LOCAL & GENERAL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 99, 25 August 1933, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

Seat on High School Board. At Wednesday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council, Cr. .1. Henry was reappointed to the Pukekoho Technical High School Board of Managers, as the council’s representative. Paerata Stream Work. A report that the widening and deepening of the Paerata stream had been completed as far as the borough boundary was made by the engineer, Mr ,1. F. McArthur, to Wednesday’s meeting of the Franklin County Council. During the next two weeks he said Ihe men would bo engaged clear- , ing out slips and silt washed down by the recent floo'd. “Would Not be a ‘Cocky’.” “I would not be a ‘cocky’ for. anything,’’ remarked a speaker at the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce annual dinner at Mercer on Wednesday evening. “I have never milked a cow in my life. If I went into the dairy industry, I would be a director of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company or one of those fellows who go round in cars stirring the ‘cockies’ up,” lie added amid much laughter.

A Sure Winner. “Laugh and the world laughs with you” is a truism, and a North Island chemist says that he finds the use ot a little sensible humour (in places) a valuable aid to collecting stale accounts. His foot-note to a sporting client reads like this: “Dear Sir, —I know why you haven’t paid your last account. You were afraid that 1 would splash the money on the Grand National. Rut that meeting is nowover. and it is quite safe for you to bring along your cheque. Thank you.” It is a sure winner every time.

The Slliterate Witness. “You generally find that the higher education a man has had the worse lie is as a witness.” remarked Mr Justice Blair, in the Napier Supreme Court, in answer to a submission by Mr L. T. Burnard, counsel for the accused, that tits client had been placed at a disadvantage in signing a declaration, in that be was not well educated. “My experience is that the most deadly witness you can call in any case is the man who can neither read nor write,” his Honour said.

Building Subsidy and Timber. t Since the introduction of the building' subsidy there has been a noticeable increase in the export of timber from the West Coast to North Island ports, slates the “Grey River Argus.” Union Company steamers, which previously had only been loading coal, are now taking anything from 20,000 to 50.000 feet of timber, while in one or tw 7 o instances vessels have taken 100,000 feet of timber. However, at the present time the Australian timber trade has shown a considerable fallingoff, and this new 7 avenue of trade is timely in view 7 of the bad state of the industry. “Quota on Dairy Produce,” “I understand that the quota has been settled,” said Mr R. H. McKenzie, deputy-chairman of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company speaking at the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce annual dinner on Wednesday evening. “Mr Coates has been advocating a quota, while Messrs Forbes and (Masters. w T hen in the Old Country, were against it. If Mr W. W. Massey, M.P., w 7 ill tell us to-night what they are going to do it w’ould satisfy us. In the Cabinet, one-half want free trade and the others do not. What are they going to do?” he asked. Second Military Dance. On Wednesday evening, the PukOkohe territorials held their second dance in the Orange hall. There was a good attendance, and a very jolly evening w 7 as spent. Music was played by Deed’s orchestra, and extra numbers on a piano-accordeon. Monte Carlo dances were won by Mrs Beloe and Mr A. Taylor, and Mrs S. Fitness and Mr T. Cow 7 sill, while the statue two-step winners were Miss A. Smith and Mr T. Mahoney. Sergeant 11. f. Sutton was master of ceremonies.

Power Charges. Pp caking at the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce annual dinner on Wednesday evening in response to the toast of “Local Bodies,” Mr S. P. Day. secretary of the Franklin Electric-power Board, commented on the fact that year by year, the hoard had reduced its charges, and stated that it was his aim to build up an organisation which would lie able to make further reductions. During the last tw : o years, several reductions had been put into effect and it was hoped to bring charges down further. The business.this year had been greater than for any previous period.

Exchange on Cheques. Advice was received by the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening from tlie Chief Postmaster at Auckland, that it had been decided to make no exchange charge on Pukekohe cheques tendered to the post office at Pokeno. The Pokeno post office’s account, it was added - , had been transferred from Auckland to Pukekohe, —It was stated that the chamber bad asked for a similar arrangement regarding the Mercer post office, but no advice had been received in respect to this office. Tt was decided to communicate with the Chief Postmaster and point out that Mercer was in precisely the same posiiion as Pokeno. and to ask that a similar arrangement he made with regard to the Mercer office.

Local Body Positions. An opinion that the Government should devise some system to ensure that efficient men were appointed to local bodies in’ administrative capacities. was expressed by Mr S. P. Day. secretary of the Franklin Electricpower Board, in speaking at the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce dinner on Wednesday evening. It was the general experience that when an administrative position in a local body became vacant, that as the result of “stringpulling.” the wrong was appointed ahead of the efficient one. Before the Government* considered present agitation in regard to local bodies, it should study the aspect mentioned. He body executive positions should he submitted to some board, one member believed that all applications for local of which would he an officer of the audit department. Several classes of local bodies were attempting ,to establish a standard of efficiency and the setting of examinations to equip their officers. In conclusion. Mr Day stated that administrative expenses could he greatly reduced when there were efficient men in executive positions. !

Bus Service. The appeal of the Auckland Provincial Bus Company against the decision of ttie No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority in regard to the AucklandPukekohe service has been upheld by the Transport Appeal Board. The buses will run as usual. Music Pupil’s Successes. At the Trinity College (London) recent music examination, Miss Doris G. McNamara, of Aka Aka, a pupil of Mrs Calvin Deed, A.T.C.L., of Pukekohe, passed in the intermediate practical pianoforte and the advanced junior theory. Power Boards’ Conference. At Tuesday’s -meeting of the Franklin Electric-power Board, Messrs J. Dean, S. P. Day and L. G. Sharp were appointed, to represent the board at the annual conference of power boards to lie held at Wellington next month. Mr S. P.' Day is chairman of the power board secretaries’ association, which will hold its annual meeting about the same time. Bulk Power Supply. Regarding the Pukekohe Chamber of Commerce's representations to the Minister of Public Works regarding a reduction in the charge for bulk electricity, and that the charges be made uniform throughout New Zealand, the (Minister replied to the chamber on Wednesday to the effect that the request could not he granted. It was decided to reply expressing disappointment over the Minister’s decision. Combined Chambers’ Conference. The half-yearly conference of the Franklin Combined Chambers of Commerce will be held at Pukekohe on Thursday, September 27, at It a.m. It was decided at Wednesday’s meeting of the Pukekohe chamber, to invite re--1 mits from affdiated chambers, same to Jbe in hand as early as possible. Messrs E. Allan. G. E. Martin and H. E. Kissling w 7 ere appointed the Pukekohe chamber’s delegates. Parochial Feeling. “We have got to get away from that stinking parochialism,” said Mr 3. P. Day when addressing the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce dinner on Wednesday evening. He w 7 ent on to say that when he came to Pukekohe first, Tuakau would then cut Pukekohe s throat, so to speak, but a great deal of the narrow feeling which had existed was fast disappearing. Until it was completely buried, such organisations as "the chambers of commerce would not he able to obtain the results which., they would otherwise. When they worked in unison, instead of separately, much more could be accomplished.