Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 23146, 21 December 1938, Page 10

For some time the toll traffic between Dunedin and Central Otago has been steadily increasing. In keeping with the Post and Telegraph Department’s policy, an additional circuit, operated on the high frequency principle and known as the carrier telephone system, has been installed between Dunedin and Cromwell. Additional telephone facilities on the same lines to other Otago Central towns are contemplated. A new acquisition to the Art Gallery is a very fine etching, entitled ‘ Old Women, ‘Bruges,’ by Frank Brangwyn, 11. A., which was presented by Mr H. Mandeuo, a local art critic and collector of etchings, who has recently returned to Dunedin after a visit to England. The etching is full of light and shade, and the figures arb lifelike and forceful in their presentation. Visitors to the gallery will find the picture hanging just inside to the left of the main entrance.

Reference was made at tlio meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals yesterday afternoon to the necessity for owners of pets to make suitable arrangements with some responsible person to care for them during holiday times. Mr 11. Fountain said that it was an unfortunate fact that the welfare of their pets did not enter into the arrangements many people made for their holidays. If nobody could bo relied on to take care of the pets there were “ boarding places ” for animals with which arrangements could be made.

A decision that an order to workers employed under the New Zealand harbour boards’ employees’ award to bring their tea to work the following day amounted to an order that they were to work overtime was given by Mr J. A. Gilmour, S.M., from whom a ruling was sought on that point in the award. “ According to the statement of facts submitted by the parties,” said the Magistrate, “ the men were ordered on August 8, 1938, I to bring their tea to work on the Port Hardy on the evening of August 9, 1938.’ The statement makes it plain that they were ordered to bring their tea to work a ship on the following night, and on these facts I have no hesitation in saying that the order amounted to an order to work overtime. What else could it mean S' I think it necessary that a definite notification of intention to work overtime should be given,” said the Magistrate, expressing an opinion as to the effect of an order given by the employer in the following terms: —“ Bring meal for to-morrow evening.” Such a notification, ho continued, had no effect whatever as far as the award was concerned. The Magistrate said he was in complete agreement with a decision of the National Disputes Committee upholding the union’s claims for meal money for workers ordered back at nigbt without having received notification the previous nigbt. “ 1 think it essential for the smooth working of an award.” he added, “ that the parties should observe the committee’s decisions. both in the spirit and in the letter.”

The effort being made to depart from drab and sombre colours for school buildings was referred to by the Minister of Education, Mr Fraser, speaking on Monday at the Christmas party of the Wellington Education Board’s staff. Colour and more colour was the prevailing cry, said the Minister. He referred to the dinginess of many Government buildings, including schools, and said that gradually the Education Department was getting away from all that, thanks in largo measure to pioneering work in Christchurch. There red, yellow. and other bright colours had been used with pleasing effect, and the result was to he seen in the advances made in the Hntt Valley schools, particularly Waterloo, where a complete departure had been made from the usual drab yellowy-brown colour.,.

With the idea of lessoning the risk of accidents on the roads over the holiday period the Automobile Association (Otago) is each day this week offering a little advice to motorists and pedestrians. Dealing with the subject of accidents to pedestrians, the message for to-day states:—“According to statistical reports both in New Zealand and abroad a very large number of fedestrians lose their lives on our roads, u Great Britain last year 2,900 pedestrians lost their lives through accidents on the road. Pedestrians as traffic units are exceedingly vulnerable. They are virtually free agents, and, oven where pedestrian crossings are available they are not under obligation to use them. In their own interests pedestrians are strongly advised to make use of pedestrian crossings whore they are available, and when using footpaths to keep to the loft side of the path.” A motor truck caught fire in David street, Caversham, this afternoon, the cause of the outbreak being the wiring short-circuiting. There was no structural damage to the truck, the South Dunedin Brigade, called out shortly after 1.30, confining the damage to the wiring system. The vehicle is owned by Mr It. Wilson, of Otakau.

The secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago), Mr W. E. Harre, states that too much stress cannot be placed on the advice to motorists, as contained in a road report published elsewhere in these columns, especially insofar as it relates to the new overhead road bridge at Palmerston. This work has been pressed forward over recent weeks, Mr Harre states, in order to have it in a condition fit for use during the heavy holiday traffic period. The bridge will be open on Friday, December 23, but the approaches so far constructed will only take one-way traffic, and care is necessary when negotiating this section of the road.

“ If we could lay the bogy that rowing strains a person’s heart,” said Mr B. Walker at a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Bowing Association last nigbt, “ then we would do a tremendous lot for the sport. Wo often read in the newspapers that rowing strains the heart, and although this may bo refuted, the refutation never seems to stick like the wrong impression. Only the other day the Petotne Rowing Club offered a couple o£ fours to a boys’ school, but they were refused because it was said ‘ rowing strains the boys’ hearts.’ ” Ruses employed by senders of parcels overseas to escape the payment of Customs dues are sometimes _ discovered when packets come open_ in transit. Among the large quantities of Christmas mail received at the Christchurch Post Office from outside New Zealand were several seasonal gifts which come unwrapped (says the ‘Press’). In one instance the sender had placed each sock of a pair of bed socks in a separate envelope, both containers being addressed to the same recipient in the same handwriting. Officials at the Post Office not infrequently have discovered a pair of boots wrapped in two parcels so that no duty would have to bo paid. The last meeting of the Cabinet for this year was held yesterday afternoon in. the office of the Prime Minister, Mr Savage. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Savage said that Cabinet had dealt with a budget of routine and departmental matters requiring attention before the holidays. “ The Ministry will meet early in the New Year to face up to the problems of the future,” Mr Savage said.

“It is not J.ho intention of the Government to give any effect to such a proposal,” is the definite reply of the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) to a letter recently sent to him by tlio Dunedin Presbytery asking if the Government was going to establish State lotteries. This letter was the outcome of a discussion by the Presbytery, followed by a resolution protesting against representations in certain quarters advocating the institution of lotteries. A copy of this resolution, together with a statement embodying the_ Presbytery’s views, was sent to the Prime Minister. At Port Chalmers this afternoon wages and bonuses amounting to over £6OO were paid out to relief workers. The mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) acknowledges with thanks receipt of the following further donations to the appeal on behalf of the New Zealand Council for “ Adoption ” of Chinese (Refugee Children :—Previously acknowledged. £BB 2s; T. and M.R., £10; Mr and Mrs J. Sutherland Ross, £4; W. A. ami U. Malcolm, £4; J. Moslev. £4; F. A. Glover. £4; A.J.L.W, £2; total. £126 2s. Donations have been received at the ‘ Star ’ Office of £•"> from A, A. Macdonald and £2 from the Macdonald family.

The Burns Club has arranged a special programme for to-night’s concert in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Member® are reminded that subscriptions are now due.