GENERAL MEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2601, 8 September 1909, Page 3

GENERAL MEWS.

“The labor is -cheap there, I suppose,” said a “Dominion” reporter to Mr 6. G- Adams, mining engineer, re.cently from Colombia, in South . America. “Yes—cheap enough,” said Mr. Adams, “but long ago I came to the conclusion that cheap labor is very expensive. I* will explain what I mean. In mining, if you employ three natives to one white man, jour three men occupy three times the ispaoe of one man. which means three times the amount of development, and development costs , money. Then you have to provide three times as many tools, three times as much food, and a lot more gear. Then you can never get a native to hustle on a particular bit of work when wanted. Give me 10s a day white labor against all the cheap colored sorts.” With a view to securing the greater safety of audiences attending places of amusement, Superistendant Erck reported to the Christchurch Fire Board last week suggesting that the Board should insist upon fire-proof curtains being furnished at theatres. The writer pointed out that there was always a strong draught from the stage into the auditorium of any theatre, and if fire occurred among the scenery the flames and snaoke usually burst into the body of the building, creating a panic among the audience. Cases were on record in which people had been suffocated within five minutes of an outbreak of a fire on tlie stage. It was resolved that the superintendent’s report be forwarded to the City Council for consideration. “In this Dominion higher wages result in an increased cost of living, as well as. I , think, a better standard of living,” remarked Mr. Charles Rhodes, vice-president of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association, and local director of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, at the annual meeting of the former body in Auckland, 'last week. “In many cases,” ho continued, “I am convinced that wage-earners now save no more than formerly, in spite of the greater earning capacity; but in a country producing raw, material for export it is certain that every rise in wages affects our ability to compete in the world’s markets, where prices are governed by the outside standard, ns with gold arid silver, frozen meat, butter, iand cheese, etc. In the latter cases increased cost of production simply hinders our commercial and economic progress, while distance and Customs duty prevent outsiders underselling us locally. I don’t suppose these facts will appeal to the worker,” added Mr. Rhodes, “but undoubtedly they affect the community generally.” He closed by urging all employers to assist m joining and organising their forces and strength for common protection against harassing legislation, towards which there now seemed to be too great a tendency. Two Chinese had a merry encounter in Wellington at a sale of unclaimed goods on behalf of the Union Company. A case of delicacies, dried sea-weed, dear to the Celestial nalate, went under the ruthless hammer. One Chinaman meekly murmured “one shil’n,” when the treasure was offered, to which a compatriot replied “one, sis.” The duellists were on opposite sides of the auctioneers, and attacked each other in sixpences uptil they rose to 7s. The seller thought that one of the contending pair quoted 7s 6d, and knoeked the goods down to him. However, this Chinaman began to quibble about the sixpence, hesitated, and lost 'the marine- sweets. “Sis” ejaculated his rival, promptly, and. he secured the case of loveliness amid the loud laughter of interested Europeans. Chinese also did some spirited bidding for a bale of Chinese Macaroni. The goods put up ranged from railway buffer hooks to preserved ginger, and from ploughshares to sultanas. The gum industry in the Kaipara has received ,a little impetus lately by several good finds. A short time ago a large piece, weighing 2201 b was found By Croatians at Mangawhare. The finders, instead of selling, decided to put the specimen in a glass case, and to allow the sun’s rays to operate on it, and the exposure is having a remarkable effect, for' the gum is becoming quite transparent. The fimLis regarded as being one of the largest ever made in one solid mass on the Wairoa gumfields, and the owners anticipate that when it is quite clear they will be able to get a record price for it. A Maori woman in the Mangakahia district recently struck a patch of gum which caused no small amount of excitement in the camp to which she belonged, so much so that at on© time a fight, seemed inevitable, but was. happily averted by 'the timely'arrival on the scene . of Mr. Rickard, measurer for the Kauri Timber Company, who displayed great tact in ad j udicating between the parties interested. .-Twenty-five himdredweight of first-class’ gum was dug out from a patch which only measured a few square yards in area, and some of the nuggets obtained weighed up to 301 b. A good portion of the gum nas been purchased by a Wairoa dealer, and brought by pack horses to Tangowahine. The gum was lying about two feet below the surface of the road.

While the China trader Eastern was berthed at Geelong recently, a Customs officer who was watching the vessel for opium traffic, viewed with suspicion the movements of a female visitor from Melbourne (says the Sydney “Daily Telegraph”). As she left tho pier she was questioned as to whether she had any opium in her possession, and replied in the negative. She accompanied the officers to the Customshouse, where the services of female searchers were obtained. No trace or the prohibited drug was found, but in on© of her stockings were concealed no less than 200 sovereigns..

Discussing the unemployment question with a Wellington renter; the Hon. Mr. Millar ; declared There never was any crisis, pie shgbt increase o i unemployment this winter was accentuated by the inducement come to town, thus concentrating out-of-wor’ks at two or three centres. Whatever little difficulty there was is disappearing and the outlook is favorable for a good spring. Men are leaving public works all the time because they are able to findtother employment.