There has been some discussion lately with regard to the advisability of the Land Board taking the control of these lands from the committees and having them offered under lease for disposal by tender.
The settlers who hold the leases in the Otago district resent interference under existing conditions, holding that, if the land is disposed of by public competition, large landowners on the Canterbury side will outbid the Otago farmers, thereby inflicting hardship on the small men who have looked to these additional areas as a help in farming their Crown selection.
The matter came before the Otago Land Board yesterday, in the form of representations from the settlers interested, who submitted the full facts to the board, with the result that a resolution was passed strongly recommending that the islands be retained under the control of the local committees, and pointing out that otherwise great hardship would be inflicted upon the small settlers holding Crown leases.
Religious affiliation
A return laid on the table of the House of Representatives today shows the religious denominations of the men who have left New Zealand with the expeditionary forces up to and including the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements.
The total accounted for is 70,445, and their religious denominations are: Church of England, 32,760; Presbyterian, 16,431; Roman Catholics, 8711; Methodist, 3662; Wesleyan, 1311; Baptist, 882; Protestant, 646; Congregational, 397; Salvation Army, 272; Church of Christ, 190; Plymouth Brethren, 140; Lutheran, 125; Jewish, 93; Mormon, 43; Nonconformist, 50; Agnostic, 47; Unitarian, 39; Freethinkers, 30; Atheist, 19; Spiritualist, 12; Theosophist, 12; Rationalist, 10; Seventh Day Adventists, 9; Episcopalian,, 9; Quaker, 7; Christadalophian, 6; Greek, 3; Independent, 2; Deist, 1; Hindoo, 1; not stated, 4515.
Breaking bad habits
An interesting lecture was delivered last night by Mr Andrew Deer, of Sydney. The subject, ''Habit, and its Relation to Efficient Effort'', provided ample scope, of which the lecturer took full advantage.
The various laws of correct habit development were discussed, particularly in regard to the making of the man right, so that his work, whatever its nature, might be accomplished with a minimum of effort.
To this end the lecturer suggested the necessity for and claimed to show the way to fulfil the laws of habit pertaining to the forming of right judgments, of reason, of memory, and constructive imagination for the development of initiative.
Mr Deer treated in detail the ways of right thinking, breathing, drinking, exercising, cleansing, eating, relaxing, recreating, and resting. The functioning of the will for greater efficiency was then dealt with, and members were shown how habits of impulsiveness could, and should, be overcome, and how the procrastinator could also remove his handicap.
Following the lecture on habit a half-hour's talk was given on the science of character analysis, a most important phase of the business man's skill.
- ODT, 13.9.1917.
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