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Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 281, 25 October 1934, Page 6

The Employment of a first rank English economist to investigate New Zealand affairs and report to the I ar men? Union was advocated by Mr R. O Montgomerie at yesterday s meeting of the Wanganui .P™Y f n “ f ol nf the union, on behalf or the ivaKa tahi branch. He crystalised his suggestions in terms of a remit, vhich, how ever, was lost. In the House of Representatives yesterday, the Labour Bids Committee recommended that the Clerk of Works Institute Bill be not allowed to proceed this session. The chairman of the committee (Mr S. G. Smith) said that, while the committee had every sympathy with the desire of clerks of works to improve their status, it felt that the Bill went too far under existing conditions. The report was tabled. During evidence in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North this morning, a motor engineer who had, b< r?, n called as a witness stated that the average reaction of a motorist to tne necessity for applying the brakes in an emergency was one or one and a nan seconds. “Are they as bad as that in Palmerston North?” asked His Honour Mr Justice Blair amidst laughter, tie estimated that if a motorist travelling at 30 miles an hour stopped in 1J teet after applying good four-wheel brakes, his mental reaction occupied about a quarter of a second. The Acting-Mayor of Dunedin, Mr J. J. Marlow, stated yesterday that the Government has definitely decided that it cannot see its way to assist in the proposal to establish a Vice-Regal residence at the home of Sir John Roberts. The property was a gift to the City Corporation by the family of Sir John for use as a Vice-Regal residence, or, failing the council being able to utilise it for that purpose, for such other civic or public purpose as it might determine, the only condition being that the name “Littlebourn House” shall be retained. The council subsequently requested the Government to furnish the house as a Vice-Regal residence, and. that request having been declined, some other use will have to be found for the property.

Street decorations in honour of the Duke of Gloucester’s visit to Sydney will cost about £2OOO.

Discussion at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union indicated that sheep and wool stealing is giving rise to concern in this district. Two cases of thefts of wool from sheds close to main roads were reported. A special committee was appointed to wait on a committee which had been set up some two years ago to offer a monetary reward for evidence which would lead to convictions. Information was received at Dunedin yesterday that the Wyatt Earp, with Lincoln Ellsworth and his pilot, Bernt Balchen on board, reached Deception Island some days ago. Preparations are now going forward for the spectacular, flight across Antarctica to the Bay of Whales in the monoplane Polar Star, and as soon as the preliminary arrangements have been completed the aviators will set forth on their daring enterprise.

Statements that he had been told of magpies attacking a full-grown cockpheasant were made at last evening’s meeting of the Palmerston North Committee of the Wellington Acclimatisation Spciety by Mr D. A. Scott, in a discussion upon the destructiveness of magpies. He said also that he had seen two magpies attacking a sparrow hawk, a type of hawk that sent all other bird life fluttering under cover. The magpies, he added, were “game enough for anything.” Good progress is being made with the laying out of the memorial garden to the late Mr J. McCombs, M.P., in Woolston Park, near Christchurch. The garden will be planted with shrubs, flowers and native trees. A path Bft wide will run down the centre leading to a series of stone steps, which will give access to the park. Another path will lead to Richardson Terrace. The plan also provides for the erection of a stone memorial tablet. A stone wall will surround the garden.

The minutes of a meeting of the Palmerston North City Council reserves committee held yesterday will be headed by the announcement that the meeting took place in Bledisloe Park, at 3 p.m., there being a full attendance. The commmittee had two small matters to dispose of and instead of waiting until the next ordinary meeting they were considered in the course of the tour of inspection of reserves. The meeting was held at the bridge at the rear of the park; the proceedings were brief, but the surroundings delightful. The condition of the sawmilling industry throughout New Zealand continues to show improvement, according to a statement yesterday by Mr Arthur Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association. The export trade to Australia of timber revealed a steady increase. A gratifying feature of the export trade was the fact that repeat orders for New Zealand timbers were coming to hand from the United Kingdom. A shipment of 15,000 super feet of rimu would leave Wellington for England early next month, the timber being from the Karamea. A further order for 10,000 feet had just been booked and was now being cut and dried at Hokitika. . The suggestion by Mr C. H. Moore that the use of white paper is largely responsible for the prevalence of eye trouble among children is supported by a parent at New Plymouth. He told a reporter that when his small daughter had her eyes tested the optician had said all that was wrong was eye-strain. The father had noticed that the child began to complain of her eyes soon after the term commenced, and that they became worse as the term progressed. Her sight became apparently normal during school holidays, only to weaken again after she resumed her lessons. She had told him that when using white paper her eyes became sore before she reached the bottom of the first page. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr F. Lye, asked the Minister in charge of the Police Department if he was able to acquaint the House of the relief likely to be granted by the Government to the widow and children of the late Constable Heeps, of Morrinsville, who was shot by a Maori who was being questioned by him. Hon. J. G. Cobbe replied that the Government deeply regretted the occurrence and sympathetic consideration would be given to the question of granting financial assistance to Constable Heeps’s widow and family. It was not possible at present to state the measure of assistance, but members could rest assured that the case would be treated no less generously than similar caSes in the past. While sitting on the rail of a ferry steamer from Devonport to Auckland a young woman overbalanced and fell into the harbour as the vessel was nearing Queen’s wharf. A young man, Mr G. J. Walker, dived to the woman’s rescue and both were later hauled aboard. When the young man jumped overboard the speed of the boat had carried it some distance from the woman. Captain W. Gauk, who was in charge of the ferry, at once reversed the engines and manoeuvred the vessel towards the couple. The woman was floating calmly when Mr Walker reached her. A lifebuoy was thrown to them, and they were hauled aboard. Neither seemed to be suffering any ill effects from the unexpected dip in The harbour.

Specimens of a special florin to commemorate the Melbourne Centenary have reached the Dominion. An interesting feature of the head or obverse design of the coin is that Australia has discarded Latin inscriptions and has adopted the title “George V, King Emperor,” in English, as shown on the New Zealand coins in accordance with the British policy of adopting a uniform or standardised obverse or “head” design and inscription for all coins circulating in British countries overseas, including India. In adopting the standardised design and abolishing Latin, Australia, for the first time, has dropped the titles D.G. and F.D. The reverse or “tail” design, which is by Kruger Gray, shows a nude youth mounted on a charger and holding aloft a flaming torch. The inscription is ‘ ‘Centenary Victoria-Melbourne, 1934-35. Florin.” Only a limited number of these florins are to be issued.