LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The. West Coast Rugby Union has received a large framed photograph of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (Wigram) Rugby Football team, 1940. The inscription states that the photograph has been presented to the Union in appreciation of the hospitality extended the Air Force team during its visit to Greymouth last season.

The Greymouth branch of the New Zealand Red Cross Society reports that the following candidates were successful in recent V.A.D. examinations:—Home nursing: Mrs E. Freddie, Mrs E. Adams, Miss M. Parfitt, Miss L. Brown, Miss I. Crawford, Miss N. Brislane, Miss R. Shannon, Miss M. Brown, Miss M. McDonnell, Miss -E. Harvey. First aid: Miss M. Sullivan, Miss M. Brown, Miss R. Shannon, Mrs M. Scandrett, Miss K. Sampson, Mrs A. Caldwell, Mrs N. Grant, Miss K. Kilgour, Mrs L. Reeves.

z The weekly parade of the Home Guard was held in the Drill Hall, last evening, there being an attendance of approximately 100 men, with Colonel C. E. Butcher in command. Instruction in the use of the rifle and aiming practice was given by Corporal Smith, of the National Military Reserve. In an appeal for better attendances at parades, Colonel Butcher said that, to be efficiently trained, the platoons must be at full strength. Otherwise, the period of dull training would be unduly prolonged. From now on, the Guard would be given more interesting training in modern military tactics. The time for the daylight parades has been altered to 9.30 a.m. and the next parade will be held on Victoria Park on Sunday.

A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held at Greymouth, to-day, concerning the Greymouth Municipal Employees’ application for a new award, to replace that which expired in May last. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. S. Ritchie, presided and the assessors were:—Employers (Greymouth Borough Council): Messrs. F. A. Kitchingham, A. J. Fairmaid, F. F. Boustridge and H. Herring; employees>Messrs. P. M. Butler, Wellington (secretary of the New Zealand Local Bodies’, Other Labourers and Related Trades Workers’ Union), J. Conaghan and J. Griffen. At this morning’s session, everything excepting wages was settled, very largely upon the terms of the expired award, and the discussions upon the question of wages were proceeding when the “Star” went to press.

Special purchase of Victory Crepe. 6000 yards of this beautiful fabric saved from enemy bombers. Regular 5/11 and 7/11 a yard value. Now selling at C. Smith’s for 3/11 yard.— Advt.

A tailored Suit or Costume is always a good foundation to any wardrobe; we can show you some perfect examples of these priced from £4 10/-. White’s ’ Corner, Your Fashion Centre.—Advt.

“Sharlco” absorbent Cotton Wool First grade hospital quality. Made up in one pound packets, 3/6 per packet.—C. Smith’s.—Advt.

The Royal Commission set up to investigate,the explosion at Kaye and Party’s mine, at the Ten Mile, on November 6, 1940, which resulted in the loss of five lives, will commence its sitting at Greymouth at 10 a.m., oh Thursday, January 23. The members of the Commission are: Mr. G. G. Chisholm S.M., Greymouth (Chairman), Mr. Watson, Huntly, superintendent of Taupiri Coal Mines Ltd.; Mr. A. McLagan, Greymouth, secretatry of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand; Mr. T. O. Bishop, Wellington, secretary of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association; Mr. J. Devlin, Wallsehd, president of the United Mine Workers of New Zealand.

During the civic reception extended to Mr. Nash (Minister of Finance) at Kumara, yesterday; the Mayor (Mr. A. B. Spiers) drew the Minister’s attention to the urgent need for a resident doctor for the district, and the Borough’s need for a watersupply. Mr. Spiers also criticised the service rendered by Westland Power, Ltd., which he said was far from satisfactory. The deputy-Mayor (Mr. Murphy) said that it was most unfair that Kumara should be without a doctor. He added that the present Government had done little or nothing for the Borough. All it did was to collect the taxes, and spend the money in other parts of the district. Mr. Nash promised that, on his return to Wellington, he would confei’ with his Ministerial • colleagues, on the matters brought to his notice.

Residents in the 'town are reminded that the Soldiers’ Shop will re-open on Friday, February 21.— Advt. Referring to the general practitioners’ scheme which he said the Government had been trying to introduce for the past two years to give the people of the Dominion the treatment they required, the Minister for Finance (Mr. Nash), at a civic reception at Hokitika last night, criticised the members of the medical profession. Mr. Nash made reference to the latest approach to the medical profession embodying the following proposal: In company with the Prime Minister he had met a committee of the doctors and told them for the Government it was prepared to give them the total income that their members had declared in the last year, and to add 5 per cent, 'to it, letting them determine as far as practicable how that sum should be distributed if they would agree that the people would be entitled to medical treatment, not because of their ability to pay but because of the necessity for it. The full benefits of the Social Security Act could be given to the people only when the doctors agreed. That proposal was made two years ago and he hoped that before this year ended they would have the full scheme in force.