LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1940, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The National Savings accounts total yesterday was £502,606. —Press Assn. The Rapahoe Hotel will change hands next week, Mr. J. McTaggart taking over from the present licensee, Mr. J. Ryan. In reply to representations that the coverage of Station 3ZR Greymouth should be increased, the Director of Broadcasting (Professor Shelley) has advised the Westland Patriotic Council that plans have been prepared for an improved service for the West Coast area, but it was regretted that it was not possible to proceed with the work, owing to the prevailing conditions. The Bevilacqua medals, for the dux of the Marist Brothers’ and Convent Schools, respectively, have this year been won by James Coyle and Kathleen Simons. The 1940 Seddon Medals, for the winners of'an examination open to all West Coast school pupils under the age of 12 years on December 1, have been won by Leonard John Smith and Melva Hazel Osmers, both pupils of the Grey Main School.

The educational officer of the West Coast Swimming Centre (Mr C. M. Robertson) stated last night that the alarming number of deaths by drowning on the West Coast indicated that not enough children were gaining the free certificates issued by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association for proficiency in swimming. He appealed to all schools to apply for certificates, thus encouraging swimming and keeping death by drowning away from the West Coast as much as possible.—Press Assn.

A decision to appeal to the Minister for Defence (Mr Jones) through the member for Buller (Mr Webb) for Christmas leave for members of the territorial forces, who it has been stated will be in camp until December 28, , was reached unanimously by the Buller County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday. The chairman (Mr D. J. Archer) said that he had heard numerous complaints, mostly from mothers of young men at present in camp, whom it was feared would not be home for Christmas. In some cases these mothers had sons overseas also, and if they could get the other members of their families home for Christmas there would be some consolation.

The hope was expressed ■by Mr. Webb that a draft Bill, consolidating the Shops and Offices Act, will be prepared and submitted for the consideration of the parties concerned, before Christmas. He said that he also hoped the proposals contained in the draft Bill would not be made public. Open controversy on the clauses of the Bill would militate against the spirit of harmony which he hoped would prevail when the Bill was discussed on its merits by the conference to be held. He added: “I have an open mind on the matter, and I am anxious that the Bill will meet the requirements of industry. If full agreement cannot be obtained on any clause, a compromise may be effected between the parties concerned, to meet the peculiar conditions arising out of the war.” —Press Assn.

The suggestion that the Minister for Industries and Commerce (Mr. Sullivan) should consider introducing a standard specification prescribing the number, size and quality of pages in school exercise books, and establish a price accordingly, in order to protect parents from the gross exploitation which, he alleged, was taking place, was made by Mr. A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill), in an urgent question in the House yesterday. Mr. Richards asked whether the Minister was aware that the number of leaves in school exercise books had been considerably reduced, according to his information, from 28 pages to as low as six pages during a period of approximately 12 months, thereby, Mr. Richards said, allowing for the full market increase in the price of paper. Op the basis of the cost of paper representing one-third of the retail price, the charge to school children was at least 200 per cent, in advance of what was justified in order to recoup increased paper - costs. Mr. Sullivan replied that he was investigating the position, and the question of the extension of standard specifications was being considered.

Concern at the decline in the number of Presbyterian.-children who attend Sunday Schools is expressed in the “Outlook,” the official paper of the Presbyterian Church. Of about 66,000 children of Sunday School age in New Zealand, about 28,500 do not attend Sunday School, and of 39,000 people of Bible Class age over 25,000 do not attend classes. The church has 4030 Sunday School teachers and 1025 Bible class leaders, compared with 9489 primary and secondary teachers in State and private schools. Since 1927 the attendance at public schools has dropped, but that at Sunday schools has declined further. “We cannot be content to let this de cline continue unchecked,” says the “Outlook.” “There can be no greater challenge to our church in this generation.”

Since the loss of the Holmwood, rumour-mongers have been particularly active in Greymouth, and manv sensational stories concerning vessels well known in West Coast ports have been circulated, two particular vessels being frequently named. These rumours are entirely without foundation, but considerable annoyance has been caused to the authorities by persistent enquiries regarding the vessels’ whereabouts. Those responsible for the rumours apparently do not realise that the censorship regulations prohibit the publication of particulars concerning certain vessels and, in some cases, even prevent the crews of such vessels from telegraphing information to relations. The rumours have spread with such rapidity in the Grey district during the past few days that it is possible that some action will be taken to curb the activities of those responsible.

