LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 31 October 1933, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Encouraging reports of men previ- ' ously unemployed finding positions in their own occupations have been more frequent lately. A further note of optimism was struck in the report of the employment officer received at a. recent meeting of the executive committee of the Christchurch. Returned Soldiers’ Association. The repjrt showed fihat for the months of August and September seventy-three men had. given notice of their return to normal work. * ' j British boot factories are very much ] more up-to-date than these in America,according to Mr J. A. East, of Christchurch, who lias recently returned' from a trip to the United States and England. The planning system was much better than in America, organisation was better, and, most important, the British operative used his head and assisted his employers. In America the employees bad to be driven to their work.

Several Hawera students gained distinction at the terms examinations at tite university colleges. At- Auckland, Barney Thomas seoured a second-class pass in mathematics and a _ third in chemistry, physics and applied mathematics. Barbara Woods, of Hawera, took a second-class pass in French and Latin and was given a pass in English on the year’s work. Nancy Gray and Enid Evans, both formerly of Hawera, received a third-class pass in French and a pass in English and history on the year’s work. At Victoria College, Margaret A. Harding seoured second-class passes in English and chemistv and a third in French.

An enjoyable kitchen tea was given last night at the residence of Mrs. A. Wallace, in Union Street, Hawera, for. Miss Ethel Walker by her friends in honour of her approaching marriage with Mr. Thomas French, of South Road. There was a largo gathering and many pretty and useful presents were brought for the young people. Good wishes were expressed bv several speakers in making the presentation. Games, music and dancing were enjoyed during the evening, and after supper the evening was brought to a close with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”

Farther results of -the examinations for commission's and promotions in the infantry and mounted units of Taranaki have been- received through the Defence Department in. Hawera. These show -that Lieut. H. G. Whitehead, of the Hawera High School (Second Cadet Battalion), qualified for promotion to be captain. Passes were -secured, in the Queen Alexandra .Mounted Rifles, by Capt. P. V. Craves (Waveiiey) and Lieut. L. W. 'Sims (Wanganui), and partial passes, by Capt. L. F. Laws (Wanganui), Lieut. E. R. Holford (Waitara) and Lieut. R. S'. Ho siting (Stratford).

Approximately hair a million larval parasites are b£ing imported by tne Plant Research station of the Department of Agriculture gt Palmerston North to combat the white butte, by menace . it is exacted that the supply will arrive before the end ot next month. Three hundred thousand of the parasites will arrive by the Akarpa. which is due in Auckland on November 10 and the remaining 200,000 parasites wiH arrive by the Rangitane' on November 22. The liberation of the parasites will probably be commenced early in : .December, and will continue for over several months. This year _parasites will be liberated over selected portions of the Manawatu district.

The members of the Waikouaiti Council at their monthly meeting were called on to deal with a letter from a very enraged ratepayer, whose grievance concerned wandering stock and 1 noxious weeds. “You like to collect the rates, but you do nothing in a-eturn,”. he wrote. “Look at the gorse and broom adjoining my .property. Has anything been done .to keep this cursed weed down?” After expressing the opinion that the rangers in the . Yeaikoua.iti County were “a dud paiek,” the angry ratepayer concluded with a request that the council should “get a few live, men on the go.” By the time the chairman had finished reading the letter one or two of the members were themselves ".omewhat annoyed, and Cr. Briscoe was immediately on his feet. L I move that this letter he not received by the council,” he said. “I don’t- think members are called on to .stand this sort, of thing.” The other councillors agreed that"' the writer had exceeded the bounds of fair criticism, and the motion was carried unanimously.

History was repeated; when the flag tvaa flown on the Timaru Counci Chambers' in commemoration of tne Battle of Trafalgar and the death ot .Lord Nelson. Owing to the clock tower .still being in the course of construction, the flagpole was not com- | plete, but the mast was there, amt tne 'flag was nailed to it in traditional | style. ! When Mr J. A. Bast, of Christchurch, was in America he was astounded by the number of cars near a boot factory. There were cars of all makes, some quite expensive. He inquired about their ownership, and he was informed that they were the property of the employees. He was told that the be6t paid workmen were receiving from £lO to £l2 a week. Mr East added that the men were on

piecework, and the speed at which i they worked was amazing. Realising the importance of aviation to the province, and the difficulty I under which the Otago Aero Club has I been labouring to carry on the comJmercial side, of its activities, several public-minded citizens have subscribed . the necessary funds to purchase an ! up-to-date passenger carrying ’plane, I to. be put at the disposal of the club. The machine, which is a high-powered four-passenger cabin biplane, will be | flown to Dunedin on November 11 by I Captain P. Bolt, pilot-instructor of the . Wellington Aero Club, and arranger 1 ments are now' in hand for the hold; | ing of a suitable function at the Taieri : aerodrome, on the afternoon of its ar- ; rival. t r An unusual case was heard in the 'Hamilton Court last week,'. When appliI.cation was made by a firm of house - 1 agents against 'a woman for posses- ; .sion of a house occupied bv defendant ! and her husband at Claudelands. It j was alleged that defendant had obf tained use of the. house by a trick. I Ostensibly with the object of inspectI ing the place, the husband had obtained the key from the agents, and

