NEWS OF THE DAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 77, 10 March 1931, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Midhirst Butter Advance The Midhirst Dairy Co. decided, at its meeting yesterday, to pay out lid for the February supply of cream for butter-making. No payment will be made in respect of casein. Adjourned The inquest of Nana Chhiba, the Hindu fruiterer who was Killed in his Bhop, was to have been held at. Hawera to-day, but has been indefinitely postponed. No statement has been made by the police.

Scout Jamboree "It has been stated that the next Scout Jamboree will be held in New Zealand. As a matter of fact no locality has been decided upon yet," said Lieutenant-Colonel Le Breton to a representative of the Christchurch "Press." "No plans have yet been made, and the jamboree might be held anywhere at all," he added. Passes Off "Is it not your experience that neurasthenia usually passes off when the strain of the case is over?" asked counsel in the Supreme Court at Wellington, when a doctor was describing the condition of one of the parties in an accident case. "It tends to pass off," replied the witness. Counsel (with a smile): "Especially if damages are awarded." Tit for Tat "Unfortunately, 1 thought I was dealing with a man whom I could trust!" stated a defendant from the witness-box in a case at the Stratford Court yesterday. "That's what the plaintiff tells me about you!" was the retort, obvious of the cross-examining counsel, and the court, smiled broadly.

Cream Supply The Masterton Dairy Company is making an advance of lid for February butter-fat. At a meeting of directors it was reported that unfortunately, in keeping with conditions that are general over the greater part of the North Island, the supply of cream had fallen off greatly as compared with the corresponding month last year.

Wages Bill First When the Address-in-Reply debate is disposed of in the House of Representatives, it is the intention of the Prime Minister-, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, to introduce legislation providing for a 10 per cent, reduction in the wages and salaries of Public Servants. This measure and a Bill giving the Arbitration Court power to review awards "in the light of the present economic conditions" will be the first to be brought down by the Government during the special session of Parliament which starts tomorrow.

Both Teaching A protest against the employment of a married woman teacher at a schol in a southern district was received by the Auckland Educatic\ Board on Wednesday from the local school committee, states the New Zealand "Herald." The chairman, Mr. Burns, said the husband and wife were teaching at neighbouring schools and in addition to their ordinary salaries each received a house allowance of T£4o a year. It was decided to place the case before the Education Department.

Equality in Everything Counsel in the Supreme Court in Wellington on Thursday used the term "sex equality" to rather neat advantage when urging that one of the plaintiffs, who was carrying certain scars op. her face as the result of a motor collision, should not be awarded substantial damages because she was a woman. "A man would not be greatly concerned about the scars," counsel argued. The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers): "It would depend upon his occupation." Counsel: "Oh, of course, if he were a beauty specialist or an actor. But in these days of sex equality we find the plaintiff doing a man's work and earning a man's wages. No doubt she feels very strongly about these scars, but when *K comes to a question of damages, t submit the disfigurement is not a ground for subtantial damages."

Drought in Hawke's Bay In the course of a trip to the Hawke's Bay districts, Mr. Chris. Moore, of Stratford, took notice of the effects of the drought, which afflicted the countryside. He stated to the Stratford "Evening Post" on his return home that he thought Marlborough and Central Otago were dry at Christmas time, but now in Hawke's Bay from the time of leaving Dannevirke it is a very dry place, not a blade of green grass being noticeable anywhere, even in the swamps. Round about Hastings the farmers were cutting down the branches of the willow trees and feeding it out to the stock. Outstanding in the barren outlook, however, was the great standby, lucerne, which was a beautiful green colour and ready to cut, while over the fence was barren land. "The position of the man on the land is unenviable," remarked one man to Mr. Moore. "It was bad enough with the poor prices for wool and mutton, but you can imagine what it is like after the upheaval."

Previous Napier 'Quake One of the pioneers of Napier, Mr. Frederick Peterkin, who is now living at Puhinui, near Papatoetoe, considers the recent Hawke's Bay earthquake was not as severe as the one experienced in the early 'sixties. At that time Mr. Peterkin was in his twenties, which makes his present age about ninety. He said that all the" chimneys and every piece of brickwork between the Spit at Napier and Waipukurau was brought down by the previous 'quake, and a brig and a schooner which were at anchor were left stranded at the first surge of the harbour bed. When the sea returned in a tidal wave, both vessels were carried inshore, and later had to be broken up. There was no loss of life, because all the buildings were of Avood, but a twostorey accommodation house was shifted bodily off its piles, and many of the houses were more or less damaged by falling chimneys. Mr. Peterkin is an old seafarer and a member of the Ola Colonists" Association.