ITEMS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 11

ITEMS IN BRIEF

About People and Events SICKNESS PREVALENT “I don't ever remember a time when wc had so many cases of sickness,” said Mr. G. Petherick, chairman of the Social Welfare Committee, at a meeting of (In Hospital Board yesterday. Mr. Pether ick also mentioned that the number of eases of distress arising from wife desertion was still mounting. Cheaj> Grapes. Hutt-grown hot-house grapes were sold in quantity at the markets yesterday at lid a lb. Girl Breaks Wrist. When she slipped on some steps at the Clyde Quay School shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday, Molly Thompson, aged 10. of 5 Queen Street, broke her left wrist. She was taken by ambulance to the Wellington Hospital. Joke Over. A southern local-body official was surprised to get a request from a spokesman on behalf of the staff for a large supply of iodine. On asking why, he was informed that it was needed for the “cuts!” ' k May Day To-day. To-day is May Day. In England it has nearly always been a gala day, this dating back to the days of the Roman festival to Flora, goddess of flowers. It was formerly the custom for high and low to go “A-Maying” in the early morning “to fetch the flowers fresh,” and then to crown the fairest maid in the district with flowers as Queen of the May. Dancing around the maypole followed. In many countries at the present time May Day is the day set apart for Labour demonstrations.

Coloured Sparrows. A story concerning the late Lord Justice Matthew was told by Mr. Justice MacGregor to the New Zealand Club yesterday. Lord Justice Matthew was walking along the Embankment in London when he was accosted by a man who made a practice of colouring sparrows and selling them as rare birds. Approaching the judge, the man said he had just caught what seemed a rare bird and asked if lie could tell him what it was, at the same time suggesting thni he should buy it. Lord Justice Matthew looked at the specimen and then replied: “I don’t know what sort of a bird it is, but judging by the company it keeps it must be something of a gaolbird.”

Kiwis and Lawyers, At the conclusion of the New Zealand Club luncheon yesterday Mr. A. Fair, K.C., presented the badge of the club, in the form of a silver kiwi mounted on greenstone, to Mr. Justice MacGregor. Mr. Fair remarked that he could not say there was much resemblance between the kiwi and a Scotsman or lawyer. A voice : ’ “The length of its bill.” (Laughter.) Mr. Fair said that greenstone was a fairly hard substance in which the kiwi was presumed to be digging for food. Few lawyers would be guilty of doing anything like that. Help from the Banks.

“Quite a number of people seem o have the banks set,” remarked Sir John Luke, when speaking at a farewell gathering tendered by clients of the Te Aro branch of the Bank of New Zealand to the retiring manager, Mr. J. Fitzsimmons, yesterday. “All must admit,” he added, “that had it not been for the assistance received from the banks many people would not have progressed as they have. We must-not be too severe on the banks.”

Chemists’ Reply to Kaiser. Addressing the Wellington section of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry Mr. G. A. Lawrence, B.Sc., F.1.C., said one might be pardoned for repeating the story of the great German chemist who. being asked to organise an important scheme of research, was sent for by the Kaiser and asked what he required. “Sir. I require three things, first a lot of money, second, not to be worried by officials for reports, and third, that you expect no results.” It was placed on record, said Mr. Lawrence, that the results of this research were very successful. Scheme for Workless Relief.

A proposal which, it is hoped, will profit both unemployed and farmers, was moated at a meeting of the Masterton Local Unemployment Committee, states a “Dominion” Special Service message. The suggestion is that farmers who haveon their properties stumps and old logs, the removal of which would improve their pastures, should admit to their properties men approved by the Unemployment Committee, who will cut up the stumps and logs, and remove them to be sold for firewood. It Is not proposed to pay anything in the way of royalty, but it is pointed out that farmers will benefit by having their pastures cleared.