LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3818, 7 October 1936, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A resolution in regard to calendar reform was moved by Mr R. L. Barclay, of London, at the Commerce Congress in Wellington yesterday, urging l ! His Majesty’s Governments throughout the Empire to use their influence to secure the adoption of a perpetual 12 months’ calendar, divided into equal quarters of 91 days, with New Year’s Day undated, and with a fixed date .for Easter. The mover mentioned that the matter was to come up at the League, of Nation’s meeting next year. The motion was carried, with few dissentients.

Support for the proposed visit of two Japanese athletes early next year was given by a meeting of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic' Association. The centre also decided to co-operate in any endeavour to secure a visit from the American athletes who will probably be touring Australia. In. a letter to the centre, the New Zealand association stated that it proposed to invite a Japanese l , jumper and a middle distance runner. The total expenses would be about £4OO.

The result of the official count in the Manukau by-election was announced yesterday by the returningofficer, Mr D. Smith. A total of 12,591 valid votes was polled and they were distributed as follows:—A. G. Osborne (Labour) 8593, F. W. Doidge (National) 3,998; Majority for Osborne 4,595. Compared with the provisional count on the night of the election Mr Osborne’s figures have been increased by 352 and Mr Doidge’s l by 168, while Mi’ Osborne’s miajority has bee>n increased by 184. On the provisional count 29 votes were, set aside as invalid, but on the official count these were reduced to 22.

When returning from the Taumarunui Racing Club’s meeting at- Paeroa on Monday evening the well-known Te Awamutu taxi proprietor, Mr Frank Verner, had the misfortune to meet with an accident that resulted in the total destruction of his car, but fortunately both driver and passengers escaped serious injury. It appears that at a right-angle bend in the road just north of Mangaiti the car skidded, and before it could be righted it left the road and crashed into a telephone pole, and capsized. The smash was not especially severe, but the impact caused fire to break out, and before remedial measures could be adopted the vehicle was soon a mass of flames. The driver and passengers were taken to Te Aroha by other cars, and subsequently they reached home. Much sympathy is extended to Mr Verner, for he had not long commenced business on his own account, and the destruction of his vehicle means a considerable loss to him, even though it was insured.

The new miniature rifle range at the local District High School is to be formally opened on Saturday afternoon,- when it is hoped a teams match will be fired, with six teams competing.

A reminder is given of the novelty concert to be given by Waikeria Borstal Institute’s concert party at the local Empire Theare to-morrow evening in aid of the local St. John Ambulance funds.

A denial that there would be any element of dictatorship in the administration of the Industrial Efficiency Bill was given by Mr J. Thorn (Government —Thames) during the debate on the Bill in the House of Representatives last night.

On Wednesday evening Te Awamutu Drama Club will entertain its members with extracts from Shakespeare’s plays, “Henry VI1L”, ‘ The Winter’s Tale,” and “Romeo and Juliet.” These will be followed by an acted and dressed one-act play, “ The Man in the Bowler Hat,” a most amusing farce which should prove a finale to a very entertaining evening.