LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 40, 15 August 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sir James Parr hae informed the Board of Managers of the Hutt Valley High School of his inability to be present at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new Hutt High School on Wednesday next, and in consequence the ceremony has been postponed until the following Wednesday, 26th August. In reply to Mr. J, Linklater (Manawatu), the Prime Minister stated in the House of Representatives last night that it was proposed to make provision on the Public Works Estimates for additions to the Levin Post Office.

The urgent need for extensions to be made to the Courtenay Place Post Office were pointed out by. Messrs. A. L. Monteith and P. Fraser, M.P.'s, in the House of Representatives yestorday. Both members said the post office wm a very busy one and it was timo the building was enlarged. Tlie Hon. J. <J. Coates stated that an extension was being provided for. Through an undermined road caving in, a 4-ton motor lorry, owned by the Post and Telegraph Department, sank over the top of its rear right-hand wheel in Huxley street, Sydenham, yesterday afternoon, states a Press Association message from Christchurch. The lorry, which was travelling at a speed' of eight miles an hour at the time, had three tons of spoil aboard from excavations in Colombo street, where underground cables are being laid. There were three men aboard, one of whom \vas cut about the face by broken glass from the wind-shield, which was shattered by the shock.

When the P. and T. jDepaTtment's Estimates were before the House of Representatives yesterday, Sir George Hunter- (Waipawa) thanked the Department for giving greater facilities to backblocks settlers to collect their mails. It had been difficult to give the settlers continuous service, but the matter had buen arranged to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. Coates replied that the remarks of Sir George Hunter aud other members who had expressed similar sehtinwnts were encouraging, and h« would be pleased to convey them to the staff, which, when Estimates were going through more often received anything but praise. ' The John street and Rcseneath districts will not have to wait much longer for the long expected slot telephones for which representations have been made on several occasions. The nutter was raised by Mr. A. L. Monteith {Wellington East) ill the House of Representatives last' night, and he asked for an indication as to how much longer the people concerned would have to wait. In reply the Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) said that both of the- installations referred to had been approved, and aa soon as arrangements could be made for their connection with /the switchboard they would be put into operation. They would be automatically switched over next month.

. Wages of night telegraph mesaeugeri were referred to by Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) in the House ot yesterday. Mr. Fraser wanted to know whether any steps were being taken to put the night telegraph messengers, who wero returned soldiers, on a better basis as regards wages. He would like to be assured that advantage was not being taken of tho men's war pensions to pay them small wages. The Hon. J. G. Coates replied that there "were one or two men who ought to be getting more than they were now receiving, but that was a matter whlen h» wan discussing between the PostmasterGeneral and himself. He would b» pleased to give further information to Mr. Fraser later on.

A suggestion that depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank should be permitted to withdraw money by cheque was made in the House of Representatives last night by Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui). It was a most harrassing, difficult, and risky business for Ui» officers behind the counter, he said, to carry out their duties under the present system, What he was suggesting did not involve anything in the nature' of the business of an ordinary commercial bank. He suggested that a simpler, more modern, and safer method might be adopted, which did not involve overdrafts or the taking of securities against overdraft. Mr. Veikh did not receive a reply from the Minister on the subject..

Regarding the home industries exhibit, a correspondent ("A Would-be Exhibitor"] writes : "Now the Exhibition is on again, may I, through your paper, draw attention to the time the cooking exhibits are in the show. I was looking around the Show a few nights ago, and it seemed to me such a waste of bread, scones, cakes, etc., with eggs and butter at present prices, so I thought if the matter were taken up by someone, it could be altered for future occasions. I have had considerable experience with shows, having taken .prizes at both agricultural and flower shows for a, number of years, and have never known any show where cooking was expected to be in more than a few days. I suggest that exhibits in this class should only be in on tho first or last few days of tho show, and think if this were done there would be much more competition." One of tho most beautiful certificates which has been issued to soldiers is that known .as tho " King's Certificate of Discharge," states tho "Returned Soldiers' Review." "Tho document is a very fine one, and each copy bears' a facsimile of His Majesty's signature. Regulations governing the issue of this certificate stated that upon application copies were sent to those members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force who were discharged from the Forces on account of disablement caused or aggravated by military service during the period in the theatre or theatres of war in which the applicant served. Under a later regulation the certificate may be awarded to a soldier whose disability was not established until after retirement or discharge, provided that such soldier has been awarded a disability pension in respect of a permanent disability of 20 per cent, or a temporary disability of 40 per ■ cent., and that he is otherwise eligible for the issue of the certificate. It will be noted that this valuable certificate is only issued on application, and therefore soldiers who have not applied for them, and who are entitled to receive them, should make immediate application to the officer-in-charge. War Accounts and Records Office, Wellington. The date for receiving applications is closed, but it is understood that there are still some blank forms on hand, and while these remain the documents will be issued to those entitled to receive them."