NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 12

NEWS OF THE DAY

The "Railways Magazine." An item of £1500 in the Railways Estimates for the printing andpublicatiori of the "Railways Magazine" was criticised in the House of" Representatives yesterday afternoon. "What good . purpose does the magazine serve?" asked Mr. M V J. Savage (Labour, Auckland West). "I have not seen anything in. it except one or two photos." "Photos of the General Manager," suggested Mr. R. v Semple (Labour, Wellington Bast). The Prime v Minister (the Jtight Hon. G. W: Forbes) said that no doubt there -were different tasteß in literature* He had received communications expressing pleasure and satisfaction with the v maga'zine. Big firms in America and England published similar magazines so as to instill the spirit^ of the business into the minds of the employees. The magazine was an inspiration to the extent that it kept before th& men the ideals of the service. . Railways and Shipping. i The relationship of railways to coastal services in New Zealand was referred to by Mr. W. A. Veitch (Government, Wanganui) during the discussion on the Railways Estimates in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. What would be the effect, said Mr. Veitch, if "the railways succeeded in eliminating coastal services? The Rev. C. L.Carr (Labour, Timarii) said that the provision for mainteu-, ance of railway rolling stock was inadequate in view of the policy of thecarriage of goods at a loss. ■" The Prime Minister (the Right . Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that complaint had boon made, in the past that the railways were not sufficiently up to date, and that they had not- been prepared to meet competitive rates with other services. The railways hadbeen placed under, the management of a board of business men and business principles were to operate with a view to meeting competition. When the railways met competition previously they gave way, with the result that the people, in mistaken kindness, put their hands into their pockets for a million and a half pounds. Mr. Forbes said that he would to see the coastal services maintained. There had always been competition between the railways and the" sea services, and in many casesthe sea carriage had had the advantage. ; ■.: State v. Private Enterprise. Competition., by the railway workshops -with, private firms .formed the subject of a question asked by the member for Wellington Suburbs (Mr. R. A. Wright) in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon during the discussion on the Railway Estimates. Mr. Wright said he understood that the railway workshops were competing with private engineering firms in the manufacture of steel shelving. It was easy for a Government department to compete with private enterprise if it did not allow for all charges in connection with its business and costing system. The private firm would be exterminated. If machinery were idle, it was easy for a department to do the work for a little niore than the wages of the men, but that was unfair.competition. He would like to ask the Prime Minister whether the engineering department of: the railway workshops came under the Audit Department along with other departments. The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. AY. Forbes) said that the Audit. Department audited all tho store accounts and costs in regard to. the railway workshops. • The workshops made shelves for Government departments, but did not make them for outside firms. Costs were taken out very carefully, and everything was subject to audit.

Shearing in. Progress. Shearing is in full swing in the Wanganui district now, and many farmers are busily engaged. It is understood (reports an exchange) that the rates of pay to shearers are in accordance with those recently decided upon by the Wanganui executive of the Farmers' Union, 17s 6d a 100 for sheep, and keep. Special arrangements are made between the farmers and shearers where-lambs are concerned. It is reported that one farmer is paying £1 a 100 and that the men are finding their own keep. \ , ■ ■'./■, . ■ •' . "Sentinel Scouts. In. order that boys between 15 and 18 who have dropped out of-the Boy Scouts may retain their interest in the movement, a group known as "sentinels" has been formed in Otago. At the annual of, the Dominion Boy Scouts'' Council yesterday, Colonel P. C. Fen wick, suggested that the idea might be adopted elsewhere. ■ At 15, he said, the boys were too old for Scouts, and not: old enough for Hovers or Scoutmasters;' and if they could join up -with a group such as had been formed in Otago, interest in the movement would be kept alive.! . ; Roadside Fires. A complaint from the fire ranger in Whiteman's.'Valley district, Mr. H. S. Turvey, that council employees were lighting 'fires on the roadside to the danger of young trees, came before the Hutt County Council yesterday. It was decided to issue, instructions that no fires are, to be lighted! ''Itis so shortsighted of these men lighting fires that may destroy their livelihood in the future, because there is going to be a lot of work available in connection with these trees," remarked the chairman, Councillor D. E. Hoggard. Hutt County Wants Rates. The serious position with which the council will be faced unless the current year's rates are received as soon as possible was mentioned by the chairman, Councillor D. E. Hoggard at a meeting of the Hutt County Council yesterday. "I may say we have collected by way of rates the sum -of £5398 10s 6d in the nine weeks since the xate demands went out,",he said. "We have also received £621 0s 3d for arrears, making a- total of £ 6019 10s 9d. The total, rates levied for the current year were, £20,738 12s 3d. The position must necessarily cause us some. coriee.rn. Tho final demands,. we have decided, shall go out air the end of.the spresent month, and it is to l>e hoped 'that all ratepayers who can'pay will.do so as soon, as possible, because vthe council is bound to-be in some difficulty unless wo get more money in before the end of the year." - ■'. ■ < . ■ . Supreme and Appeal, Courts. ■ , A:"Gazette" notice states that the quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court in the Wellington Judicial District for next year will open on the following dates:—lst February, 'Ist May, 24th July, and 24th October...The. sittings of the Court of Appeal in Wellington will be held on 13th March, 19th June, and 18th September." The personnel of the two divisions of the.Court of Appeal will be as follows:—First Division, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), Mr. Justice Herdman, Mr. Justice MacGregor, 'Mr. Justice Blair, and Mr. Justice Kennedy; Second Division, tho Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Eeed, Mr. Justice, MaeGrcgor, Mr. Justice Ostler, and Mr. Justice Smith. Timaru Town Clock lower. , Begret that the offer of £250 made by the .Borough. Council for the replacement of the present Post Office tower with a light steel structure capable of housing the clock and chimes had not been accepted by the Government, was expressed by the Mayor, Mr. T. W. Satterthwaite, at the Borough Council meeting this week, says the "Timaru Post. "He mentioned that the Postmaster-General ' had advised that the council's offer of £250 toward strengthening the tower could not be accepted and added that ho understood that authority had been given for the demolition of the'structure. Mr. Satterthwaite pointed out that the sum offered by the, council had not been for strengthening the present tower, ;but to replace it with a light steel structure. It was a: long time since any public money hai been spent in Timaru, he said, and he did not think- the council could be expected to make a larger contribution ; toward a structure over which, it would ■ have no control, and which, might bo demolished at any time without reference to the council. He had had no official intimation of the demolition of the tower, but the recent occasion on which the clock was stopped for a day made citizens realise the loss they would'suffer by the demolition of the. tower.