NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 139, 14 June 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Call by Mistake. j Chimney smoke floating over Union Build-1 injr, in Customs Street, early this morning gave a passer-by the impression that the building was on fire, and he promptly called the Central Fire Brigade'. It was a false alarm, though given in good faith. ■ I . i ' '■'; i Child Education. "I think seven is young enough an age to send a child to school to begin stirring up its brain," said Dr. K. E. Cromptoii, or Havelock.North, at the Hastings Rotary Club. "It .is problematical," he added, "whether the results of our compulsory education justify our worrying very much about , when , we eend them to school." 'Possum Hunter Excused. That he had an opossum-trapping area, and wished to attend to hie traps, was the excuse given by a common juror, who applied for exemption at the Supreme Court, Greymouth. He stated that he wae working the area on his own, and did not want to send aonther man out, as the latter would- very likely get bushed. Mr. Justice Johnston granted the application. Great South Road Concreting. The contractors for the new concrete strip between Papakura and Runciman are making headway. There remains only about a quarter of a mile to the end of the concrete at Papakura. The "curing off" takes some little while, but eo far the contractors are ahead of time. The recent rain is making it very difficult- for the residents around Park Estate Road to get into Pa.pakura, for the old summer road is in a bad etate. Miss Batten's Return. When Mies Jean Batten arrives in Auckland from Australia towards the end of next month ehe will be given a civic reception in the Hall. This announcement wae made by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, who said nothing had been done so far in the direction of welcoming Miss Batten to her native shores. The people of Auckland would, however, be given an opportunity to greet her on arrival. As soon as the date was definitely known, arrangements would be made for a civic welcome. Women in Business. One- of the Papakura Chamber of Commerce members went canvassing for new members, and did not have marked success. Giving hie reasons for a number not joining up, he said, "Why, half the businesses here are run by women." The secretary eaid he saw no reason why women could not be members, but some of the present members were a little dubious. The fact ie that of about 00 shope, etc., in Papakura, 21 are conducted by women. The Family Doctor. "There is a tendency of the present day to which I would refer—the tendency to set up a class of specialists in the- various branches of surgery," said Dr. A. F. Ritchie Crawford, in responding to the toast of the Invereargill Lodge Surgeone' Association at the jubilee banquet of the United Friendly Societies. "This tendency is to get away from the oid type of family doctor, who fills a very definite place Jn the home—one which no one else in the world can fill." Japanese Imitation of Motor Parts. Complaints have been made that imitative spare parts of American iiotor cars are being sent from .Japan to Australia in huge quantity and sold to dealers at prices far below "those bearing- the trademark of the patentcps. The imitation |of the spares is absolute-. Imported goods are required to carry -the brand of the manufacturing countries, but those from-Japan can, in some cases, be distinguished only by expt-rte. Three Sydney firine were restrained by injunction in the Supreme Court from selling parts which infringe the brand and trademark of General Motors Corporation in respect of a well-known car. A etory going tlie rounds in Sydney was to the effect that an expert, on being sent to examine a car, returned to say: "There is very little of what we eold left; all the rest is from Japan."

