NEWS OF THE DAY

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 69, 18 October 1930, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

««| LOVO You". "When they say 'J love you', I feci sometimes like running away", said Jan Kubclik, the noted violin- j ist, to a Wanganui "Chronicle'' ae- j porter, when discussing women's voices im the "talkies". Coupons and Gifts*. "Rotten trading", was the tense description applied by Mr. C 13. Smith at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce to some of the coupon and gift schemes in vogue. Other members spoke deprecatingly of the schemes, and Mr. F. H. Claphani considered goods would be cheaper if they were abolished. Ragwort. Particularly on the northern coasts (says the Northern Advocate) ragwort is becoming a menace to Auckland pastures, and the Agricultural Department has organsed a campaign aiming at educating farmers in better control measures. Roadside Fern-Burning. The Stratford County Council decided this morning to instruct foremen that fires must not he lighted on roadsides where there is danger to fences, and that they would he Held responsible for any damage done. The chairman (Cr. Anderson) ' said old totara posts would burn very readily, and Cr. Mounsey said that the fires did quite a lot of damage to the wire. The Cost of a Suit. "Another bale of wool gone west", said a district farmer to a Mataura. Ensign reporter the other day. He explained that hie had eight hales of wool off his 200 acres last season. He had just sold it and went to his tailor and ordered a suit of clothes. The suit cost £7 10s. A bales holds 50 fleeces and weighs about 3001 b, he said, and he had sold at G per lb, so the .07 10 just paid for the suit of clothes representing the value of the bale of wool.

Rir-ging-rn in FootbaKl, "Tlio Canterbury Rugby Union at present is trying to formulate a scheme to do away with rules and by-laws", said. Mr. "W. Britten, responding to a toast at the Sydenham Rugby Football Club's annual ordersmoke concert the other evening. "In order to do this", Mr. Britten said, "the players must play the game". It was hoped that this scheme would do away with the riug-ng-in which was going on every Saturday, but whi)h, unfortunately the union was powerless to stop. Well Questioned* Applicants for the position of caretaker for the West End baths Tim am, had to stand the fire of the town fathers as to their qualifications. Mr. Hunt (to one applicant): Have you ever been in a position lik-o this before! "I've been manager o fa butcher's shop", was the reply. Mr. Bcnstead: Are you a life-saver? —"I know all ' about first aid". Another councillor (to another lapplicanj): "dan yttu administer first aid?"—"No", was the reply, "but I'd get a hand-book on the subject ,and if I got a Chance I'd bring anyone round".

Proficiency Examinaitiora. A new system of conducting proficiency examinations will be inaugurated in tlio primary schools this year. The Education Department is conducting a survey of proficiency results right oth rough the Dominion, and with this end imi view synchronous examinations will he held for all candidates in their own schools on November 20 and 24. Instead of the examination papers being set hy the inspectors as at present sealed papers will be distributed by the department, so that the examination will be uniform right through New Zealand. In the smaller schools the papers will not be marked by the teachers, but in the larger ones the papers will bo marked and then sent in to the senior inspector for verification.

Darker Reduced, In his report to this morning's meeting of the Stratford County Council the Engineer reported that the entrance to the Ngaere dairy factory had been considerably opened 1 up. This, he thought, should greatly reduce the traffic danger which existed at this point. Unemployment Levy. Forms of registration in connection with the unemployment levy will be available at the Post Office on Monday. Every person over twenty years of age i s required to register, and failure to register is punishable by a fine not exceeding £SO. In' addition, anybody employing a person who has failed to register is liable to fine not exceeding ,£2O.

Plenty of Scope. At Friday's meeting of the Taranaki Power Board Mr. It. J. Knuckey said that the Engineer's return of new installations showed that it was Quite wrong, as some did, to suggest that the Board was near the end of its tether. Personally, he thought there was still plenty of scope for expansion. The chairman' (Mr. N. H. Moss) said the Board might be faced with the problem of meeting of demand, hut the Government current would soon bo through and ease the position. The Ugly Men. Seventy-fice of the ugliest peoplo in London ,travelled to Heme Bay, Kent, by motor 'coach. They were members of the Society of Nature's Misfits. Their president says that ho is the ugliest'diamond broker in Europe. Because ho found his unprepossessing looks a social handicap he formed the society for 'social self-protection". The society has among its members six of the ugliest members of the Stock Exchange, an ugly comedian, and a soap manufacturer A "Wo spend every week-end together. Any member taking steps to make himself good looking is expelled. We search London to find the ugliest motor coach drivers to take us away at week-ends", says the president. Dangerous Trefcp. A member of the Taranaki Power Board reported at Friday's meeting of the i'card that a settler inV his district objected to having his trees cut down—he said the trees 'were not ddngjerotis and that} the could not have them cut down till further shelter grew- up.. The chairman (Mr. N. H. Moss) expressed opinion that in some cases people did not realise the importance of havng trees cut down, in the interests of the Board and the community generally. The Board had power to cut down trees without the owner's consent, but ho thought that if the position Iwas properly put to owners they would give their consent.

Lightning Interference, In his report at Friday's meeting of the Taranaki Power Board the Resident Engineer (Mr. B. H, Goldsmith) stated: On September 23rd the north feeder was affected by lightning, apparently a direct stroke, and the disturbance penetrated the protective apparatus at the power station and caused a flashover in the terminal box of No. 2 generator. A few seconds' interruption to the supply occurred while the No. 1 machine was put on the line. Very little damage was done and the set was again in commission about two hours later. This is the second occasion on which lightning has caused trouble in the plant*, aaid (an alteration is being made to the protective equipment in an endeavour to avoid further trouble of the same nature.

A Scotsman's Trousers, Can Auckland boast. a pair of trousers with a record approaching these blue shorts? (asks the Star), Originally the property of a Scotsman, they were acquired (as a Christmas present) in the form of a pair of beautiful tailor-made wdiiter duck cricket trousers. however, did not go too well with the Caledonian, and after a season he was obliged to take a job as a cleaner. He had the pants dyed blue , and \ised them when weilding a broom instead of a bat. Fortune gave lier wheel another turn and the Scot found himself heir to an unknown uncle who had made a fortune in the United (States. The trousers presented a puzzle to their owner, for, being blue, they could hardly be used for another season at cricket. But will found a way, and they wen? cut down into shorts and used for gardening,, and, on very spe-dial days, for imderkilt wear. And this summer it is rumoured that M'Tavish will squeeze another season's wear out of them on the beach!