“Every permanent head and controlling officer has been asked to act as a recruiting agent for the Home Guard,” the Public Service Commissioner (Mr. T. Mark) said yesterday when questioned on the steps being taken in the service to enrol public servants in the defence organisation. “It is an organised campaign on my .part, as titular head of the Service, to get as many public servants as possible into the Home Guard, but no compulsion is being used.” A report that officers had been asked to prepare lists of names of those servants eligible for the Home Guard, and those who offered their services, was referred to the Commissioner. He said he had not instructed that lists should be prepared; but he had commended the Home Guard to all servants.

At a meeting of the Westland Provincial Centennial Council, last evening, the Secretary (Mr. D. J. Evans) reported that, financially, the Council was almost clear. It owed approximately £44 and there was £42 in sight. An offer was received from a Christchurch firm for the remaining copies of “Old Westland” but it was decided that the question of their disposal should be held over in the meantime, the suggestion being made that local bodies may purchase additional copies at a reduced price. The Secretary submitted the following statement of the Centennial subsidy, of £2826 allocated to the Westland Province:— Payments on claims: Greymouth Borough £472/3/-, Westland County £ 624, Ross Borough £6B 5/10, Inangahua County £132/6/8, Okarito Memorial £4l/9/8, Westland Centennial £371/15/5, Hokitika (first payment) £66. Hokitika (second payment) £122/4/6. Total £lB9B/5/1. Balance remaining unclaimed £927.

The Golden Hill Orchestra are in great - form for the Grand Patriotic Ball, Ikamatua, Saturday, December 7.—Advt.

The stomachs of 199 shags shot in a year in the South Island contained 644 trout, three eels, 18 lampreys, 16 perch, three flounders, and 21 bullies. Figures were prepared for the council of the South Island Acclimatisation Societies by Mr H. G. Williams, Dunedin, and presented at last week’s meeting of the council. Most of the shags were shot in Otago and Southland, but there were a few in Nelson, South Cantetbury, and the Lakes District. The length of trout varied from two inches to 16-J inches. This biggest trout was found inside the only shag shot at Lee stream, near Dunedin. Mostly the trout averaged between seven and ten inches in length. The lampreys were all at least a foot long, and the longest was 16 inches. The longest perch was seven inches and the average size was four inches. Only three shags had eaten flounder, and these were at Pourakino, Southland. At Waiau, Southland, 33 shags contained 105 trout; at Lowburn 16 shags contained 94 trout; and at Mimihau and Dipton Creek 20 shags had eaten 100 trout.

For a good time bowl along the tar-sealed roads to Ikamatua Saturday, December 7, Grand Ball.—Advt.

“No variation of hours in general is contemplated,” the Minister for Labour (Mr. Webb) said yesterday in an interview on the regulation gazetted providing for a 48-hour week in West Coast sawmills, and in some of the North Island mills, in order to increase the production of timber for butter boxes. -The point that hours would be increased only on the recommendation of the Industrial Emergency Council was emphasised by the Minister. “All variations in awards must first be approved by the Emergency Council before I agree to their taking place,” Mr. Webb said. “Any company or industry requiring an extension of hours for the purpose of furthering our war effort can send it to the council, for investigation and consideration. The .council hears evidence of all interested parties, and then makes its recommendation to me. By those means every case is thoroughly gone into, and when the recommendation comes to me I feel confident that it expresses the good judgment of both the employees and employers’ representatives on that council.” Variations in approximately 30 different awards had been recommended so far by the council, the Minister said. The variations had been made to meet the urgent needs of industry, and both sides had responded splendidly.

For sheer nonchalance in the face of disaster, the attitude of a Hertfordshire firm of seedsmen and agricultural merchants whose production had been hampered by an air raid would be hard to equal. A card bearing the following terse message was sent to the firm’s customers:—“At the moment our cubing plant has a delayed action time bomb in it, but as soon as we can get anything going we will deliver.”

White’s are showing beautiful Summer Coats specially for Xmas trade. The colourings are of the very latest and fit; quality and style guaranteed.—Advt.