HUTT VALLEY NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 247, 16 July 1935, Page 6

HUTT VALLEY NEWS

BRAKES AND LIGHTS Check-up on Motorists

The Commissioner of Transport, Mr. G. C. Godfrey, in a letter received at the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night, stated that it appeared the very real improvement in brakes and lights which resulted from the check-up carried out' last year was not now nearly so noticeable, and numbers of cases of glaring headlights and faulty brakes had been reported to him. "... the number of deaths and accidents on the roads had increased to an alarming degree, and for the first four months of this year the number of deaths resulting from motor accidents amounted to 08, as compared with 51 for the same period last year,” the commissioner stated.

''Acting on the experience gained last time, it was stated, he had arranged for the department to provide a standard sticker free of cost to all local authorities who were prepared to co-operate, and the question of a uniform certificate to be issued by the automobile clubs and garages had .also been taken up with those organisations. The certificate was handed by the driver or owner of the vehicle to the traffic officer, and provision was made for his signature where it met with his approval. ‘‘Although the motor regulations provide for a stopping distance for the handbrake it is generally conceded that it is a retaining brake only and is not as a rule placed in a convenient position for instant manipulation,” the letter continued. "It is suggested, therefore, that your traffic officer when actually testing vehicles should satisfy himself that the handbrake is capable of holding the vehicle stationary on an incline and that the stopping test be carried out only when it is noticeably defective. "It is proposed that the check commence on August 1.” “I think we should co-operate witli the Lower Hutt Borough Council, and fall in with the suggestions in the letter,’’ commented the Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefieiu. Cr. D. M. Dickson said the borough should keep the standard of efficiency for brakes and lights as high as possible. It was decided to co-operate with Lower Hutt to make an adequate test of brake and lights, and to advise the commissioner accordingly.

CO-OPERATION ASKED

Commemoration of Arbor Day ‘Tn drawing your attention to the notice appearing in the “New Zealand Gazette” fixing Wednesday, August 7, for this year’s observance of Arbor Day, I desire to express my appreciation of the manner in which local bodies throughout the Dominion responded to my appeal last year for fitting celebrations of the day,” stated the Minister of Internal Affairs, Sir Alexander Young, in a letter received at the meeting of the I’etone Borough Council last night. ‘ “I feel confident, therefore,” the letter continued, “of a generous response in again appealing for the active co-opera-tion of local bodies and the peopie in their districts to the end that Arbor Day this year will see a Dominion-wide recognition of the national importance of tree-planting. “I am asking the Minister of Railways and the Postmaster-General whether they will arrange, as was done last year, for officers, who can be spared from their respective departments, to be granted time off to enable them to participate in any organised local celebrations. I have also asked the Public Service Commissioner whether he will also again agree to this insofar as officers of the Public Service under his control are concerned.” Cr. J, R. Gaynor asked what was done in Pet One last year, the Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, replying that a bit of planting was done in the schools. Pull publicity would have to be given to the Minister’s letter to enable the public to respond if it so desired. The question was referred to the reserves committee with power to act.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Petone Council’s Grant

The Petone Memorial Technical College wrote® to the meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night soliciting a continuance of the valued assistance given it by the council in the past. As recently as 1928 the instruction provided was confined to evening classes, at which the total attendance was about 240. This 3 r ear in full time and part time day classes a total of 750 pupils received the instruction. while the attendance at evening classes had grown to 340. Another aspect of the vastly increased service provided by the evening department of the school was that the number of classes had grown from 21 in 1928 to a present total of 60.

With the improved economic conditions beginning to be apparent, tlie letter stated, the rapid absorption of pupils by the employment market made it encouragingly apparent that employers recognised the value of technical training. The council made a grant of £lO.

RECREATION GROUND

“Not Fit to Play On”

“We cannot help agreeing with the .Soccer authorities that the Recreation Ground is not fit to play on,” said Cr. R. W. Toomath, chairman of the reserves committee, at last night’s meeting of the Petone Borough Council. The Mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield: Hear, bear.

Cr. Toomath suggested that the two goalmouths should lie completely returned as well as other bad portions, and the whole ground should be limed and manured. By giving the ground a spell during the summer months the committee, he said, felt there would be every prospect of having the ground in good order for the next football season.

It was decided to advise the ’Wellington Football Association that it was in favour of granting a rebate of £l2/10/for the hire of tlie ground, subject to the approval of the Rugby Union.

LIFE-SAVING AWARD

Presentation at Muritai

A certificate from the Royal Humane Society was presented to Mr. W. H. Dick, of Day's Bay, and chairman of the Muritai School Committee, at a gathering held at the school recently. In making the presentation, Mr. E. W.' Wise, Mayor of Eastbourne, complimented Mr. Dick upon the honour conferred on him, and thanked him for the many services he had given to the residents of Day’s Bay and Eastbourne. Mr. P, Coira, president of the Wellington branch of the society, also congratulated Mr. Dick and said that the society was very jealous of its reputation, and that awards were made only when tlie rescuer had endangered his own life. He believed this was the sixth occasion on which Mr. Dick had been successful in rescuing people, and emphasised the necessity for eye-witnesses to

bring such creditable actions under the notice of the society.

PETONE LIBRARY

Report of Librarian

“At the close of the quarter ended June 30 tlie number of subscribers was 341, a decrease of nine upon the number at tlie end of Inst quarter, bitt an increase of 16 upon Ute corresponding period of last year, tvhen the subscribers numbered 325,” stated the librarian’s report received at the meeting of tlie Petone Borough Council last night. Seventy-eight new books, two of which were donated, were added to tlie library. In addition to those, a set of New Zealand Statutes containing 29 volumes was given to the reference library. Thirtyfour books, 18 of which were donated, were added to tlie juvenile section during the quarter. The new books which were added to the library during June were fitted with covers in accordance with the suggestion of the librarj’ committee.

DEBATING SOCIETY

'That the maxim, 'My country, right or wrong,' must be denounced,” was the subject of debate at the last meeting of the Hutt Debating Society. The speakers for the affirmative were Messrs. Bull, Dormer and Collins, and the negative was taken by Messrs. Wcybourne. Bee and Fisher. The subject was discussed at length both by the debaters and by the audience who joined in the subsequent discussion. The judge, Mr. Piper, in declaring the motion lost, gave a criticism of the speakers and the manner in which the subject was dealt with. The Petone Borough Council received advice at its meeting last night from the Wellington Hospital Board that the borough’s proportion of the levy for the current year was £3403/3/2. The town clerk, Mr. JI. Firth, said the amount was not as big as last jear.