Getting in Early. Smiles went round the table- at tlip Birkenhead Borough Council last night when the following letter was read: "A report in the 'Auckland Star' notifies the possibility of a public library being instituted in Birkenhead at some not too distant date. May I, therefore, tender application for the position of librarian in the event of such a vacancy offering. I am at present employed in a similar capacity. Credentials and references would be forwarded immediately, if required." Councillors remarked on the celerity of the applicant. The question was only introduced a fortnight ago, when the council set up a committee to investigate the possibility of a library being established. Tho committee has not yet met. - ■ Excursion Cruises. The summer excursion cruisee in the liners Monowai and Marama will be run next season from both Wellington and Auckland. The former vessel will leave Auckland for the Bay of Islands 071 December 24, returning on December 28, and the same itinerary will be followed again between January 21 and January 25 next year. The Marama* will leave Wellington for Queen Charlotte and Pclorus Sounds on January 2S and February 25 next year, returning to Wellington on February 1 and March 1 respectively. Another cruise by the Monowai will be to Milford and West Coaet Sounds, leaving Wellington on February 4 and returning on February 8. A considerable number of intending passengers will be unable to take the trip by the Marama to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga leaving Auckland on August 7, owing to the heavy bookings. The passenger accommodation has been fully booked, although it is nearly two months before the cruise etarts. The Union Company announces that the steamer will make another trip to Western Pacific Island's, commencing on August 23, if sufficient inducement is offering. The itinerary for this winter cruise is . Auckland to -Suva, Levuka, Apia, Vavau and Nukualofa. Educative Broadcasting. A request for the support of the Wellington City Council in a petition to the Government seeking the removal of restrictions on the fullest possible use of wireless for the education of the people in regard to the vital social problems of the day was made in a .letter received by the council from the chairman of the No More War Movement, the Rev. m M. Bell. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that the question was one for Parliament, and not for the council. He moved that the letter be received. Air. P. Fraser, M.P., said that he agreed that the council had no power to deal with the petition, but at the same time he would like to express hie fullest personal sympathy and endorsement of the petition. The 8.8.C. was taking up a sensible attitude in regard to controversial matters. It did not matter J whether the question was a national or localj one, all sides were placed before the people. When the Budget was presented, it was not ' simply the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stafford Cripps, Major Attlee, Mr. Baldwin, ; or. Mr. Mac Donald who spoke over the air, but fair representations were allowed from all sides, and the British public had the ad van- ■ tage of beinjj able to form ' an intelligent judgment. While it was difficult for a local body to take part in the matter raised by the petition, he did not think that it should be received Tsdtliont an expression of opinion, .';

A Blithe Request. A reminder that the time for important football matches ia approaching js given by a notice which' is being displayed in several Christchurch offices. It reads: "All requests for leave of absence on account of euddoil illness, weddings, funerals, etc., must be handed in the day before the game." Traffic Car Sirens. As the sounding of the horn on a traffic inspector's car when he deeired motorists to stop seemed often to be misinterpreted, the council of the Automobile Assoeiation decided last night to ask local bodies to equip traffic inspectors' ears with a suitable siren. This policy had been successfully tried out in the South, and would prevent the confusion which resulted from the sounding of a warning from a horn without a distinctive note. First Aid in Gaol. Tuition in first ;id has been instituted at Mount Eden prison .by the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society and the St. John Am.bulance Association. The first lesson was given to a class of 18 of the youngei men this week by officers of the association, and keen interest was displayed. It is proposed to give the men a complete course, and classes will be held each week. At the completion an examination will • be held;"and certificates issued to thoee who paee. ...,',, White Road Shoulders. Shoulders of a distinctive colour, which would clearly define the sides of black-sealed roads were suggested ae a safety measure by Mr. R. E. Champtaloup, touring manager, to the meeting of the council of the Automobile Association last evening. Difficulty in driving in fog and at nigh:; on tar-sealed or bitumen roads had called for some means of defining more clearly the width of usable surface. After a short discussion the council resolved to recommend to the Main Highways Board that white shoulders be built on each side of such roads. Tt was suggested that limestone chips would be the most suitable material. Fuel and Mutual Help. It was announced at a recent meeting of the Cobden Town Board that the schools