NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 50, 28 February 1931, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Education Report. The secretary of tho Canterbury School Committees' Association takes exception to a statement reported from Wellington that the association had written to the Minister endorsing all tho major proposals of the Education Committee's report without any suggested amendments, states a Press Association message from Christchurch. The association suggested several important amiwduients, particularly regarding organisation. Tho ftljinister's attention w&s drawn especially to the 6)i')r,".t of >nu propwed amendments, namely, to enable lo*iitty clcc*.«! educa.' tion boards to function effectively hi the interests of school committees. Wool Mattresses. A surprising number of people in the Ashburton County are using wool instead of kapok to pack pillows, cushions, and mattresses, and it appears [that the substitute is giving results [quite as satisfactory as kapok (states the "Guardian"). The wool is thoroughly scoured, clipped into short pieces, and well teased before being used. After the mattressos have been in use some time they are periodically placed in the sun for an hour or two and the packing again becomes fluffy and soft. It was stated in Ashburton recently thsit a family had beeu using a wool-filled mattress for 20 years, and when it was opened recently the wool was in just fis good condition ns when it was put in. It had not deteriorated, and there was no trace of dust in the mattress casing.

Fire Alarms at Karori. The installation of fire alarms in the Karori district has now been completed. Those alarms link up x-itti the Northland Fire Brigade, and supply a longfelt want in the suburb. Owing perhaps to the novelty of the apparatus and natural inquisitivenesa of oertain persons, several false alarms have been given lately. , These misleading alarms are punishable with a heavy penalty. The Kelbum Viaduct. Work on the now Kelbum viaduct is practically completed. The ornamental balustrade has been erected, and the footpaths on both sides of the bridge aro being formed. Korbing and channelling extend almost the full length of tho structure. Plastering is now being proceeded with, and the viaduct itself should bo finished early next month. As soon as the contract is completed the City Council will proceed to link up the bridgo with the roadway on both sides. A Former Civic Welcome. "The last time I was iv Wellington, nineteen years ago," said Lord BadenPowell last night at the civic reception, "I was accorded a civic reception. The Mayor invited mo to be in attendance at a given time, but I could not find the Mayor anywhere. I found him at last in a little back office, and he said, 'Oh, you've come, have you?' That was my civic welcome on that occasion, and that is the sort of welcome I like better than this. This is al-j together beyond me, as I am no speaker." ("Oh, oh.") Time Not Opportune. . I At yesterday's meeting of the Coun-1 cil of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association the question of a New Zea- j land Junior Hard Court Championship Tournament in May next came up for consideration. It was suggested by i several delegates that, whilst everyono was in sympathy with the idea of a junior tournament, the time was not opportune for incurring additional expense. Tho motion beforo the meeting which, had it been passed, would have enabled the tournament to be held in May next, was lost. This does_ not! mean that the idea of a biennial junior I tournament has been shelved, only that the first one will not bo held in May this year. Larger Counties Suggested. In the statement on the national finances, which was made recently by the Prime Minister (Mr. Forbes), it was indicated that the Government is contemplating a reduction in the number of local governing authorities. Dotails of the Government's proposals hay not been announced, and in the meantime there is a good deal of speculation among mnmbfirs and officials of local bodies regarding the action likely to be taken, says the " ChristchurcK Times." One man who has had a considerable amount of business with county councils in Canterbury stated yesterday that substantial economies could be effected by the amalgamation of many of the smaller counties. His suggestion was that the counties should be amalgamated into groups as follows: —Selwyn, Tawera, and Malvern; Ellesmere, Springs, Paparua, and Halswell; Akaroa, Wairewa, and Mount Herbert; Waimairi and Heathcote; Eangiora, Eyre, and Oxford; and Kowai and Ashley. If this suggestion were adopted, he said, seventeen counties could be reduced to six without any continuity of interests being lost, and considerable savings in administration costs would be effected. Moreover, the formation of larger counties would, ho maintained, onablo road works to be carried out more efficiently and more economically. Another suggestion he made was that tho road districts in the Ashburton and Akaroa counties should be abolished, and their responsibilities transferred to tho county councils. .