NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Degrees of Disability Humour was introduced into a sombre subject under discussion at the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association Conference yesterday. It was proposed that the association support the principle that when a returned soldier with 49 per cent, or more disability died his death should be deemed to be due to the war and his widow and children be eligible for pensions. A speaker opposing this, related the case of a man who, he said, had 40 per cent, war disability and 69 per eent. civil disability. A delegate: “Then he was dead.” The speaker continued by saying that the civil disability was a “hobnail liver.” caused by drinking too, much alcohol. He was in the habit of drinking hot cider and died of taking it on a “hobnail liver.” A delegate: “In cider.” When the laughter had subsided the speaker asked whether that mans widow should receive a pension, and was answered with cries of “No.” Many Shooting Licences. The number of shooting licences issued by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society this season is so large that it is thought likely that a record will be created. The secretary reported to the council of the society that already £535 had been collected in licence fees. For the whole of last season the amount collected was £542. "It is almost certain to top £609 before the season ends,” he remarked. Maoris Eligible. A denial that memuers of the Maori race would not be selected to play in provincial or international games to be played against the South African Rugby team, which will visit New Zealand next year, is given by Mr. S. S. Dean, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, who states that the best teams will be selected from both the pakeha and Maori players to play against the visitors. “There has never been any suggestion that our visitors would not play against the Maoris, and it is to be regretted that such rumours are given utterance to,” said Mr. Dean. “Town Planning” a Misnomer. “The name ‘town planning’ is a misnomer in many respects,” remarked Mr. Arthur H. Bridge iu a paper read to the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Town Planning Institute. “While the planning of towns and cities is an essential factor of the science," he explained, “such planning is ineffective without the giving of consideration to suburban and rural development in. contiguous areas. The community of interest of a town and its environs is so clear that town planning is being more and more recognised as community planning.” Acccountants Link Forces. At a recent meeting of the council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants it was reported that Mr. D. G. Johnston, secretary of the society, who was one of the delegates to the Australasian Congress on Accounting, had had satisfactory consultations on the subject of reciprocal relations between the main accountancy bodies of the Commonwealth and the New Zealand society. The result was that the Chartered Institute of Accountants and the Federal Institute of Accountants had agreed to a full measure of reciprocity, just as the Commonwealth Institute of Accountants had done years ago. Respect for Religion. That respect for religion was a characteristic of the peoples of India was the opinion of the Rev. C. F. Andrews, expressed in an address upon presentday India to the staff and students at Canterbury University College. When Lord Irwin arrived as Viceroy in Bombay one Good Friday his first action was to attend a three-hour service in the cathedral. All India soon knew of his action, recognising him immediately as a man of religion. His subsequent success as Viceroy, and the popularity and respect which he commanded were beyond doubt due to the impression he had made upon his arrival in India. . Practical Joke. A quaint practical joke was played on those delegates to the conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association who are staying at a Wellington hotel. On Wednesday they received invitations to dinner typed on paper with a printed head consisting of a dragon over the words “New Zealand Consulate.” In language which heightened the impression that “A. V. Dupois,” whose signature it bore, was a consular officer of some Far Eastern country, it informed the recipient that his host was now departing for bis homeland but had long wanted to meet again representatives of “the gallant New Zealand Division.” The fifteen returned soldiers gathered at the time stated, but when the host arrived they found he was simply one of themselves and the meal was their usual dinner.