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Evening Star, Issue 23270, 19 May 1939, Page 8

Discharges from bankruptcy were granted by Mr Justice Blair in the Supremo Court, this morning in the cases of James M'Connachio, fanner, of Tarras (Mr J. M. Paterson) ; Gustave Henry George Hammer, fruiterer, of Oamaru (Mr F. C. Dawson); William Collett, salesman, of Dunedin (Mr E. J. Anderson). The applications for discharge were not opposed by the Official Assignee (Mr J. M. Adam). Calls for assistance from a billiard saloon above the Rex Theatre, Cuba street, Wellington, about 11 o’clock on Wednesday night attracted a small crowd, which was entertained by the efforts of a man to get out of the building, which had been locked (says the ‘ Dominion ’). Two constables appeared on the scene, and soon obtained a ladder from a near-by dwelling. Armed with this, they returned and tried to place the ladder against the verandah or the theatre, and so gain access to the windows of the saloon. The ladder, however, was too short. They moved to the adjoining verandah, and renewed their attempt. Again they were unsuccessful. Undaunted, they made a fresh start on a third verandah. This time the ladder reached to the edge. Quickly scaling it. they climbed along the verandahs till they reached the saloon. Soon they had a window open and the man was freed from his temporary prison. Their difficulties, however, were not over. The man looked along the verandahs to the ladder, and decided that he was not sufficiently athletic to follow the example of the constables in descending. At this stage he decided to • deliver an impromptu address to those watching him. He explained that he had been playing billiards at 7 o’clock, and had then retired to a small roOm where he had fallen asleep. On waking about 11 he found that everyone had left the building, and that all the doors were locked. Meantime the constables had been investigating other means of reaching the street level. An apartment opening on to the verandah solved the difficulty. The total of motor vehicles in New Zealand requiring to be relicensed before June 1 is 300,000. An inquiry by the registration branch of the staff disclosed the fact that, with half the month gone, nearly 90 per cent, of the above total still required to be relicensed. Motorists would be well advised to secure their new licenses and plates at once, else there will be serious congestion and delay in the last days of the month.

The costs of the war on shags hist year reduced the Acclimatisation Society’s funds by £B3 12s 6d. This sum includes, payment for the heads of 459 birds, 91 small, and 100 eggs sent to the office, us well as the expenses of a raid at Waikaia, where 177 shags were shot in November by Ranger Dimcan (Southland) and Mr J. Patterson (Green Island). One hundred and twenty-six of the shags were shot at Whitcombe Creek, 48 at Martin’s Creek, and three at Deep Creek. The two men also shot a number of nests with eggs and small young birds which they could not reach. They were away 10 days altogether, eight of which were spent in shooting. Shag shooting in this country is difficult, involving in some cases heavy work through dense bush to get to the rookeries. On account of heavy snow some difficulty was experienced iii getting out of the district-

The following motion was passed at a meeting of the Maoandrew Bay branch of the New Zealand Labour Party:—“ That this meeting of residents and members of the party views with alarm the attitude adopted by the medical nrofession and others towards the Social Security Insurance and Health Benefits Act which is now the law, and pledges itself to support the Government in any measures it may adopt to further the proper working of the Act. Also, this meeting congratulates those members of the medical and nursing professions who have placed their services at the disposal of the Government, and calls on all members and friends of the Labour movement to give them their wholeheated goodwill and support.”

It was anticipated that plans for the new broadcasting studios for 4YA would be completed within the next six weeks, stated tho Acting Minister of Broadcasting (Hon. F. Jones) in an interview to-day. The studios will be in the old Garrison Hall in Dowling street. Delay in the completion of the plans for the remodelling of the bunding (which would be extensive) had occurred solely because of the volume of work in the hands of the Public Works Department draughtsmen. When the new premises were completed they would represent the very latest in studio construction, he said.

Notifications of infectious diseases for the week ended 9 this morning are very light, and the four cases reported all occurred in Otago, Southland being free. The four cases comprised one of tuberculosis and three of erysipelas. Although colds and influenza in varying degrees of severity are still common, no instances of these developing into pneumonic forms were notified. Yesterday afternoon the City Council met for a few minutes for the purpose of passing a resolution confirming the rates for the current year. The only alteration in the rates is the reduction by Id in the pound as recently determine'd by the council. At yesterday’s meeting the supplementary roll for the by-oloction on May ,10 was also formally certified. This roll contains 2,890 names. The names on the main roll, plus the two supplementary rolls, totals 43,269, whereas for the purposes of the last municipal election the total number of enrolments was 43,574, The exhibition of reproductions and other examples of European art which has been attracting considerable attention at the Otago Art Society’s rooms in Dowling street is drawing to a close, Monday next being the final day upon which it will,be open._ The educational value of the exhibition is being freely acknowledged, and the lectures which Mrs E. Delbruck has been delivering in explanation of her collection of prints and paintings has added greatly to that value. Her final lecture is announced for this evening. The City Brigade was called out at 8.57 last night to a chimney fire in Maitland street.

