NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 19, 22 July 1939, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Holidays With Pay. "The question of annual holidays with pay is one which each industry should be allowed to settle for itself through the Arbitration Court," states a recommendation concerning the proposed annual holidays with pay bill which will be sent to the Associated Chambers of Commerce by the Auckland Chamber, states the "New Zealand Herald." "In view of statements made by the Government that the present is an inappropriate time to increase the costs of production, it would be a singularly inopportune time to introduce such a Bill," adds the recommendation. Kailcar Service. Satisfaction ■ with the three weeks' business on the Napier-Wairoa section of the East Coast Railway since its opening is expressed by the General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, Mr. G. H. Mackley. Both freight and passenger traffic were being maintained in satisfactory volume. The comfort and efficiency of the new type railcars was being appreciated, while) they also speeded up services. ThisJ was seen on the Wellington-New Plymouth run, where two hours were euti off the time of the express trains. The scheduled railcar time between Wel-j lington and Napier was just over five! hours, though it had been done in 4 hours 20 minutes, running time. Leg: Broken Again. A second fracture of a leg already in plaster as a result of a fracture suffered two months ago was received by Mrs. K. A. Elliot, of Stratford, in a motor accident at Whenuakura on Thursday, states a New Plymouth correspondent. A head-on collision occurred on a bend on a hill between a car driven by Mr. E. S. Warhaft, of Silverdale, Auckland, who was travelling towards Wayerley, and a car driven by Mr. Elliot in the opposite direction. The vehicles were considerably damaged, that of Mr. Elliot being taken to a garage on a breakdown wagon. Mrs. Elliot was admitted to the Patea Hospital. Mr. Elliot suffered extensive abrasions. The felt hat he was wearing prevented a passenger in Mr. Warhaft's car, Mr. A. Littin, of Silverdale, from receiving serious head injuries. His head struck and smashed the windscreen but he escaped unhurt. Mr. Warhaft suffered cuts and bruises. Memorial to the Hon. K. Semple. "The far south is taking up with much spontaneous enthusiasm, the movement to erect some suitable memorial on the Divide of the Haast Pass road, to commemorate the name of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in connection with the great achievement of joining up the two provinces, Otago and Westland, with a modern motor road," writes Mr.! W. D. Nolan, of Upper Okura, South I Westland, to the "Otago Daily Times." "Needless to state the enterprise is appreciated greatly by the isolated settlers in southern Westland, after a vigil of some 50 years, during which period many privations and hardships were suffered by one and all. The community is indebted to the Vincent and Westland County Councils for taking up this matter, and the response in the south has been most pleasing. Even the public works men were anxious to join with the settlers, and overseers and workmen alike have contributed readily. It was pleasing to see the spirit of 00-operation which speaks volumes for the esteem in which the workmen hold their leader The blazing of the trail through southern Westland and the Haast Pass is really a great national work, and will serve as a lasting memorial to the New Zealand Government." Questionnaire to Youth. The annual report of the Wellington Diocesan Youth Council placed before Synod yesterday afternoon by the chairman, the Yen. Archdeacon J. R. Young, showed that the answers received last year to the questionnaire addressed to the youth of the community by Bishop Holland have not been shelved. At Synod last year the report presented by Archdeacon Young on the answers received provoked a long and animated discussion. The purpose of the questionnaire was to ascertain in a practical way the outlook of youth to the Church and religion and the needs of youth in this sphere, and by this means to obtain valuable evidence on which to work. A section of those who took part in the discussion, however, questioned the value of the answers and pointed to the danger they saw of accepting them as the basis on which to form general conclusions. It was decided to "receive" the report, circulate it among members of Synod, but not to include it in the report of the proceedings of Synod. The Youth Council's report yesterday afternoon revealed, however, that the answers to the questionnaire, at the request of the Bishop, have been sent to Archbishop Wand, of Queensland, who has undertaken to prepare a comprehensive report on them. "His only stipulation,' it was stated, "was that he should be allowed to take his own time over it, as he had to fit it in with the other work of his busy life. We look forward with interest to receiving his report and we hope to make it as widely available as possible.**

Calls to Fares. Forty false alarms and 34 calls to actual fires were attended by the Wellington Fire Brigade during June, stated a return presented at a meeting o' the Fire Board yesterday by the superintendent (Mr. C. A. Woolley). The fires comprised 18 property, 10 gorse or rubbish, and six chimney fires. Of the false alarms 26 were justifiable and 14 malicious. During the past three months calls totalled 280. actual fires accounting for 175. Of these 48 affected property, 104 gorse, grass, or rubbish, and 23 chimneys. Of the false alarms 72 were justifiable and 33 malicious. During the corresponding quarter last year there were 165 calls (98 actual fires, 36 justifiable false alarms, and 31. malicious). As soon as the drill yard can be put in order regular Saturday morning drills will be held. At the suggestion of the chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean) it was decided, in view of the approaching Centennial celebrations, to have regular drills and demonstrations open to the public. Child's Narrow Escape. To escape unhurt after a fall of 20ft over a bank in a baker's delivery van which crashed through a fence at the | foot of a blind street, Waimer Road, Point Chevalier, was the experience of a five-year-old boy who tried to drive | the vehicle on Tuesday afternoon, states the "New Zealand Herald." Climbing into the driving seat when the van was standing on a steep slope near the foot of Walmer Road, the boy released the handbrake and pulled the gear lever out of reverse, where it had been left as an additional safeguard. Gathering speed rapidly, the van smashed through a stout fence at the foot of the street and landed on its wheels in swampy ground a few feet from a creek, the front of the vehicle being damaged. The child did not realise the narrowness of his escape and coolly asked witnesses of the accident who had gone to his help to push the van back to the road. The vehicle was later removed by a breakdown wagon. Britain Ready to Fight. The firm conviction that Britain will be a redoubtable foe of any Power, or combination of Powers, that may attack her is expressed in a letter received by a resident of Wellington from an officer in the British Army. Declaring that the men being called up for service in the militia are a* splendid type, the officer says:—"l have been seeing something of our army during the last few days, and our preparedness for war is far greater than our detractors would like people tc believe. We have made enormous strides in the last twelve months, and if anyone in New Zealand thinks we should be beaten in a war with the Central Powers you can tell them I am sorry for the Central Powers, especially Italy. The Italians will get it frormthe moment the whistle blows. Do tell the people in New Zealand that the whole country is determined to fight if we are forced into it, and that everybody, nearly, is doing some form of national service. I cannot give you figures, but you would be staggered if you knew the number of machines the R.A.F. has, and the quality of those machines is superior to anything the Germans have."