The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1910. MARINE COMPETITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2768, 24 March 1910, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1910. MARINE COMPETITION.

When it was announced that the Pand O. Company’s steamers were entering the New Zealand trade, most of us received the information with a tinge of pleasure. In such matters the ‘‘more the merrier” is an axiom that receives general acceptance, and despite the casual manner with which the P. and O. representatives dismissed any suggestion that there was to he any shipping war, it was believed that in some way the public, would benefit. As a matter of fact, although harmonious relations appear to exist at the present time, there is no guarantee that they will continue indefinitely, and a fight between these companies 'would be a serious matter to all concerned —albeit the public would temporarily benefit. In such a freight war it is as well to remember that the Union Steamship Company is handicapped in a quite unfair manner. Whilst neither the P. and O. nor the Huddart-Parker Company is bound by the awards of the Now Zealand Arbitration Court, the Union Company pays the scale ot wages and recognises the exacting conditions which have been imposed under our labor laws. The Huddart Parker Co., it should be mentioned, is working under ail Australian award, but the P. and (>. Company is apparently free to make its own conditions. In other words, it can pay lower wages than its competitors, and can employ Lascars, Chinamen, or any of the other nationalities that are prepared to lead a degraded existence and work for a mere pittance. Apart from the actual question of wages, such restrictions as we impose in regard to the employment of colonial labor are apt to become very oppressive. When the Union Company’s steamer Aparima. which when plying between New Zealand and Calcutta carries a coolie crew, made one special trip between Sydney and Fiji, she had, according to the correspondent of the Press, to carry for that voyage a white crew in addition to her normal complement of Lascars, in order to comply with the requirements of the New Zealand award. How great the handicap sustained by the (proprietors of a steamer on which Australian award rates are paid when they have to face outside competition is indicated by some tables published in the Melbourne “Ago” some time ago. These dealt in detail with the competition of the European mail-steamers with the Australian vessels engaged in the coastal trade, and included a 'number of tables in which details were given of the respective rates of pay. While the locally-owned steamers were paying seamen £6 10s a month and firemen £3 10s, the P. and O. paid £4 5s -and £1 4s, and the N.D.L. £2 17s and £3 10s respectively. It is of course the employment of Lascars that enables the P. and 0. to pay its firemen 85 (per cent, loss than the Australian companies, and so to save on the employment, of ten firemen £876 per annum in comparison with its rivals. Had the comparison been imade with Now Zealand conditions the discrepancy would be still more startling. Now all this represents a grave injustice to the Union Steamship Company, which is an organisation of which New Zealanaeis lmve every reason to be proud. It is a locally-owned concern, the product of New Zealand brains and enterprise, which has taken its place amongst the leading companies in Britain’s great mercantile marine. Ordinary business competition it is doubtless prepared to face, but we owe it to ourselves to see that our laws do not operate so as to handicap it in competition with outsiders trading in our waters. Obviously the proper thing to do is for the Legislature to meet the situation by compelling owners of all vessels trading on this coast to register their vessels in New Zealand,'so that they eni\ then be brought under the provisions cf any awards that might be made.

| There will be no publication of the “GisbornS Times” to-morrow (Good | Friday). Stated to be 110' years old, a man named Kelly recorded his vote at Bally, gawley, South Tyrone. The postal .authorities notify that the Wheturau mails are delayed owing to the rivers being flooded.. The .gift sale and concert in aid of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church building fund, announced for April 7th, is to be postponed till Thursday, April 14th. On the suggestion of Or. Collins, the. Borough Council Hast night decided that at alb future meetings several copies of the Engineer’s and any other important reports be laid on the table prior ter each meeting of the Council. A special lot of films arrived by the mail yesterday for the Patlie Pictures ‘‘Good Friday” programme.- These films include Biblical stories and beau- ’ tiful scenic gems, a;nd should make a very interesting and sacred programme. In reply to a question by Cr Collins at the Borough Council last night, the Mayor said that he had at a former meeting given an expression of opinion that, as far as his recollection of the Act went, the Council could by resolution cause the dissolution of the Fire Board.

The usual monthly meeting of the Kaiti School Committee -will be hold this evening in the school building, at 7.30 o’clock. This will bo the final meeting for the current financial year. The election of the new committee will take place at the householders’ meeting to be- field about the 20th April next.

