Local and General News

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 47, 28 May 1947, Page 7

Local and General News

North Island Motor Union The annual meeting of tbe North Island Motor Union will be held at Rotortta from August 14 to 16. Town Hall Seats Damaged The Mayor of Auckland referred last week to damage done to chairs in the Town Hall by excited patrons of wrestling matches. Learn to Swim Under the learn-to-swim scheme conducted in the Wellington Education Board's area last season 071 children were taught in tbe Hull Valley. Sorting Out Clothing Members of women's organisations have bad a busy time sorting out and packing the £20,000 worth of clothing collected in the recent CORSO drive in tbe Hutt Valley. Tbe clothing is stored in tbe basement of the King George Theatre. "Quiet Week-end" Owing to its great success elsewhere the screening of the popular English film "Quiet Week-end" in Lower Hutt has been delayed, but arrangements have now been made for it to be shown at the King C.eorge Theatre for a week's season, commencing on Friday. July 18.

.Deaths of Kx-servicemen

A report by Mr. A. Monigatti. presidenl of the Hutt Valley Returned Services Association, states that 11 ex-servicemen died during the year and were buried at the Taita servicemen's cemetery. Eijcbt headstones, at a cost of £BS. were paid for during the year.

Gas or Electricity At the last meeting of the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Board a recommendation by Mr. W. Toomath that electric lighting be installed in the showroom and board room of the Board was tabled for consideration. Tbe rooms have hitherto been illuminated by gas.

Nearly 40 Resignations

"Today my secretary typed 29 resignations, and there are eight or nine more to do," said Mr. J. W. Andrews at the annual meeting of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, when speaking of his withdrawal from local bodies consequent on his appointment to tbe Local Government Commission.

Increase in Wages Increases of 5/- to £1 a week under a new award for council drivers of Lower Hutt City and Patone Borough are reported by the secretary of the Wellington Drivers' Union. Mr. T. Magee. The award will become operative from May 21, for a term of one year, with tbe wage clauses retrospective to November 27, 104 6. The award provides a 40-hour week and an eight-hour day.

Plea of Guilty When he appeared in the Magistrate's Court at Lower Hutt, before Mr. H. G. Thompson, S.M., a nine-teen-year-old soldier, Eric fan Robinson, pleaded guilty to charges of converting a car valued at £llOO. the property of the Canadian Government: the theft of tools valued at £3B/19/7 from Trentham military camp, and the theft of clothing valued at £l2/8/3. He was convicted on all charges and remanded till June 4 for sentence.

Hutt Intermediate School The Wellington Education Board, at its last meeting, decided to request the Education Department to give an assurance that the new Hutt Intermediate School would be completed and ready for occupation by the commencement of the next school year. The Education Department advised that the Public Works Department did not expect to complete the school before next October. The chairman of the Education Board. Mr. N. U. Seddon, said he had been in formed that the date of completion might be considerably later.

Tribute to Chamber Officers

'•I have had what well may prove to be of inestimable benefit to me in my year of olfice —a close association, as a member of the executive, with past presidents of undoubted ability, and an even closer contact with the secretary of the Chamber (Mr. L. V. Phillips), around whow abl*> organising capabilities tho whole of the Chamber's iietivitiecs revolv" in ever-widening circles but in ever stabilised movements," said Mr. N T. Gillespie, the new president of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, at the annual meeting last week.

Less Need of Assistance

The report of the assistance committee, presented at the annual meeting of the Hutt Valley Returned Services Association last week, stated: "The call on the funds has not been so heavy as in previous >eam; the need has not been so great. However, when a deserving case comes along we have been as liberal as was possible and have helped servicemen over a rough patch We have used the canteen fund up to our quota, more in particular to widows of recentlybereaved servicemen. The grounds improvement fund has been administered to widows and servicemen with a 40 per cent, or more disability, and we feel sure that this fund has be«n very beneficial to those persons who are unable to undertake the heavy work themselves."

