Personal Items

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21967, 16 December 1936, Page 10

Personal Items

Because of the pressure of work accumulated during the recent constitutional crisis, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) has abandoned his plans to spend the holiday season in his own electorate, and will remain in Wellington for a few weeks longer. Until pressing work has been disposed of, he said, no arrangements could be made for him to visit the other main centres and Maori districts. Early in the New Year, however, he hoped to complete plans to fulfil his promise to make a tour of the Dominion and talk with the people about the better times, and the Government's determination to keep the times better.—Press Association. The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) visited Ashburton yesterday, inspecting irrigation works. He was accompanied by Mr F. Langbein, District Public Works Engineer. To-morrow Mr Semple will go to Timaru to open the Levels irrigation scheme. On the way he will call at Temuka to investigate levelcrossing proposals. On Friday he will visit the Ashley river protective works and the Summit road, leaving in the evening for Wellington. The Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser), who arrived at Auckland yesterday morning, has a busy programme ahead of him in Auckland before returning to Wellington tomorrow evening. The Minister will spend the Christmas holidays in the South Island. Yesterday he attended an educational conference regarding the provision of suitable sites for post-primary and university education. Mr N. T. Lambourne, Director of Education, who travelled on the same train as the Minister, also attended the conference. As Minister for Health, Mr Fraser received deputations last evening regarding maternity services, when Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, and Dr. Paget, inspector of private hospitals, were present.—Press Association. The leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) was a passenger from the north yesterday. He left later by the express for the south. Mr G. H. Mackley, general manager of the Railways Department, returned to Wellington last evening. Mr L. J. Schmitt, general manager of the Industries and Commerce and Tourist and Publicity Departments, returned to Wellington last night. Mr E. F. Willcox, secretary of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, left for Wellington last night. Captain Maurice Osborne, Ist Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, has been promoted to the rank of major, according to a recent Gazette notice. The Deputy-Speaker of the New South Wales Parliament (Mr H. L. Bate) arrived by the Awatea at Auckland yesterday to investigate, on behalf of his Government, all phases of the dairying industry in New Zealand, with special attention to the legislation relating to the marketing of primary produce. Mr Bate is an experienced farmer. Last year his farm was judged to be the leading farm in New South Wales. He will make Hamilton his headquarters, but will visit the other leading farming districts. Mr W. M. Stewart, who is leaving the staff of the Christchurch Boys' High School to become principal of the Greymouth Technical College, was the guest at two farewell functions held recently. At a garden party at which the members of the staff were the guests of the headmaster (Mr G. J. Lancaster) and Mrs Lancaster, Mr Stewart was presented by his colleagues with a chiming clock. Yesterday morning, at an informal breaking-up ceremony at the school, the headmaster spoke of Mr Stewart's work for the school for more than 21 years. He spoke particularly of his work in organising school games and athletics, developing the school grounds, and managing the school finance. Mr H. V. Rowe spoke for the staff and R. H. Dyson, senior monitor, for the pupils. The appointment of an Invalidity Pensions Appeal Board for Canterbury district was announced yesterday. The members are Drs. W. Aitken, P. A. Ardagh, and F. L. Scott. No intimation has yet been received of where the sittings of the new board are to be held nor when they will besin.