Secondary Schools’ Sports

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23957, 4 November 1939, Page 10

Secondary Schools’ Sports

A large contingent of secondary school pupils travelled south by the afternoon express yesterday to compete in the annual Otago and Southland Secondary Schools’ Sports Championship meeting at Invercargill today. Schools represented were St. Kevin’s, Waitaki Boys’ High, John McGlashan College, Otago Boys’ High and King’s High School.

Hedge Fires ' Two hedge fires engaged the attention of the local Fire Bi'igades yesterday. At 3.40 p.nx., the City Brigade attended a call to Wairoa street, and at 8.16 p.m. the Roslyn Brigade was called to Glenelg street, Kaikorai Valley.

Soldiers’ Membership Contest The figures in the Dunedin and Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Associations’ membership contest at the end of last month were: Christchurch 2900, Dunedin 2304. Anxious to Help An indication of the present trend of feeling in the United States towards the war is given in a letter which has been received by a Dunedin resident from a young woman holding a responsible position in an American city. “ I have just written to the senator and congressman from this district,” she writes, “ asking them to vote for the repeal of our present neutrality law. They are both anti-Roosevelt, so I don’t suppose that they will —but it makes me feel that I have helped a little.”

Bank Officers’ Gesture The offer made by the New Zealand Bank Officei's’ Guild, who are at present working under an award stipulating an 80-hour fortnight, to work up to 44 hours weekly in rush periods, has been cordially accepted by the banks. The offer- was made as a gesture* of assistance towards the Dominion’s war effort, and no overtime for the extra hours offered is asked for.

Key Men in Industry The Government is making full use of its department machinery to guard against key men being taken from essential industries. An assurance that (his was the case has been given to the Canterbury Progress League by the Minister of Man-power (Mr P. C. Webb). The league has made representations to the Minister on more than one occasion urging the need for the national organisation of man-power of the counti’y.

New Task for Minister War conditions have caused many changes in the official designations of Ministers of the Crown, but probably the most significant is that accorded the Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb). Mr Webb, asked by the Government to take charge of the organisation of manpower throughout the country, has become “Minister of Man-power.” A letter received by the Canterbury Progress League, dealing with its views on the national conscription of manpower, is signed by Mr Webb, in this new capacity. Divorce Law

“ It is really becoming a farce,” said the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) during the hearing of a divorce case in the Supreme Court at Hamilton. His Honor’s remarks were made as the result of his attention being drawn to the fact that petitioner in the case had commenced proceedings only two days after the order against his wife for the restitution of conjugal rights had lapsed. “ I suppose during the proceedings for the restitution of conjugal rights you told the judge that you wanted to have your wife back,” said the Chief Justice to petitioner. “ Yet two days after the order expired you commenced proceedings for divorce. In three months from now you’ll be able to obtain a decree absolute, and I suppose the day after that you’ll be married again.” His Honor stated, however, that petitioner was entitled to a decree nisi.

Public Works Programme “While the New Zealand farmer is clamouring for labour, and the Government is urging increased production, is the Public Works Department’s programme worth while? ” asked Mr C. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., in an address to the Hamilton Rotary Club. Mr Parlane suggested that the Government should divert £6,000,000 from the Public Works Account to the Dairy Account, and subsidise the dairy farmers to the extent of 3d per lb butter-fat. The Government should also cease building houses in the towns and build them in the country. Two cottages could be built in the country for the money it cost to build one house in the town. With the subsidy, the farmer could attract labour from the Public Works camps, and could extend his farming activities.

Recruiting at a Standstill Recruiting for the special military force to serve in or beyond New Zealand has come to a dead standstill in Dunedin. During the past week only three enlistments were registered at the Kensington Drill Hall, these being recorded on Monday and Tuesday, and no further volunteers have come forward. The latest enlistments, * which bring the total for Area 11 to 1169, were Bert McEwan (Oturehua), and John Thomas Sinnamon (Poolburn), in Class 2, and Alphonsus Crawford in Class 3. Enlistments are now being taken for the second echelon of the special force, which will proceed to camp to join the first echelon. Three drafts of officers will leave for camp next week to await the arrival of the first drafts of the second echelon. Recruiting for the Maori Battalion is also being continued, and intending recruits are advised that in the South Island only those who are at least quarter-caste are eligible for this battalion.

English Manufacturers’ Trouble* A glimpse of the difficulties which confronted manufacturing concerns in England after the outbreak of war is given in a letter from one large firm in London to a local engineering firm. The letter states that, with the opening of hostilities, a general advance in prices was announced by almost all trades. No manufacturer knew just what the materials were going to cost, all production charges had been steadily advancing and heavy expenditure of one sort and another was incurred, so the first increases were of a rather alarming nature and were imposed to meet costs, the full extent of which could not be estimated with any pretence of accuracy. “ Now, a month later,” the letter continues, “ a measure of confidence is appearing and a certain amount of stabilisation has entered into business and all prospects of prices soaring to inflation figures are a thing of the past. The stringent measures adopted by the Government, coupled with the goodwill of the business community, have eliminated all prospects of profiteering and contribute largely to healthy business conditions.” Nevertheless, there was still a degree of uncertainty and orders were only being entered with the proviso that goods would be invoiced at the prices ruling on the day when manufacture was completed. The letter adds: “We wish to qualify our observations about exploitation by saying that the Scandinavian, Dutch and Belgian makers arc trying to sling us to the utmost by asking huge increases, even on orders booked and contracts entered into months back. They are displaying a total disregard for all established principles, amounting almost to blackmail.”

The annual meeting of the Port Chalmers Regatta Committee will be held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday evening. _ . , The St. John Ambulance Brigade annual inspection will be held this year on the afternoon of Armistice Day in the Queen's Gardens. It is expected that there will be a full parade this year, many country units being represented.

The weekly old-time dance will be held to-night in the Early Settlers’ Hall. The musical nrogramme is being arranged by the Sports Orchestra and Hogg’s Sound System. Particulars of a special cheap day excursion from Dunedin to Invercargill on Sunday. November 12, are advertised. Two fast trains will be run to Invercargill, returning the same day. The attention of artists is drawn to an advertisement in this issue regarding the National Centennial Exhibition of New Zealand Art, which will tour the Dominion during 1940. Artists are invited to submit not more than two examples of their work for the consideration of the Selection Committees in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. Loyal Orange Institution. —Don t forget social and dance, Wilson’s Hall, To-night (Saturday). Nov. 4.—Advt. A F. Anderson, Dentist, will visit Middlemarch, Thursday, October 19; Waipiata and Patearoa, Thursday, October 26; Ranfurly, Friday, October 13 and 27; Oturehua, Monday. October 30.-—Advt.

Anglers.—-Is your outfit complete and have you got your licence yet for the fishing season? Barth Electric, Ltd.; 30 George street, Dunedin, have large stocks of fishing requirements.--Advt. Coffee for breakfast! Order from your grocer a tin of “ Bourbon,” the coffee of Quality! Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie’s, coffee specialists. 32 Octagon, Dunedin.—Advt.