GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 22 December 1938, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

“The Mail” will not be published on Monday next. 26th December, or on Monday. 2nd January. Hotel Tariffs Although action has not yet been taken in Wellington as in Auckland where is is reported that hotel tariffs for board and residence have been increased because of the new hotelworkers’ award, a prominent hotel proprietor stated yesterday that increases must be made (reports “The Post”). When the 40-hour week for hotel workers was introduced, he said, tariffs had been increased by 10 per cent., but that increase was from the depression level and there was actually no increase over normal times. Costs had gone up on all sides and the hotelkeepers could not continue on present tariffs. Apart from increased wages costs the extra that had to be paid for commodities and the big increase in laundry charges had combined to destroy a safe operating margin. The increases reported from Auckland are for daily tariff rates and vary from sto 7£ per cent. The award that increased wages for hotel workers came into operation on sth December. New Zealand Money Refused A former Wellington resident, now living in South Australia, who arrived by the Wanganella this week, said he received rather a surprise when he arrived in Sydney last Thursday morning and endeavoured to change a couple of New Zealand bank-notes (states ‘The Post”). He tried at the bar of one of the big hotels first, he said, but there they laughed at him and told him that they were not prepared to change New Zealand notes or silver. Next he went to a bank, and there he found that similar instructions had been given. One of the bank officials suggested that he try the New Zealand Government Tourist Office or a wellknown travel and tourist agency but he did not bother because he was coming on to New Zealand. He explained that the reason for the timidity in Sydney was the experience that the people had had under the Lang Government. There was no doubt that the New Zealand Government’s import regulations had given rise to concern in Australia as to New Zealand’s stability. Family’s School Success A member of the staff of the Wanganui telegraph office, Mr D. Greig. is receiving many congratulations on the school record achieved by members of his family. In previous years two daughters, Joan and Mary, were each gold medallists and dux of St. Mary’s Convent School, Grey street, Wanganui, and a third daughter, Marie, has repeated this performance, and is gold medallist and dux for 1938. Nelson to Wellington by boat As a large supply of cherries which is being picked this week will not get to Auckland in time for the Christmas market if the customary boat service is eni ployed, the use of the air service has been decided upon. Casual Hotel Meals As a result of the decision of Auckland licensed hotel proprietors to cover recently increased staff wages by a higher daily tariff, the prices for casual meals at most of those hotels which cater for this trade have also been advanced (states the "Herald”). A decision in other cases is expected in the next few days. The increase lor itineh and dinner has been fixed at 6d a neid and for bed and breakfast Is, although one hotel is adhering to the former dinner price while increasing the other meal charges. A Sportsman’s Conscience It is not only the Government that receives conscience money from people who have defrauded it. The North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has just received from London an English Treasury note for £1 (worth £1 4s lOd in New Zealand) which was sent to the secretary (Mr G. L. Pomfret-Dodds) with the following note: “The sender of this brief note spent four weeks in New Zealand during May and June this year. One day he was out rabbit-shooting on the Canterbury plains, when some quail got up. and he shot two of them. As he is a Christian and has a conscience, he feels that he ought to make reparation for his breaking of the law, and he herewith encloses a one pound (£1) Treasury note to make amends, and would beg to sign himself. “For Conscience’ Sake.” Mr Pomfret-Dodd said that he could not recall a similar remittance to the society.

Last War’s Grim Legacy “I have, 20 years after the Great War, still on the books of my Ministry 420,000 war pensioners, and besides them about 500,000 dependants,” said the British Minister of Pensions, Mr H. Ramsbotham, in a recent speech. "There are on any day in the year about 2000 patients in my hospitals, and I wish that some of those wh*» after the danger of the recent crisis has passed, glibly demand firmer stands and stronger measures would spend a few days going round those hospitals and seeing for themselves the wreckage that still remains from a war fought nearly a quarter oi a century ago. I am still paying out in pensions about £39,000,000 a year, and the total expenditure on war pensions from 1914 to 31st March, 1938, amounts to £1,275,000.000, or double the whole of the National Debt before the war.”

Cherries by Air Aeroplanes are now used to carry all kinds of unusual freights and one of these will be a consignment of a minimum of 100 cases of cherries, which will be finown from Blenheim to Wellington tn Friday by a Union Airways monoplane, in order that it may reach Auckland in time for the Christmas market (states the “N.Z. Herald”). Cherries from the South Island for Auckland and other northern markets are usually shipped from Blenheim

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Give Undies this Christmas. 2-pce. Sets packed in fancy box. 12/6. Quality Locknit Bloomers in Christmas pack, 2/11. Art Silk Vests in gift box, 3/6. At McKay’s.*

Christmas Eve shopping to-morrow night until 10 p.m. Every department full of useful and novel gifts.—Trathen’s/

Ladies’ Satin Dressing Gowns, beautifully embroidered. Packed in Christmas gift box, 13/11 at McKay’s.*

