NEWS OF THE WEEK

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4676, 1 February 1945, Page 2

NEWS OF THE WEEK

The weather lias been very warm during the last few days. Nor’-west-erly winds early in the week had a very drying effect on field and garden. In the Otago results of school ceitieatc examinations held in November and December Inst appears the names of Gonnor 11. f. Robinson, \V. 1., Ryan and R. E. Sainsbury. The auccessful candidates received their training at the Queenstown District High School. Queenstown cricket club challenged Ivingstou-Garston last Sunday for possession of the Burnett Shield and secured a comfortable win—l3B to 79 pts., Bowling.—A local ring challauged Arrow last evening for possession of the Coleby Bowl and won by the close margin of one after a very interesting game. The scores were 10-15 in favour of Queenstown. The respective teams were; Queenstown A. Tripp (s), P. Dougherty, A, H. Wheatley, Geo. Walsh; Arrowtown: J. Reed (s), E. Saunders, T. Johnston, J. Fletcher. An Arrow rink plays Omakau today for the Jolly Cup. Since Queenstown lost the cup it has changed hands twice. A very enjoyable dance was held in the Royal Cafe on Friday last. There was a good attendance and satisfying music was supplied by local and visiting talent. The extended floor space is appreciated by patrons. The management provided first-class refreshments. Adjutant H- lugersou has taken up the charge of the Salvation Army work in Queenstown and district in succession to Capt. R. Tong. Adjt. Ingcrson spent three years at Mataura prior to coming to Queenstown. The death was recently reported in Invercargill of Mr D. F. McDonald who once hold the position of headmaster of the Queenstown Public School. After leaving Queenstown the late Mr McDonald went to Canterbury. He was a native of Otuut.au. Being an ardent follower of sport and football especially, the deceased was a regular contributor to the columns of the Mail. His knowledge of football was invaluable in school circles as well as in the field. He also was a member of the Wakatipu Sub-Union and the Referees' Association. Shearing (s approaching completion in- most sheds in the district. Mackenzie and Sons cut out last week. A remit from Wairnrapa for cite forthcoming conference of hospital boards in Wellington asks that the Govermncnt be recommended to include a funeral benefit under the Sac- j ial Security Act.

The weekly Rotary luncheon was held on Tuesday last. The occasional address was given by Kotariau P. Anderson. Prom experiences gained first-hand in China, the speaker traced various phases of Chinese lift), especially in respect of slavery and faminestricken provinces. Ho also gave instances of the extreme gratitude of tho Chinese for kindnesses which they receive. One visitor, Kotariau N. Armour, was present. “If Now Zealand is to hold her place in industry, and if we are to achieve our main social objectives of a substantial increase in population and a higher standard of living, the general standard of craftsmanship in the manual trades must be improved, and tho supply of properly-trained tradesmen in many industries must be increased,” states tho report of tho Apprenticeship Commission. It adds that several trades which appear necessary to the national welfare, are, on recent trends, approaching extinction. ‘‘lt is an inescapable fact that an adequate supply of efficiently-trained artisans is essential to tho industrial future of the Dominion, ’ ’ the report continues. ‘‘A study of the present situation reveals that in many industries we have not oven maintained the relative position that prevailed in the past, and it is obvious that a special effort is required to restore our former position. ’ ’ A soldier who has returned from ser vice in the Middle East and who apparently intends to rehabilitate himself appeared as an appellant before the Southland Armed Forces Appeal Board recently. He appealed for the release of another soldier. Ho said that he intended to start on his own account as a builder and that he and the soldier for whom he was appealing had worked for tho same employer before the war. The other man, who was 45 years of ago, was a good carpenter and had been in camp for throe years. During that time he had not done anything. ‘‘He is a straight-out driver, isn’t ho?” asked Mr G. Reid (Crown representative). replied tho appellant, ‘but ho has never driven. He and another man are the only two carpenters at camp. The remainder are mechanics. These two men go along to the workshop in the morning and just sit there. Then they go home for tea.” The board recommended indefinite leave for the ‘‘driver.” Since its inception in Fcbruaiy, 11142, 47(511 houses have been made available to ex-servicemen of this war by the Rehabilitation Board, according to a report issued by tho Rehaoilitatiou Department on its activities up to December 31. The figure includes 2(511 State rental houses lot, 1598 homes bought and 560 erected with 100 per cent, logins. During December IS2 State houses and flats were allocated to ex-servicemen and eligible dependents. Tho number of applications pending from ex-servicemen for Stale houses increased from 41)92 to 510(5. The generous action of a South Otago resident has enabled one of the first returned soldiers to settle on the land in the Otago district to become the possessor of a fine sheep dog, the gift being made through the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association. The donor's letter to tho association road; ‘‘Wo understand that returned soldier settlers are having trouble in gettingsheep dogs. When our son, who was killed in Italy, went into camp he left behind a young sheep dog, for which there is no work to do here, and we would like to make a gift of this dog to a suitable soldier settler.” Tho association wrote expressing thanks for tho offer, and was able to arrange for the dog to be given to a soldier settlor who lost au arm in Italy. Tho old controversy whether Queenstown is in Southland or Otago cropped up at tho conference of delegates of South Island branches of the Home Servicemen's Association held «t Timaru, according to Mr ,1. A. Doig, junior delegate of the Invercargill branch to tho conference. Mr I)' Tig said that both the Invercargill and (he Dunedin branches had enrolled members- at Queenstown. The conference decided that Dunedin and Invercargill should come to some mutual arrangement about the enrolment of members at Queenstown, that when there were sufficient members a sub-branch be formed at Queenstown, and that i’ b" left to tho members of the sub-branch to decide whether they link up with Dunedin or Invercargill. The conference, Mr Doig said, also decided on the boundary between- Otago and Southland. Clinton was included in Otago and Kingston, Tnpauui, Kelso and Edlevalo wore included in Southland. In this issue appears an intimation from the Commissioner of Taxes that an instalment of the combined Social and National Security charge in income other than salary or • wages derived during the year ended •jl.st March, 1944, falls duo on Ist February and that on the same date a quarterly instalment-(5/-) of the Registration Foe becomes pnyabl o by male persons aged 20 years or over. In both cases, penalties will be incurred on amounts not paid within one month of the due date. Attention is also directed to the fact that employers who fail to deduct wngos-fax from all wages paid, including amounts paid to casual employees engaged on a time piece-work or contract basis, lender themselves liable to severe penalties.