Opening of Parliament

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23223, 22 June 1937, Page 8

Opening of Parliament

Though nothing definite is available as to the dale of the opening of Parliament, it is anticipated (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that it will be towards the end of August at the very earliest. Parliament has been prorogued until August 12. The return of the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) and the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) will have an important bearing on the matter.

A Chimney Fire The City Fire Brigade turned out at 8.25 yesterday morning to a chimney fire in Shetland street. Roslyn.

Drainage Board Only formal business was conducted at the meeting of the Dunedin Drainage and Sewerage Board last night.

Truck Driver’s Escape Shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday morning a motor truck, owned and driven by Mr C. M. Mathieson, who resides at Playfair street. Caversham, ran off the road near Saddle Hill and plunged over the bank into a gully about 40 feet below. The truck, which was carrying a full load of coal, caught fire and was almost completely destroyed. but the driver escaped without injury.

Aerodrome Road

Appreciation of the action of the Taieri County Council in deciding to contribute £750 to the cost of improving the road from the city to_ the Taieri aerodrome, via the Black bridge, was expressed by Crs Silverstone and Munro at a meeting of the City Council last night. It was stated that the road would not benefit the County Council much, and its contribution must be regarded as recognition of a public duty to assist the City Council in finding work for as many men as possible.

Probate Granted Probate has been granted by Mr Justice Kennedy in the estates of the following:—Mary Cameron, of Evansdale, widow; Andrew George Dreaver, of Dunedin, engine-driver; Christopher Robinson, of Hindon, sheep farmer; Alfred Reginald Hardy, of Waverley, retired warehouseman; Jessie Taylor, of Sandymount, widow; Jane Bell Sharpe, of Dunedin, widow; Catherine Elizabeth Elder, of Dunedin, married woman; Robert Allen Prisk, of Dunedin, bank manager; Robert Scollay, of Portobello, master mariner; James Boaden, of Oamaru, wool and skin merchant: and Annie Wood, of Dunedin, widow'. Public Health Returns

One case of infantile paralysis was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital during the week ended at noon yesterday, and one patient was discharged, making the number of cases now undergoing treatment 25. Two cases of erysipelas remain in hospital, and at Logan Park there is one case of scarlet fever.

Art and Crafts Exhibition The arts and crafts exhibition by members of the Otago Art Society continues to attract an increasing stream of visitors to the Pioneers’ Hall as the attractiveness and range of the works become more generally known. The work is all by local artists, and, in the majority of cases, inspiration has been sought from subjects in the neighbourhood. One of the most interesting features is the exhibits by younger members of the society. The exhibition will be open daily from 10.30 to 5.30 p.m„ and, except on Saturday nights, from 7.30 to 10 o’clock, for the next two weeks. The sales have been reported of “Dust Tins We Know,” by Winifred Stark, and "Autumn at Blackstone Hill,” by E. A. Mee.

City Milk Supply With respect to the suggested municipal milk supply scheme, Cr Allen reported, on behalf of the General Committee to last night’s meeting of the City Council, that advice had now been received from Mr H. E. Herron (general manager of the Wellington City Corporation Milk Department) to the effect that he is prepared to investigate and report to the council on the milk supply problem of the city at a fee of £lls 10s, such fee to include all expenses and the cost of furnishing copies of the report. The committee’s recommendation that it* be empowered to arrange any necessary details with Mr Herron was approved.

More Prosperous Time# Discounting talk that New Zealand was going to the dogs because of increased wages and the 40-hour week, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin), opening the South Canterbury Winter Show and'lndustrial Exhibition on Saturday, contended that prosperity had again come to the Dominion. The Minister, who recently visited the Dunedin Winter Show, said that the secretary had told him that at times the crowds had been so large that the doors had to be closed to keep them out. That was a sign of the return to pi’osperous times. Another gratifying feature was that the Post Office Savings Bank showed more than £5,000,000 more on deposit than was the case last year. On every day for the last six months 118 hew cars and trucks had been placed on the roads in the Dominion. Was that not an indication of prosperity? he asked.

