Local and General.

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 107, 12 September 1938, Page 4

Local and General.

N.Z. Labour Party. Ladies interested in the Labour Party are invited to hear an address by Mrs A. -T. Wynn of Auckland, in McConnell’s tearooms, at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday). Mr E. Piggott, Labour candidate for Franklin, will be present. Police Have Matter in Hand. The Pulcekohe Police have advised the Pulcekohe Borough Council that they are giving attention to the council’s complaint regarding disturbances outside dance halls, and the consumption of liquor in motor cars. In a letter to the council last week, the police said they would do all in their power to stamp out the nuisance. Opportunity Missed. “I thought Pukekohe could only grow potatoes,” said a visiting speaker at the Druids’ social at Pukekohe on Thursday evening. “But if some of the ladies here tonight had entered for the beauty contest at Auckland recently, first, second and third prizes would have gone to Pukekohe," he said amid laughter. Farm Managers’ Scheme. A farm managers’ scheme whereby farmers will be able to avail themselves of the services of a competent manager in times of sickness or holidays is at present under consideration by the Pukekohe branch of the Farmers’ Union. The question was discussed at the monthly meeting of I lie? branch on Friday evening when it was decided that the matter be referred to the committee to evolve a scheme to be tabled at t lie next branch meeting. Sane New Zealand Newspapers. “We are very fortunate in the amount of world news and the sane journalism given to us by newspapers in New Zealand,” said Mr V. G. Peters, in an address at the Christchurch Business Men’s Club, reports the “Star-Sun.” By contrast, he continued, the newspapers of the United Shales cared little for world news, and all the average American worried about outside matters was whether or not the States would be dragged into another war.

Clear Case of Hardship. Provision is made in the Washingup Bill now before the House, to remove the disqualification imposed upon Mr John Routly, who was elected Mayor of Pukekohe, an official explanation accompanying the clause saying that a clear case of hardship had arisen out of factors over ■which Mr Routly had no control. There was no question of his using his official position to obtain a monetary benefit, stales a Press message from Wellington. The position arose over Mr Routly giving professional service to the borough in connection with the erection of the Native Rest Room. Communism ? That the legislation regarding the i Labour Government’s Social Security ■ Scheme would adversely affect the ' Friendly Societies and lie detrimental In the ideals of these organisations, ■was expressed by several speakers at the banquet held by Kia Ora Lodge of Druids of Pukekohe on Hie occasion of their thirteenth anniversary on Thursday. “We will soon be paying our dues at the post office,” intimated Pro. Rolwcll of Roskill, when speaking on behalf of his Lodge. “We must light, and ffglil hard to maintain what we exist for. We hove 112,000 ■ members throughout the Dominion— ! why should an organisation such as I,l;is lie forced out of existence?” (Cries of hear! hear!).

Water Meters for State Houses. The Director of Housing Construction has advised the Pukekohe Bor- . ough Council that the Department has arranged to purchase its own water meters for ' installation at the State Houses. Public Debt Repayment. The total amount of the Public Debt outstanding at the end of the financial year ended on March 31, 1938 was £210,830,476 12s, states a report presented to Parliament. The amount of the Public Debt repaid or redeemed within the financial year was £1,713,811, and the aggregate amount of the’Public Debt that had been repaid or redeemed since the commencement of the Act was £10,077, 248. Making Friendships in Germany A novel method used in Germany lj v young men who wished to become acquainted with young women was mentioned by Mr Victor C. Peters, of Christchurch, in an address to the Christchurch Business Men s Club, reports the “Press.” All the tables in a hotel he had visited were equipped with telephones, he said, and if a young man desired to become acquainted with a young woman at another table, he rang her on the telephone. When she asked at which table he was sitting, he would give the number, and after scrutinising him she would reply whether she wanted to meet him or not. “China Will Eventually Win.” “One of the wonderful things about the Chinese is their orderliness, and this speaks well, too, tor the International police,” states Miss Edith Parkerson, of Christchurch, who has recently returned to New Zealand after three years as a nurse in a Shanghai hospital, reports the “Press.” “The Chinese are essentially a peace-loving people, but this aggression has unified China, so it has done good in one way. If China can keep her end up—keep the roads and railways open, so that she can get her supplies—she will eventually win through. If she can win without outside help, it will give her a new national pride. The Chinese have done great work in providing hospitals and first-aid stations, and the women are doing their part nobly.” The Oat Industry. A recommendation that the oat industry be subsidised by the Government to show a reasonable return over the cost of production until a reduction is made in costs, was approved at a meeting of the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. The meeting also approved of another recommendation that the Government prohibit importation of oats until a payable price was reached in New Zealand. It was stated that Southland had a favourable climate for growing oats, and that if a payable price was fixed the country would be flooded with home grown oats. The executive decided to forward the recommendations to the North Canterbury executive, which operate’d in the greatest oat growing district of New Zealand, with a view to enlisting local support.