Local and General News

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 22, 30 October 1946, Page 7

Local and General News

Purchase of Health Stamps.

The Hutt River Board decided at. its last meeting to purchase £5 worth of the new health stamps.

New Branch of Bank. A branch of the Bank of New South Wales has been opened in Jackson Street, J’etone.

Fire Brigade. Only one call, a justifiable false alarm, was received by the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade during the past week.

Presbyterian Assembly

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealaud opened at Wanganui yesterday. Over 250 delegates are present.

Cathedral Appeal Closing. The citizens’ appeal for the proposed Wellington Cathedral is now in its final week. Some large donations are being received in the closing stages of the campaign.

Social Security Applicants. The extent of the social security business may be realised by the fact that 1500 applicants (accompanied by between 300 and 400 children) were dealt with in one day at the Lower Hutt branch recently.

Bag Snatching in Theatres. A small-scale epidemic of bag snatching in theatres is reported in Auckland. In most cases the bags have been emptied while the owner was absorbed in a film. One woman lost £25.

Parking Regulations. The enforcement of parking regulations in High Street is being carried out by traffic officers of the Lower Hutt City Council. It was stated at a recent meeting that, there has been a remarkable improvement in conditions lately.

Shortage of Labour. “Some firms have had to ignore the economic position and put in expensive machinery because of the shortage of female labour,” said Mr. S. Hough at the last meeting of the executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Overheard at Mr. Nash’s Meeting. Some of the women members of the audience at Mr. Nash’s meeting in the Horticultural Hall last week got very annoyed with interjectors. One was heard to remark to one of the most persistent interrupters: “Oil. shut up. I could dong you one.” Permission Not Necessary. When an interjector at Naenae stated that it would be necessary to get the permission of the Westmin- 1 ster Parliament to the abolishment of the Legislative Council in New Zealand, Mr. J. E. F. Vogel, National Party candidate, stated that legal opinion was that permission was not necessary. A lawyer in the audience confirmed Mr. Vogel’s assertion.

School Orchestra Visits Palmerston.

The Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College’s orchestra, under the direction of Mr. R. E. McLay, participated in a music festival at Palmerston North recently. At the close of the concert the party, which numbered 70, with four teachers, was congratulated on its very fine performance by the Mayor of Palmerston North. ' ,

Industrial Relations.

“Improvement in industrial relations is a personal matter,” said the chairman, Mr. R. H. Webster, at a meeting of the executive of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The Chamber can only make suggestions. It is for the employers and employees in each individual firm to endeavour to bring about a happy industrial relationship."

Liable to Prosecution

It was reported at the last meeting of the Hutt River Board that unauthorised persons had removed stones, willows, and soil from the river near Belmont. The secretary stated that the offenders were not residents of Belmont. It was decided to point out tha£ anyone removing stones, willows, or soil without the permission of the Board was liable to prosecution.

Bos Murphy’s Injury. Bos Murphy had five stitches Inserted in the cut above his eye' received in his bout with J. Kirkham. It may be several weeks before he is ready to take the ring' again. Murphy’s injury was not the result of a blow. Kirkham had ducked under Murphy’s guard. In rising his head hit Murphy’s. Negotiations have been opened for an open-air boxing contest at Temuka on December 14th between Murphy and Cliff Ilanham for a purse of £SOO.

Neighbours’ Quarrel. A neighbours’ quarrel was ventilated in the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt last week, when Charles Frederick Harrison, tramwayman (46), and Cecil Astly Martin, iabourer (52), both of Belmont, were charged with fighting in a public place. Both pleaded not guilty and claimed that they had acted either in self-defence or under great provocation. The Magistrate, Mr. H. G-. Thompson, commenting that the light seemed to be the culmination of a long feud, convicted and discharged Martin, who received a broken rib and bruises in the fight. Harrison, who received no injuries, was convicted and fined £l*

Voting at Elections.

