OUT AND ABOUT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14003, 6 March 1946, Page 2

OUT AND ABOUT

Too Long To Wait

A 40-ygar-okl Maori, who applied at, the offices of the Social Security Department one clay last week for universal superannuation, was told that the age for the benefit was G 5. “Py korry, I 1)0 dead by then,” he commented.

Rainfall at Katikati

Rain fell on four days last month in the Katikati district, the maximum daily fall of .00 inches being recorded on February 23. The total rainfall for the month was .89 inches—another record low fall' for that particular month. Last month completed the fourth month in succession on which a record low rainfall has been experienced.

Proposed Creche The Women’s Representative Committee has more than once discussed the question of the establishment of a. creche in Tanranga and it has now been decided to call a. meeting so that those most concerned may voice their opinions. The meeting will be held in the-Patriotic Hut as advertised and all mothers of young children are urged to attend.

Conductresses Co

The disappearance of the last of vhe conductresses who have served on the Dunedin trams during the war years is her’alded in a report of the Transport Committee of the Dunedin City Council. The report states that as numbers of returned servicemen are now available for emplcymen, the committee has decided to terminate the services of the three remaining conductresses.

Building By-Laws

The recent conference in Christchurch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects requested Mr J. King to plp.ee before the Standard Committee certain building by-laws enforced by the Auckland City Council, which are thought to he unnecessarily stringent. It was contended by the* conference that the standard by-laws should have universal application.

Pram For First Child

A motion endorsing the decision of the -Welfare Committee of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council to give returned servicemen an order for a pram on the birth of a first child, or else an open order for £lO, was approved by the executive of the Invercargill R.S.A. after the reasons for the decision had been given by three members of the committee. The view was expressed that the scheme would be adopted by the Patrioitc Council at its next meeting.

Tram Humour

The tram was packed with Friday night shoppers, and a Chinese youth was attempting to force his way to the rear platform to alight. It appeared that the tram would start before ho battled his way through the crowd. ißut the conductor noticed ills plight. ‘‘All right. All right,” he called. “Make way for Chiang Kai-shek.” The other passengers grinned and i gave way, and the Chinese youth reached Hie s:eps in quick time.

House Property Costs The belief that in the near future there was bound to be a downward move insofar as house property was concerned and in consequence it was unsafe to advance on first mortgage for investment purposes more than 25 per cent was expressed by a witness, a .public accountant, in the Auckland Supreme Court recently. The witness pointed out that the cost of house building had increased froili 12s per square foot to £2 and he had known the figure to go as high as £3. As some of the recent mortgages fell due he considered there was bound to be heartburnings. “I will not go to you for a mortgage,’* cross-examining counsel, Mr iGoldstine, remarked to the witness; “You will mot need to, Mr Goldstins,” said Mr Justice Cornish, “ho will probably be going to you.”

Family Benefits Commencing with payment due in March, 1946, family benefits are to be made on the eleventh day of each month instead of the twenty-fifth day as previously. If the eleventh of the month falls on a Saturday or Sunday or a Monday which is a departmental holiday, payment is to commence on the preceding Friday.