NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

Cancer Campaign Art Union.

The net proceeds of the Cancer Campaign art union amounted to £16,709 17s 7d. The sale of tickets extended over a period of six weeks.

Grant to Free Ambulance.

At yesterday's meeting of the Hut.t County Council it was decided to make a grant of £150 to the Free Ambulance Service.

A Lost Privilege,

Protests were recently made by the New Zealand Farmers' Union against tho withdrawal by the Post and Telegraph Department of tho privilege of free issue of money orders to Crown tenants. Tho Lands Department has explained that although the Post and Telegraph Department granted this privilege, it charged the Consolidated Fund for it. The amount was large, and in view of tho need which arose last ye-ar to relieve the Consolidated Fund from all expenditure possible, it became necessary to withdraw tho privilege. Crown tenants are therefore now in the same position as others who utilise the Post and Telegraph Department's services when remitting money from" one place to another.

Christmas Mails,

When the Ao.rangi sailed for Vancouver from Auckland on Tuesday morning she carried the largest English mail which has left New"'Zealand this year, states the "New Zealand Herald." Christmas letters, cards, and parcels for relatives and friends in Britain were sorted in enormous quantities at the chief post office, tho last few.bags being rushed to the liner's side a few minutes before sho sailed. A total of 1083 bags of letters and 58 bags of parcels were taken, by tho Aorangi, compared with the record of 1354 bags of letters and 93 bags of parcels established last year, when the Niagara took the Christmas mail for England from Auckland. The smaller figure for this year does not indicato that fewer Christmas letters have been posted, becatise the Aorangi Js mail is not the last to reach England before Christmas. Her mail is due iv .London on 17th December, whereas Wednesday's dispatch by the Port Hunter ia duo in London on 24th December, today's mail by the Maunganui is duo there on 22nd December, and Saturday's consignment by the Sierra on 21st December.

Safety in Australian Alps.

Methods taken to ensure the safety of alpinists on Mount Kosciusko, in New South Wales, were explained to members of the Auckland branch of the Travel Men's League by Mr. S. W. M. Stilling, at a luncheon on Wednesday, states the "Auckland Star." The speaker said that on that mountain huts had been built at vantage points on the higher levels, and eacli of these was connected with the other, and with the different hotels on the mountain, by telephone. Further than that, stakes had been driven in on tho more common of'the routes in such a manner that the heaviest fall of snow did not cover them, and to eacli of these was attached a telephone, connected with the huts. If a climber became lost, all ho had to do was to telephone from one of these stakes to ■d hut, and a guide would bo sent out to his assistance. In that way mountaineering risks wore minimised. This information is interesting to New Zealanders in the light, of tho recent Buapehu fatality.

Levy on Boy Scouts.

The decision to impose a levy of one shilling for Dominion Headquarters purpose, on all Boy Scouts in the Dominion was reached at Wednesday's annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Boy Scouts' Association (states the Christchurch "Press). The Honorary Dominion Chief Commissioner (Colonel P. C. Fenwick), in discussing general financial questions, said that the financial position of headquarters was not good. Eegulai- grants and subscriptions had been withdrawn, and it was impossible to rely on casual subscriptions. It had been proposed that tho Savings Bank might be approached for grants, and that a registration levy of perhaps a shilling might bo imposed on all Scouts. "We have no source of income," Colonel Fenwiek pointed out. "I told tho Chief Scout when he was here that all our income came from our goodwill." The Chief Scout had suggested that an income might be made from the sale of badges and equipment. I* was impossible to nm any organisation without headquarters, and yet there would soon bo no money to maintain headquarters. The speaker thought the proposal to impose a levy on Scouts was out of tho question, and asked for suggestions from members. "I don't believe we're bankrupt, and I don't believe for a moment that we're faced with bankruptcy," said the chairman, Mr. J. "R. Kirk. Ho considered that grants from Savings Banks and private trusts might be procured, and ho found himself unable to understand why Scouts should not be asked to pay a penny a month.

A New Children's Playground,

Some time ago :i tramway properly in the angle of The fiigi was handed over temporarily to the reserves department. The City Council has now decided that tho ground should now he put. iv order as a playground.

Western Hutt Road Extension,

Advice was received frovp the ■Town Clerk iit yesterday's meeting of I lie Uutt County Council that the Heserves Committee would be prepared to consider favourably the question of dedicating sufficient land at the Keith George Memorial Park, Hay wards, for the purpose of constructing the proposed now access road to Wellington, via the Western Hutt road, subject to the road being formed on the higher ground, and not on the level portion of tlio park. Before finally recommending the council to approve of the proposal, the committee would require survey plans showing the construction of the road. The matter was left in the hands of Councillors S. Blackley and W. Dyer.