The Borough Council has agreed to the suggestion of the Cook County Council that the two bodies should meet and confer on the question of the best steps to be taken to remedy the nuisance existing in connection with the Taruheru river. The meeting will probably be held shortly alter the Easter holidays.

A Christchurch telegram dated yesterday says:—L-ord Plunket arrived this .morning. He went by special train to Rakaia, thence he is motoring to Barr Hill, Met liven, and Mount iSomers. and then to Ashburton, where lie will be entertained at dinner to-night. He Las pleasant weather for the tour. Messrs Buddo and Hardy, M.P-S, accompany liim. Chief Inspector iSchauer, of the Health Department, arrived from the South yesterday morning to report upon the state of the Taruheru river. Accompanied by the Mayor and Messrs Little and Thelwall, lie inspected the river and the suggested sources of the nuisance yesterday. Mr. Schauor returns South on Sunday evening, and will subsequently report on the matter.

The following passengers had booked last evening by [Messrs Redstone and Sons’ coaches leaving this morning:— For Tologa. Miss Willett and Messrs F. Red-fern and G. Furness ; for Tokoinaru, Misses Dowman and Kilburn, [Mrs Stott and child. Messrs David Watt, J. T. Burness, W. McOraith, and W. Mcßae; for Waipiro, Miss George, Mr.. Mrs., and M iss Cruicksliank, Messrs McGee and Jeffreys, and a native. Mr. C. A. deL-autour (chairman) and Mr W. Morgan (secretary), of the 'High iSchool Governor, waited upon the Borough Council last night with c request that something should be done to Stanley Road, in view of the opening of the new Higli School by the Minister for Education, in about a fort, night. It was decided that the Council should do all possible to the road before the time mentioned.

The Napier Borough Council is indignant at having been allotted only •id,ooo out of the £134,000 loan money it applied for. The Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown) ex-messed himself as disappointed and disgusted. Incidentally ho mentioned that -he knew of £35,000 that would be available in April, at 3-J to 33 per cent. Councillor Crowley stated that he had received a reply to a cable he had sent to Australia, offering tin- whole loan at 4J cent. Ultimately the Council decided to protest to the Government and to hold a. special meeting on receipt of a reply.

The Monowai from South, for Auckland leaves Wellington this and is fixed to leave Napier to-morrow morning, instead of in the evening, as usual. This is on account of the Easter 'holidays. She is expected to arrive on Friday afternoon, and to leave Gisborne the same night for Auckland direct, instead of Saturday morning, as usual. Intending 'passengers should note the alteration. The last launch is fixed to leave the wharf at 7 p.m., and the office "of the Union Steamship- Co. will be open_ from 6 to 7 p.m. for the convenience of passengers.

CT. J. J. Niven has given notice that at next meeting of the Napier Borough Council he will move: “That this Council consider that owing to the large amount of loan money to be expended within the next three or four years, it is advisable to appoint a borough engineer to devote his whole time exclusively to the affairs of the borough, and to possess a special knowledge of sewerage, drainage, and roadmaking works, at a. salary of not Jess than £SOO per annum, and for a tenure of not less than throe years: the council reserving the right to dismiss or dispense with such engineer’s services upon six month’s notice; and that- applications be called for a qualified man throughout Australasia.” Special services arc' to be held in Holy Trinitv Church to-morrow. At the 11 a.m. service, the Rev. W. H. Roberts, vicar of Te ICara'ka, will occupy the pulpit. 'The vicar, the Rev. L. Dawson Thomas, will conduct a service for young pemtio anti their friends at 3 o’clock. All children, whether attending Sunday School or not. are invited. Parents and adults generally are also invited. In the evening, at 7 o’clock, the vicar, assisted by th r , Rev. F. W. Chatterton, will conduct a lantern service in the church. Last year this service drew a very large congregation. The vicar has secured a larg 0 number of verv beautiful colored slides, and these will be shown with other sacred pictures. The vicar will give the connecting address. Mr. Pointon is installing a powerful limelight plant in the church specially for this service. All residents are heartily invited to the services. Members' of the other denominations not having service in their own church are very welcome to attend. Books will not he required for the lantern service, as the whole service, hymns, etc., will he thrown upon the large screen.

