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Evening Star, Issue 21318, 24 January 1933, Page 6

It was reported at last night’s meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council that unemployment wages paid from April 1, 1932, to January 30, 1933, totalled £12,346 Os Id. The Unemployment Board owed £506 4s 9d, and the hospital levy paid to date was £1 ; 748 10s 3d, aud the hospital rates received £273 Os Id. Last year’s rates still unpaid amounted to £1,419 13s lid. The chairman of the Finance Committee (Cr H. H. Leary) stressed the point that the council was expending a tremendous amount of money, and also the fact that the hospital levy paid was about seven times in excess of the hospital rates received. There also seemed to be an impression that ratepayers need not pay because of hard times, and there were some who could pay, but who had not. The mayor (Mr J. Beattie) remarked on the unpaid rates, and voiced the opinion that drastic measures should be taken to get the money due.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland, M.P.) addressed a large meeting in the Town Hall, Westport, last evening, dealing mainly with the Cabinet crisis, the exchange question, the fixation of prices, the dole, wages, and mortgages. The speaker contended that the present financial crisis could be overcome by a judicious use of the credit of the country.

In the Police Court this morning David Johnstone Gunning and Michael James Ryan, two statutory first offenders for drunkenness, were fined 12s fid and 10s respectively, the defaults being fixed at twenty-four hours. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., was on the bench.

An outbreak of fire in some long grass in Patrick street, Mornington, was attended to by the brigade at 4.20 p.m. yesterday. No damage was done.

Norman Guthrie, the young man who was reported missing from his home at Tahatika on Sunday, was found yesterday in the Owaka district. He was apparently suffering from loss of memory.

The definite intention of the Government to proceed this session with tho Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill was announced to-day by Mr Forbes. The Prim© Minister said this legislation was one of the Government’s major policy measures, and it was desired to place it on the Statute Book before the close of the session.—Parliamentary Correspondent.

It is not the Government’s intention to increase the personnel of the Legislative Council during the present session. The Prime Minister’s view, evidently shared by Cabinet, is that the Upper House can continue to function effectively on its reduced membership of twenty-two. The fact that Mr Forbes is temporarily holding the inappropriate portfolio of Attorney-Gen-eral has suggested the possibility of this office being reserved for Mr Harold Johnston, K.C., of Wellington, if he was included among the new Council appointments, but this is disposed of meantime by the Prime Minister’s declaration: “ There will be no appointments to the Council during the session. We have far too many important questions in hand to worry about additions to the Upper House.’’ —Parliamentary Correspondent.

The mayor (Mr It. S. Black) has received from Sir Charles Kingsford Smith a message thanking him for the cordial letter of welcome despatched to New Plymouth in time for the arrival of the Southern Cross. Sir Charles states that he is looking forward to his visit to Dunedin.

A Wanganui Association message states that Thomas Kelly, aged 28, a member of the unemployed camp near Horipito, was sentenced to six mouths’ imprisonment for using obscene _ language on the Valley road, llaetihi, on January 19. The language was used to a fellow-worker in the camp who had refused to join the Unemployed Workers’ Union. The Magistrate (Mr Salmon) remarked that certain facts were disclosed in the evidence which merited the attention of the Public Works Department. Kelly was one of the party who demonstrated with the Red Flag during the visit of the Gov-ernor-General to Raetihi.

The retail price of butter has advanced in Wellington IJd per lb as a result of the higher exchange.—Press Association.

A meeting of delegates from the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, Alliance of Labour, New Zealand Labour Party, and a majority of trades unions was held last evening for the purpose of forming a united front council. It was unanimously decided that such a council be formed, and a constitution was drafted to be placed before a meeting of the executives of all trades unions and other workers’ organisations, to ho held on Friday, February 3, at the Bijou Hall, King street. It is the intention of the Provisional Committee to recommend to the full meeting that all workers’ organisations be invited to affiliate with the council for the mutual protection of each other. If is also recommended that the council shall support all officially nominated candidates for local and national bodies, and advise the members of their respective organisations to work and vote only for the official candidates. A further recommendation of the Provisional Committee is that the council should use every endeavour in building up the membership of all trades unions and all political and industrial organisations of the working class and give special attention to the unemployed workers.

Port Chalmers. —Watson’s Clearing Cash Sale Summer Drapery, Clothing, Furnishings, Boots and Shoes, all at reduced prices, now proceeding. —[Advt.] Save your eyes. Be wiso and consult W. V. Stumer (Optician, 2 Octagon), thus conserving good yisifm for old age.—[Advt.]