Mayor*** Honorarium At a special meeting of the Lower Hint City Council on Monday it was decided to increase the Mayor's honorarium for the ennuing year to £SOO "Carmen" Next Year It is likely that tbe opera "Carmen" will be presented by the New Zealand National Orchestra and a company of singers next year. Broadcasting Hours Increased Owing to the improvement in the ,-leciric power position broadcasting hours will be increased as follows from June I: 7to 8.10 a.m., 9to 11 a.m.. 1.30 to 4 p.m., and 6.30 to in.:;(i p.m. School*- May be Closed A Wanganui paper states that if tiie Wanganui Education Board cannot secure tne services of more retired or married teachers some schools will be understaffed and others may have to close. King's Birthday Football Teatps representing Hutt and Wellington will meet in a Rugby football match at Lower Hutt next Saturuay. On Monday, King's Birthday, Wellington celts will play Manawatu colts in the Hutt Valley.

Eire Calls Tbe Lower Hutt Eire Brigade received three calls during the week. Property was involved in only one cose, damage to stock and part of the building being caused by an outbreak of lire at John Grant's factory in Gracefleld Road. . -

Commission Sworn In Members of the Local Government Commission, including Mr. J. W. Andrews. Mayor of Lower Hutt, were sworn in last week by the Chief Justice. Sir Humphrey O'Lear}*. They were welcomed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry,

.Aria Contest Prize Increased The Sydney Sun's prize for the aria contest at Sydney Eisteddfod has been increased. The winner thig year will get £3OO, second £IOO, and third £SO, and there will be five consolation prizes of £lO each. The age limit for competitors is 35.

Radio Licences

The number of radio licences issued this year was 418,029, compared with 395.130 last year, Wellington leads with 144,846, Auckland 140,430. Canterbury 74.957. Otago 57,796. Amateur licences issued tofal 1260, compared with 84 5 the previous year.

Fined and Licence Cancelled Charged with having been in a state of intoxication while in cliarge of a motor-car, James Philip Nicholas (56), builder, was fined £ls by Mr. H, G. Thompson. 3.M.. in the Magistrate's Court at Lower Hutt. His driving licence was cancelled for one year.

Marriage Registry Ofllce At the last meeting of the Petone Borough Council the question of the establishment of a marriage registry office in Lower H.vtt was referred to the joint committee or the Petone Borough Council and Lower Hutt City Council.

Successful Library Conference Mrs. J. Williams, Lower Hutt city librarian, states that the conference of the New Zealand Library Association, held in Christchurch last week, was one of the most successful and enjoyable ever held in New Zealand. The addresses and discussions should result in considerable advances in the library service.

Plants for Spring Sia.';on According to the report of the superintendent of reserves to the Lower Hutt City Council spring bedding has commenced and the following plants have fcoft the nursery:— Riddiford Park. 4 000 plants, 643 tulips, 1000 anemones and 3000 ranunculus; State Fire Insurance frontage, llrtn plants; Wainui-o-Mata Domain, Board. 1300 plants: Boy Scouts. ifiOO plants, and Girl Guides ,200 plants.

Visit to Fo»d Factory

About 2000 people spent a very interesting hour inspecting the Ford motor works on Thursday evening. Free transport was provided from all parts of the Hutt Valley and Wellington. The tour was arranged to give men an idea of the working conditions at the factory. As a result many applied Tor positions. About 40 employees were stationed at points throughout the plant in direct the visitors, who expressed great interest in all that, they saw.

Breach of Building Modulations in the Magistrate's Court at Lower Hutt. before Mr. H. J. Thompson, S.M.. J. M. Ryan, was fined £3O for a breach of the, building regulations. It was staled that defendant applied for authority to erect a block of three temporary shops in High Street, Lower Hutt. The Building Controller granted him a permit to do this work on the understanding that the shops were erected in used materials. The building was now nearly completed and one shop was in use. New materials, however, including asbestos sheeting and Pinex, had been used. For the defendant it was stated that the use of the new material was the result of a misunderstanding, as His firm dealt In that material and available secottdI hand material coulu have been used.