Beauty in a man or woman is a gift divine, yet the crowning beauty is the ha,ii-, lacking which there is no true perfection. No oue will deny the asser tion that the hair is the crowning heautv of the human form, and yet ninety-nine out of every hundred persons treat it with the utmost- indifference. We have always believed that it is better to volunteer to do a thing that- to wait until it becomes a matter of compulsion, therefore we guarantee with a fair trial of Parasene to produce hair no matter how bad the oase may Writ a or call at Morse’s, Gladstone Road, Gisborne.

There are <33 civil eases down for hearing at the Magistrate s Court today. The quarterly meeting of the GisborneChamber of Commerce will be hoJd ni the Borough Council Chambers at o p.m. to-day. According to the Town Clerk, the Gisborne Borough Council has not, lor the past eighteen years, suffered anj loss at ail in the. matter of unpaid rates.

All arrangements are now complete for the appearance in Gisborne on Thursday and Friday next week of the Black Family of musicians, supported by a specially selected company ot comedy artists. At the meeting of the Borough Council last night, Cr. Collins gave notice to move at next meeting that the abattoirs be connected with the mam town water supply in accordance with the recommendations made bv the Engmeei in his first report.

The Chairman of the High School Board of Governors is in receipt of a telegram from the Hon. Geo. I‘owkls, Minister for Education, stating that after the Easter holidays he will fix the actual date for his visit to Gisborne in order to perform the ceremony oi opening the new High School. After a number of comparatively short meetings, the proceedings of the Borough Council meeting last night were again somewhat protracted, although comparatively little business wa s transacted. The Council, which sat at 7.30 p.m.. did not adjourn until a few minutes before midnight. Two organs, not elaborate to look upon, but costing £'4oo each, have been landed from the Rinmtaka at Wellington, to the order of Messrs. Fuller. They were made in France, and are considered the finest that money can buy. One is to be installed in His Majesty’s. Courteney Place, and the other at the Royal. Mme. Clara- Butt and Mr. Kennerlev Rum ford have been engaged by Messrs. J. and N. Tait for a tour of South Africa, opening next [March, and so planned as to enable them to give about 20 concerts, returning to England during May (1911 L At the end of next year it is probable that thev will revisit the Commonwealth, and subsequcntl- tour India, the East, and Canada.

‘‘l would like to know what the Council intends to do in regard to the road loan When are we likely to get it-'” asked Cr. Collins at the Council meeting last night. The Mayor said that the Council should necessarily have a little patience and give the matter tune to develop. He anticipated that they would get the whole of the loans in due course, and pointed out that the remaining loans had' not been refused. A particularly strong cast has been selected to support Miss Nellie Stewart at the Princess Theatre in' her Easter attraction —“What Every Woman Knows.” - In the popular Barrie corned- [Mr. Hareourt Beattie will appear ~s John Shaml, the man M ambition. while the parts of the Wylies, father and son, will be filled bv Mr. J. B. Atholwocd. Grogan M'Mahon, and Eardlev Turner respectively. Among the ladies will be [Miss [Madeline Mmodith and Miss Gwen Burrows. [Mr. Ga ston Mervale will stage manage the piece, and aJso fill a place in the cast. An Invercargill resident who recently had occasion to go to Christchurch paid a visit to the Sunnvside Asylum, and (says the “Southland Times”) happened to be at the institution when there were exceptional opportunitiis for seeing' things the visitor does not. usually see.. He did not see Lionel Terry, who is in the Asylum, but- he saw that- upfortunato man’s latest work. Terry, he was.informed, is at the present time assiduously cultivating the simple life, and indulging m the plain fare, the open-air exercise, and the scanty raiment of the pagan days. He has been fascinated uv thos pagan life, and deeply impressed with the bonds that have been fastened on men by the artificial living dressing, and food of these times. As a result lie has written a poem, “The Prison Cage,” in which the two styles of living are contrasted, to the great advantage of the simple life. The visitor had the privilege of seeing the poem, which, h<> states, possesses considerable literary excellence, and is beautifully embellished with striking ink drawings and colored sketches. The work throughout, particularly the sketching, is unusually clever. Terry lias a strong objection to beige; on exhibition, and the authorL ties discourage as much as possible any idle curious desire on the part of visitors.

All wise parents keep Red Arrow Ointment in the house. The cost is only Is, and its value in an emergency 'annot be estimated. For eut-s, bruises, /nd sores of all descriptions this ointment cures in a- manner little short of marvellous. All Grocers and Chem LStS.*