NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 173, 23 July 1936, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Albany School Jubilee. A strong committee of residents of Albany have preparations well in hand for the celebration 011 August 22 of the diamond jubilee of the Albany District School. The first school established by the Board of Education was opened 011 that date in, 1870. A school supported by the settlers and held in a private building had been in existence some five or six years previously. Waitakere Ridge Road. Support for the proposed road through the Waitakeres was voiced by the One Tree Hill Borough Council last evening. The Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, said the contribution that would be required from the borough would not be beyond the finances of the council. On his motion a resolution was passed suggesting tliat local body contributions be assessed 011 a basis of the mean of population and valuation; tliat the Main Highways Board take over the future maintenance of the road; and that the Mayor of Auckland be advised accordingly. Motor Car Caught by Slip. To be almost overwhelmed by a slip as he was 'driving from Kotorua to Napier, when near the Mohaka River bridge, was the experience of a motorist 011 Tuesday afternoon. He had just negotiated the Mohaka River bridge when he was caught in a slip, which •buried his car up to the top of the mudguards. For ten minutes the driver endeavoured to extricate the car from the clay, when a further small slip showered the roof and bonnet of his vehicle with mud. At this stage he decided that discretion was the better course, and hurriedly left the car to await help from a point of safety. The car was later pulled clear, being very little damaged. One Tree Hill Rates. An assurance to ratepayers of the One Tree Hill Borough that the rates will not be increased was given by the Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, at last evening's meeting of the council. Mr. Goldstine referred to the promised legislation, if necessary, to protect the interests of local bodies who might have to increase their rates for the current year 011 account of new industrial conditions. "The revenue of this borough is quite buoyant," said Sir. Goldstine, "and I am quite convinced that position will remain, in spite of the increased 'burden of the *10-hour week, and that we will be able to find ways and means to save increasing the rates." The town clerk, Mr. A. Leese, reported that about 50 per cent of the current rates had been collected, which was a satisfactory position.

Staying Home by Railway. Apparently tlie admonition to "Travel by Railway" set out on the highly-coloured sign affixed by the Railway Department to its overhead bridge at the foot of Parnell Hill does not appeal to two families at least — the families of Mr. Jim and Mr. Bill Sparrow. In the heart of the "A" letter and of the "Y" they have ibnilt quite permanent-looking nests, and there families have been reared. After all, what could bo more comfortable? They have the noise of the passing trains suggesting travel without the bother of it, a supply of varied foodstuffs from the adjacent warehouse area, and the cosy warmth and glow of Neon lights around their home at night— all which advantages they probably feel have been assembled specially for them, and they evidently prefer the site to the many more traditional ones in the trees on Constitution Hill and Grafton Gully close by. Invercargill Solid. Invercargill is by far the most prosperous and substantial town in New Zealand, according to an Auckland business man who returned yesterday after twelve months' travelling in ;tho Dominion,', "Down there they boast that they have no debts," he said, "and, as far as I could see, such is the case. The people of Invercargill are not adventurous, but they are good, sound business people. They buy anything that appeals to them, so long as the proposition is sound, and, having signed for the order, they reach for their cheque books, remarking that they had better pay and have the transaction completed. They love to pay in advance. In municipal affairs the same sound basis obtains. However, they seem to prefer prudent finance to public enterprise, and it struck me that it would be in the interests of the town to unloosen the purse strings a little, so that some ver>y necessary street repairs and other improvements might be made. The Bluff Harbour Board is lending money—not borrowing it. Everything is as sound as a bell. Needless to say, Invercargill I is a paradise for car salesmeni"

