DOMINION'S YEAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 11

DOMINION'S YEAR

EVENTS IN RETROSPECT NOTABLE HAPPENINGS CALL . OF THE EMPIBE AUCKLAND OCCURRENCES The following is a list" of noteworthy events in New Zealand during 11)39: JANUARY . I.—New Year Honours: Mr. Justice Ostler and Mr. Charles M. Luke knighted. 4.- —-r irsi issue of import licences under Government's trade control scheme. 10.—Auckland importers decided to petition Governor-General to suspend import restrictions. FEBRUARY 2.—Musick Memorial trophy awarded to Mr. _A. Gouge, F.R.Ae.S., for design of JMiipirc flyinsr-boats. Fire in Aitkcn Stfcct, Wellington. Social Security block burned; total damage estimated at about £• 100,000 (new building opened March 27). "•—Contracts for construction of hangars at Whcnuapai military aerodrome let at. estimated cost of £'lßo,ooo. Auckland cricketers retained Plunket Shield by defeating: Wellington at Auckland. IS.—-Auckland yacht Manu won world's ISfootcr sailing championship. Dominion National Fitness "Week opened. 27.—Opening by Hon. P. Fraser of new £40,000 biology block at Auckland University College. MARCH 5-—St. Mary's Bay fire; Goldie's sawmill, etc.. destroyed. 6.—Lord Nuffield's further gift of £7500 to New Zealand crippled children's fund. 20.—•Aucklaml-Gisborne air service begun. Sir Julien Calm's cricket team concluded New Zealand tour without defeat. APRIL 1- —Social Security Act (with exception of health benefits) came into force. British Air Mission arrived at Wellington. Dominion Monarch arrived at Auckland. 19. —Guaranteed dairy price (no increase) announced by Hon. W. Nash. 22.—Drastic curtailment of imports announced. 25.—Anzac Day celebrations; first dawn tarades held in New Zealand'. MAY 1. —Hon. W. Nash. Minister of Finance. , left for England. B.—H.M.S. Achilles returned to New Zealand from England. 9.—Arrival of French sloop Dumont d'Urville at Auckland on visit. Cut in mutton exports announced. 15.—Maternity aid provisions of Social Security Act came into force. 16*. —Prime Minister v announced increase from' 3% to <l'A per cent in interest rate for local body loans. 22. —Mr. Justice CalJan. in Supreme Court judgment, ruled the Import Control Regulations to be invalid. ■25. —Two Australians, • Gordon Robert McKay and James Arthur Talbot, found guilty in Supreme Court. Auckland, on charges of arson and improperly interfering with a dead human body, arising from fire which 'destroyed a "shack" at Pilia on February 12. 20. —Budiret figures announced by Mr. Savage; surplus, of £BOO,OOO. Minister of Defence. Hon. F. Jones, announced a def'iicc programme providing for an expenditure of £0,1500,000 in the coming two years. lit.—Government's -1 per cent internal loan of £4.500,000 (O'J and 00)- over-sub-scribed. • ■ JUNE, .3. —Christehurch -South--'seat in -.House of Representatives, made vacant by death "of Mr." E. .T." Howard, M.P., retained by Labour, Mr. R-. M.- Macfarlane defeating Mr. M. E. Lyons (National). 6. —Bureau of Importers advised by Gov-ernor-General, after it had presented a second petition for the suspension of import regulations, ; that, lie did not feel justified/in intervening in a matter upon which a final legal pronouncement had not yet been made. B.—-King's Birthday Honours announced; Professor. W. B. Bcnhani (Diinedin) and Professor T. A. Hunter (Victoria University College) knighted. 15. —Auckland City Council decided, on Mayor's proposal, to■ reduce city rates by one penny in the £1 —from Is 5/id to 4s 4%d. 27.—Opening of first session of 20th Parliament of New Zealand; Hon. W. E. Barnard re-elected Speaker. Waitakcre Park scheme selected as Auckland Centennial Memorial. JULY 1. —Free hospital benefits under Social Security Act came' into operation. Official opening at Wairoa of Napier—Wairoa railway. 3.—Record low barometric reading of 28.71 Sin. in Auckland. 6. —Chamberlain Park ("Stone Jug") golf course opened by Governor-General; cost about £200,000. 