mails, which have doubled in volume during six months’ operations, will be given a further opportunity of expansion on December 7 when the Post Office will utilise the East Coast Airways Service between Napier and Gisborne. Letters are to be .carried on each of the two complete daily trips between Gisborne and Napier, and the extra penny for inland air mails will enable Gisborne correspondence to be carried on the Palmerston NorthDunedin route, and the Wellington-Blenheim-Nelson route without further surcharge. The link between Palmerston North and Napier is by rail. Correspondence posted in Dunedin at 7 a.m. by air mail will be taken to Palmerston North by the Dunedin-Palmerston North air service, thence by rail to Napier and on to Gisborne by air for delivery at 10 a.m. the following day—a saving over ordinary transport of 1!) hours. An equally large saving of time will be effected in using the air for correspondence to and from Nelson ami Gisborne. Parcels on which the special air parcel rate previously announced has been prepaid will also be conveyed on the service.

Finance Policy. In speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of 'ihe Labour Party at Hokitika, of .the money used for the housing scheme, Mr O’Brien said it was a Government issue. There was a limit to the amount of credit issued, and i the Government realised that limit. Douglas Creditors, he said,-.think that credit should be issued in such a way that a monthly dividend may be declared. The Government did not agree with them. “You can’t issue more money than is supported by tho commodities available,” said Mr O’Brien. “Otherwise, you would have to ration commodities.” Wi.h regard to houses, the money was loaned and | paid back in rent. All the commodi- | ties were available, except that in some localities there -was a shortage | of skilled labour such as joiners, car- [ penters, and bricklayers. A shortage I of dry-seasoned' timber, too, had { prompted the Government to con- ' sider the question of building State ! sawmills. However, so far as a. i credit policy was concerned, the Gov- ■ eminent was not going to carry out I anything so impracticable as Douglas I Credit. It did not intend to go be- ! yond its platform in this connection.” !