LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4560, 15 April 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A pedigree Tamworth boar, ownejl by Mr A. T. Rogers, of Ngaruawahia, attracted much attention at a gymkhana held at Claudelands on Saturday on account of its immense size. The animal, which was used in a weightguessing competition, weighed 9321 b.

A donation of £2OO has been made by Mr F. W. Burley, of Hamilton, to the Waikato Returned Servicemen’s Association, for the granting of benefits to returned men. The gift represents the fifth contribution of £2OO promised by Mr Burley five years ago.

Two appeals are set down for hearing before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee, which will sit in Hamilton for the first time to-day. Of 400 cases dealt with by Mr C. F. Allen, Hamilton district manpower officer, only two appeals have been lodged.

Fifty-seven years ago to-day the first sod of the North Island Main Trunk railway was turned near Te Awamutu. The ceremony was performed by the Premier, Sir Robert (then Mr) Stout, who had prominently associated with him Tu Tawhiao, eldest son of the second Maori king.

When a witness was giving evidence before the No. 4A Armed Forces Appeal Board in Palmerston North, he was asked by the Crown representative the date on which one of his daughters was married. “Well,” 1 can’t tell you the exact date,” was the reply, after a pause, “but I remember it was the day Phar Lap died.”

When the Finance Committee’s report was before the Otorohanga County Council at its monthly meeting on Monday, a small item appeared for a refund of rates. In reply to a Councillor, the Treasurer (Mr S. J. Fortescue) stated that a lawyer had paid his rates twice, hence the refund! Surely a rara avis in the legal profession!

“The position in regard to all local bodies, like the Otorohanga County, is that with a shortage of labour and the impossibility of obtaining materials, it will, in the future, be a question of ‘marking time’ in regard to all works.” —Cr V. W. Simms (chairman) at the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council on Monday.

Motor mechanics and other mechanical workers in Otorohanga have fornied a branch of the Hamilton Welding Club with the object of using the mechanical plant and labour available in that town for constructing equipment for the E.P.S. and the Home Guard. Although the Club is only in its initial stages, the members and keen and enthusiastic, and good work is being accomplished.

The Borough Council on Monday evening commended the Town Clerk (Mr Dudley Bockett) for being in a position enabling him to present the completed balance-sheet on the thirteenth day after the close of the financial year. “It is a commendable state of affairs when the extensive nature of the accounts is considered,” said a Councillor, who remarked that it must have meant the burning of a good deal of midnight oil.

“The Courier” reporter was busy writing his notes at the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council on Monday when the Treasurer’s statement was being presented. “Are we ‘in committee’ or is this for the Press?” inquired one Councillor. “I don’t think there is anything to be afraid of,” replied the chairman (Cr V. W. Simms) and the proceedings continued without interruption. The report appears in another column of this issue.

The residence of Mrs H. Beable at Hangatiki was a scene of activity on Saturday afternoon when about twenty ladies from Hangatiki district gathered together to learn the gentle art of constructing camouflage nets. Mesdames W. Calver, A. Paterson and S. F. Wilson were the instructors representing the Women’s War Service Auxiliary. At the conclusion of the afternoon, Mrs Beable thanked the instructors for their assistance, and, in replying, Mrs Wilson stated that it had been a pleasure to help such an enthusiastic and intelligent group of ladies.

The prolonged dry spell during the autumn had its effect on butter-fat production for March, when a sharp drop in the yield was recorded. During the month the Auckland Herd Improvement Association tested 96,684 cows, the average production being 4151 b milk and 22.21 b fat. For the corresponding month last year 105,879 cows were tested, the yield averaging 4841 b and 25.71 b fat. The best group in the association was Mokauiti, the 16 herds of 540 cows comprising it averaging 5131 b milk and 301 b fat. Mahoenui produced the best herd, the 19 cows in it giving an average yield of 401 b fat a cow.

At a meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council on Monday, a circular letter from the Pukekohe Borough Council was placed before the Council. This, in the main, advocated a universal basis whereby all people should be placed on the soldiers’ rate of pay and allowances. “Academic, but not practical,” said a Councillor when the circular was read, setting forward a long number of clauses. It was resolved that in view of its theoretical nature, and for want of practical data, the scheme submitted by the Pukekohe Borough Council be received. The same communication was before the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council at its meeting on Monday and jiere again the letter was merely received.

Before leaving the Council room on Monday evening, after conferring with the Te Awamutu Councillors on a wages dispute, Mr T. Potter, secretary of the Auckland General Labourers’ Onion, made reference to an earlier discussion relating to the issue and operation of building permits. He said the question had been discussed at the Easter Labour Conference in Wellington and it was clear that local authorities were expected to issue permits in terms of their building bylaws. It remained then for the holder of the permit to negotiate with the Government’s Building Controller and, he added significantly, “Just quietly it looked a pretty rosy prospect if the holder of the permit has taken care to see that the work is to be done by the Fletcher Construction Company and not by a smaller builder.!’