LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 47, 5 December 1945, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bookmakers Fined Bets taken on December 1 on races at Christchurch, Auckland, and Bulls resulted In J. B. Helm and George E. Morgan, who were both described as “small fry,” appearing before Mr J. Miller, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Hastings, yesterday, when they pleaded guilty to carrying on business as bookmakers. Helm was fined £SO, and Morgan £7O. — (P.A.)

Message to Queen of Tonga The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) has sent a message to the Queen Salote of Tonga on the occasion of the celebration of the centenary of Tonga. “The history of our Pacific area is only at its beginning, and in the years ahead we hope, and shall do our best to ensure, that our two countries will continue in brotherly feirndship, contributing each to the other’s welfare,” said Mr Fraser. (P.A.)

Beyond China's Great Wall An interesting and informative lantern address on the vast, lands beyond China’s Great Wall was given by Mr R. W. Sturt in the Cass Street Gospel Hall last evening. With excellent slides, Mr Sturt gave a vivid idea of the colonising effects ot the Japanese and showed that the impress of the earlier Russian penetration remained. The views of the milder, sparsely populated Mongol lands were of areas rarely reached by Europeans.

Mileage Tax Included in the list of emergency regulations, recently revoked were the Substitute Fuel Regulations, said the Minister of Transport, the Hon. J. O’Berin. He added that owners of vehicles driven by producer gas would in future be required to pay mileage tax and make monthly mileage returns within, seven days from the end of each month. The first return would be due at the end of December. —(P.A.)

Rush For Health Stamps There has been a rush to buy health stamps at Ashburton since it was announced that there were only £35 worth left, according to a statement to-day by the chairman of the Ashburton Health Camp Committee (Mr E. C. Bathurst). He said it was highly probable that they would all be sold before the end of the week, and advised intending purchasers to fill their requirements early. There were fairly heavy sales yesterday, and the demand increased to-day.

Flight of Aircraft Weather permitting, aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm from the carrier Inde.fatigable will fly over Ashburton about 9.15 a.m. to-morrow. They were scheduled to have been over the town shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday, but could not continue the flight from Wigram because of shortage of fuel. The Mayor said to-day that, it had been suggested that children attending school be allowed dut to see the planes and he was in full accord with the idea.

Overseas Telegraphic Service Advice has been received by the Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department that telegrams of a business nature to Hong Kong, Malaya and Shanghai are no longer restricted to those ascertaining facts or exchanging information. Telegraphic service is now restored with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and telegrams may be accepted for these places at tile same rates and conditions as to U.S.S.R., except business telegrams which are restricted to those ascertaining facts or exchanging information. Telegrams for Malaya (except Kedah, Kelantan and Trengganu) may be accepted in the English, French or Dutch languages.

Registered Nurses’ Association The Ashburton branch of the Registered Nurses’ Association held- its annual meeting last evening. The president (Miss V. E. Dearsley) presided over a good attendance. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The secretary (Mrs A. Brown) reported on a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive at Wellington. Officers were elected as follow: —President, Miss Dearsley; «vice-presidents, Misses J. Poff and B. E. Hight; council, Mesdames W. Pf Bryant, N. W. Corbett, L. Christmas, W. H. Rundle, W. G. Todd, R. Eaden, and Brown, and Misses E. Taine, P. E. Wilson and J. F. Weaver; secretary, Mrs Brown; treasurer, Mrs Rundle.

Wellington Tramway Dispute No trams or city council buses will run in Wellington to-day. Tramway workers will observe a full-day strike similar to that of last Wednesday, and will meet in the morning to determine whether the strike shall continue to-morrow, or be renewed on any later date if a settlement of their dispute with the City Council is not reached. The progress l of the tramway workers’ dispute with the council is being closely watched by alllied transport unions, but there is no evidence yet to suggest that the strike will extend to other fields. Future developments depend on decisions to be reached at to-day’s meeting of the Wellington Tramway Employees’ Union.—(P.A.)

Compulsory Unionism Compulsory unionism made for a greater degree of efficiency and contentment among workers, and he was 100 per cent, in favour of it, said the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He favoured every farmer being a member of the Farmers’ Union. There Avere, unfortunately, persons who he described as industrial cuckoos, rail sitters, and parasites, who were prepared to accept the benefits obtained through the efforts of others, but were too mean to contribute their share. It had to be recognised that trade unionism had come to stay. There was no reason for strikes in New Zealand, and those who walked out were merely cutting tlieir own throats and destroying the privileges which the pioneers fought for and handed down. —P.A.