19.—Port Line steamer Port Bowen stranded off Castleclifl Beach, Wanpanui. (All attempts to refloat vessel failed.) 20 —26. —Announcement in London, as result of Hon. W. Nash's negotiations, that British Government had agreed to a £5,000,000 credit for New Zealand defence and other Government purposes and £1,000,000 credit to finance private imports; and £10,000,000 New Zealand 3/a per cent conversion loan, at £'oo, to meet loan of £17,17'.!, 101 maturing on January 1, 1010; the amount of new loan to be repaid in instalments within five years; the balance of £1,172,101 to be repaid from accumulated sinking funds. 27. —Falls of snow in Auckland City and in North Auckland. 31. —Unprecedented fall of snow at Cape Maria Van Diemen. AUGUST 1. —Labour Government's fourth Budget presented to Parliament by acting-Minister of Finance, Mr. Savage; forecast of aggregate taxation increase of about £2,500,000 for 1030-40; estimated expenditure Of £38,243,000, or £2,456,000 moro than previous year; estimated revenue £38,260,000, leaving nominal estimated surplus of £17,000. 4. —The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, underwent operation in Wellington. 28.—Tasman Empire Airways flying-boat Aotcaroa arrived at . Auckland from Sydney. . _ 30— Pan American Airways' Califorman Clipper arrived at Auckland from San Francisco. SEPTEMBER 3. —News of outbreak of war between Britain and Germany received in New Zealand. 4. —State of war in New Zealand proclaimed. 8. —Announcement of Government's intontion to raise special military force for service within or beyond New Zealand, (Recruiting bepan on September 12.) 24.—Disaster at Glen Afton Colliery; 11 deaths. 26. —Minister of Finance announced that Government proposed .to raise an extra £0,750,000 toward defraying cost of war activities for remainder of financial year; i increase in various forms of taxation. Government also granted right to borrow £10,000,000. OCTOBER 1. —Increased postal and telegraph rates came into force. Agreement between Government and British Medical Association regarding maternity benefits under Social Security scheme took effect. 5. —Announcement that Government's guaranteed prices for dairy produce for coming season would be the same as for last season, viz., l I.SOd per lb. for butter and 8.42 d for cheese. 7. —Passing of Reserve Bank Amendment Bill, giving Government full control of bank. Parliament adjourned until February 8. 12.—Fishing trawler Dolphin accidentally sunk in Lyttelton harbour by coastal defence battery; owner and master, Mr. J. Brasxell, killed. 13.—Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, and party left Auckland for England by air to attend Empire war conference. 14. —Price for New Zealand wool clip for war period fixed at V2'/,d per lb., Now Zealand currency. 26. —Hon. W. Nash announced deficiency of £2,532.63(5 in the dairy industry account for the past season, less a surplus of about £500,000 from the previous season. NOVEMBER 8. —New Zealand ' Centennial Exhibition opened in Wellington by GovernorGeneral. 22. —Ml - . M. W. Speight, Auckland, chosen as Rhodes Scholar. 23. —Government's notification of decision to despatch first echelon of New Zealand special military force overseas under command of Major-General Frcybcrg. 24. —Pan American Airways' Honolulu Clipper arrived at Auckland from San Francisco. J DECEMBER 18. —Announcement by Prime Minister. Mr. Savage, that, following Empire negotiations, extensive air training schools were to be established throughout British Commonwealth with Canada as centre. 21.— Appointment of Mr. ,T. A. Leo ns Par* liamentary Under-Secretary to Minister of Finance revoked. 22. —Record day's railway traffic for Christmas period at Auckland station. Seven German nationals living in Auckland interned. 25. —Arrival of Major-General B. C. Freyberg, commanding officer of New. Zealand Special Force for overseas. 27.—Byrd expedition reached Wellington en route to Antarctic.