had been offered free firewood for the'winter from the Coal Creek sawmill, and it was decided that the board's lorry be provided free to cart the. wood to the schools. The chairman, Mr. A. H. MeKane, also stated that some of the unemployed had come to him asking if they could have the use of the lorry to cart coal in from a mine about the Seven Mile. They could get the coal free of ehanre, if they provided their own transport. It was decided that the lorry be also granted for the delivery of the coal from the mine to the unemployed. Conscience Money. Two years ago a New Zealand woman, who is at present on holiday in Cliristcliureh, was visiting Melbourne, and had £10 stolen from her hotel bedroom. She Jiad forgotten the incident, but recently was reminded of it by a letter 'from her husband in Australia, who stated that a -letter enclosing £10 had come for her. The 'letter was ill-written, in which the writer stated that he (or she) had been asked to return the money which had been borrowed two years previously. The identity of the "borrower" cannot be guessed at, but it was probably someone in the hotel, otherwise the name and address of the woman would not have been known. Policeman Asked to Dance. It appeared from evidence in the Wellington Magistrate's Court recently that there is no need for a person to feel ill at ease when being marched along to the police station by a constable. In fact, one young lady who had the privilege asked the policeman to take her to the pictures, and further along the street suggested that lie should take her to a dance. The policeman refused, but apparently this did not deter the young miss, for she -then sang Scottish songs for the remainder of the journey. Her friendly attitude did not alter when she stood in the dock, for while she listened to evidence against her of being idle and disorderly, she had a cheery smile for everyone in the Court. Twins of Great Age. An interesting article referring to the oldest-twins living in England was published in a Wanganui paper recently, and, amongst those mentioned were "two venerable Scots/' Mr. Andrew MeNicol, of Caticol, Loch Ranza, Arran, and his twin brother, Mr. William MeNicol, of Hamilton Terrace, Lamlash, Arran. It was stated that they -were 68 years of age. Next day a letter was received by the editor from Mr. R. S. MeNicol, of Arran Place, Aramoho, who stated: "Note my surprise when, on reading your article, I found my father, Mr. Andrew MeNicol, and his twin brother mentioned as being the oldest men in Great Britain. They are in their 88th year, not 68th, and are enjoying the best of health."

Defacing of Road Signs. "Hell Fire Jack, the Hobo Kinp," is the title given himself by a persistent dcfaccr of Automobile Association signs throughout the province. The council of the association decided last evening that action should be taken against offenders, as the practice of writing and carving on road signs had become a serious nuisance. One of the association's patrols had reported that he had seen the "hobo kind's" autograph on signposts' in North Auckland, in the King Country, and on both East Coast and West Coast routes. In many cases the defacer had added sueli information as "eecond house, red roof, good feed." Mr. K. E. Champtnloup, the touring manager, displayed two signs superscribed with hundreds of names and other defacements, which had caused the patrols to replace the signs. A Torrent of Words. The efficacy of two methods of attack was discussed by Dr. C. C. Farr while addressing the Canterbury College Scientific Society (reports the "Press"). One could hurl bricks at a man, he said, or scarify him with words— that ie, by wave motion. "I remember using this latter method very effectively once upon a Chinaman," he remarked. Dr. i'arr eaid he had had an argument with a Chinaman over some washing, and on that occasion, having doubts of his own effective supply of wave •motion, made use of thrco pages of Milton's "Paradise Lost" which wae running through his head, to the discomfiture of the laundry- 1 man. "At the end of my oration," he concluded, "punctuated ae it was with- liberal interspersion of my own name and accompanied by wild gesticulations, he was like the Queen of Sheba—he had no spirit in him!" Shortage of Judges. The shortage of judges to handle the work coming before various branches of the Supreme Court was remarked on in Wellington by Mr. Justice Blair in the Arbitration Court, where he is presiding in place of Mr. Justice Frazer, who is temporarily engaged as president of the Dairy Commission. After fixtures for the Wellington sitting had been made, Mr. P. J. O'Regan asked his Honor whether the dates of the Court's sittings at Napier, New Plymouth, Palmereton North and such places could be indicated. "That is an interesting question," replied his Honor, smiling. "Can you tell me how long this commission Mr. Justice Frazer is engaged on will last?" He' said he would do as much of the Court's work ae possible after he had attended the Appeal Court. As far as the Supreme Court was concerned, the public had no idea how much of a judge's time was taken up by mortgagor relief cases. There were hundreds of them. Hβ was anxious to do as. much of the Arbitration Court business a« possible and was willing to sit long hours. The Arbitration Court will sit in Wellington throughout this week. After that Mr. Justice Blair will attend the Court of Appeal.