NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 75, 25 June 1928, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

MOTES FROfsl ALL' PARTS.

Like the Police Force. “I believe you were in camp for some time.” asked a police officeir of a witness in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning. “Yes, I was in Trentham for | three years, hut I failed to pass [ the medical test,” replied the wit- | ness. “They were a long tkne in I finding that out, weren't they?” i asked the police official. “Yes,” replied the witness, “they are rather like the police forde in that respect.” * * Parliament. Parliament reassembles in Wellington on Thursday of next week for its final session, before again going to the country. So far there is little or no direct indication of the business that is likely to be forthr coming. It is understood, however, that such measures as the Government intends submitting are well in hand and that they will be ready for presentation to the House as soon as the debate on the Address-in-Reply, which is almost certain to be attended by a non-confidence motion, is disposed of. * » Railway Conference. A system of monthly conferences of executive officers with the gpn-

eral manager, for the purpose of discussing matters of administration has been inaugurated in the Railways Service. The. Prime Minister and Minister of Railways (the Hon. Mr. Coates), who attended the first conference at Wellington, took great interest in the proceedings, and assured those present that the Government had every confidence in ■ the new head of the service, Mr. H. H. Sterling. Ho asked officers to give the general manager all the assistance they could in carrying out the. railways’ business. * » On Train Without Ticket. An .unusual case came before the Magistrate in the Ashburton Court and was dismissed (says the Guardian). A local residen twas charged with having failed to produce a ticket to the guard on the Christchurch to Ashburton train. It was explained, on behalf of the defendant that he had no money to take him to Ashburton, so he obtained permission from the stationmaster at Christchurch to travel on the train and to pay his fare at Ashburton at a later date, on condition that he gave his name and address to the guard. This he did. The Magistrate held that as the fare, plus a fine of sixpence, had been paid the following day, and as the defendant did not have a ticket to produce, he could not be charged with failing to produce a ticket. * * Lore’s Labour Lost, Surprise and disappointment were expressed at Palmerston North last evening on learning the decision of the Dairy Association to meet next year at Whangarei. Palmerston had laid itself out to entertain the delegates to conference. It provided free admission to the local picture theatres, two motor-car excursions, the freedom of the golf course, and the hospitality of the Cosmopolitan). A local resident was charged gates also were entertained. Moreover the Town Council brilliantly illuminated the square and streets imparting a festive appearance, and a special souvenir book was published and distributed among delegates, all with the evident desire to win the conference back to Palmerston. Therefore the decision to meet next at Whangarei came as a suiprise, not to put too line a point upon, it. * * Afforestation Scheme, There is every likelihood that the State Forestry Department will start a big planting scheme that will require the employment of 100 men within a few weeks, and that will eventually extend into a huge project giving employment for many years (states a Christchurch message). It is probable that a start will he made with an area of about 4000 acres and that the work will develop until 10,000 to 20,000 acres are planted. The Horrelville dis-

trict, about 20 miles out of Christchurch, is flat country, and the planting will be between the railway and the Waimakariri River, so that the plantations will be very accessible. The proximity of the district to the city will make it suitable for work for the unemployed, and it is hoped that the scheme will go a long way towards solving this problem. .