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Evening Star, Issue 20898, 15 September 1931, Page 6

A mass demonstration held in tho Theatre Royal, Westport, last evening protested against the report of tho Railway Board recommending the discontinuance of the construction of the Westport-Inangahua ’Railway. Numerous speakers dealt with various aspects of the question, and declared that the resources behind the railway would ensure its _ being a highly profitable undertaking. A motion urging the Government to continue tho construction of the line was carried. It was decided to send a deputation to Wellington in support of the decision of the meeting.

The Supreme Court opened its sittings at Hokitika before Mr Justice Adams. Reference was made by members of the bar and His Honour to the death of Mr James Park, Crown solicitor. In a claim for damages for injury caused by a collision on Easter Monday between a motor cycle and a car, Henry James Cooper, the driver of the cycle, was awarded £ll2 12s and costs against Charles Neame. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that heated statements flew across the table when the alleged menace of Russian importations to New Zealand was debated in lively fashion by the Citizens’ UnemEloyment Committee to-day. Mr 6. tawn, who is lecturer in economics at the Canterbury College, took strong exception to an interjection by Mr J. W. JBeanland after Mr Lawn had declared that a lot of nonsense was being talked about Russia and its menace. A motion that the committee should ask to be put bn the mailing list for the reception of bulletins concerning Russian trade was lost. •

Trapped in an air pocket as ho was taking off in a three-seater monoplane from the Rotorua aerodrome yesterday afternoon, Captain 1111. Money, of Hamilton, who had with him as passengers Messrs J. Fortune and W, G. Sctcheil, of Rotorua, crashed into the garden of a house opposite the aerodrome. The plane made a slow takeoff and struck the pocket just as it cleared the telegraph wires on the road beside the aerodrome. Fortunately it was only 40ft up when it struck the pocket, and none of the occupants was injured. The plane, which was privately owned by Captain Money, was totally wrecked. “He is nineteen years of age at the end of the month, and his mother says he is beyond control,” said Seniorsergeant Cameron in respect to Thomas Walter Ford, who was charged at the Police Court this morning with converting to his own use, but not so as to bo guilty of theft, a motor cycle, valued at £3O, the property of Alexander Hay. The senior sergeant said that the accused had been found riding an unlightcd motor cycle in Hanover street last night by Constable Crosbie, who then ascertained that it was a cycle that had been reported missing earlier in the evening. Ho said that the accused admitted a number of similar charges and also petty thefts, and on the application of the senior sergeant a remand was granted until Monday next, the accused to be kept in custody but apart from the other prisoners.

Andrew Trainer was charged at the Police Court this morning with stealing 'from the dwelling of James Blackie, High street, on August 31 an alarm clock and an umbrella, valued at £2 ss, the ‘property of Gwenoth Garrick. Chief-detective Quartcrmain applied for a remand, stating that there would be another charge against the accused of theft from a dwelling. The accused was accordingly remanded until Monday next. ■* The Maui Pomare, from Apia and Niue, commenced to unload her bananas at Dunedin last night, and finished the discharging this morning. She has brought 400 cases of the Niue bananas (about fifty for Dunedin) and 5,900 cases of the Samoan growth (2,000 for this market), all in perfect condition. The prices at which the consignees put out this fruit t® the retailers ran from ISs to 19s per qise. One of the leading attractions at the service of Dunedin residents and visitors to-morrow night is the municipal organ recital by Dr Galway at the Town Hall. The programme is arguably amongst the most enticing of the senes, for the great ‘ Emperor Concerto ! is the feature, Mr Martin being the piano soloist, and the other items arc by Faulkcs, Mozart, Liszt, Bach, Karg-Ebert, Wagner, and Mendelssohn in that order. The activities of the City Corporation’s reserves department are making a big difference to the streets of Tainui. For some time past Mr Tannock’s men have been engaged in preparing ground for the planting of broad strips of grass to lie between the pavements and the traffic portion of the roadways. This scheme for street improvement is both popular and attractive, and in the near future it may be that Tainui will have some claim to the designation “ garden suburb.” Several of its streets have already bad long bolts sown down in this way. “ Arc you there?” and “ Hullo ” are two of the most common salutations which greet one on answering a ring on the telephone, and make for a great waste of time, according to tho_ opinion of a prominent business man this morning. Ho pointed out that it would bo far better if people using the telephone followed the advice of the department by stating who they are in opening a conversation and in answering a call by giving the number, name, or name of business, ft was his experience that five out of every ten people who rang had to be asked fee .tiwk paine*

