Bridge Evening.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1938, Page 6

Bridge Evening.

An enjoyable bridge party was held at the Soldiers’ Club last evening, there being about sixty present. The prize winners were Mrs S. V. Gooding and Mr R. Hatch, while the consolation prizes went to ‘Mrs Dagg and Mr P. Roberts (Lower Hutt). Supper was served in the billiard room. Dairy Production in Poverty Bay. The dairy production of Poverty Bay this year is 30 per cent lower than at the corresponding period last year, states a Gisborne message. The decline is attributed to the extremely poor conditions ruling at the beginning of the season. Five weeks of almost continuous rain during the greater part of July and early in August left pastures in an extremely poor state.

Tibbett and Mount Egmont. Interviewed at New Plymouth, Mr Laurence Tibbett, the American baritone, said he had not seen as much of New Zealand as he would like to see. “The sight coming to New Plymouth,” he said, “was magnificent. It was a glorious day for flying, and the view of the country and Mount Egmont with its covering of snow was the finest mountain sight I have ever seen.”

Loss in Value of Ambergris. No longer are small fortunes to be picked up on beaches in the form of ambergris. According to Mr A. W. B. Powell, assistant-director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum, embergris has no longer any commercial value. Nor have many persons any idea of the appearance or form of ambergris. Almost every day specimens of dried-up sponge are sent by, persons to the museum under the belief that they are ambergris. As a matter of fact, ambergris, which resembles beeswax and melts under heat, has the odour of musk. Ambergris was used as a basis in scent, but it is no longer apparently in use for the purpose.

Peruvian Blackbird.

Acquired during a recent visit of the vessel to Peru, a Peruvian blackbird is a pet of the second officer of the motor-ship Springbank, Mr C. Sherwood. The bird is distinct from the British blackbird in that it is a songster of some range. While the British blackbird can chirp, the Peruvian bird has unusual cadences. The bird carried by the Springbank has attracted attention by its song, heard on Auckland wharves above the clashing of grabs discharging the ship’s cargo of phosphate. Although only four months old the blackbird has proved itself easily trained and already it can somersault and perform othei- tricks. It is claimed that the Peruvian blackbird is unique because of its entirely black colouring from beak to claws.

No Propaganda in Schools. x Disapproval of political propaganda of any kind in the State schools was expressed by the Minister of Education, the Hon P. Fraser, in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister was replying to a question addressed to him some time ago by the Rt Hon J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara), who had drawn attention to the fact that the Point Chevalier State School Queen Carnival Committee proposed holding a carnival at which a cash prize was to be offered to pupils for the best costume representing peace and Labour propaganda. The Minister said he was not aware of the proposed competition. Immediately upon receipt of Mr Coates’s question he telegraphed to the chairman of the school committee pointing out that it was very undesirable and wrong to introduce party politics into a school function, and asking the committee to take steps to eliminate from the competitions and function all reference to Labour or any other political party. The chairman’s telegraphed reply stated that the section of the function objected to would be withdrawn immediately.

Censorship in Libraries. “The question of Government action to prevent the importation and distribution of magazines of the cheap and nasty type which lays emphasis on matters of sex and crime has now been finalised,” says the Bulletin of the New Zealand Libraries’ Association. “The Hon W. Nash (Minister for Customs) has approached importers asking them to agree to co-operate. There are few of the importers who want to bring this type of material into the country, and it is probable that all will adhere in accordance with the Minister’s request. Censorship is usually exercised either upon material dealing with current debatable questions in political relations or upon books dealing, with sex questions. In an address to the trustees section of the American Library Association in 1935, the president of the association said: Tn countries where criticism of the government is not tolerated, public libraries are nothing more or less than agencies for government propaganda . ... If that time ever comes in America, in my opinion, the public library ' will cease to be. an educational institution.’ The library which is supported by public funds is the property of people holding all shades of opinion upon all subjects, including many which are sharply controversial in character.”