LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3827, 30 October 1936, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

There are 136 surviving members of the first New Zealand Contingent which embarked from Wellington on the Waiwera for South Africa on October 21, 1899, according to the annual report of the First New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association, adopted ar the 36th annual reunion at Wellington. The roll of honoured dead numbers 81. Of the registered strength of 136, 22 reside in England, South Africa or Australia.

For the nine days’ racing associated with the Labour Day holiday meetings the sum of £221,206 was handled by the totalisators, compared with £133,092 for eight days last year, an increase of 40 per cent. For the six days’ trotting the totalisator betting aggregated £111,275, against £76,205 for five days a year ago, this being an increase of 32 per cent. The respective grand totals were £332,418 and £209,297, the increase of £123,184 being 37 per c”nt. The Consolidated Fund will benefit by payments through the clubs of amounts in excess of £56,000.

A very successful social and dance was held at the Ngutunui Hall on Wednesday evening, under the auspices of the Anglican Church. Dance music was supplied by Mr Fred Beet, and extras by Miss Davies and Rev. Coldham-Fussell. Monte Carlo competitions wea-e won by Mr and Mrs H. L. Jackson and Miss Roa and partner. Mrs H. Steer contributed two delightful soprano solos. An ample and tasty supper was served, and all present voted the function very pleasant.

Asked at Pio Pio if there was any possibility of a reducted subscription, Mr W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union, answered, “Definitely no. The work ahead of the Union needed more money, not less. The weaker industrial unions paid a compulsory sixpence a week, while the stronger paid as much as one shilling a week, collecting an amount between a quarter of a million and half a million pounds annually. The Farmers’ Union collects £20,000, so that it was obvious from a point of view of financial weapons an unequal struggle.”

A very wrathful motorist called at our office yesterday afternoon to call attention to a very bad piece of roadway in the borough. He first asked if the Mayor of the town was a motorist, and when we assured him that Mr Spinley had not yet attained, or perhaps even aspired, to that dignity, he burst forth as follows: “Well, get him in a car somehow and run him along the road to Kihikihi a couple of times —and if he doesn’t get his eye-teeth jolted out I'm a Dutchman.” The aggrieved one, questioned, was found to be referring to the chain or two of roadway near the intersection with Raikes’ Avenue, where some improvement work was commenced several months ago, and left uncompleted. It is now, admittedly, in a very bad state of disrepair. Our inquiries go to show that a dispute has occurred as to who is responsible for restoring it to a smooth surface again. The borough authorities claim that the. P.W.D. is to blame, and the latter throw the responsibility on the Borough Council. Just when one or the other will do the work is uncertain — it is a “Kathleen Mavourneen” affair—but meantime all users of the road roundly condemn both parties. Surely a town of Te Awamutu’s claim to importance justifies a settlement, whatever the cause of or responsibility for the present disgraceful state of affairs.

An attractive concert programme is being arranged for presentation at the Parish Hall this evening, arranged by Mrs G. N. Newton under the auspices of the local Women’s Division, as an annual appeal for funds for social welfare work.

After running for six weeks the king carnival held at Te Kuiti in aid of the school funds concluded with a coronation ceremony and dance in the Ritz Theatre last Wednesday evening. A sum of £251 was raised. The town was divided into two sections, east and west, the west result being £lO6 and the east £145.

After investigation by the M to Z Public Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives petitions from Te Kuiti and Taumarunui residents requesting legislation for the taking of a referendum on the granting of liquor licenses in the King Country were reported back to the House yesterday. The committee’s report stated that as a question of policy was involved the petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration

A motor mishap which was somewhat unusual occurred in Alexandra Street at 8 o’clock last evening. A car, which had pulled up near the post office, was moving off and had not gathered pace, when another car, followed it from the direction of Arawata Street. They appeared to be in orderly procession when, of a sudden, a crashing sound attracted attention. The second car crashed into the leader, driving a protruding part of the luggage carrier through the radiator, and the effect was a cascade of steaming water—and a sudden retreat to the nearest repair shop.

Though the rain last Monday . and again last night has hampered progress with the reconstruction of the Great, South Road, it has been very welcome to dairymen. Already several farmers have commenced to make ensilage as a result of the successful spring growth. It is probable that, if the weather improves and becomes more settled within the next few weeks, hay-making will be in progress within about a month. Last year early harvesters were fortunate, for late rains early in December interrupted haymaking and ruined many crops, which after being cut had rotted in the fields.

The Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Regulations, 1936, giving effect to the recent mortgage legislation, are published under separate cover with the latest issue of the N.Z. Gazette. They provide the necessary machinery for applications to the Court in. respect of mortgages. Provision for the payment of a salary of £BOO a year, the same as previously, from October 1 this year, for members of the Court of Review of Mortgagors’ Liabilities, is contained in the regulations published with the Gaz ette. Also announced are the reappointments of Messrs R. S. Chadwick and A. C. Coleman as members of the Court of Review.

During the second reading debate, in Parliament yesterday, of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill, the Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser), said the clause making it Incumbent on hospital boards to provide ambulance services was also necessary to secure an exact definition of the position. At present ambulance service was provided in various ways—by the St. John Ambulance in some centres and by the free ambulance in Wellington. These services were proving highly satisfactory, but it had been thought necessary to define exactly the duties of a hospital board in providing conveyance of patients.

A request, «n behalf of the Pukekoha Cricket Association, that permission be given for the playing of cricket on Bledisloe Park on 'Sundays, was granted by the Pukekohe Borough Council last Wednesday night. The deputation stated that there would be no organised competition on Sundays. “Two years ago I would have opposed the granting of permission tooth and nail,” said the Mayor, Mr C. K. Lawrie, in moving that the Council consent to cricket being played on Sundays from 11.15 in the morning onward. “But times are changing,” he added. “Golf and football are played on Sundays and now we have bowls here too. I do not know that I would play, but we have to recognise that people will play in any case. Cricket is a good clean sport and young men are better playing it than congregating round the streets.” The motion was carried with only one dissentient.

Simultaneously with the rush for berths on steamers leaving New Zealand to arrive in London in time for the Coronation ceremonies have come many inquiries to the Government from New Zealanders anxious to secure the reservation of seats along the loute of the procession. “I have received a cablegram from the High Commissioner in London,” stated the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, yesterday, "that the number of. seats in the line of route available to New Zealanders is not yet decided, but probably will not. exceed 1000.. New Zealanders desiring this seating accommodation, should immediately communicate with the High Commissioner. Applications should be received before December 17, when the seats will, be allotted by ballot after the usual provision has been made for representative persons and others entitled to preference. The same procedure as outlined above is being followed by the other Dominions.” MiSavage added that the High Commissioner had advised that the price for seats had not yet been decided, but that it would not be excessive.

Reference to the successful development of the Aohanga station in the north eastern part of the Wairarapa .was made by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) during the debate on the Native Land Amendment Bill in the House on Thursday. Mr Broadroot said the property had originally been leased, but six years ago had come back under the Native Trustee for development. In the first two years there had been losses amounting to £15,000, but those had been wiped out and the profit over the six years was now £8390. In addition, the same rental had been paid to the native beneficiaries as had been received under the former lease. The latest valuation placed land and improvements at £lOB,lOO, and stock an’d plant at £42,550, a total of £150,650. The amount owing to the Government was only £84,000. That was only one instance of the remarkable success that had .attended native land development schemes, said Mr Broadfoot, and it was a strong argument for their extension in districts where large areas of native land were lying idle.

Power supply in the Te Rore district is to L. interrupted on Tuesday and Wednesday next, from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., to allow of some necessary adjustments being carried out by the Te Awamutu Power Board staff.

“Farmers had better be careful how far they go with the guaranteed price,” said Lord Elibank at Hamilton on Wednesday. “Otherwise, if it should be below the world market price they may be accused of dumping butter in the Old Country, and find themselves acting contrary to the Ottawa Agreement. I am merely expressing what may be the English farmer’s attitude under such circumstances. Supposing the world market price should be Is 3d, and the New Zealand price Is Old, obviously it would be undercutting the other farmers.”

The Government's appointment of Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour as manager of the national commercial broadcasting enterprise was referred to in Parliament yesterday. Colonel J. Hargest (National, Awarua) stated that on the assumption that the advertising revenue from the four commercial broadcasting stations would aggregate £lOO,OOO a year, the manager s reward for services rendered, on the basis.oi a salary of £5OO plus 71 per cent commission, would approximate ,' 8000 a year. The Prime Minister, replying, said applications for the position were not called by advertisement, but the whole matter of staff ing, including the appointment of a controller of commercial stations, had been discussed with the Public Service Commissioners. The commission fixed was more or less of an exploratory character, because he could not find anyone who knew what was really in it. A report would be submitted to him in three months, when the Government would have another look, not only at the matter raised in the question, added Mr Savage, but at every other part of the service. The object of the Government was to give the very best service that could be given.