had taken possession, refusing to leave when asked. Finally it was arranged that the “squatters” could stay on at a weekly rental of -£l. They had fallen into arrears with the rent, and action was taken against the wife, a* it was understood her husband was an undischarged bankrupt. The defendant dicl not appear, but the hus band represented her and challenged .the authority of the agents to represent the owner in an action for possession, but Mr. S. L>. Paterson, _ S.M.. decided against him The magistrate made an order for possession, giving judgment against the defendant for £4 rent, .with costs. The fact that artists saw .things in a more advanced, way than other people saw* them was emphasised by Professor Shelley when he gave a talk on "Modern Tendencies in Art” to members of the Business and Professional Women’s Bound Table Club. To illustrate his point, Professor Shelley told two stories about the classic replies made .by Whistler, the famous artist to people who could not understand his pictures. The first concerned the woman who looked hard at one of the artist’s pictures, and said, “But, klr "Whistler, I don't sec Nature like .that at all.” ’Whistler’s retort was, “But don’t you wish you could?” Professor .Shelley did not say so, but the same woman was probably the principal character in the second story. She came into Whistlers studio after - walking beside the Biver Thames. “Oh, Mr Whistler,” she said, "I’ve seen, a scene on. the Thames exactly like one of your ‘Nocturnes.’ ” ‘ 1 Nature’s looking up,” commented Whistler drily. . It is stated by the Railways Boaru in its annual report that the suggestions and inventions committee deal with 622 suggestions during the year, as compared with 1005 during the previous year. Of these suggestions 59 were recomtmendied 1 for adoption in whole or in part; 210 were referred to heads of branches for their information, or were already in operation ot related to matters of policy; 304 were not recommended for adoption., and 49 were, at the close ot the financial year, under trial or investigaiton, and were carried forward for future consideration. Of the 59 suggestions recommended for adoption 18 were in con- ‘ neCtion. with improvements to rolling stock, 10 were in connection with . workshop equipment, 9 referred to matters connected with the ways and works and signals branches, while the balance dealt with general matters in ■ connection with railway working.

Stating that he had in mind a janit ress at one of the suburban libraries, Mr I>. Donaldson moved the follow mg motion, of which he had given notice at- the meeting of the Auckland City Council on Thursday evening. ‘That in order to spread employment in these days of stress, it shall be the policy of the Auckland City Ooun cil not to give employment to anj woman whose husband is in permanent employment, except with the consent of the council.’ The mover said the woman in question had a husband in permanent employment with one of the largest concerns in the city, and the other members of her family were working. He felt that a principle was at stake. The motion was carried, on a show of hands, by lz votes to 7.

“A man interviewed me the other day 'who claimed that he could make two 'gallons of tar out of one,” the Mayor informed the Blenheim Borough Council. “I was sceptical, but he assured me he could do it, and was prepared' to prove it. Of course, I have heard of making two gallons of milk out of one, but this multiplication of ,tar is a new thing.” (Laughter.) Cr. J. Wemyss, chairman of the Gas Committee, said he had not met the man referred to. “However,” he added humorously, “we tried the same thing.at the gas works, but we a're. now doing the opposite, by taking all the water out of our tar!”

“Undoubtedly it is a very sound scheme, ’’ commented Mr J. Seabrook, club captain of the Auckland Aero Club, referring to the Government’s proposal to provide a scries of emergency landing grounds for aircraft in •both islands of the Dominion. Illustrating the need of emergency landing grounds, Mr Seabrook said-that, on the route from Auckland to New Plymouth, there were fe-w places other than Raglan and Kawhia, where a ’plane could land after passing Waikato Heads. The proposed scheme would make air travel very much safer, and would be welcomed by- the various aero clubs throughout the Dominion. In the past there had been instances of pilots having to land on unsuitable grounds, and ’planes had been damaged. As announced this week 'by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbc, Parliament is to be asked to make available in the Public Works Estimates for the current financial year the sum of £SOOO to 'bring into effect the scheme, which was originally suggested by the Hew Zealand Aero Club. The proposal is in line with the progress of aviation in Hew Zealand. The selected grounds will be prepared by relief labour.

From inquiries made by a “Hawera Star” reporter in the Kapuni district it is ascertained that the police have in hand the investigation of complaints of the alleged theft of “bobby.” calves. Charges have been laid, and it is expected that the cases will .be heard in the Eltham Court next month.

“Most farmers expect men to work for nothing,” remarked the Mayor of Takapana, Mr J. Guiniven, at a meeting or tne Borough Council.. “It is unique to find farmers taking an interest in. unemployment.” he said, when a letter urging the holding of a representative meeting to discuss unemployment was received from the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. “Your remark® are an insult to farmers,” said Mr P. Pedersen, “and they are not justified. 1 could provide pay-sheets showing that wages "vaLl to farm workers are equal to" those of the council’s employees. “That is not saying much, replied Mr Guiniven. The letter was received, the Mayor remarking that he understood tile Mayor of Auckland, Mr G. W. Hutchison, intended calling a similar meeting. Adventure is part of an explorer s -job and Mr Lincoln Ellsworth has had his’ share. But of those adventures (says the Christchurch "Press”) he is not so keen to talk as he is of the spirit of a young New Zealander who has made a business .proposition to him. Several days ago Mr Ellsworth received a letter from this young man, who told him that on Campbell Island, which lies roughly between New, Zealand and the Bay of Whales, were 5000 sheep, the shearing fights of which he hoped tp buy. Would Mr Ellsworth, he asked, take him, with two other men, dogs, and stores, to the island when he • went south, drop them there, and pick them up again on his return, minus the stores, .but plus some bales of wool? Any sort of accommodation would do—just somewhere to sleep. They would, if necessary, provision themselves. Percentage ef the wool cargo, lie suggested, would be the payment. It might be a business failure or it might not. The writer was less interested in that than in the fun of the thing. ‘"Now, that's a real man, said Mr Ellsworth. "And that’s an adventure I should certainly like to help, and though there are a lot of obvious difficulties, I will see what the captain of. my ship says when he arrives.”