An Inconsiderate Motorist

In these days, when the expenditure of the Highways Board’s funds is a matter of considerable moment to every owner of a motor vehicle, motorists, as a rule, are only too eager to co-operate with the powers that be in any move towards providing better roads. There are exceptions, however. Recently, during the progress of tar sealing operations on the Main North road, several motorists drew up at the edge of the newly-laid bitumen to allow the lorry which was laying the top-dressing to pass. The exception was one man. who, apparently determined to assert his rights, broke the line of cars and drove to the front. Finding it impossible to go any further, he refused to draw back, and, remaining abreast of the foremost car, rendered It necessary for the lorry to make a wide and troublesome detour before it could get on to the next section of the road. Fewer Women in Factories

“ They don’t need to work in factories now,” remarked an Auckland employer the other day. He was speaking of married women who had been “doing their bit” to help along the family income, but now their husbands were earning more, so they were able to give all their time to their homes. While he regretted this, as he had lost some of his most efficient employees, he agreed that the change was for the best in the long run. Young women and girls were also leaving to get married, and he agreed that that, too, was a desirable change, though it added to his difficulties. In some parts of New Zealand a movement of the opposite kind has resulted in the reemployment of older women in clothing factories and mills, after they had been retired on pension, because there were not enough younger trained operatives to do the work.

Community Singing At a meeting of the executive of the Community Singing Committee yesterday, presided over by Mr W. R. Sinclair, a cheque for £lO9 for the King George Memorial Fund was signed, that being the amount secured as the result of the appeal at the first session of the season. A request for support for the movement to erect a new building to replace the present Karitane Hospital was acceded to. and a special “ Blanket Babies ” day will, therefore, be the feature of one of the Friday gatherings. A complimentary “sing" for the Johnson quadruplets is in contemplation for a Friday later in the season. Present at the meeting were Messrs Rutledge, Chapman. Desmoulins. Himburg. and Harper. Mr Desmoulins was congratulated upon his recovery, and Mr Himburg was thanked for his successful leadership during the former’s absence.

“ Land of Sunshine M While most radios were tuned to the football in Australia on Saturday afternoon, another broadcast of special interest to New Zealand was heard frbm stations W2XAF and W2XAD in Schenectady, New York. . The broadcast. apparently one of a series of international goodwill programmes, was a talk on New Zealand. “ Land of Sunshine, Charm, and Friendship,” by Mr J. W. Collins, Trade Commissioner in Canada and the United States for the New Zealand Government. The talk was informative and comprehensive, dealing with the history of New Zealand in brief, and conveying a word picture of the best features of each island. Items by the Rotorua Maori Choir were included in the half-hour programme, and reception was fairly good, the time being from 4.30 to 5 p.m. There will probably be another talk by Mr Collins from the same stations.

Anzac Day Observance

A movement is on foot to arrange for a mass representation of New Zealand returned soldiers at the Anzac Day observances in Sydney next year. These observances will mark the conclusion of the national celebrations arranged to mark the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Australia, for which comprehensive plans have been made in Sydney. The Australian authorities are already discussing the prospect of having 1000 Anzac visitors from New Zealand at the Anzac Day parade. This matter can, however, be regarded at present as only a tentative proposal. It will come up for discussion at the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, When a decision will be made whether or not an organised expedition can be arranged. If the trip is made, the New Zealand association would receive the full co-operation of ex-servicemen’s organisations in Australia.

Gold Dredge Sink* A mishap during dredging on Wednesday of last week caused the New River gold dredge near Marsden, on the West Coast, to sink in about three feet of water. It is understood that the sinking was not caused by the holding of the pontoons, but by the dredge being pulled under water further than the amount of freeboard would allow. It is hoped to have the dredge pumped out and floating within a few days. The dredge is a Diesel-powered plant with a capacity of about 12,000 yards u week. It is of the sluice-box type with buckets of four-feet capacity. The company is operating at New River, 13 miles south of Greymouth.

