GENERAL NEWS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 3 October 1929, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Government of Rugby. At Last night’s meeting of the Rugby Union there was some discussion in reference t<> the recent conference at Inglewood on a* proposal to alter the system of governing Rugby in Taranaki, doubt being expressed as to who would call the further conference which had been decided on. Southern members reported that a petition was in circulation among southern clubs, asking the Union to call the conference. Fire Inquiries. Regarding the Mayor’s remarks at the Fire Brigade dinner in reference to the 'geed for inquirie g into the causes of fires Mr W. L. Kennedy points out that the power to hold an inquiry already exists. If he has suspicions, the owner of burnt property can complain to the police, who will ask for an inquiry if they think it desirable. The inquiry can he held hy a coroo.er 01 by a Justice of the Peace and a jury. Stratford’s Grandstand. - A letter from the Town Clerk, Stratford, was read at last night’s meeting of the Rugby Union, asking to be informed' of the intentions of the Union as regards the use if Victoria Park next season. The following resolution wais passed: The Union has no reason to believe that "it will not require Victoria Park the same as in previous years, and intend to honourably carry out the agreement made between the Council and the Union. Goal for Railways. During the past year the quantity of New Zealand coal utilised on the New Zealand railways reached the unprecedented figure of 356,724 tons, representing 84.25 per cent, of the total coal consumed. “It will also be noted,” says the Minister of Railways in. his annual statement, “that whereas in 1925 the total importations from overseas amounted to 313, 107 tons, which represented a percentage of 76.84 of the total consumption, the figure dropped’m the year under review to 66,675 tons, or a percentage of 15.75. in a State of Flux. “Regarding new works,” says the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. B. Traverner, in his annual statement, “I do not think it wise at the present time to make any final decision as to what mi slit he done some years ahead, principally for the reason that the railway position is in such a state of flux as may make a decision to-day more or less valueless in a few years. An outstanding example is the case of the Palmerston North deviation, ns to which, however correct the decision might have been at the time when it was decided to undertake the work there is not the slightest doubt that the conditions as thov exist to-day called for a. review of the situation, and 1 instified the Oovernment in its decision to stop the work.”