LOCAL AND GENERAL

Northern Advocate, 23 November 1935, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Health of Children. A most successful dance was held at Kamo on Tuesday evening in aid of the children’s health campaign funds. The sum' of £25 4/2 was raised, with several other donations promised and still to come.

Warkworth School Ground. With further reference to his representations regarding the need for resurfacing the grounds at the Warkworth School, Mr A. J. Murdoch, M.P., today received advice from the Minister of Education that he had approved of a grant to enable the work to be carried out. Native Fined. A native. Brown Davis, was fined 10/- and costs 10/- at the Whangarei Police Court this morning on a charge of behaving in a disorderly manner while drunk in Cameron Street last night. Senior-Sergeant Finch said that at 7.15 p.m. Davis had become involved in an argument and had knocked a man down. He had spent the night in the cells. The magistrate, Mr G. N. Morris gave Davis two weeks to find the fine. i

Did The Mayor Sleep? In his opening remarks at the Town Hall last evening, the Mayor, Mr W. Jones, who presided, appealed for a fair and impartial hearing for M> Murdoch. “As Mayor of the town, I am proud of the way you received Mr Coates (exclamations of surprise and laughter). “It reflects a great deal,” the Mayor went on. “Go on. You went to sleep,” someone called, amid" furmerriment. During the meeting the Mayor several times was reminded of this lapse. •

Mining Posers. A questioner who described himself as a potential supporter of the National Government was very keen to learn from Mr A. J. Murdoch last night why. when Minister of Mines, he had refused to give assistance in providing larger orders for the Hikurangi mines, and so save that district from destitution. Mr Murdoch said he had been responsible for a Government advance of £7,000 to one of the Hikurangi mines. The Railways Department made its own arrangements and adjustments for coal supplies, which, except in small measure, could not be interfered with by members of Pai'liament. In the main, Hikurangi coal was used on the northern sector of line. Someone else wanted to know why Mr Murdoch’s leader had appointed him Minister of Mines, when he had never seen one. Mr Murdoch said that in his early days he had lived alongside mines at Kawakawa and Hikurangi, and well knew what the custom of chalking boots meant.

Henry Wilson’s sale of Benjamin’s Stock, Newmarket, “kicked off” with great enthusiasm, the genuineness of the huge reductions resulting in a steady stream of customers all day long. The firm announces that there will be no “let-up” in bargain-giving, every nerve being strained to turn the goods into cash. Low price, consistent with quality is the keynote of these wonderful series of sales.

Ghee Market. In answer to Mr J. F. S. Briggs, Mr Murdoch, M.P., at his meeting last night stated that Professor Riddet was at present in India investigating the possibilities for New Zealand participating in the ghee trade. Hitherto, there had been the belief that commercial ghee was so adulterated that New Zealand would not be able to compete.

Suppliers’ Vote. “Why did you deprive dairy suppliers of the privilege of the vote in board elections?” Mr Murdoch was asked at the Town Hall last night. Mr Murdoch said that except for Mr Stallworthy, who, coming from the Garden of Eden should know something of cows, no member of Parliament had opposed this section of the bill in committee. If 51 per cent, of dairy farmers wanted a reversion to the old system, he would welcome it.

The Farmer And Labour.

“There is not a farmer among the Labour members of Parliament” said Mr A, J. Murdoch at the Whangarei Town Hall last night “and yet they are making valiant efforts With the guaranteed prices bait to entice the farmers to come in with, them,” At question time, a questioner wanted to know why Mr Coates or Mr Forbes had not accepted the challenge issued by Mr Savage to debate guaranteed prices with them in the Wellington Town Hall. Mr Murdoch: “Evidently I’m too small fry; they didn’t challenge me. Today, Mr Savage would be glad to get out of guaranteed prices. (Cries of dissent). He is right out against Mr Langstone’s idea of raising the exchange 250 per cent. Mr Savage well knows that the scheme won’t work.”