At tho Police Court, Mastertou, this morning, Jack Harris, a salesman, was fined £2O for having been drunk in charge of a motor car.—Press Association.

With a view to securing a suitable and original song that may be sung at largo gatherings and official functions during the centennial celebrations next year the Fine Arts Committee of the Auckland Centennial Council has announced the conditions for an Auckland Centennial song competition. A prize of £25 has been given by an Auckland woman, who desires to remain anonymous and feels that there is scope for the encouragement of New Zealand song writers and composers. An increase in the price of motor tyres, both wholesale and retail, is reported. No official explanation is forthcoming locally as to the cause of the increase, but it is pointed out that tyres have been selling so cheaply to the public for so long that some rise was only to be expected. Auckland papers give various reasons for the increase, notably rising costs of raw materials, and some retailers there are inclined to blame the import regulations, which reduced the quantity of imported tyros bv 15 to 20 per cent. Before making the increase the New distributors communicated with their principals abroad. Stocks of tyres in the Dominion, supplemented by the lo '' el f d quantity of imports, are expected to be adequate for some time to come, trior to last week’s increase the. price had been steady for a considerable period. While waiting at Ashburton yesterday morning to make a tram connection on their way to Christchurch from the south, members ot the Vienna Mozart Boys’ Choir visited the Ashburton Domain and later had refreshments provided for them at the railway station (says the Christchurch ‘Press’). To show their appreciation of the kindness of railway officials and waitresses the boys sang Swiss hoik Soncr ’ under their conductor. Dr b. Gruber, before their train left the platform, and this friendly gesture was greatly 'appreciated.

There is still a shortage of lemons in Christchurch, according to retailers, but the Director of Internal Marketinn- Mr F. R. Picot, considers that the’ position will be rectified almost immediately with the arrival of overseas and local stocks. Already any acute shortage in the North Island has been met, and the same will occur in the South Island in the next few days, ho states. “ There is practically no shortage of Jomons now, and where there is, the position will be rectified almost immediately,” Mr Picot said in a telephone .interview with the ‘ Press.’ “ The shortage that has existed until now was accentuated by the keen demand for lemons, following the outbreak of influenza all over the Dominion. But the Government supply of lemons is now starting to come on to the market, and the effect will be felt almost immediately. Ample supplies are arriving now, and any shortage should bo met. Most of tho North Island towns now have an ample supply for the demand, and the same position should apply in the South Island in a few days. Lemons are arriving soon in the South Island from Australia, and there should be no need for anyone to get panicky about the situation. There is not likely to be a shortage, and there is not a shortage there now. The New Zealand crop is coming in quickly, but for seasonal reasons there is not the supply that wo usually can rely on.”

A Wellington Association message states that a caucus of the National Party is being held to-day to discuss current problems. The proceedings were expected to conclude this afternoon. A large wooden dwelling on the hill side between Port and Sawyers Bay, owned and occupied by W. Meade, was burned down yesterday afternoon. The house and contents were destroyed. The Alliance and tho State offices held part cover. At the Port Chalmers Court yesterday a first offender was fined 10s for drunkenness. dames Johnston was ordered to pay the cost (15s) of renewing a shop window lie had smashed. Mr J. Watson, J.P., and Air J. Johnston, J.P., were on the bench.

‘Tho World Situation As I See It’ will be the subject of a broadcast 'address to be gjven by tho Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) from Station 2YA on Monday night at 7 o’clock. The address, which will be of approximately 15 minutes’ duration, will be rebroadcast by the national stations. Mr Savage will advance reasons why citizens should participate in defence movements. No Government news will bo broadcast on Monday, the ordinary news and reports being issued from each station at 7.15. Believed to be for the first time in New Zealand, 12 Chinese have been admitted to membership of the Labour Partv. They are employed (says a Press Association message from Wellington) on work at the aerodrome at Stratford, and have joined the Stratford branch. They are mostly Cantonese who came from Wellington to join the Public Works Department gangs.