LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 152, 14 June 1935, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

"Pedro the Merciful.” A three-act play, “Pedro the Merciful,” by L. A. Charles, has been accepted for publication in London. This play gained second place in the New Zealand Drama League’s festival last year. A London critic’s review states that it is delicious comedy. The author is a solicitor and an official of the Ashburton Repertory .Society.—Press Assn. Dangerous Corners. A statement that the Hastings Borough Council intends to consider the whole question of dealing with dangerous corners in the borough was made by the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, at last evening’s meeting of the council. By splaying or by other means, said Mr Maddison, the council hoped to eliminate as many dangerous corners as possible. Napier Chamber of Commerce. The monthly meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce was held lastevening, with Mr H. Anderson in the chair. The meeting approved of October 9 and 10, or October 10 and 11 as the dates of the annual conference of the Associated Chambers, which is to be held at Napier. The Napier Chamber will go into the matter of arranging forms of entertainment for the visitors. National Earthquake Insurance. “In view of the Indian earthquakes, I think we should tackle the question of some sort of national insurance in regard to our own country,” said Mr K. McLeay, in the course of a discussion regarding remits to be submitted to the annual conference of the Associated Chambers, to be held in Napier next October. Other members agreed with Mr McLeay as to the importance ol national earthquake insurance.

Radio-Telephone calls. The 50 per cent, reduction in radiotelephone charges between New Zealand and the United Kingdom, which operated from May 6 to May 31 as a Silver Jubilee concession, resulted in a marked rise of the number of calls, New Zealanders in particular showing enterprise in taking advantage of the opportunity. The number of calls originating in the Dominion was 39 and those irom the United Kingdom 19, a total of 58 lor a period of just over three weeks. In May, 1934, there were only five calls lor the complete month.

3oys and Employment. “New Zealand business men stand alone in their preference tor starting boys in business at the age of 14 rather than taking bins who have had postprimary education,” said Mr. D. M. Rae, principal of the Auckland Training College, speaking at a luncheon of the Auckland Creditmen's Club. “In America particularly the aim is to raise the age for continued education to 18 at least, and business men prefer to give opportunities to boys with greater training rather than to adolescents. New Zealand definitely stands apart from the rest of tho world in this respect.”

Defective Street Lights. The lamp glones in street lights, being no more infallible than household lamp-globes, sometimes become defective and cease to function. Regular inspections to discern such faults are made by Power Board inspectors, but they cannot of course be aware oi every defective globe. At last evening’s meeting of the Hastings Borough Council, the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, expressed a hope that any member of the public chancing to notice that a globe has ceased to function will notify the Power Board office in Hastings or the Borough Council office.

Waipukurau Half-Holiday. In regard to the decision given by Mr J. Miller, S.M., in respect of the petition to upset the poll on the halfholiday question at Waipukurau on May 8, which he held to be null and void, it is necessary to point out that under the third ground cited for the two votes were not disallowed on the ground that the returning officer failed to allow the scrutineers to see the declarations, but on the ground that votes by declaration can bo allowed only when the name® have been inadvertently omitted from the roll. When names have been struck off purposely, as they were, there is no provision to allow votes.

Christmas Plums In June. Several Christmas plum trees on the farm of Messrs. Washbourne Brothers, Kiwitahi, near Morrinsville, have just produced a winter crop of red, fullflavoured plums. Tho trees could well be excused for mistaking the mild autumn that the Waikato has experienced for spring. Planted by pioneer settlers of the district, the trees are about 30 years old, and are in a shelsheltered valley. Except that thev were only about two-thirds the size oi the . December crop, these June “Christmas” plums were identical in appearance and flavour with the mam crop. There is an old proverb to the effect that one cannot expect to gather cherries in Kent at the season of Christmas, but this year’s events have proved that Christmas plums can ripen in Waikato in June,

Minister "Caged.” The Minister of Public Works, Mr. J. Bitchener, has in the course of his official duties opened roads, bridges and buildings, but there was no one to present him with a golden key when with members of a deputation he found himself locked inside the Stratford municipal buildings the other night. When the party made their way from the council chamber it was found that the outer door was locked, and egress was further barred by closed iron gates in the vestibule of the building. Tho door lock is of a patent variety, guaranteed burglar-proof, and when bolted cannot be opened from the inside without a key. However, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., was heard to remark that if he had a screw-driver he would “fix” it. A window affording convenient access to an alleyway was found open. Then was seen the strange sight of a Minister of the Crown leading a procession of local body members and officials into the outer darkness. A step on to a chair, a leg over the window sill, and th* rwt waa easy.