GENERAL NEWS CITY COUNCIL PROTEST AT HUTT MONOPOLY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1947, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS CITY COUNCIL PROTEST AT HUTT MONOPOLY

A motion protesting at the decision of the Government to allow the Hutt Valley Consumers’ Co-operative Society a monopoly in the main State housing areas of Lower Hutt was passed by the Lower Hutt City Council last night. “It is not a good thing for the city generally,” said the Mayor (Mr. Andrews). The community, he said, was being divided info sections when it should be one body speaking with one voice.— (P.A.) Infectious Diseases

■ Five cases of septic abortion were notified in Canterbury last week. Other infectious disease cases notified were two of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria, 13 of tuberculosis, two of erysipelas, and one of undulant fever. There were two deaths in Canterbury from tuberculosis. There were no cases notified from the West Coast.

Nine-hour Day Proposal. Refusal to accept the Auckland City Council’s recent proposal to work a nine-hour day, the last hour at time-and-a-half rates of pay, was the unanimous decision of a stopwork meeting to-day of about 400 labourers, drivers, carpenters, and other employees of the City Council. The decision will not restrict what the meeting described as legitimate overtime in emergencies, and so on. —(P.A.) Accident to Miner.

When working in the Blackwater mine this morning, Mr. S. Jones, a miner, of Waiuta, was caught by a fall of stone,- reports the Evening Star Reefton correspondent. Firstaid attention was given the injured man on his arrival at the surface and a later medical examination revealed that beyond bruises to the body and shock he had escaped without injury. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene from Reefton, but its services were not required,-Mr. Jones being able to return to his home.

Fire Threatens Hospital A pine forest on the slopes of Mount Victoria was swept by fire today, the flames threatening the fever hospital and houses on both sides of the tramway tunnel. Nurses from the hospital fought the flames for half an hour before the brigade arrived. Steps were taken to evacuate the hospital, but this was not necessary. The fire was checked but an inadequate water supply on the hospital side made the task very difficult and the police were called to assist the brigade. The fire is still burning fiercely. On other side of Mount Victoria the fire was soon controlled. —(P.A.)

Proposal for War Memorial. The executive of the Greymouth branch of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association discussed the question of a war memorial and passed the following resolution: —“That in our opinion the most fitting war memorial for Greymouth would be a R.S.A. club room and combined dance hall and theatre, and that a portion ol the proceeds from the hall be set aside to establish an R.S.A. scholarship for children of deceased servicemen.” Messrs T. P. Ryan, W. Green and G. Gillespie were appointed delegates to a public meeting to be called by the Mayor of Greymouth to discuss war memorial proposals.

Westport Competitions Society, Annual Festival, May 19 to 24, Vocal, Instrumental, Elocution, Dancing. Syllabus can be had on application to Robt. Francis Ltd., Greymouth and Hokitika. —Advt.