National Health Insurance. The need of adopting a national health insurance scheme is emphasised in the "Journal of tho Hospital Boards' Association of New Zealand." The article, after referring to the increased demands being made on hospitals and the consequent large building pro- | grammes under consideration by many boards, states that a principal factor in the position is a too long delayed scheme of national health insurance. "The scheme advocated by the last conference of hospital boards was perhaps overclouded by 'estimated costs,'" states the article. "Perhaps this was an unfortunate term, as actually no extra cost would be entailed, (but rather would there be a decreased cost through early diagnosis, treatment in the homes and follow-up treatment upon discharge from hospital. Thus through the operation of a properly organised health service, fewer patients would require to go to hospital, and their stay in hospital would be shortened. The whole question of increased accommodation at great cost in our hospitals is closely bound up with the question of national health insurance. Whether the scheme is to be contributory in the manlier of insurance, or national in the manner of a State medical service, matters little. What does matter is that we have the choice, and should choose quickly between huge capital and maintenance expenditure on the one hand and an organised medical service on the other." Tho journal also refers to the decision of the South Canterbury Hospital Board to seek sanction for borrowing £70,000 to finish its building programme.

Blood Transfusion Service. A definite step is to be taken by tlie St. John Ambulance' Association to organise a "blood donors' bureau" at its headquarters in Rutland Street, and applications are invited' from residents in Auckland willing to submit to blood tests at the Auckland Hospital laboratory, where tliey will be "typed" or classified. The scheme, which has the recommendation of leading city doctors, is designed to ensure that blood transfusions will be available at any time to assist hospital patients. There are four distinct blood types, and records will be kept, so that, when a particular type is required, the right donor can be speedily communicated with. At least 250 donors will be needed, and if this number is provided the individual members of the organisation, who will receive a fee, will be called upon comparatively rarely. Transport facilities will be available, and it is proposed to give illustrated lectures 011 the subject at the Rutland Street headquarters. Owing, to heavy calls constantly made on ambulance funds, reliance will be placed 011 donation's for the operation of the service: "This is a service essential to the community, and one strongly worthy. of support," commented Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent at the Auckland Hospital. Blood transfusion was used, he said, in both public and private hospitals to assist in recovery from illness or injury due to accidents. Mr. S. E. Langstone, secre-tary-manager of the association, said blood transfusion services were established in Wellington and other southern centres.

