GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Rubbish Service Exemption Sought A number of residents at the southern end of the city, in a letter to the Nelson City Council asked for exemption from the universal rubbish service which came into operation at the beginning of this month. Consideration of the request was held over pending a report by the sanitary inspector. It was stated that there were six signatures to the request. Selection of Prime Minister In future. Labour will go to the polls with a Parliamentary leader who has been approved by a majority of the party immediately before the election is held. It has been since disclosed that the motion passed on Monday at the Labour Party conference relating to the Prime Minister’s position when an unacceptable resolution is made by the caucus, contained a clause that the Prime Minister was to be chosen by the caucus during the final session

of Parliament. In effect, the resolution means that the right of the Prime Minister, following precedent, to select his own Cabinet, a procedure which has apparently been opposed in the Caucus of the Labour Party, has been established.

Grass Fire at Motueka Aerodrome

The Motueka Volunteer Fire Brigade were called out to a grass fire at the Motueka Aerodrome yesterday at midday. A spark from a traction engine

set fire to grass on the roadside in College street, and the fire swept through the fence to the aerodrome, where it

spread rapidly burning up the dry grass. No water being available on this side members of the Brigade and nearby residents beat out the flames with sacks. About 10 acres of grass were burnt at the aerodrome. Six New Locomotives The building of six powerful locomotives of the new Kb type is a job attracting a good deal of interest at the Hillside Railway Workshops at present (states the “Otago Daily Times”). They are the first of their class to be constructed in New Zealand, and an unusual feature of them is that the engine axles are fitted throughout with roller bearings. They are fully streamlined, and it is a credit to the Hillside shops that such a job can be handled there. The new locomotives are to be completed in time to cope with the main flow of centenary traffic. The first will be ready for the road next month, and it is expected that the remaining five will follow at the rate of one a month. The Kb locomotive is the K engine fitted with a booster engine, which gives it increased pulling power. Labour Party President The official report of the conference of the Labour Party disclosed neither the names of nor the votes recorded for the candidates who opposed Mr James Roberts in the ballot for the office of president. When the votes were counted for the first time, Mr Roberts, with 376, was declared elected His closest opponent was Mr J. G. Barclay, M.P, for Marsden, who polled 215. next on the list being Dr. D. G. McMillan. M.P. for Dunedin West, who recorded 98. Other candidates, and the votes cast in their favour, were Mr W. J. Lyons, M.P. for Waitemata. 17: Mr A. S. Richards. M.P. for Roskill, 4; Mr J. O’Brien. M.P. for Westland, 3; Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P. for Lyttelton, 3; Mr W. T. Anderton, M.P. for Eden, 1. Baths Close Next Saturday The Nelson City Council last evening adopted a report of the Baths Comittee which recommended th •* closing of the Municipal F .ths for the season next Saturday. 15th April. Abattoir Returns

Stock slaughtered at the Nelson Abattoir in the fortnight ended yesterday was as follows: Cattle, 120; calves, 14; sheep, 632; lambs, 78; pigs, 79; total, 923. One bullock and one sheep were condemned. That information was contained in the report of the manager, Mr J. Haigh, to Jast night’s meeting of the City Council.

Building Returns

The City Engineer (Mr J. G. Littlejohn) reported to last night’s meeting of the City Council that 29 building permits for work costing £7220 were issued during the month of March. Details of the permits were as follows: New dwellings, five (£4825); alterations to dwellings, fifteen (£621); alteration of business premises, nine (£1774).

The Grey Bar

With a depth on Wednesday at high water of only 16ft lOin. including the eight feet tidal rise, the Grey Bar has been adversely affected by the prolonged spell of dry weather on the West Coast (states the “Grey River Argus”). In addition, the low neap tides at present being experienced add to the difficulties of vessels working the port, but a three-foot improvement can be expected on next week’s spring tides. The velocity of the river at present is only slightly over one knot, and the river itself is abnormally low. A small ridge of material between the breakwater heads has caused the shoaling of the bar. Census of Men and Material An assurance from the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s suggestion for a national register of men and material in case of an emergency will have the earnest consideration of the Government was received by the association’s general committee yesterday. The committee decided at its last meeting to urge on the Government the need for such a rgister “so as to meet any national emergency which might arise, affecting the safety of New Zealand and the integrity of the Empire.” From Coast to Coast Proof that the coast-to-coast trip can be done comfortably in one day was provided (says the “Southland News”) by a party of 21 trampers who set out from Invercargill at 5.30 a.m. on Good Friday and had tea at Doubtful Sound at 7 p.m. on the same day. The party, which included visitors from as far north as Waimate travelled to Lake Manapouri by bus, took launch to the head of the lake, and walked 11 miles over to Doubtful Sound, where the next two days were spent in cruising and fishing in surroundings comparable with Milford Sound. Some of the members of the party who have visited rnos* of the access’ble southern fiords. deti**ied that Hall’s Arm, in Doubtful Sound vas even more grand than Milford Sound, which lacked the multitude of scenic arms possessed by Doubtful Sound.