Importation of Honey “We recognised that there was a shortage of honey in the Dominion and that the London contracts had to be filled,” said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin), when asked whether the Government was aware that Australian honey was being bought for export to England and whether this practice had its approval. "The purchases were made by Honey, Ltd., with the approval of the Honey Control Board,” the Minister said, “ and so far we have not' interfered. But we stipulated that it should not be sold in England as New Zealand honey. The amount purchased was 100 tons.” The Minister said that the purchase had been made in Australia because it was the best market for buying. If there was any shortage in the future it would be made up with honey purchased in London. '

Shortage of Scrap Metal The suggestion that the City Council should be careful as to the destination of scrap metal which was disposed of was made by the Mayor at the meeting of the council last night. When the council was discussing the report of the Water Committee, which recommended the acceptance of tenders by local firms for two lots of scrap castiron and scrap brass, the Mayor said New Zealand was becoming denuded of scrap iron, and for the sake of a few shillings it might not be desirable to sell to some firm which would ship the metal overseas. He asked whether it was intended for Japan, but was assured that it would be used locally.

Jumped from Train Jumping from a carriage platform of a passenger train which was gathering speed after leaving Koputaroa Station, near Shannon, on Saturday, a man apparently escaped unhurt, and has not been heard of since. It is understood that a policeman on the train who was proceeding from Otaki to Palmerston North for show duty had been on the look-out for a person wanted in connection with an alleged breach of probation. When the constable entered the carriage one of the male passengers ' suddenly made his way to the platform and jumped off. There was nothing to indicate that there was-any connection between the man ' Who jumped off and the person sought by the police. New Hospital at Hanftier

Plans for the erection at Hamner Springs of the most modern hospital in New Zealand are being prepared in Wellington by the Public Works Department, in collaboration with Dr P. Chisholm, medical superintendent of the Queen Mary Hospital, at Hanmer Springs. The new hospital will be for the accommodation of male patients, and the building will probably also include new administrative quarters for the superintendent and his staff. A site for the building has already been pegged out on the golf links, which adjoin the hospital .grounds. This site is at the southern end of the nurses’ home. No finance has yet been voted for the work, but the preparation of the plans is expected to occupy some time.

On the Sideline The problem of young men who on Saturday afternoons “ lean against a post and smoke cigarettes, and then go out at 3 o’clock and hoot the referee,” was discussed at a conference of sports delegates held in Auckland to discuss the proposed National Council of Sport. That type of youth would need to be “ roped in,” suggested Mr G. Bush. He wondered whether the Government intended to make physical training compulsory. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) addressing the gathering later, also referred to “the fellow who does not take part but just cheers others on.’’ “We want to get him in,” he said, “and the girl, too.” Work for Rat-catcher

Among the unusual occupations dealt with by the Auckland placement service is that of rat-catcher. An unemployed man, with some experience in the killing of rats, but who for some time had been a salesman, registered with the service as a ratcatcher, and already several large business firms have utilised his services successfully. In one case he accounted for 19 rats in an evening. He uses several methods, including various typos of poison.

Kauris in Pacific The fact that the kauri tree was found extensively in the Pacific, there being 28 varieties listed, was mentioned by Mr W. R. M'Gregor, head of the biology department, in his presidential address to the Auckland University College Field Club last week. “I was never quite sure that the timber being milled at Banekoa was genuine kauri until I saw the bushy tops thrusting up over the other jungle trees,” said Mr M'Gregor. “More than anything else in the South-west Pacific they reminded me of New Zealand: they were unmistakably kauris.” There were three varieties in Queensland, two-m New Caledonia, and others in places as far distant as Fiji, the%olomons and Borneo.