NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1936, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Question of Disability.

When a remit suggesting that when a returned soldier with 40 per cent. war disability died, his death should be deemed attributable to war disability came before the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association last night, it was opposed j by a delegate who quoted the case of a man with 40 per cent, war disability who had an additional 60 per cent, disability through getting a "hob-nailed liver" by drinking too much. Mr. B. J. Jacobs: "He was dead." (Laughter.) The delegate said the man had taken to drinking hot cider and had died because of the state of his liver. A voice: "In cider." (Laughter.) "Yes, 'in cider," replied the delegate. If they* i approved the remit, he said they would 'make provision for widows and dependants in cases like the one he had quoted although death was due to civil disability.

King: George's Portrait. The sale of copies of a portrait o£ his late Majesty King George V by the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League is now being finalised, the annual report of the league states. As a result of the sale the funds of the league will benefit by at least £200. Soldiers and Census. Special efforts were made to have disabled soldiers employed during the taking of the recent Census, states the annual report of the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League, and- more than four hundred of these men were given temporary employment. The report expresses appreciation of the sympathetic attitude of the Pensions Department.

Eastbourne Rates. The rates for the current financial year were fixed at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening. The Town Clerk (Mr. C. L. Bishop) stated that the rates were much the same as last year, apart from the increase of Jd in the £1 on the unimproved value in the hospital rate, owing to tfye increase in the levy. The increase would bring in an extra £418 in the hospital rate. Instead of the 30s sanitation and refuse fee last year, which brought in £1034, the council fixed a water supply rate of id, bringing in £458, and a refuse collection fee of - 15s, bringing in £500—a reduction of £76. There would be an increase of £342 in the gross amount of rates struck by reason of the increased hospital levy The Mayor (Mr. E. W. Wise) commented that the only intimation of the increase in the Hospital Board levy had been what appeared in the newspapers. The local bodies should certainly be notified before they struck their rates, but the council could not afford to face a deficiency if the increase was not allowed for and notification was received later from the Hospital Board. It was explained that the new rates had yet to be approved by the Minister of Health. Anti-gas Precautions. It has been decided by the Wellington Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association that training in anti-gas technic will shortly be undertaken by the centre, and details of the method of instruction are at present under review The Director of Medical Services Dr. F. Bowerbank, has nominated a member of his staff to co-oper-ate with the centre, and there is every likelihood of classes commencing at an early date. Major Blinman Bull, N.Z.M.C., has already delivered two lectures on this important subject to representatives of various nursing organisations in Wellington. The inaugural meeting was convened by the centre and invitations extended by Dr. F. Bowerbank to all those societies interested.

Outside Employees' Union. When a letter was received from the Napier Borough Council at tnt meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last evening asking for support for the scheme for the formation of one union for outside employees of local bodies, Councillor M. Magill asked, "How can there be a community of interest between such widely diversified interests?" The Mayor (Mr E W. Wise) said he thought the I scheme referred to general labourers. "I do not think we ought to have anything to do with it," commented Captan J. F. Rockstrow. "It might be a bit dangerous to this council, said ?he Town Clerk (Mr. C. L. Bishop). "At the present time," agreed the Mayor.

Chimney Smoke. Speaking at the annual meeting ot the Wellington Centre of the St John Ambulance Division last night, uv. J. S Elliott, the chairman, referred to the smoke nuisance, mentioning particularly the hospital, milk department and destructor chimneys. He hoped he would live to see the day when chimneys were no longer necessary. iThe Ma y yor (Mr. TC A. Hislop) n> marked that in spite of the fact that Dr Elliott lived in close proximity to two of the chimneys, he could be congratulated on his healthy appearance. However, he. too, hoped that the chimneys would one day be unnecessary.

Winter's Snows. i A reminder that winter is here was the sight this morning of a sprinkling of snow on some of the higher points of the Orongorongos. The Tararuas received a coating of snow from Tuesday night's storm, although not a very extensive one, and this has been reinforced. But for this time of year, the Tararuas have had very little snow on them recently, although in the sunshine even the .comparatively little ! snow on the summits gives these mountains a majestic appearance when viewed looking up the Hutt Valley. Fossils Wanted. "It is always held out as a reproach (o New Zealand geologists that they cannot be very definite as to the precise age of their Alps," said Dr. P. Marshall at the New Zealand Alpine Club last night. Dr. Marshall said that the New Zealand Alps presented particular difficulties because of the absence of fossils—shells, bones, pieces of wood, and plants which were living on the beach when the mountains were seashore. Dr. Marshall issued a particular appeal to members of the Alpine Club, and to anybody else who tramped or climbed, to keep a lookout for fossilised rocks. If it was not possible to bring back a fragment, the i rocks should bo photographed or a I sketch made.

