GALLERY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 6

GALLERY NOTES

DAY IN PARLIAMENT,

LAND LAWS AMENDMENT

(By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The Land Laws Amendment Bui was reported to the House of Representatives from the lands committee to-day with one amendment in respect to the number of Government members on the Land Purchase Boards for the Nortli and South Islands. The number has been reduced from three to two. , The committee recommended to the Government that there be a classification of all the land of the Dominion according to (a) whether the land is suitable for closer settlement, and (b) whether the land is suitable for closer settlement or subdivision. BUILDING TRADES.

There has been a falling off in the value of all building operations during the past two years, according to a report submitted to Parliament. The figures for the past four years are as f0110w:—1925-26, £10,169,530; 1926-2/, £11,019,389; 1927-28. £9,665,216; 1928-29, £9,054,421. The peak year was reached in 1926-27; since then the value of the permits decreased by over £1,300,090 in 1927-28, owing principally to fewer private dwellings being erected, and bv a further £610,000 in 1928-29, in which year business premises showed a decrease of £775,000 and private dwellings a decrease of £229,000, while other buildings and additions and alterations showed an increase of £394,000. MASS PRODUCTION.

The report of the Labour Department states that, while other countries show a considerable development in the direction of largo scale factories and other works, there has been no such tendency in New Zealand except in butter and cheese factories, notably in the Waikato. It is urged in Australia and elsewhere that manufacturers cannot expect to be able to compete with those in other countries unless they adopt similar methods. In New Zealand the tendency has been in the opposite direction, quite a large number of factory workers having opened small establishments for themselves, cither in preference to remaining as employees or on account of losing their positions. LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

The Labour Department’s report states that engineering, sawmilling, electrical working, boot manufacturing, saddlery and gumdigging, also meat freezing in some districts, have been slack. As a result of inquiries made in. the different districts of the Dominion the following are some of the reasons given for the present state of these occupations: Engineering.—The increasing use of electricity for which motors, etc., are imported has liad the effect of slowing up the trade. Electrical trade. —Owing to the completion of the bulk of reticulation work, the men employed on wiring are experiencing difficulty in keeping in employment. Saddlery: The trade continues to recede in importance with the increase in motor traction.

Boot manufacturing—lmportations and the prejudice against the local article. Those connected with the industry are optimistic, however, that the footwear committee’s deliberations will have a’beneficial effect upon the trade. Gumdigging.—lt is estimated that some 700 f men have been compelled to leave the diggings in the Far North on account, of the discovery of a cheap substitute.

Sawmilling.—Due to importation the West Coast and the Hamilton districts report ,a gradual improvement,, whilst Wanganui reports that nine mills have closed on account of the cutting out of tho bush and that no new ones have been opened. Meat freezing.—;A quiet season has been experienced in several districts where tne amount of stock handled was less than that of last year. DERMATITIS.

Inquiries were made by the Labour Department throughout New Zealand during the year, in. conjunction with the medical officers of health, into a number of statements that bakers were suffering from dermatitis. The inquiries were also made in other factories where food is prepared. Only two cases were discovered, and these were not considered serious by the medical officers of health. One of them was transferred to work away from the bakehouse, while the other discontinued work as a baker pending treatment. Two other 6uspecte’d cases of dermatitis were found and the workers were advised as to proper treatment. One of them was discovered in a chocolate making factory. She is undergoing treatment and in the meantime has not been employed in a factory where food is handled. The other has also undergone treatment.

“It may be mentioned that dermatitis is not infectious .or contagious. The various bakehouses and other places where food is prepared are, however, being kept under observation by the department in conjunction with the medical officers of health.”

EFFECT OF THE WAR. . In regard to the effect of the war on the number of boys and girls who will shortly reach the workable age, the statistics show that, assuming that the pre-war birth rates per 1000 and other usual conditions had continued to the present time (including the mortality rates and immigration) there will shortly be in all about 13,000 fewer boys and girls reaching the age of fourteen years than if the war had not occurred. The peak year (in which the effect of this lo6s of potential population would be at its greatest (should be in 1933, and it will be interesting to note from the present year to that time what effect this loss of potential population will have on the numbers of hoys and girls available for industry. PETROL MEASURING INSTRUMENTS.

The expansion of the petrol and fuel oil industry had added considerably to the work of inspectors of the Labour Department, states the report. “Petrol and oil measuring instruments are now to be found in the most remote districts. As these instruments are subject to hard wear and tear, a constant watch is necessary in order to ensure that they deliver correct measure. Petrol measuring instruments are carefully examined, and unless any such instrument is so designed and constructed as to withstand reasonably hard usage it is not permitted. The instrhment must also be so constructed as not to facilitate fraud. Certain types of instruments recently introduced into the Dominion are fitted with automatically controlled discharge valves end have accelerated or pressure delivery. The regulations nave not permitted the use of a tap or cock at the end of the hose on account of the possible loss 4o the customer of the quantity retained in the hose. Unless a tap on the cock is fitted at the end of the hose however, to allow the operator a rapid means of shutting off the petrol, there is a danger of the petrol overflowing a motor car tank, with consequent dan-

ger of fire or explosion. The safety factor is of first importance, and after communications with the British Board of Trade, which also had the matter under consideration, it was decided to permit the use of a tap or cock provided it was of a form whereby the customers could readily see whether .any petrol was retained in the hose.