Local and General News

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 15, 3 April 1946, Page 7

Local and General News

Car on Eire. On .Sunday afternoon the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade received a call to Anderson Avenue, where a Singer car belonging to Mr. W. Kennedy was on fire. The outbreak was quickly extinguished, only slight damage being done to the paintwork of the car. The only other call received by tiie brigade during tlie week was a malicious false alarm. Power Restrictions in Hutt. Consumers of power, especially occupiers of business premises, have been notified by tiie Hutt Valley Electric Power Board that unless they comply with regulations they may have their equipment disconnected. Heating equipment must not be used between 4 p.m and 6 p.m., in business premises. Lighting for interior and exterior signs is prisaibited and shop window lighting is restricted. Not. 40-Hour Week. ‘‘l love the I-lutt. Valley, and years ago roamed the mountains around it,” said Hon. R. Semple at a meeting last week. “I worked six days a week- —not 4 0 hours either—and chased pigs on Sundays, so I have known something of the Valley.” Banking Hours Extended. Commencing last Monday banks are open for public business from Mondays to Fridays until 3 p.m, instead of 2 p.m as formerly. They will not be open on Saturday mornings. Underground Railway in Auckland. Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Works, stated in Lower Hutt last week that to meet the traffic problem the Government has plans for an underground railway in Auckland, with entrance near the Town Hall. All plans are ready and will be submitted to local bodies in Auckland shortly. Mr. Semple said there were also plans for a town of 10,000 people at Tamaki, a suburb .of Auckland. Petone and Ice Cream The Petone Borough Council's remit urging the adoption of a standard by-law prohibiting the hawking of unprotected ice cream in theatres was lost by a large majority at the Municipal Conference at Christchurch. Mr. H. Green, Mayor of Petone, claimed that the Council had been misrepresented; there was no intention of interfering with the consumption of ice cream in theatres. “Comic Opera Stopbanks.” In his address at Lower Hutt last week Hon. R. Semple referred to “comic opera stopbanks” and “silly little stopbanks” when urging that the problem of river, works must be tackled in a big way. “We must tackle the great problem of rjver erosion and Hood damage scientifically,” said Mr. Semple. New machinery acquired by the Government was expected to do great work in clearing rivers. Interest in Hutt Valley “I approach Mr. Nash with confidence when I ask him for something for the Hutt Valley. If it is not for the Hutt Valley I do not get a good reception,” said Hon. R. Semple humourously, in an address at Lower Hutt last week. Fruiterer Fined./ In the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt, before Mr. H. G. Thompson, S.M., Francis Joe was fined £5 with costs 10/- for having failed to close his fruiterer's shop at 6.30 jam. Wellington Repertory Theatre. A representative of the Hutt News who saw the opening performance of “Accent on Youth” by the Wellington Repertory Theatre on Saturday night considered that neither the play nor tiie performance was up to the society’s usual high 'Standard. The men of the cast did splendid work, but the women were weak. As for the play, much of the dialogue seemed to call for an American cast. The mounting and lighting were particularly good. Successful Concerts The concerts arranged hy'Mrs. I’. Dowse at the Waterloo School Assembly Hall last week were a great success. Very enjoyable programmes were presented, and there was a large audience each night. The proceeds will be divided between the school and the Waterloo sub-branch of the. Plunket; Society. Sweets were sold by members of the Waterloo Plunket Society Mothers’ Club on behalf of the purchase of a car for the Plunket. Society." Chamber of Commerce Rules The Lower Hutt Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at a meeting held last week, decided to amend two rules. The first made it possible to retain on the advisory body tiie immediate past president. The second made it legal for ballot papers to be posted to the secretary, provided they were received by him one clear day before the annual meet ing. A Correction. Messrs W. Hall, Ltd., desire us to correct a report in last week’s Hutt News concerning a call made by a passer-by for the Fire. Brigade to what, was actually routine burning of shavings in the factory,' sparks and smoke issuing from the chimney giving the impression that it was on fire.

Erection of Bus Shelter. Good progress is being made with the erection of a bus shelter in Margaret Street. Reduction in Wages Tax. The Commissioner of Taxes draws the attention of employers to the notice appearing in to-day’s issue regarding the date from which the reduction in the rate ol' wages-tax takes effect. Doubt appears to exist in this connection and the Commissioner advises that the reduction in the rate from 2/6 in the £ to 2/in the £ operates after May 12th and applies to salaries and wages derived only in respect of any period after that date. All salaries and wages derived for any period up to and including May 12th, 1946, are subject to the existing rate of 2/6 in the £. i Slum Clearance “To-day we are looking for areas in Wellington where we can build flats when the slums are pulled down,” said Hon. R. Semple in an address in Lower Hutt. “Tiie matter Ms one for co-operation between the Government and the Wellington City Council. It is thought to he only fair that the Government Should share the cost.” Death Penalty Wanted The Federation of Justices Associations, at its annual conference at Invercargill, decided to press l'or the reinstatement of the death penalty for murder. Better than Bulldozer. “It will make the bulldozer look as silly as the bulldozer made the wheelbarrow look,”. said Hon. R. •Semple, Minister of Works in Lower Hutt, in referring to new machinery purchased by the Government to deal with silt at the mouths of rivers. Fined for Disorderly Conduct. In the Magistrate’s Court, Lower Hutt, before Mr. J. Stonehouse, J.P., Joe Poi (27) pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct while drunk, and was fined £o. It was stated that he attempted to force his attentions on a young woman on a train and offered to fight a guard to whom slije complained. SeniorSergeant ,'Sugrue conducted the case for the police. “Waltzing Matilda.” The song “Waltzing Matilda” is generally looked upon as almost the Rational Anthem of Australia. When it was called for at the Lower Hutt Rotary Club’s luncheon to the Australian cricketers last week members were surprised to find that most of the visitors were apparently not very familiar with it. However, one of the cricketers mounted a form and sang the rollicking: song lustily, to the delight of the audience. Wilding Shield. There will be no more matches for the Wilding Shield (held by the Hutt Valley Association) this season, according to a decision made by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. Resignation of Cemetery Board The resignation of members of 'the Taita Cemetery Board, which was decided on at the last meeting, took effect as from Saturday last. A meeting of the local bodies concerned will probably be held shortly to go into the matter of control. Music by Rand. The Lower Hutt Municipal Band will render a programme of music in Riddiford Park next Sunday. The Soldier Scored. Right Hon. W. Nash, Minister-of Finance, told an amusing story at tiie last meeting of the Lower Hutt Chamber of Commerce. It was of a returned serviceman- who boarded a tram when in a .“merry” and talkative state. All at once a woman passenger turned to him and said, “Soldier, you’re drunk. The soldier looked at her and remarked, “Lady, you’re ,ugly.” After the tram had gone some distance the woman said, “Soldier, you’re very drunk,’ to which the soldier retaliated, “Lady, you’re very ugly.” Honours of the verbal encounter went to the serviceman, for as he got off the tram a little further on he remarked, "Lady, I’ll be sober tomorrow.”