Snow v,t the Chateau. The Tourist Department received a report from the Chateau Tongariro this morning that there has been a heavy fall of snow. Skiing is in full swim;, and good skiing conditions are assured for the King's Birthday. Shortage of Electricians. After the engineer and general manager (Mr. E. F. Hollands) had reported at the meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board yesterday afternoon that the work of reinspection was being delayed by the shortage of electricians, Mr. P. Dowse asked: "Is the general manager serious when he says there is a shortage of electricians?" "Oh, yes, quite serious. There is ft shortage of all classes of tradesmen," replied Mr. Hollands, who added that the great amount of building activity was keeping the electricians busy.

Echo Sounding on Glaciers.

By means of echo-sounding apparatus it-was now possible to find out a great number of things about what lay below the surface of the globe, said Dr. P. Marshall at the Alpine Club last night. Geophysical science had developed very rapidly in recent years, and it would now be possible to solve a problem that had puzzled geologists for years—how thick were glaciers, were they of tremendous thickness or comparatively shallow ice streams? The answer would clear up many points with reference to the formation of the southern lakes and fiords. Mr. A. P. Harper said that an echo-sound-ing apparatus had already been tried on the Tasman Glacier, which had been found to be over 1200 feet deep at the spot. "That would mean, would jit not," said Dr. Marshall, "that if the Tasman Glacier retreated, there would be a lake there six hundred feet deep?"

Hospital Expenditure.

Alarm at the increase in hospital J expenditure was expressed by Couii- . cillor M. McGill at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough Council last even- ( ing. Miss McGill said that if the Wei- ( lington Hospital started spending ( money very heavily, as appeared possible, within the next few years, Hie local bodies, which represented the ratepayers, should see what could be done about the matter. The problem should be tackled nationally. The Mayor (Mr. E. W, Wise) stated that the local bodies were watching the position very carefully. If necessary a conference could be called. The Town Clerk, Mr. C. L. Bishop, explained that the increases had to be approved by the Minister of Health. New Zealand Plants in Ireland. j "New Zealand plants are to be seeni all over Northern Ireland; the climate seems to suit them," said Canon E. Blackwood-Price, of Down Cathedral, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney on Wednesday as chaplain to the Primate of All Ireland, Dr. C. F. D'Arcy (states the "New Zealand Herald"). Canon Black-wood-Price mentioned particularly coprosma and what was known as "New Zealand laurel," but he did not remember any plant answering to the description of the cabbage tree, which is grown in large numbers at Torquay and other places in the South of England. He said that he looked forward to seeing New Zealand plants in their natural habitat. Xhe Revolution Has Come. "We speak of the coming revolution; that revolution is on us," declared the Rev. A. C. Wedderspoon in an address at the fortnightly group meeting held under the auspices of the Southland Presbytery. The subject was "Ways and Means by Which the Christian Principles May be Applied to Existing Conditions." Mr. Wedderspoon said that tremendous advances had been made during the last 20 years in New Zealand; indeed during the last three months. "The limit of the good things provided or promised is the sky," he continued. "The extortionate retailer is going to have his prices fixed, the shockingly rich have been provided with running shoes, the revoltingly poor are going to live like millionaires, and ministers of the Gospel are looking forward to the halcyon days of a 40-hour week." ,

Eastbourne and Amalgamation. Reporting on the conference of Hutt| local bodies on amalgamation,' the Mayor (Mr. E. W. Wise) said at the meeting of the Eastbourne Borough! Council last evening that some delegates seemed to think that Eastbourne should be excluded from amalgamation at the present time. Eastbourne would not amalgamate with the other local bodies in the Hutt Valley unless the Hutt County came into the scheme. If the proposal failed, Eastbourne would consider amalgamation with Wellington City.

Cargo-Liner's Fast Trip. ! An exceptionally fast trip was made by the Federal Steam Navigation Company's motor cargo-liner Durham, which arrived at London on Wednesday from Wellington after a passage of 29 days. The vessel left Wellington on May 19 for the United Kingdom, via the Panama Canal, and the time taken for the journey, although not known exactly, may possibly be nearer 234 days than 29 days. This trip compares favourably with that of the present reeord-holder. the Australia Star, which reached London from Port Chalmers last month in 28 days 12J hours.