DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1939, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS

1 RIVAL CITIES WELLINGTON, September 19. “I’m inclined to treat this extraordinary statement from the Queen City of the north in just the same way as one treats the German broadcasts,” said the Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) speaking jokingly at the Wellington Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association smoke concert, of the Press Association message from Auckland concerning the Auckland City Council’s treatment) of its employees who were on military service. In that message the Mayor of Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis) was quoted as saying it was appropriate that the Auckland Council, as the largest local authority in New Zealand, should give a lead. Mr Hislop said that the population of the city of Auckland was 103,000; the population of the city of Wellington was 116,000. The revenue of the Auckland City Council was £1,600,000; that of the Wellington City Council £2,100,000. The Auckland City Council had 1617 employees and the Wellington City Council 2780.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. AUCKLAND, September 18. A n invitation to all churches to appoint October 1 as a day of national prayer has been extended by the Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop Averill. "In view,” he said, "of the announcement issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury that, with the approval of tho King, 'and by order of His Majesty’s Privy Council, Sunday, October 1, has been appointed a day of national prayer, it will undoubterly be the wish of all Christian people and all men and women of goodwill t 0 concur heartily in this day of national prayer, I therefore request that the day be so observed by all Anglican churches throughout the Dominion, and I earnestly invite the heads and leaders of’ all churches to adopt the suggestion, ■ and fall into line with their fellow ■ Christians throughout the whole Em- ) pire. I have already received an as- I surance from the Rev. Gladstone I Hughes, the . Moderator, that the ; Presbyterian Church in the Auckland 1 district will gladly fall in with the suggestion.”

FARM LABOUR ORGANISED. HASTINGS, September 18. Farmers’ Unions throughout Hawke’s Bay have been active in meeting the war situation. Executives in some centres have set up committees with a view to organising labour to enable- farms which may be left by men engaged elsewhere to be carried on. Lists of supervisors have been prepared, and the services enlisted of the shearing gangs, labour squadrons, harvesters, and fencers, who will be required. It is intended to regulate activities in organised groups throughout these areas.

MOTOR TRADERS' CONFERENCE CHRISTCHURCH?. September 19. ‘‘Don’t get panicky.” This was the advice given by the President (Mr H. G. Miller) to members of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Federation, who met in conference in Christchurch to-day. Mr Miller said tnat, rather than give way to panic, traders should wait and see. He believed, and that was his firm’s belief, that conditions would be much better a month from now. It was difficult to make a direct approach to the Government, but this would be done if the (evasion warranted. Mi’ Miller urged members to keep on an even keel, and stressed the importance of the conference, which, lie said iiad serious problems to discuss.

HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION. WELLINGTON, September 19. Hospitals specialising in the treatment of cancer and tuberculosis are now being developed in American and European cities, and in this direction Australia and New Zealand have much to learn, according to Mr Cobden Parkes, official architect of the New South Wales Government, who is visiting Auckland. In the last seven months, Mr Parkes, accompanied b\ the New South Wales Minister for Health (Mr H. P, Fitzsimmons), has been investigating hospital construction and development abroad in v.ew of the state programme involving the erection of 80 new hospitals throughout New South Wales within the next few years. Mr Fitzsimmons returned to Australia some time ago. Probably the best hospital in the world, said Mr Parkes, was that recently established in Stockholm. Sweden and Switzerland both had well-designed hospitals, which were excellently equipped. He was, however, greatly surprised at the modern and efficient standards of British hospitals, although he considered that general hospitals in Australia and New Zealand were also of a high standard in comparison with those ip other lands.