LOCAL AND GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 20119, 8 March 1929, Page 16

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The dairy division grading.. Ilgnies for the seven months ended February show an increase of 9.7 per cent, at 64,533 tons for butter and lor cheese, an increase of 13.3 per cent, at 62.930 tons compared with the corresponding period of the preceding season.- Reduced to terms of butter-fat, the equivalent gradings show an increase of 1D. 83 per cent .over Hie gradings for the corresponding period of the preceding season. The annual conference of the New Zealand Federated Ataster Painters. Decorators, and Sign writers’ Industrial Association of Employers was continued at Wellington yesterday. It was decided to hold Hie next annual conference at Christchurch. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr J. Abbott (Dunedin) ; vice presidents, Messrs A. H. Penny (Auckland) ami E. J. Bell : secretary and treasurer, Mr C. Prime; nuditoi, Air D. Lee. Alessrs G. Say, W. Harris. E.. Lockwood, and J. AV. Burden (ail of Christchurch) were elected to the Executive Committee. Messrs T. A. Wells, N. Nichol, and F. C. Standage will bo delegates to the Parliamentary Committee.

The business sessions of the Congregational Union commenced at Napier yesterday. The report of the Pastors’ Provident Fund was presented by Sir George Fowlds. showing that, the fund has now readied IM’J.UUO. Sir George Fowlds said h« was sanguine that very soon* finality would be reached in the negotiations lo link up the fund with similar funds in Australia and the Homeland. A comparison with the Australian Stares showed that the New Zealand fund was in as strong a position as any. The Rev. Harry Miller (moderatoi) presented the annual report, revealing an extension in many churches. He was confident that the foundations were being laid thoroughly on a basis on which further extension was possible. Five years ago it was said in England that New Zealand Congregationalism was the sick child of tho Congregational family, but to-day the divisions had been healed and the unity was real. Esprit de corps was evident everywhere. He claimed in answer to criticism that the ministerial standard in the Congregational Church was higher to-day than it had ever been. Tho afternoon session was devoted to a discussion of > the youth work, in course of which a speaker expressed the opinion that no real progress could he possible until the homes were., really Christian. The teachers’ work was multiplied by the parents who “sent their kids out of the way in order to get a uniat read of the Sunday newspapers.’'

There v;is a lull attendance of members of the School Committee at the monthly meeting of the Mosgiel School Committee last night, Mr H. Millar presiding. The rector's report contained the satisfactory information that the secondary roll now stood at 55. with an average of 53. He also reported that the primary department at 374 had an average attendance of 355. The Presbyterian Lawn Tennis Club bad granted the use of its courts to the pupils belonging to the High School Club. Six now typewriters had been installed in the secondary department The gymnasium building had been arranged as a temporary classroom for the secondary school. "The three hoys who had kept the school gardens during the school holidays had made a very creditable job of their task. It was decided to thank the boys, and also the Presbyterian Lawn Tennis Club for the use of the courts. Mr Young reported on his visit to the meeting of the School Committees’ Association. The Education Board notified that it had agreed to the closing of the schools on Friday, March 22, in all cases where teachers proposed attending the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute.