GENERAL NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2587, 23 August 1909, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

“I have always contended that instruction would give better results than inspection,” said Mr J. P. Stewart, manager of the Eketahuna butter factory, in discussing with an “Express” reporter the Government’s proposal to increase the functions of instructors attached to the Dairy Produce Division, and to dispense.’with the presept inspectors. “Of course,” said Air Stowart, “factory managers under the existing conditions could obtain the service and advice of the Department’s instructors at any time. That was whore their’functions ended, and was insufficient. Managers needed greater assistance to facilitate the manufacture of a first-class article, and that was in the direction of stamping out the unclean supplier. At present, where competition existed, managers wore compelled to receive almost any kind of milk, which naturally acted detrimentally on the output. Instructors with the power it is proposed to delegate them could remedy the defect almost without friction between supplier and factory, and with the elimination of bad and spurious milk the output would be manifestly improved. The inspectors created last year have possibly fulfilled some object, but they were drafted from the' wrong source to he of any natural benefit, as instructors to dairymen. If the Department will offer sufficient inducement the ranks of instructors will be swelled by many of experience, and the industry will receive a decided fillip.”

Diogenes is said to have expended much time searching for an honest man, and apparently Mr W. Burnett (chairman of the Otago Central Railway League) has long been busied in a similar quest (says the Otago “Daily Times”). He, with others, waited on the Hon. R. McKenzie, touching the extension of the line aforesaid, and received the most straightforward of negatives. 'Whereupon Mr Burnett held out his hand, saying, “I am delighted to have at last met an honest politician.”

A rather amusing incident happened during the examination of one of the junior classes at the Lawrence. District High School the other day Inspector Richardson (says . the “Tuapeka Times”) was endeavoring to ascertain the pupils’ knowledge of current New Zealand history, and asked for the name of the present Governor. The hands of quite a number of youngsters immediately shot out as an indication that they were, prepared to furnish an answer. One was appealed to, when the reply came, “Sir Joseph Ward.” Another correctly named Lord Plunket. The inspector then asked all those who thought Sir Joseph Ward to be the Governor to hold _ up tlieir hands, when lie was surprised to find at the majority in the room were of the opinion that Sir Joseph was Governor.

Enquiries made by a 'Christchurch * Press” reporter from various ladies at tlio head of charitable and other organisations revealed a sentiment of decided pessimism in regard to the prospects of the future generation. “What the girls of the present day are coming to,” one good lady exclaimed, “I’m sure I don’t know. Whv. some of them that pass through our home here cannot even cook a potato!” To the feminine mind nothing possibly could bo worse or more hopeless. The attractiveness of factorv life—the freedom, the short hours and the good wages—is blamed for lack of knowledge in the domestic arts disclosed by the youngwomen nowadays, and it is felt that the fact of parents neglecting to make the homes sufficiently attractive is responsible for the late hours and “gadding” that have become so pronounced a characteristic of the weaker sex during late years.

The work of draining the! Piako Swamp goes on steadily. Already .20,000 acres "have been drained, and three purveying parties are now engaged oh this block, which will be ready for settlement ih twelve months. r J f’c two dredges are now engaged on the main canal, one at Waitakaruru and the other at the upper end of the swamp at the Maukoro Block. Since draining operations have taken alaco flax has been growing in abundance, but owing to the low price of fibre there, is no inducement to make use -of it. ft is estimated that if the whole swamp were drained it would yield sufficient product for fifty or sixty mills.

With reference to the case of the Maori nerformers who were prevented from landing at San Francisco for health reasons, it appears that they were suffering from what is known as trachoma, or granulated eyelids. This is a disease which is very common among the immigrants into the United States from Southern Europe,, being apparently due in some measure to change of climate, and as it is easily communicable it has been placed by the United States Government on the list of infectious diseases. As to New Zealand’s pa'rt in the matter, it appears that the troupe was passed before leaving as being healthy. It is not known whether at the time of departure any of them wero suffering from trachoma. On the other • hand, trachoma, is not an infectious diseaso under the New Zealand health law, and even had it been observed the health officer would only have, warned the intending passenger and the shipping company that it was likely to stand in the way of the passengers landing in the United States.

The Hon. Mr Fowlds recently in Auckland unveiled a memorial to perpetuate the name of the late Mr beddon. In his remarks Mr Fowlds made this eulogy on the deceased statesman: —He left his- mark upon all departments, and on none more than of Education, for technical education was born during his administration, and legislation was passed providing for the free education of the youth of the Dominion .right through from the primary school to the university. . Musty, fusty pi eoedent ‘never stopped him from, taking a bold step. All his legislation was dominated by a spirit of humamtananism, and he lived and died striving ,to do the best lie could for the people of this country. One thing that would always stand to his credit' was that he ini p enalised democracy. “He died without defeat,” concluded Mr Fowlds, “arid I have no hesitation in saying that wo to-day are honoring the memory of the late Mr Seddon.”

One of the ladies associated with a prominont local charitable organisation informed a reporter in Christchurch of the case of a chronically poor family which could not rub alon<r on less: than six pounds of butter a week. “Do you know,” she said, “the women nowadays seem to have lost the, knack of making up little things out of next to nothing, or else they won’t Hr#. Comparatively speaking, there is nothing so expensive ns bread and butter/ .with butter at the present high prico and largo amount of /the bread being thrown away every day.