Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1944, Page 4

Local and General

Concern over the delay in reinstating the West Coast air service, which has been suspended since the crash on Mount Hope in June, was expressed in a remit tabled before the Council of the Westland District Progress League, last evening, by its Communications Committee. It was decided to urge the Government to take steps to facilitate the restoration of the passenger and mail service.

A decision to write to the Prime Minister expressing indignation at the recently reported reference in the House of Representatives to “the mentality of a Road Board member,” and demanding an apology was reached by the Mount Roskill Road Board, last night. The Chairman, Mr. C. M. McCullough, characterised the reported remark by Mr. Fraser that the member for Waitaki had the mentality of a Road Board member as a gross insult to the body of men throughout New' Zealand who gave their services gratuitously and actuated solely by a desire to advance the welfare of their respective districts. He was of the opinion that the legisaltive ability of the average Road Board member compared more than favourably with that of Mr. Fraser’s supporters in Parliament. The remark was degrading to and unworthy of anyone holding the high office of Prime Minister. Members of the Board supported this view. —P.A.

The Dobson State mine, which was idle yesterday because of a dispute over a wet-time place, resumed this morning.

The Prime Minister told the Labour Party conference that to the end of September 53,929 men had been demobilised from the Armed Services, including 29,986 after overseas service. Mr Fraser said that almost £4,400,000 had been advanced or granted to these men to enable them to re-establish thems.elves in civil life, while more than 150,000 acres had been acquired for settlement by servicemen. Considerably more than 1000 men were learning new trades under trade training schemes. —P.A.

The whole question of providing a daily service between Greymouth and Christchurch during the Christmas and New Year holidays hinges on coal supply, and the Minister of Railways (Mr Semple) has advised the Westland District Progress League that it is not possible at this juncture to give an assurance that this will arranged. The Department must first be assured of sufficient coal for normal services before arrangements can be made for additional trains. However, the representations have been noted.

When addressing a meeting at Dargaville, Mr R. M. Algie, Opposition Member of Parliament for Remuera, was asked whether he agreed with State ownership of coal mines.. In reply Mr Algie referred to the findings of the 1918 Commission, which held that coal was one of the commodities which should be under State control, a finding with which, on due consideration, he had to agree. But he would say to the miners, added Mr Algie, that they would find approaching a State department on any question of grievances quite different from approaching a private employer. —P.A.

In recent years an average of 27,000,000 super, feet of timber has been shipped annually from the port of Greymouth, though, last year, because of the difficulties presented by the bar, this figure was not achieved. Next year, however, according to a statement made at last .evening’s meeting of the Council of the Westland District Progress League, an additional 9,000,000 super, feet are to be sent to Wellington for the building of houses, bringing the total for the 12 months to about 36,000,000 super, 'feet. It is understood arrangements are being made to provide the additional shipping facilities required.

Attention to the little-known fact that the roadway adjacent to the Greymouth Railway Station is under the control of the Railways Department and that parking of cars between the station and the railway offices in the brick building is prohibited was drawn by an officer of the Department to-day. He stated that the only vehicles permitted to park were taxis on their allotted stand and the bus, which drew up adjacent to the brick wall. The practice of parking cars had reached dangerous proportions, and on several occasions accidents had been narrowly avoided. Under the by-laws motor traffic using the route are subject to a speed limit of 15 miles per hour, and on the arrival Of trains it is completely closed to through traffic.

Plunket Day is November 17. Come to the shop in Mawhera Quay, next Nancarrow’s, for your week-end supplies.—Advt.

“I am hopeful that it may be possible to call for tenders in the near future for the erection of a building that will meet police requirements at Greymouth for many years to come,” stated the Minister in Charge of the Police Department (Mr Webb) in a letter read by the Westland District Progress League, last evening, relative to the Greymouth Police Station. Mr Webb stated that its replacement was under consideration before the outbreak of the war, but owing to war conditions and the shortage of labour and materials it had not been possible to make much progress. Sketch plans had been prepared, but these had been found unsuitable and were now under revision. The President (Mi’ W. D. Taylor) commented that there appeared to be sufficient materials on hand to erect a new Fire Station at Hokitika; he did not think it could be of higher priority. An appropriate reply urging that tenders be called immediately is to be forwarded.

Mass will be celebrated on next Sunday, November 12, at Rotomanu, 8 a.m., and at Kotuku, at 10.15 a.m.

The Greymouth Women’s Institute held the November meeting in Lyceum Hall, Miss Prendergast, vicepresident, presiding in the absence of Mrs. Green. It was decided to send £l/1/- to the Gordon Anderson Memorial fund'and also give £l/1/to R.S.A. Funds. Motto for the month, “Time flies, but memories remain.” Roll call: “The country I like best and why? Mrs. Kilpatrick, delegate to the Federation Council meeting read the report. Twenty-seven shillings were collected in shillings for Britain. Mrs. Booth has knitted 60 pullovers for soldiers and airmen. A mystery parcel was won by Mrs. Turner and tea towels by Mrs. Booth. Other competition winners were: Doll’s outfit: Dressing gown, Mrs. Bailey 1, Mrs. Smart 2. Undies, Mrs. Smart 1, Mrs. Bailey 2. Frock, 'Mrs. Smart 1, Mrs. Bailey 2. Best Bloom, Mrs. Coumbe 1, Mrs. Booth and Miss Prendergast equal 2. Knitting handed in: Three pullovers and one cranwell vest. Afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mrs. Mann, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Bailey and Mrs Smith. When is Plunket Rose Day? On November 17. Headquarters in shop next Nancarrow’s, Mawhera Quay. Be there early to obtain the best.— Advt. “Having regard to the world supply conditions after the war, combined with the urgent needs of other exchanges, there is little likelihood of the Greymouth Exchange being converted to automatic working in the near future,” stated ' the Post-master-General (Mr Webb) in a letter received by the Westland District Progress League, last evening, in response to its recent representations. He stated he had been informed that the manual equipment in use was giving very satisfactory service and would meet the needs of the town for many years to come, while the erection of a building to house a new exchange could not be justified. The Communications Committee commented that anything in the way of facilities was apparently good enough for the Coast, all or most of the equipment being chiefly composed of that previously discarded from other towns. If facilities were made available, for example, to Runanga, Dobson, Brunner and Taylorville, all within a radius of eight miles, Greymouth subscribers could possibly be doubled. It suggested that this improvement could give Greymouth an up-to-date exchange. The Coast had to pay rentals at the same rate as other towns where modern equipment was available. This comment is to be forwarded to Mr Webb, fhe Communications Committee re- . commended that application be made| for additional telephone booths at the 1 Railway Station, at the corner of 1 High and Heaphy Streets, and at the 1 Post Office, and it was decided to I :ake appropriate action. J