Air Mails Coming. The Monterey, due 011 Saturday morning, is bringing two Empire air mails from Sydney. One of the consigvmaents was sent from Bondon 011 July 5 and the other on July 8. A quantity of Australian mail is also being brought, and altogether there are 4(12 bags of mail for New Zealand 011 board,' 148 being for Auckland. Metropolitan Committee. ' Unqualified support foi" the permanent metropolitan committee proposed by the Auckland City Council was given in the form of a resolution passed last evening by the One Tree Hill Borough Council. The Mayor, ill'. I. J. Goldstine, outlined the objects of the committee, and referred to the attitude of another local body, that had stated it did not wish to commit itself financially. "This is the wrong attitude to adopt," said Mr. Goldstine. "as a local body talking like that is asking for absorption." Mr. Goldstine was appointed the council's delegate to the committee. Fair Exchange. In a luncheon address yesterday Mr. Brian Dunniiigham amused members of the Auckland Creditmcn's Club by telling of the manner in which one farmer allegedly conducted his business. This man, said Mr. Dunniiigham, used to employ his hands without paying them. He would just let the wages debt accumulate, and when it had reached a fairly solid sum lie would say to his men: "I owe you so much; you can own the farm for a while." Then he would work for them, and when his unpaid wages mounted up to such an extent that the men actually owed him money, fie would take over the management again. The Home-Coming. A laughable incident took place on the arrival of the Monowai from her holiday run among the Islands. The decks of the liner were crowded with tourists wreathed in smiles and leis. The ship's band was pumping out some Island dance melodies, the passengers were swaying to the music. The ladies were looking particularly happy, wlion suddenly from the crowd 011 the wharf came a shrill cry of a kiddie: "Munimie, mummie, hello, mummle." The wharf crowd saw the funny side of those young passengers, after fifteen days of fun, coming back to young families. While bystanders enjoyed the situation audibly, mother quietly answered her child's call and then retired blushing behind the other passengers. Recommendations to Mercy. In two cases at the Supreme Court yesterday a jury which returned a verdict of guilty added a rider recommending mercy. One case involved a charge of attempted carnal knowledge, in which an old man had tried to coax a little girl into a hut. Commenting 011 the jury's rider, Mr. Justice Callan said it was consistent with the view that he had formed of the case. Referring to the rider in the other trial, where a man had been found guilty of attacking a bank official with intent to commit theft, Mr. Justice Fair said that he would give effect to the recommendation as far as he could. But a crime of that sort, he added, required serious consideration. Sentence was deferred 111 both cases. Father Recognised. Into an English home there found its way recently a copy of the "Auckland St).r" of April 28 last. On the illustrations page of that issue there appeared a photograph of the residents of the Bledisloe House for the Blind. Now there has come to Auckland a letter from Cranleigh, High Road, Shenfield, Essex, in which the writer states that his father is an inmate of the home, and a friend of his believes he is in the picture. The writer explains that he; has not spoil his father since he was in England for the coronation of the late King. The writer asks whether it could he. ascertained .if his father is a member of the group, arid, if so, could a copy of the photograph I 'T)(i feeiit? Inquiries reveal that the writer's father was actually in the photograph, and a copy of it lias been sent to him. School Teams on Tour. It is not uncommon for teams from secondary schools and universities to go 011 tour to different parts of the Dominion, but it is something of an innovation for schools of a lower grade to travel. There is added interest, then, in the visit to Auckland of a party next month from the Wanganui Intermediate School to play a series of matches against the Kowliai Intermediate School. Nor does the party comprise merely one team. It is 70 strong, girls as well as boys, and games to be played are hockey, Soccer, Rugby and basketball. The visitors will be billeted by the parents of pupils of the Auckland school on arrival /by the early express on the 7tli. They return .011 the Sunday night following, the Otli. During their stay they will be shown over the city and North Shore suburbs, including the naval base. They will go to the Museum and as far out as Titirangi. All games except hockey will be played 011 the school ground, and the exception at Remuera. It is hoped to make this the first of an annual exchange of visits, Kowliai to go to Wanganui next year. Traffic School For Offenders. In the light of the recent suggestion by an Auckland magistrate, that if there was a separate division for drunken drivers he would have 110 hesitation in sending tliem to gaol, it is interesting to reprint a paragraph from "Motorland," an American publication, which states that traffic schools are now in operation in various California!! cities for the purpose of teaching safe driving rules and traffic laws by a regular course of instruction. The schools, says the journal, are for selected types of offenders, as a definitely effective part of the attack 011 the accident problem. Persons assigned to the school are given suspended sentences by the Courts. Upon satisfactorily completing the traffic school course at five sessions, the offender is granted removal of tlie sentence. Traffic schools are declared to have clearly demonstrated their value as an adjunct to traffic law enforcement. Offenders have shown a general desire to become more familiar with the law and to guide their future driving according to the rules of safety. "It seems an excellent scheme and one well worth trying in New Zealand," said an Auckland motorist, to whom the system was outlined.

The Jordan Mascot. There seems to have been sucli a widespread decision to refer to the wooden Maori weapon with which the Mayor armed Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., by way of equipment for his journey to Darkest-.Europe, as a "mere," that it seems almost a pity to shatter the dream by the cold, hard facts of anthropology, writes a correspondent. -The weapon in question was no more a mere than an umbrella is a walking stick, or a cup . a jug. The name "mere" we have in a happy-go-lucky pakeli.a fashion come to apply as a generic term for any Maori weapon for striking. The generic name, however, for this type of Maori fighting Weapon is "patu" —from the verb patu (pronounced with both vowels short), meaning "to strike, thrash or amite," and the noun patu, meaning in a general way "a weapon." A mere is a particular type' of patu, long and relatively narrow,- with a sharp edge all round tlie blade,, and its particular use was in .close hand-to-hand fighting; when ; it was driven under the ribs, jaw or skull of an enemy. The mere was most often made of greenstone. The weapon with which Mr. Jordan has our civic mandate to approach Tooley' Street is a "kotiate," which in olden days was most often made of wood or bone. It has a flatter blade and broader, with both sides lobed, in distinction from the waharika, of which only one side was notched. One wonders what symbolism lay behind the choice of good English oak for fashioning Mr. Jordan's kotiate — possibly some complimentary association with "Hearts of Oak," or maybe "Royal Oak," near where Mr. Jordan resided when in Auckland.