Duntroon Graduates The following staff cadets, on gradu- | ation from the Royal Military College lof Australia at Duntroon. have been j [ given the rank of lieutenant in the j New Zealand Military Forces: R. de , la Cour. R. B. Dawson, W. C. T. Foley, j M. T. S. Dew, R. B. Symon. J. Burns. A. J. Young. D. Curtis. I. A. Murray j and F. N. Armstrong. “Mosquitoes and the Holidays” “The best way to deal with mosqui- ! toes and sandflies is to exclude them from your tent with netting, and when in the open to use the formula used by members of the Entomological Section of the British Museum when collecting specimens in tropical countries.” says the summer precautions statement of the Canterbury Medical Officer of Health. Dr. T. Fletcher Telford. The formula is for a mixture of equal parts j of oil of citronella and oil of eucalyptus, to which two drops of liquid carbolic acid are added. This, smeared on ' the hands and face, will keep them j away, but may require occasional re- i newal. Care should be taken not to i let this mixture get into the margins ; of the eyes,” Dr. Telford said. Roads to Mount Cook Improved Motorists irtending to make trips to I Mount Cook or Queenstown during the j holiday period will be interested to j learn that the roads to the Hermitage | and to Queenstown, both by way of Mount Cook and the Lindis, have beer, j greatly improved. Although accomn o- j dation at many holiday resorts is re- : ported to be taxed to the utmost this does not apply to the Hernvt«.gi* and I the tourist hotels at Queenstown where j there is still ample acc.mirmuation ; available at all rates for th*» Christ »*as and New Year holiday season Marlborough Crops A vast change in the position of 1 crops in Marlborough has taken place j during vhe past month, and instead of j rain being needed—as it was, urgently, then —farmers are praying for a spell of fine weather to enable them to benefit from the increased yields that promised when the drought conditions broke (states the “Express”). During the past four weeks there has been little bright sunshine to speak of, and in that period no less than s.2oins of rain has fallen. The stage has been reached where ‘he moisture has ceased to be beneficial and is now causing damage : to crops in heavy head. A further pro- j blem cofnronting farmers in the Awatere district has come in the form of a plague of caterpillars, which are swarming through the crops of barley and oats. The grubs have caused much damage by nipping off the heads of the grain Road Patrol and Signposting The association’s road patrol officer recently completed a year’s service with us, and the results have thoroughly justified the step taken. He has enrolled over 450 members since his appointment. and no doubt the service given has been responsible for the securing of many of the other new members, states the half yearly report of the Automobile Association (Nelson). One of the patrol’s principal works has been the overhauling of the district signposting. This has proceeded just as fast as circumstances permitted, and the great improvement is obvious. There is of course still much to be done, but members and vistors will find no difficulty in getting about the district. The expenditure on this item alone for the past eight months has been over £2OO. Travel Safely One of the main planks in the work | of automobile associations is to promote safety on the roads, and with the grealty Increasing amount of traffic about, and the approach of the holiday and touring season, the executive makes a strong appeal to all members to exercise care on the roads (states the half yearly report of the Nelson Automobile Associaiton). A little consideration to the other fellow costs nothing, and may save an accident. It is little satisfaction to be able to blame the other driver after an accident—it is far better to avoid it. Most of our members now carry our badge, and the executive '*ants the badge to be the emblem of the careful and considerate driver. All associations co-operate with the Forestry Department in the matter of fire prevention, and care of bush reserves, and the executive would also appeal to members to exercise all possible care in the matter of picnic fires and to leave picnic spots tidy. Roads and Bridges The splendid work of the past few years in road and bridge improvements has continued, and there is little trouble that the motorist can get into nowadays on the principal roads in the district, comments the half-yearly report of the Automobile Association (Nelson). Mileage Gauge Test The Main Highways Board has just granted permission to set up mileage posts on the Appleby main road, and the ! necessary posts will shortly be in posi- i tion (states the half-yearly report of the Automobile Association (Nelson). This will enable members to have the same facility as is available in other districts. It is probably unnecessary to remind members that the distance is a speedometer test, and not a speed test area. Clothing for Camping “Most people take sufficient light clothing to camp with them, and as is well known, white and light shades are the coolest,” says the summer holiday precautions statement of the Medical Officer for Health, Dr. T. Fletcher Telford (records "The Press”). “The clothing should be sufficient to keep the body reasonably warm when at rest. Tf violent exercise has been undertaken, with the production of much perspiration, or if the wearing apparel has been soaked by rain when in use. keep moving, so as to keep warm until such time as you can reach vour camp and change into fresh, dry clothing. It is always advisable when proceeding by car to wear some warm garment next the skin, as neglect to do so is often punished by an attack of neuritis in that part of the body most exposed to draught. If neuritis results through neglect in this respect, it may bother you for a matter of two or three weeks, and so completely ruin your holiday.”

3-piece Sets in quality Locknit. comprising slip, vest and panties. Sky. Peach and Cream. Packed in gift box 15/6 at McKay’s/

To-morrow until 10 p.m., Christmas Eve shopping Tip top ice creams, fruit salads, etc., Trathen's lea rooms *

At McKay’s.—Ladies’ Swim Suits In all the popular shades. Newest styles and colours. Sizes S.W. to O.S. 12/6 to 37/6/