WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 17 January 1940, Page 11

WESTPORT NOTES

I Our Own Correspondent! Wednesday, 17—02.36 a.m., 02.55 p.m. Thursday, 18 —03.22 a.m;, 03.47 p.m. Friday, 19—04.22 a.m., 04.58 p.m. Saturday, 20—05.40 a.m., 06.10 p.m. Shipping: WESTPORT, January 16. The Rata is due from Wanganui to-morrow to load coal for New Plymouth, and Wanganui. The Korowai is expected from Wellington on Thursday with general cargo, loading coal for New Plymouth and Wellington. The Wingatui is expected from Wellington on Thursday to load coal for Wellington.

Recruiting Campaign: Convened by the Mayor, Mr J. M. Robertson, at the request of the Government, a public meeting to discuss the problem of stimulating recruiting in the district was held in the public library last evening. The second this month, the meeting met with poor response from the pubEeand the Mayor in opening the discussion, said that the people shou’d realise the present difficult situation and the fact that New Zealand could not stand by herself but needed the protection of the whole Empire. The Empire needed men and everyone must recognise their duty to that Empire. Mr Robertson added that he could not ask anybody to go as he could not go himself, but at the request of the Government he was placing before the youth of the town the seriousness of the position. He also stated that at the request of the ! previous meeting he had interviewed the theatre managers as to the possibility of allowing speeches from the theatre stage, and had been advised that this was permissable. Mr C. H Thomas, said that it was apparently the desire of the Government that the local bodies get volunteers to answer the call and give the volun-i tary system a fair trial. The matter must be put plainly before the youth of the country, that if the warcontinued conscription must come. Mr Thomas said that people had conflicting opinions as to conscription and if a committee were formed to arrange for speakers to put the matter before the public, it may by its efforts delay conscription. It was the duty of those who could not go to do everything possible in the matter. Mr J. H. Enright stated that it would seem that if the spirit of voluntary service was not dead, it was very dormant, and that, the Govern- ( ment should do the work and not ask the local bodies to carry the burden. Mr A. Vincent stated that he thought that if a man could be guaranteed that his job would be 1 open to him, many more would volunteer. Stating that the young people did not realise the seriousness of the situation, Mr J. C. Brown, was of the opinion that the Government would be wise to send able men to the various centres and districts to put the matter before them. Everything possible should be done to encourage the voluntary system. Some guarantee from employers would be of great assistance. Mr O. L. Nahr said that the idea of lectures was a good one, but outside speakers were needed. Mr W. Mann (president of the local Returned Soldiers’ Association) he thought part of the trouble Jay in the fact that the Government did not give enough information. The Government may have been asked to send troops overseas urgently but dfd not communicate to the young people of the country any definiteinformation on the situation. On the motion of Mr Brown, it was decided to write the Government < and ask them to send to the district a recruiting officer, capable of lecturing from a public platform.

Fishermens’ Protest; Part-time fishermen at Westport, some of whom had held licenses for many years, made their applications for renewal of licenses, and were advised that their applications were de clined on the ground that it was an economic waste for more than one fisherman to be actively engaged in the calling at Westport. A strong protest was sent to the authorities at Wellington, with the result that Messrs F. P. Walsh, of Wellington, a member of the Fisheries Advisory Board, Peter W. Sim, President of the Dominion Fish Retailers’ Association and James Craig a member of the Council, met the fishermen at Westport on Sunday and discussed the question with them. The members disputed the decision of the economic waste and stated the people in and about Westport were fish hungry and could not get supplies. There had never been any occasion to dump fish at Westport through no market being available. All the fish caught found a ready market. A fisherman with a license stated he could not dispose of the fish caught on account of the small boats and the number of part time fishermen engaged, but the latter stated this was ridiculous as all the fish icaught could be readily disposed of, as people were crying out for fish and could not get it. Asked if they were prepared to take up full time fishing, they replied in the negative as the weather was toi uncertain for them to depend wholly on fishing for an occupation. It was stated that two men had invested in boats, one had been working on a boat, the cost of which was £4OO and now both were refused licenses. They considered they were being harshly treated and that the refusal of their licenses wad, not merely a loss to them, but to the public who could not get the fish supplies that thev desired under the present system. The inquiring members were asked to fix the wholesale price of fish and did so. After gathering other data from individual members of the meeting, some of whom, it was stated, had been fishing for 15 or 16 years, the Board of Inquiry promised to consider their requests and give their decision later.

Personal: Mr and Mrs B. Stowell and daughters left to-day on a holiday visit to Wellington. Mr and Mrs J. Phibbs are spending a fortnight’s holiday at Mokihinui. Mr and Mrs E. Anderson, who have been visiting' the formers parents, Mr and Mrs T. Anderson, left yesterday on return to Christchurch. Mr R. Blair is acting as manager of the Union S.S. Co’s local office during the absence on. leave of Mr W. A. SmTb.

Mr Justice Fair, of Auckland, and Mr and Mrs Geo. Fair, of Richmond, are spending a few days in Westport as the guests of Mr and Mrs E. Fa'r. Mr Harold Mulloh Waimangaroa was a ■ week-end enlistment for the Special New Zealand military forces. Mr W. E. Dickens, of London, who

is touring the world on a bicycle, was a visitor to Westport on Sunday, later proceeding on his way to the glaciers, thence to Christchurch and the rest of the South Island. Mr J. C. Brown, is leaving to-day for Auckland for a resumption of tre inquiry into the disaster at Glen Afton mine.

Mr and Mrs H. Lovell, of Westport received the sad news yestercftiy of the death, at Wellington of their youngest daughter, Lynn, aged 1) years. Deceased had been ill for-some time. Sympathy is- extended to the bereaved in their -sad loss. ■ The coming-of-age of Miss Mollv Kilkenny daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Kilkenny, was made the occasion of a ’ jolly gathering of relatives last evening: The symbol of the priv; leges to be enjoyed in future by the guest, in the form of. a gold key, presented by her father. An elaborate dinner was served and the customary toast list was honoured. Miss Kilkenny was the recipient of many presents and congratulatory messages. Mr Dick Kilkenny, who .is on holiday in Auckland telephoned; his congratulations whilst the celebration was in progress. The evening was spent in parlour games, songs and story. Mr. and Mrs. G. Levestam, who have been visiting Ashburton and Christchurch, have returned to Westport. Card Tournaments:

On Saturday evening the Westpo-. Women’s Branch of the N.Z. Labour Party held its usual card tournament and dance in the Friendly Societies Hall. There was an excellent attendance. The’ euchre was won by Mr Morton, with Mrs Chandler in second and Mr Perkins in third places, whil? Mr McKendry won the forty-fives The card tourney on Monday evening drew another excellent attendance Mr H. White won the euchre with Mr Horn as runner-up and Mrs Gough in third place. Mr Pollock won the 45’s.