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Evening Star, Issue 22618, 9 April 1937, Page 8

A company having as objective the building of dwellings co-operatively under the State housing scheme is being formed by members of the Wellington Carpenters’ Union. The plan is that tradesmen in the building industry should enter for the erection of Government houses with the ultimate object of giving the Government jobs at cost price. Any profits made on the first few contracts would be returned to the men, less the management costs. The companv will have a nominal capital of £3,000. A return of the Labour Department states that since the placement scheme was commenced in May of last year 32,276 men had been placed in work. Work had been found in permanent positions (exceeding three months) for 14,328 men, in temporary positions (one week to three months) for 9,004 men, and in casual jobs (up to one week) for 8,944 men. In Dunedin for the week ended April 3 the number of men placed in permanent positions was 12, in temporary positions 6, and in casual work 9. During the same week 374 men were found work throughout the Dominion!

A Wellington Association message states that the King’s Birthday will be observed on Wednesday, June 9, instead of on the actual date, December 14. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Parry) stated yesterday that this decision had been made in accordance with what was taking place in England this year. The introduction of legislation nest session would be necessary to readjust matters, in. view of the altered date under the Public Holidays Act, 1910, and various awards operating. To celebrate the Sovereign’s birthday on December 14, within a fortnight of Christmas, Mr Parry added, was not desired either by the business community or by workers benefiting from holidays.

Authority has been given by the Reserves Committee of the City Council for continuing the existing track to the Beverley-Begg Observatory round the ground to give a better and more convenient means of access to the observatory,' as well as to provide a promenade with a view of the city. That the sales tax, which the Government is under pledge to abolish, provided the Budget surplus of £IOO,000 is a point made in a statement issued by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. This tax, estimated to produce £2,900,000. has actually yielded £3,040,985. The document adds;— There seems to be no move to remove the sales tax. On present revenues, to reduce it by 1 per cent, would mean the sacrifice by the Government of £600,000. The trouble is that Government expenditure is increased just as fast as old and new taxes bring in fresh revenues —faster, in fact, because greatly increased spending was provided for in last year’s Budget in anticipation of the increased revenues to come, creating new national commitments. Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Port Chalmers Court to-day. The highways traffic inspector (Mr B. R. Hill) proceeded against Clarence M’Elwee for driving a taxi while under the age of 31 years. Defendant was the holder of a license for a private car, and pleaded guilty to several times taking passengers when his father, who was a licensed taximan and a coal dealer, was busy. A fine of £2 and costs (10s) was inflicted, the magistrate remarking that the offence had been deliberate. Walter Henry Smith was fined £5 and costs (8s) for assaulting Simon Grey Dick. It appeared from the evidence that Smith met a man named Murray and asked him to pay for a watch he had bought but not paid for. Murray said he would get a man to “ fix ” Smith, and brought Dick out of the hotel to do the fixing. The result was that Smith aws charged with assaulting Dick. Mr Roy, for defendant, said Smith was pleading guilty and had expressed regret. Dick appeared in court with sticking plaster on his face. When inflicting the fine the magistrate said Smith was. evidently -getting a little above himself and wanted his wings clipped. Half the fine would be paid to Dick. A further charge against Smith of stealing two tins was dismissed, the magistrate holding that the charge had not been proved. The Government’s milk-in-schools scheme will operate in the Whangarei Borough from April 12, when 845 children attending the Whangarei, Hora Hora, and Whau Valley Schools and St. Joseph’s Convent will be supplied daily with half a pint of milk (states an Association message from Whangarei). Every cow from which the supply is obtained will be tested and proved free from tuberculosis. The supply from the morning milking will be taken in sealed cans to the dairy factory for sterilisation and bottling before distribution.

Authority has been given by the General Committee of the City Council for painting white lines on the roadway in King Edward street, at the intersections of Melbourne street and Oxford street, as a guide for pedestrian traffic, and, in particular, for children attending the Forbury School. Although Mr Lajos Steiner, the visiting chess champion from Hungary, has been able to teach Christchurch much in the skill of the game of chess, Christchurch can also claim to have instructed the champion in something (reports the ‘ Press ’). Speaking after the final match had been played last evening, Mr G. Parkins, president of the Canterbury Chess Club, said that while the Hungarian champion had been in Christchurch, chess players had learnt something from him. On the other hand Mr Steiner had learned to ride a bicycle. The question of the disposal of the bell recovered a year or more hgo from the Maori mission church at Te Mu, destroyed by the eruption of Tarawera on June 10, 1886, has apparently been amicably settled. Plans arc being prepared for the restoration of the bell to it original site, possibly as a forerunner of the re-erection of the church itself. Work will be started within a few days on the erection of a cairn to house the bell. It is to be so constructed that if the idea to rebuild the church is ultimately achieved it can form the foundation of the belfry of the new church. Material from the flour mill destroyed by the eruption will be used. It is hoped to complete the erection of. the cairn by Sunday, April 18, when it is planned, to conduct a consecration ceremony, at which the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, ißishop of Aotearoa, has been asked to officiate. The advisability of purchasing films of champion swimmers in action to use for instructional work was discussed at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association last evening (states the Christchurch ‘Press’). At the meeting, an offer was received from a film company to supply films of champions in action at the last Empire Games. The president, Mr Fred G. Dunn, said that swimming was different from other sports and that the association might be buying a “ pig in a poke.” The film might be merely a ‘‘ lather of water,” and have no real instructional value. Mr N. Batchelor supported Mr Dunn, and it was decided not to accept the offer.

The postal authorities advise that the Monterey, due at Auckland on 16th instant, has 179 bags of English and American mail for Dunedin, which should reach "the local officer on the morning of the 19th. The Works Committee of the City Council recommends that the new street in the Wycolla subdivision on Forbury ' road be named Wyoolla Avenue. The amphibian seaplane from H.M.A.S. Australia made a flight over the city early this afternoon. On the previous occasion on which the vessel visited this pert the seaplane also flew over the city, causing considerable interest as it was the first occasion on which’a machine of this type had been seen in the air over Dunedin. The City Fire Brigade answered an accidental false alarm given from the Stock Exchange Building at 11.5 this morning. The Otago Harbour Board has received advice that H.M.A.S. Stuart is due at 12.30 to-morrow. She will occupy a berth at Rattray street wharf until she sails on Tuesday. Eye strain—for eye comfort, for better vision, consult Sturmer and Watson Ltd., opticians, 2 Octagon, Dunedin.—[Advt.J The Railway Department advertises in this issue that in connection with the visit of H.M.A.S. Australia to Port Chalmers a special train will leave Dunedin for Port Chalmers to-morrow at 1.45 p.ra., arriving back in Dunedin at 5.25 p.m. The annual meeting of the District Committee of the M.XJ.1.0.0.F. will be held in the Chambers, Stuart street, to-morrow morning, at 9.30. At Hie Wembley Dances in the Early Settlers’ Hall to-morrow night the popular Sports Band will supply the music for the old-time dancing.