IN TOWN AND OUT

Southland Times, Issue 21430, 26 June 1931, Page 6

IN TOWN AND OUT

NEWS OF THE DAY, High Finance. According to the evidence of a judgment debtor who was examined in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday as to his means available to pay the debt in question, one of his “assets” consisted of a motor car purchased second-hand lor £5, towards which he had paid £l. * * * *

An Australian White Cuckoo. From observations and investigations made, it is reported that the mysterious hakawai heard by the mutton-birders this’ season is none other than ( the Australian white cuckoo. This bird, which possesses a great wing spread in proportion to its size, has been found in Southland previously. Tho drumming noise made by the bird is accounted for in the construction of the wings.

A Valuable Collection. The collection of Maori and Polynesian relics beqeathed to the Southland Museum by the late Mr John Kingsland has now been taken over, and it is hoped to have the relics attractively _ displayed in the museum shortly. This collection, a very interesting one, includes a Polynesian idol and a sacrificial stone from New Hebrides. The Southland Boys’ High School is in possession of the mineral collection. This forms the nucleus of the school’s mineralogical collection which will be open to inspection upon request. * * * * Badminton at Winton. In Wednesday morning’s issue it was noticed that Dunedin was claiming the first Badminton match in the South Island. As far as the Winton Club is concerned, it can quite easily dispute this claim. This season is the third that Badminton has been played at Winton and last season a match was played with Lochiel, a club that was formed last year. A match was played at Winton as well as at Lochiel with this club, so the honours of the first South Island Badminton match probable go to the. Winton and Lochiel Clubs. —Winton Correspondent. * * * • Supplies Nearing Exhaustion.

So great has been the demand on the supplies at the relief depot in Esk street that the shop is nearly denuded of wearing apparel. There is a limited supply of women’s and girls’ coats and to-day callers will be attended to as far as possible. Tomorrow children’s boots and shoes will be distributed. An arduous time has been spent by the social workers at the depot and they have many difficulties to contend with. At present there is an acute shortage at the depot. Several parcels have been made up, but motor cars to convey them to their destination are wanted. Those in charge wish to extend their thanks to motor owners who have given the use of their cars in the past and stress the necessity for further donations to cope with the ceaseless demanti.

Quintessence of Frankness. A question very frequently asked of witnesses by cross-examining counsel in Court actions is: “Have you talked this matter over with anyone, prior to coming into the Court?” And very frequently a denial is given. In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Mr H. J. Macalister, who was appearing for the plaintiff in a civil action arising out of a collision between two motor cars, upon asking a girl witness, “Have you discussed the accident with your brother, the defendant?” was more than surprised when the witness answered quite promptly: “Naturally.” The avowal was so unusual that the faces of the Court, counsel and the officials were wreathed in smiles which broadened still further when his Worship (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) declared: "Thank goodness, we have a frank witness for once.”

Cars Collide. A collision between two cars which occurred at the intersection of Main and Irk streets, Gore, yesterday afternoon was fortunately not attended by any injury to either of the drivers, although the windscreen of one car was broken and the engine badly damaged. It appeal’s that one car, driven by Mr Murdoch, a commercial traveller, was proceeding along Main street in a northerly direction, while the other, driven by Mr H. Black, of East Gore, had turned from the opposite side of Main street round the intersection to Irk street. The cars caught each other near the front, Mr Black’s car swerved into a telegraph pole at the Bank of New Zealand corner, the force of the impact breaking some of the telegraph wires. The engine of his car was badly damaged and the windscreen was broken. The other car, which turned into Irk street, had the mudguard and running board damaged, but was able to proceed to the garage under its own power.

Transit Of Mails Delayed. The steps taken by the Post Office authorities to effect a speedy delivery of mails delayed in transit through the late arrival of the ferry steamer at Lyttelton on Wednesday came in for much favourable comment from members of Invercargill’s business community yesterday. Owing to a stiff southerly gale the Maori, instead of arriving at Lyttelton early on Wednesday morning from Wellington, did not berth until 4.10 in the afternoon. The mails she carried were despatched from Christchurch by the express goods train which left at 10 p.m. This train arrived at Dunedin at 10.30 a.m. yesterday and the action of the Post Office in holding back the motor car service to Invercargill until after the arrival of this train, enabled the south mails to be forwarded without delay. The car made a good trip, reaching Invercargill at 4.15 yesterday afternoon and the mails were sorted and placed in the boxes early last evening. A continuation of the stormy weather conditions resulted in the ferry failing a second time to make connection with the southward-bound express from Christchurch yesterday morning. The mails eventually were placed on a special train which left Christchurch shortly after midday and arrived at Dunedin at nine o’clock last evening. These mails will reach Invercargill by the 1.10 p.m. train from Dunedin to-day. * * » 0

America’s Bid for Pacific Trade. The activities of American shipping in the Pacific arc causing local companies a certain amount of concern. In both the cargo and the shipping trades determined efforts are being made by the Matson Steam Navigation Company to capture the business. The Golden liners, Golden Cloud, Golden Coast and Golden West, run by the Oceanic and Oriental Company, are familiar in New Zealand and in Australia the Matson liners Sierra, Ventura and Sonoma are not less well known. The Golden liners are cargo steamers, running a regular service to New Zealand ports, and have been on this trade for some years. They carry mails and, in spite of the present small cargoes to this country from America, are able to keep going with the subsidies they receive from the United States Government. The Ventura and her sister ships, have for years run from the United States to Honolulu, Suva and Sydney, carrying on a regular transpacific passenger service. The company announced recently that their ships would in the near future make Auckland a port of call. Next year the palatial 20,000 ton Malolo will take up the running, and later the two 20,000 ton sister ships now buliding will come on. The Matson Company feels that, although the tourist trade at present existing between America and New Zealand is not large, it can be built up and, with this in view, they are making every effort to capture the trade. What will be the answer of the local companies to this challenge remains to be seen. * * . Severe Strictures.

A warning that the Court would deal sharply with employers who allowed wages due to their employees to accumulate to

such an extent that there might be little prospect of payment was given by Mr E. 0. Levvey, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday when he was asked to give judgment for the plaintiff in a case where the registrar of apprentices (Mr P. C. Weenink) proceeded against an employer for £5 for wages owing to an apprentice. Mr Weenink stated that, of the £22 in wages to which the apprentice was entitled, actually only £3 h»d been received. The defendant had treated other employees similarly and some £lBO was owing in wages. The Department of Labour was always loathe to ask the Court to impose a heavy penalty in such cases, explained Mr Weenink, for, thereby, hardship • would be inflicted upon the employees in that payment to them would probably be further delayed. “Cases of this nature are becoming altogether too frequent and there have been no fewer than six of them recently. The legal remedy of the workers seems unavailing and I would ask the Court to issue a warning to employers,” said Mr Weenink. His Worship Is there no other remedy than suing civilly. Mr Weenink: None, sir. The Wages and Contractors’ Lien Act brings no relief in the present case. His Worship: Such a condition of affairs as in the present case is despicable. If I can I shall deal very sharply and severely with the defendant. I issue this warning to other employers so inclined. Judgment must be entered for the plaintiff.