In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23824, 23 May 1939, Page 8

In Town And Out

Mutton Birders Return A party of mutton birders with a cargo of about 25,000 birds arrived at Bluff yesterday afternoon in Mr W. B. Dixon’s auxiliary schooner Britannia. The families were taken off Breaksea, Entrance and Owen’s Islands, and this task was performed in good weather. The majority of the mutton birders on the islands in Foveaux Strait have yet to return to the mainland. Message to Mr Lyons The mefnbers of the National Party who attended a rally in Invercargill last night decided to send a message of good wishes to Mr M. E. Lyons, National candidate for the Christchurch South by-election. Mr S. G. Holland, M.P. for Christchurch North, who addressed the rally, said that Mr Lyons was putting up a very strong fight and stood a good chance of being elected. Barometers High in Christchurch Barometers in Christchurch were higher than normal yesterday morning, climbing to within ,215 in of the record established in 1903 when at 9.30 a.m. on October 20 the official reading at the Magnetic Observatory was 30.885 in. Yesterday morning the reading at Wigram meteorological station was 30.670 inches, or 1038.7 millibars, at 8.30 a.m., this being the highest reading since August 14, 1937, when the barometer rose to 30.702 inches at the magnetic observatory. In the city the figure was 30.651 inches at 9 o’clock and it was some two hours later when it began to fall slightly. The lowest reading ever registered in Canterbury was 28.387 inches on the morning of January 16 of this year during a strong northwest gale.—Press Association. Garments Exhibited Emphasizing points in his address at a rally of National Party supporters in Invercargill last night, Mr S. G. Holland, MP. for Christchurch North, produced two garments on the stage. The first was a pair of trousers which he said were made of very fine material derived entirely from wood. He said this was staple fibre made in Nazi Germany at half the cost of wool. It was necessary that New Zealand mills should have protection against this competition. The second garment was a woollen blazer made in Australia and costing 6/-. The labour alone for such a garment made in New Zealand would, he said, cost 6/6. This was because of the extraordinary labour conditions in the Dominion. He quoted an instance of a garment which required 1 hour 11 minutes to make, but the workers in the factories were allowed to make only three such garments in a day. Ranui’s Fastest Trip i

The motor-vessel Ranui arrived at Bluff yesterday afternoon from Milford Sound, completing the fastest trip she has made since she began running in the Milford service. Leaving the sound at 2.15 p.m. on Sunday, she arrived, at Bluff at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, completing the voyage of 218 miles in 26J hours. The weather was excellent.. On the outward trip, however, conditions were far from pleasant and the master, Mr J. W. P. Thompson, was forced to put into Chalky Inlet for the night to shelter from the rough weather.

Trades Display Competition The trades display competition at the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s winter show was won by the Calder Mackay Co. Ltd., with H. and J. Smith Ltd. second and the Columbus radio display third. Other placirigs were as follows:—Broad, Small Ltd. 4, Parker and Keane Ltd. 5, disabled soldiers’ display 6. The judges were Messrs R. Thomson, J. D. Campbell and P. B. Witt.

Serious Competitors “Considering that many societies, in New Zealand have gone out of existence because of financial embarrassment, it reflects great credit on the members that the Invercargill Orchestral Society exists at all,” said the chairman, Mr C. H. Poole, at the annual meeting of the society last night., The society had serious competitors in the radio and the theatre, but its position was satisfactory and reflected credit on the members. During the past year there had been a big increase in the membership and this had augmented the funds of the society, he said. Rate Payments Lost

Through the Social Security Department taking over its present office in Gladstone road, Gisborne, the ratepayers of Gisborne are making the Government a gift of £137 a year, according to a statement made by the town clerk, Mr W. M. Jenkins, at a meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council, when he drew attention to the effect on the finances of the borough of private, rateable properties being occupied by the Crown. “An outstanding case,” Mr Jenkins said, “is the occupation by the Social Security Department of private premises formerly liable for the payment of full rates. The Crown, by virtue of its tenancy, is now the occupier for rating purposes, and, in view of the exemption granted the Crown under the Rating Act, the council will receive payment of special rates only. The total rates are still payable indirectly by the owner, this being deducted by the Crown from the rental, the council receiving the special rates and the Crown retaining the balance. Last year the consolidated rate amounted to £245, including special rates of £lOB. It will be seen that the ratepayers will be making the Crown a gift of £137.” The Mayor, Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P., said he had endeavoured to escure other premises for the Social Security office, but was unable to do so.

No Free Issue of Tobacco The free issue of tobacco at the infirmary, which the Auckland Hospital Board at a meeting on May 8 decided to discontinue, was a question revived at a meeting of the board last night. After a long discussion, in which the position of the inmates under the social security scheme was discussed, a motion rescinding the previous resolution was lost by a big majority. As a result, the board’s earlier decision will stand. —Press Association.

Subscribers Necessary “The existence of the Invercargill Orchestral Society depends on the number of subscribers” stated the chairman, Mr C. H. Poole, at the annual meeting of the society last night, in explaining that it was not an exclusive body. The way was always open for new members and by assisting to increase the total membership the general public was not only obtaining benefit itself, but was helping musical activities in Invercargill. New Award Sought

Cleaners and caretakers are seeking a new award and Conciliation proceedings will begin in Wellington today. The dispute will be heard before Mr M. J. Reardon, Conciliation Commissioner. “Last in New Zealand”

“Our club is always one of the last cycling clubs in New Zealand to begin the season,” said a member at the annual meeting of the Invercargill Cvc-

ling Club last night. He suggested that the opening day be held earlier this year and this was agreed to. The early starting of the season was an incentive to intending competitors to get into serious training early, it was stated. Terrifying Courthouses

“Too frequently in the past Courts have been erected, beautiful to look at outside, but almost terrifying inside,” said Mr W. Douglas Taylor, representative of the Westland District Law Society, when speaking at the opening of the new Courthouse at Wataroa last week. “Mostly our Courts are dark, dank, gloomy, almost murky places, which never have seen sunlight since the roof was put on,” he said. “They are cold, cheerless, and draughty, and such conditions make for bad-tem-pered, irritable counsel, and worse tempered and more irritable Judges. No school, office or factory today would be allowed to occupy some of our Courts. The jury and witnesses’ rooms are cold, uninviting, and cheerless. If we go to pay our social security tax or visit a dentist we at least get some measure of comfort while waiting.”