In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23767, 15 March 1939, Page 6

In Town And Out

Crossing Signal Damaged A heavy motor-lorry which was being driven in reverse out of a garage in Medway street, Gore, travelled too far and struck the iron post carrying the wig-wag signal at the railway crossing. The standard was broken and the apparatus had to be dismantled for repairs.

England and Germany “From what I saw during the few days I spent in Berlin one would not think that there was any enmity at all between England and Germany,” said Dr J. G. Macdonald during a travel talk at the annual meeting of the University Association of Southland last evening. Dr Macdonald added that Germany was military to the backbone but there was plenty of evidence of gaiety. One of the things he noticed most was the intense cultivation in rural Germany of sugar beet. He passed through miles and miles of flat country, and saw few cattle.

Telephone at Oreti Beach Telephonic communication between Oreti Beach and Invercargill was established for the first, time yesterday. The reserves department of the City Council has been negotiating for some time for the installation of a telephone at the beach, and yesterday the work of erecting the line and telephone box was completed. The box has been erected on the veranda of Hutchison’s store, and the telephone will be avail-, able for public use. Historical Records

A copy of a missing volume of The Otago Provincial Government Gazette was recently obtained for the Invercargill Public Library and sets of the Gazettes for both the Otago and Southland Provincial Governments are now complete. When in Wellington recently the librarian (Mr H. B. Farnall) saw the librarian of the Parliamentary Library (Mr G. H. Scholefield) about early records of the southern province and Mr Scholefield was able to supply the missing volume. Stewart Island Excursion

Today about 116 young Southland farmers will leave for Stewart Island on an excursion arranged by the Southland provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. The party which leaves today will return on Wednesday, March 22, when the second party will leave for the island. About 33 bookings for the second party have already been made. The party leaving today will be in the charge of Mr J. H. Beck, Woodlaw, Otautau, who will officially represent the Farmers’ Union. School Dental Service The establishment of a travelling dental clinic in Southland was advocated in a motion carried at a meeting of householders of the Ryal Bush school last night. The existing service was strongly criticized, it being stated that great difficulty was experienced in securing transport of the children to the nearest clinic. A Different Tale? “So far the speakers have been models of brevity,” remarked the Rev. J. A. Thomson at a welcome social last night to the Rev. Alexander Kernohan, the new minister of Knox Church. “Now we come to the ministers,” added Mr Thomson amid laughter. School Bus Services “About £lO,OOO a year is being spent by the Education Department in conveying children to school in Southland by buses,” said Mr J. Hargest, M.P., a member of the Southland Education Board, at a meeting of Ryal Bush school householders last night. .“I sometimes wonder whether it is wise. We are giving to American oil companies money which we could be paying to school teachers.”

Firms Raise Wages The unusual course of anticipating the probable decision of a conciliation council has been adopted by the two biggest Christchurch footwear manufacturing firms, states The Christchurch Star-Sun. These firms have decided to increase the wages of journeymen and journeywomen as from this week, and it is expected that other firms in this industry will shortly follow suit. Explaining the position, Mr J. A. East, managing director of Suckling Brothers, one of the firms concerned, said that an increase in wages was expected as the outcome of conciliation proceedings. He had therefore called his staff together and told them that from the beginning of the next financial week the wages of journeymen would be raised from £4 11/8 to £5 2/6, and those of journeywomen from £2 10/10 to £2 17/6. Mr East explained that the low rates of pay had been necessary to meet strong competition from overseas. The import regulations had put a stop to this competition and for that reason he considered it only fair that his employees should be given an increase in w?ges. The employees had expressed their appreciation of the firm’s action, he added.