LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 8

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Boys’ Band The numerical strength of the Boys’ Band recently established by Lieut. R. J. Simpson, conductor of the Timaru Municipal Band, continues to increase, there being 96 at the practice held last night. So far 30 boys have been issued with instruments, but the shortage is still very acute. Maintenance Arrears Michael O’Connor was charged in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., with the disobedience of two maintenance orders. The arrears amounted to £B5/2/2 and £24/5/7 respectively. He was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment at Dunedin in each case, the warrants to be suspended providing the current orders were paid and 10/- and 5/- respectively were paid off the arrears. Hours and Wages Pending a pronouncement of the Arbitration Court which is expected to be made in the near future, hours and wages were not discussed by the Conciliation Council in Wellington when considering terms of employment for shop assistants in the Dominion. The workers claimed a 40-hour, five-day week which would necessitate the closing of shops on Saturday morning. However, neither wages nor hours were discussed, and it was agreed to adjourn the proceedings till after the Court’s pronouncement. Milking to Jazz Band? “Rationalisation of the method of production is a sounding phrase, but in practice what does it mean?” asked Mr W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in his address to the annual conference at Wellington. “Some magic formula that will enable a farmer to work twice as long without feeling tired? Or perhaps an ‘efficiency’ expert will teach him to strip four teats at once in rhythm to a jazz band on the wireless.” (Laughter.) New School Buildings The Canterbury Education Board has a good deal of building work in hand at present, and is steadily overtaking the arrears that accumulated during the depression years. A block of two classrooms is about to be commenced at the Waimataitai School, Timaru, also special class-rooms at North Brighton and Ashburton East, and an additional block at Timaru West. Tenders for the erection of the new class-room block at the Elmwood School closed yesterday. This block will consist of four class-rooms of the open-air type and is to be built of wood. Referred to Children’s Court A young man of 17 who was described by SeniorSergeant Hewitt as abnormal and a borderline case, was dealt with by Mr H. -Morgan, {S.M., in the Children’s Court yesterday, after first being charged in the Magistrate’s Court with being found on enclosed premises. The licensee of an hotel heard the young man wandering about his premises at night, said Senior-Sergeant Hewitt. He had a sheath knife and a .303 rifle in his possession. The boy had been an inmate of a Government school. The police did not ask that he be punished but were trying to dp something for him. Historic Relics The title “Old New Zealand” has been given by the Turnbull. Library, Wellington, to its current exhibition of original manuscripts and pictures, dealing with phases of New Zealand life from the time of Tasman to the days of the Maori wars. In this exhibition are logs of the early voyages, careful dally journals of time-pressed but conscientious missionaries, portraits of Maori and pakeha who have made history, and vivid original sketches and paintings of early days. Very strange to modern eyes is the map of New Zealand made by Abel Janzoon Tasman in 1642, in which the North Island and the South Island form part of one long continuous coastline of a rather curious shape, and small anchors are set to mark the places visited by him. Other exhibits include the log of the Eendeavour on her first voyage to New Zealand under Captain Cook, the Rev. Samuel Marsden’s diary, early portraits and letters, and other old manuscripts.

Fisheries Investigation The task of investigating conditions in the fishing industry in the Dominion has been nearly completed by the Special Committee appointed by the Government, and the committee hopes to sit in Wellington next month. The personnel consists of Messrs J. Thorn, M.P. (chairman), M. Y. Young, assistant chief inspector of fisheries, and E. Seed, of the Department of Industries and Commerce. Every type of fishing carried out along the coast of the South Island was closely investigated, and a comprehensive Itinerary has been covered in the North Island. In the South Island the committee visited Christchurch, Kaiapoi, Akaroa, Taumutu. Greymouth, Westport, Nelson, French Pass, Blenheim, Plcton Kaikoura and Hokitika; and in the North Island, Napier, Gisborne, Whakatane, Tauranga. Thames, Mercury Bay, Whangamata and Auckland It is understood the North Auckland district is also to be visited, after which the committee will investigate the position and conclude its work at Wellington.