The votes cast at the last two

general elections were: —Labour, 528,290 in 1938, 447,914 in 1943; National, 381,081 in 1938, 403,010 in 1943; Democratic Independents, 37,022 in 1938, 50,309 in 1943.

Hutt Valley Colours, At a meeting of the management committee of the Hutt Valley Cricket Association ii was stated that future Hurl Valley teams will take the field in t.iio district’s official representative colours of gree n and gold. Political Addresses. Mr. T. F. Simpson, LL.M., ‘'the Revolutionary Socialist” candidate for Hutt electorate; will address electors at Naenae Co-operative Hall on Tuesday next, and at Waterloo School on Wednesday, at 8 p.m.

National Orchestra Assembled.

Members of the new National Symphony Orchestra assembled in Wellington last Thursday, and were addressed by Mr. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, and Professor J. Shelley, director of the National Broadcasting Service.'

Issue of Election Writ,

It is considered possible that the general election writ will be issued about November 4th. Supplementary rolls will close at 6 p.m. on the day the writ is issued. Names are coming in steadily for the Hutt supplementary; roll.'

Amateur Operatic Societies. The Wellington Musical Comedy Company is to stage “The Firefly’

shortly, with Mr. Stan. Lawson as producer. The Auckland Light Opera Company has “Wild Violets,” which has not been done professionally in New Zealand, in rehearsal for early production.

Power Board Inspections During September the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board inspectors made 63 re-inspections, making a total to date of 2112. The test department handled* 1620 meters during the month.

Attendances at Zoo,

Auckland Zoo is very popular with the public. The gate receipts during the first half of the present financial year totalled £4358, an increase of £1291 on the takings for the same period last. year. There were 15,244 visitors during September, the gate receipts totalling £826.

Dreary Train Journey. A train that brought holidaymakers home on Monday night took just under.five hours to make the journey from Masterton to Lower Hutt. a distance of under 60 miles. “Trains were faster 40 years ago,” said a weary passenger.

Now Ramp at Petone. Work on {he construction of the proposed traffic ramp over the railway crossing at Petone o\or which there is a great volume of traffic, is expected to start next veur. At present a four line higi way. the Halt Road, crosses a triple-’.rack railway.

Profit Sharing Schemes.

“If the Civil Servants put up a scheme I would say good luck to them,” said Mr. J. E. F. Vogel, National Party candidate, at his meeting at Naenae, in reply to a questioner who asked what would be the position of the Public Service under the National Party’s proposed profit-sharing scheme. Pictures by School Pupils.

Much interest was taken by the public in the exhibition of pictures by pupils of the Hutt Valley High School and contributing primary schools, held in the Wellington Central Public Library. The work was of a high standard. The artists ranged in age from seven to nineteen' years.

Unusual Case. An unusual case was heard at the last sitting of the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt, when Bernard V. Tully was charged that, being the owner of a car, when informed of an offence alleged to have been committed by the driver of such car, he failed to give all the information requested by the traffic inspector. He was fined £3, with costs 10/-.

40-hour Week.

“Have you got a 40-hour week?” asked Mr. J. E. F. Vogel, National Party candidate, in reply to a questioner at his meeting at Naenae on Thursday night. “Men I have talked to say they work 48 hours a week, the extra eight hours at overtime •rates. The National Party will not interfere with the 40-hour week.”

travel Holidays for Ymirli. The Youth Travel Association invites enquiries from young men and women who are interested in travel holidays. The organisation has arranged for several parties to tour the Marlborough Sounds-Nelson area, and also the West Coast glaciers The party tours offer educational, social, and recreational advantages, and the cost is stated to be moderate.

Second-hand Dealer Fined

On a charge that, being a licensed second-hand dealer, he purchased certain articles and failed to enter details of the purchase in the prescribed book, William Cox was fined £2/10/-, with costs 10/-, by Mr. H. G. Thompson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Lower Hutt. On a further charge of transacting business on a Sunday he was ordered to pay £l, with costs 10/-.