LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 248, 1 August 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“Ballot For Farm

Of the 19 applicants for the “Acton” farm settlement at Penilarves under the rehabilitation scheme, Mr R. Petrie, of Christchurch, was the lucky one when the ballot was drawn in Christchurch yesterday by the Commissioner for Crown Lands (Mr T. W. Preston). The farm is of 550 acres.

Ashburton Sale Approved The Canterbury Rural Land Sales Committee, at a sitting - in Timaru, approved of the sale of a section of 1 rood at 60, Cameron Street, Ashburton, with a wooden house at £BOO from Patrick Francis Collins, of Ashburton, to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. P. F. Lyons).

South Island Power The Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple), answering Mr T. L. Macdonald (Opposition, Mataura) in the House of Representatives yesterday, said there was a possibility of the rationing of electric power in the South Island next year, but if conditions were good it was likely that any rationing which might be necessary would not. cause much inconvenience.

Increase in Killings

Over 200 head of stock more than in the corresponding period last year were killed at the Ashburton Municipal Abattoirs last month. Forty-eight lambs were slaughtered against none in the previous July, and 33 pigs against seven. Other figures, with those for July, 1945, in parentheses, are: Cattle, 133 (131); calves 2 (1); sheep 987 (862).

Children’s Footwear

The Hon, D. G. Sullivan, replying to Mr J. T. Walts (Opposition, Riccarton), said he had last week presided over a conference of footwear manufacturers, which, considered means oi stimulating the production of children’s footwear. Manufacturers expressed confidence that, the employment and training of returned servicemen would enable supplies to be substantially increased. Import licences were already available for children’s footwear in excess of the supply.

Kamo Mine Working , Hewing at the Kamo mine, which was idle on Tuesday while an inspector of mines, Mr C. Hunter, examined the underground workings, was resumed yesterday morning. The inspector, in a report to the mine deputies, said that the timbering was of good quality, and satisfactorily carried out, and that the roadways and working places were in safe condition. The suspension of work on Tuesday meant a loss of 300 tons of coal.— P.A.

New Waterfront Orders

It is estimated that an additional yearly payment of £52,000 will he received by Auckland waterside workers after the introduction to-day of the three orders announced by the Waterfront Industry Commission last month. The orders, which provide for statutory holiday pay, meal money, and increased payment for Saturday morning work, will benefit workers throughout. New Zealand by an extra £150,* 000 to £160,000 a year.—P.A.

Bulk Sales Contract

“I think the Minister of Finance is to be congratulated on the contract he has made in the interests of farmers,” said tlie Hon. W. Grounds in the Legislative Council yesterday. “The price appears to be very good in the light of all the circumstances, and although there has been a tendency in .some quarters to claim the right of marketing by the producers themselves, I am led to believe that the present contract level could not have been secured by any effort made by farmers themselves.” —P.A.-

Control of the Press The Prime Minister (the Rt.. Hon. P. Fraser), replying to Mr A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill), in the House of Representatives yesterday said his attention had been drawn to the proposal that the British Government should hold an inquiry into the ownership and control of the Press in the United Kingdom, and added that the Government would consider whether there was a need to hold an inquiry into the ownership and control of the Press of New Zea land, similar to that suggested for the United Kingdom.

Ashburton Car Lost And Found When Mr P. J. Murray, of the Ashburton branch of the Bank of New Zealand, went to get his car near the Radiant Hall early this morning, he found it missing, and later reported the loss to the police. Shortly after 8 o’clock this morning, advice was received that the car had been found abandoned near Wigram. When Mr Murray left his car about 10.30 last evening, there were four -gallons of petrol in it, but the tank was empty when the machine was found this morning.

;Catchment Board Rates Recommendations from the finance committee that the Catchment Boards’ Association be asked to obtain a uniform system of payment for the cost, of -collection of rates on a basis of a fixed amount per demand; also that local bodies be given power to retain 10 per cent, penalties, were adopted by the South Canterbury Catchment 'Board at a meeting in Timaru yesterday. The matter arose from letters received from the Waiv'inate, Geraldine, Mabkenzie and Levels County Councils stating that they required 6d a demand for the cost of collection of the board’s administrative rate. The Levels .County Council also requested that it be empowered to regain the 10 per cent, penalty.

i Application For Grant An application from the Ashburton branch of the Returned Services’ Association for a grant of £IOOO toward the purchase and equipment of tho new building was discussed at length at a. meeting of the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic CounciJ in Christchurch yesterday. It was stated that the Patriotic Board .had ruled that grants for such purchases could not be made from the funds, which had been raised for the relief of returned service personnel and their dependants. The subject was introduced, by the Mayor (Mr E. C. Bathurst) who moved that the grant be approved. An amendment that the matter lie referred to various zones and their opinions be forwarded and discussed by the council in two months’ time was tarried. Mr H. A. Harrison and the County‘Clerk (Mr G. Kelly) represented the County Council and Mr Bathurst and the Town Clerk (Mr R. C. Major) represented the Borough Council.

Ashburton Rate Demands Issued Rate demands for the current year were sent out yesterday afternoon by both the Borough and the County Council. For the borough the total posted was 2300, and for the county the figure was 2SGO.

Ashburton-Hinds Drainage Approving a recommendation by its Finance Committee, the South Canterbury Catchment Board decided yesterday to make application to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council for a further advance of | £2OOO for the Ashburton-Hinds drain- | age scheme, the grant to be on the same terms and conditions as the (original advance of £IO,OOO.

Joint Council Thanked

Thanks for the great work that the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cioss Society had done during the war were expressed by the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg) at the annual meeting yesterday of the joint council, says a Press Association message. His Excellency said he would like to say how much lie owed to the Joint Council for its help in keeping up morale, both on the home front and by sending food parcels and medical comforts to the troops overseas. The extra comforts which were provided by the Joint Council enabled the military authorities to keep the welfare and morale of the sick and wounded up to a level as high as that of any nation in the war.