Concern is felt by the New Zealand Workers’ Union as the result of the recommendations of the Hallways Board that work on six railway lines under construction should be stopped, and in an interview to-day the general secretary of the union (Mr Arthur Cook) urged that the Government should immediately say what it was going to do with the men who would be thrown out of employment if the recommendations were adopted by Parliament. He suggested that as a means of reducing tho present high costs of construction per mile the Government should allow gangs of competent railway construction workers to .form contract parties and work on co-operative contract principles.—Wellington Association message.

Several complaints have been received at the Post Office regarding packets which were taxed because they contained unauthorised enclosures, such as written messages. The public must be careful not to enclose letters in packets. If they do so they have no just grounds for complaint. Hope for the future of the flax industry can be gleaned from the information that a very satisfactory demonstration was given here to-day of the weaving and other processes involved in the manufacture of woolpacks from New Zealand flax. Mr W. J. Braemar, who has come down from Wellington in connection with matters pertaining to flax, expressed himself as being delighted with the fabric, aud it was generally agreed that the material when iised in the making of bales would be eminently suited to the requirements of the New Zealand farmers and all who handled wool. A most encouraging feature of the present investigations is that the fact is said to be clearly established that,the flax packs can be turned out on a sound commercial basis, and therefore under such conditions as to compete with the jute goods. The elimination of all loose fibre, which is claimed to be the result of the new process, should be a boon to woolgrowers. A number of the new bales will be packed with wool and forwarded to Bradfiold immediately. On the recommendation of its General Committee the Port Chalmers Council last night decided to transfer an employee from the works to the gas department. It was also decided to have an 'apprentice at the gasworks. The General Committee has under consideration the advisability of reducing the price of gas to consumers. The drastic reduction of the unemployment allotment for relief work was commented on at last night’s meeting of the Port Chalmers Council. Side issues were brought in during the discussion, such as the personnel of the local Unemployment Committee, and one councillor went so far in that direction as to propose that the council interfere. The Mayor pointed out that the committee itself, not the council, exercised the power over membership. The main issue, the reduction of the allotment,"was more seriously discussed, and the Mayor stated that the Unemployment Board had advised that it was lack of funds which had compelled reduction of allotments. Inquiries by a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day disclosed that the number of unemployed is over 219, and that the allotment for the week after next works out at 7s 9d per man for the week.

The Christchurch City Council on next Monday night will discuss the question of leasing the Civic Theatre for future wrestling bouts, two or three councillors objecting to the tactics employed in this sport. Meantime the bouts arranged for Monday will proceed.—Press Association,

That the Government should take steps to prevent the competition of the Matson Lino with the existing Pacific service to New Zealand was urged on the Prime Minister to-day by a deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce. It was suggested that the Government should seek the co-op-eration of Australia and Fiji in placing restrictions on the new service, but Mr Forbes pointed out that it was a matter in which Great Britain also was interested as a matter of policy. Ho promised to consider the request.— Press Association.

Stating that in his opinion the extradition papers were in order, the magistrate, Mr Page, to-day committed Duncan Stewart Reid to prison to await his surrender to the Republic of Colombia on a charge of theft as an agent. Reid was a bank officer in the employ of the Bank of London and South America at Barranquilla, and is alleged to have stolen about £2,000. Mr Page told the accused that he would not be surrendered for fifteen days from date, and that he had the right to apply for a writ© of habeas corpus.— Wellington Press Association telegram.

A first offender on a charge of drunkenness was fined 5s this morning at the Port Chalmers Court, which was presided over by Messrs J. Tait, J.P., and W. M'Ewan, J.P.

Save your eyes. Be wise, and consult W. V. Sturmer (optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good vision for old age.— fAdvt.] This week’s “ sing ” will bo hold in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, on Wednesday during tho lunch hour, 12.30 to 1.30 p.m. Mr J. B. M'Connell will bo the leader, with Miss Kila Holmes at tho piano. The collections have not so far been as large as tho committee wpuld like, and it is hoped tho public will contribute freely, so that after paying expenses tho committee will bo able to hand over a substantial sum to the mayor’s unemployment relief fund.