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NEW ZEALAND TOPICS
AIRMAN OR "HOT AIR MAN."
(From Our Special Correspondent.)
AUCKLAND, September 1".
In ray last, I referred at some length,
to "Captain Robert Robertson, late ot
the Australian Air Force, but now of
Auckland," and his projected aerial trip
from New Zealand to Australia in De-
cember next. Tho announcement of the
coming flight was given a good deal of
publicity, and one of the Auckland dailies
published a portrait of the captain. The
matter of the proposed flight was referred
to in thc House just before the last ses-
sion cloBed, when the Defence Minister, in
reply to a question, said he had no official
knowledge of Captain Robertson, where-
upon an Auckland member jocularly re-
marked that just possibly Captain Robert
Bon waa not aa ordinary airman, but a
"hot air man." One would have supposed
that this would have brought tho alleged .
aviator out with a protest, but so far it
has not.
MORE NEW CHUMS.
Thc Ionic,' timed to arrive at Auckland
from London and Southampton on Mon-
day next, is bringing another cargo of
thc assisted immigrants, some hundreds of
them, all told. "Let 'cm all come." is
tho policy of the Government, and au
excellent policy it is-when conditions aro
normal. Rut conditions in New Zealand
at the present time arc not normal, and
have not been normal for a lengthened
period. Fortunately for the Ionic immi-
grants, spring is herc, and work may bc
easier to obtain than it bas been during
the winier. But, even so, it is to be
feared that the new arrivals-that is, a
good many of them-will find it difficult to
secure tho sort of Btart they arc doubtless
hoping for, and it is practically certain
that if the views of all the immigrants
who have lantied in Now Zealand within
the past year "could be ascertained it
would be found that a percentage of them
would be glad enough to leave if they
could. It has been pointed out by new
arrivals íñ the correspondence columns
of thc papers that if they had had any
idea of the actual state of affairs hero
when they quitted England they would
never have come. Of course, the depres-
sion, it goes without saying, is only tem-
porary, and is bound to pass away, lu
thc meantime, it seems a mistake to
continue bringing shipload after shipload
of people from overseas to these shores
to join those who arc seeking in vain'for
suitable openings.
THE LICENSING. BILL.
Despite tho assurance of the Govern-
ment that the Licensing Amendment Bill
was non-contentious, it has proved highly
contentious, so much so, in fact, that it
had to bc shelved in order that its pro-
visions might be studied and discussed
during the recess. One of the main fea-
tures of this bill, ns 1 think I have in-
dicated iii a previous letter, was the pro-
posal to extend tho period between the
licensing polls, with a view to affording
owners and licensees some security of
tenure. But this proposition proved us
obnoxious tu thc prohibitionists us
a red rog to a bull. They du
not want publicans or owners to have
better security of tenure, and they object
just as strongly to the retention of tho
third issue on tho voting papers-Stute
control. "Tiic battle ot tho "wets" and
the "drys" will doubtless be resumed
next session. 'There' is, by thc way, a
growing feeling, on thc part of the pub-
lic, that thc licensing poll should not bu
taken on the tame day as thc General
election.
GERMAN TACTICS.
Not long since, a certain German firm
was tho lowest tenderer to Auckland Elec-
tric Power Board for a supply of cable.
This firm quoted £8,000, as against tile
lowest British lender of £1H,OOU, but lost
the contract because thc board was true
to its policy of "preference for British
goods." Subsequently, the same German
firm tendered again, and on that occasion
quoted £12,000, as against the lowest
British tender of £8,000. Why the chango
of tactics? One explanation offered is
that Fritz on the first occasion was simply
trying to undercut his British competitors,
and that his later quotation was nearer
thc actual price of the line. Tho geueral
manager of thc Power Board thinks other-
wise. He is of opinion that the first
quotation WBB made in error, and that if
Fritz's offer had been accepted he would
have cancelled it as soon as he discovered
that he had made a mistake. The Power
Board, it appears, is beine literally pester-
ed by German manufacturers and agents
anxious to supply electrical tools and
equipment. "If," says the board's man-
ager, "a few contracts were secured by
the German firms they would pave the
way for complete entry to the local mar-
ket. But, as far as the Auckland Power
Board is concerned, they have come to tba
wrens shop."
WOMEN IN THE PULPIT.
Thc Rev. W. ,1. Comrie h:is suggested
that thc General Assembly (Presbyterian
Church) should delete the word "male"
from the book of orders, with a view to
the removal of tho disqualification of we-
men from holding office in the Church.
The reverend gentleman says this notion
is not new, and did not originate with
himself, and he fully expects that if th¿
proposal reaches thc Assembly it is bound
to give risc to a good deal of discussion,
"since it took the church 39 years to re-
cover from thc shock of thc proposal that
organ music should form a feature of thc
services." Mr. Comrie is nevertheless
satisfied that the time is coming when
women will hold forth in thc pulpit. Tile
seconder of the suggestion referred to the
valuable work women could perform in
connection with church affairs. "When
women are fully emancipated," he declar-
ed "greater benefit will accrue to man-
kind than accrued at the time cf thc Re-
formation."
MONEY IN RABBITS.
It is estimated that rabbit trapping and
skin sorting now provide employment for
between 4,000 and 5,000 men during the
winter months in this country. Dunedin
is the only market for thc sale of rabbit
skins. fortnightly sales are held, and
at the June. July, and August auctions
1,153,8051b. of skins were sold, and realis-
ed approximately £384,000. while the total
value of rabbit skins offered in New Zea-
land during the winter just ended is put
at roughly £500,000. Skins reach the
Dunedin market from all parts of New
Zealand. Experienced rabbitcrs do weil.
6ome parlies making from £500 to £600
per man for the season. The high-grade
skins are used for the making of fur coats
for ladies' wear, which command fauev
price». Thc inferior skins are used by
hatters in thc manufacture of felt hats. .
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