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Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 46

Ten models of aeroplanes, representing the progress made in the building of aircraft since flight was first accomplished until the present time, are on exhibition in the Otago Museum. The models, which were constructed by Mr W. R. H. Duke, have been made to scale, and the whole of the workmanship is extremely accurate. There is a model of Wilbur and Oryille Wright’s machine in which the inventors made the first successful fight in 1903. The Bleriot monoplane, in which the famous French air pioneer flew across the English Channel in 1909, is represented, and there is a model of the Caudron biplane, which made a short flight from Tahuna Park in 1912, being the first machine to be seen in the air at Dunedin. These machines are in one case, and, in another, there are models of the machines in use at the time of the Great War. The third case contains models representing the latest types of aeroplanes. All are exceptionally interesting and form a valuable addition to the Museum.

It was announced on Thursday that the Government intended to keep within the estimate of £2OOO passed by the House on Wednesday night for the expenditure of the entertainment of distinguished visitors. In 1928, £6931 was spent in official functions and in entertaining visitors to New Zealand, but that was a partcularly busy year and included a visit of the Japanese Fleet, which brought the brother of the Emperor of Japan, and the entertainment of that fleet in various ways absorbed an appreciable part of the total. Last year £4254 was spent, but it was intended, said Mr D. Ardell, of the Internal Affairs Department, on Thursday, to keep all functions for 1930-31 within the £2OOO voted by the House if possible.

An instance of eagerness and enterprise in seeking work is reported. A Poverty Bay sheep farmer recently had to interview men who were replying to his advertisement for a married couple to work on his station. One of the applicants, who seemed otherwise suitable, had no children or sheep dogs, and the farmer stated that as there was a school close by he would give preference to a man who had at least two children of school age and two good dogs. Within three hours the applicant was back again to report that he now had both the children and the dogs. “ But 'I didn’t promise you the job,” said the somewhat astonished farmer. “Did you get them on ‘spec’? ” “Yes, I was going to be ready for the job,” said the man. It transpired that the children belonged to his wife’s sister, who had a family of seven and was in poor circumstances. The job was his.

Further reference to the recent dis--1 missal of postal officials was made at the meeting of the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, ■when the opinion was expressed that the final court of appeal in such cases should be the Supreme Court and not Parliament. Mr A. G. Lunn said that a proper control of Goveminent officials was very desirable, but he did not . think that appeals against dismissals should be referred to Parliament for final consideration. They should be dealt with by an authority that was not prejudiced on either side. In Parliament most members were keeping one eye on the voting machines. Mr L. A. Eady said he thought the motion a very sound idea, and Mr Boucher considered that the chamber should support the Wellington Chamber in protesting against any suggestion of reinstating the officials who were dismissed on the ground that it was imperative in the interests of the business community that their communications should be treated with the utmost secrecy by the postal officials.

“ I believe that in connection with military matters I am the most unpopular man in the country,” said the Minister of Defence (Mr J. B. Cobbe), declaring the conference of South African Veterans at Wellington open. “That is due to the call for economy, and the fact that we have to retrench in certain directions. A lady whose husband is not unconnected with military matters saw the flag flying half-mast the other day, and asked hopefully who it was for. When she was told she was much disappointed. ‘ I wish it was for Mr Cobbe,’ she said.”— (Laughter.)