Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21065, 17 June 1938, Page 8

Local and General News

Widening Washdyke Bridge The urgency of the need for widening the Washdyke bridge is to be urged on the Main Highways Board by the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) as a result of a recommendation made to a meeting of tiie Council last night by the Roads Committee. In view of the number of accidents which have occurred there recently and the danger of flooding, it was decided to ask the Board to expedite the work as soon as possible. Road Sign Damaged In spite of recent prosecutions, hooligans continue to damage symbolic road signs erected by the Automobile Association (South Canterbury). At a meeting of the Council of the Association last night, the patrol officer (Mr F. T. Owers) exhibited a sign apparently wilfully damaged at the Ikawai bridge. The sign, a metal one on a wood frame, had been torn off its post and bent diagonally across. It was a brand new sign. The matter is now in the hands of the police. Fruit From Islands The island trader Mat-ua, which arrived at Auckland yesterday morning, escaped the battering from the gale which affected liners crossing the Tasman. The vessel encountered a heavy swell nearing New Zealand. Captain Whitfield is relieving Captain Prosser for six weeks. Having called at several islands in the Fijian, Tongan and Samoan groups, the Matua brought a good cargo of tropical fruit, including 16,350 cases of bananas, a small consignment of other produce, but no oranges. Why a “Limejuicer?” In the course of an address to the Wellington Rotary Club on the life of a sailor. Captain S. Holm spoke of ships and men who were called “limejuicers.” The reason for that was that in the days of sail it was a Board of Trade regulation that a pint of limejuice must be served to each man on board after being 14 days at sea. What was more, it had to be drunk under the eye of an officer. The lime juice was insisted upon to prevent an outbreak of scurvy. It took the place of vegetables, which were not provided in the Board of Trade’s scale of food. Control of Industry “In one brief Act we have all the machinery we need for the complete curtailment of private enterprise and for the introduction of State supervision and control," stated Professor R. M. Algie. organiser of the Auckland Provincial Freedom Association, in an address at Te Awamutu. He said it would be difficult, perhaps even impossible, to discover in any other part of the British Empire a single statute which placed more power than this in the hands of one political parly. The Act literally gave to the Government a stranglehold over the industrial, commercial and professional life of the Dominion. South End Ratepayers Al, a meeting of the South End Ratepayers’ and Householders’ Association, Mr F. Chittock presided over a good attendance of members. The ex-pupils of the South School advised that they would wholeheartedly support (he Association in its endeavour to have tennis courts provided in the south end After discussion a committee was appointed to inspect other sites which had been brought under notice and report to next meeting. The reply from the Council regarding the works brought before it was considered very favourable. The secretary was instructed to ask for the employment of a man to see that all channels are kept clear of rubbish, etc. Twenty-Five Years Old The Automobile Association (South Canterbury) will be 25 years old this year. At a meeting last night the Council discussed various methods by which the event could be celebrated. Present: Messrs S. G. McClelland (chairman), V/. J. Foote. M. B. Richards. Robert Wilson, J. Palliser, E. R. Graham, H. W. Lomas and G. J. Walker. Functions suggested were an “At Home” in the club rooms, a re-union of past office bearers and a ball, but the final decision was left to a later meeting. The following new members were elected: A. O’Boyle, D. G. Cameron, C. W. Don, W. W. Henderson, Miss L. A. S. Hurle, T. C. May, C. C. Murdoch, E. L. Stockdale. It was decided to make a donation of £3/3/- to the funds of the St. John Ambulance Association. Storage Battery Industry A Gazette notice published yesterday relates to the decision of the Minister of Industries and Commerce to declare the industry of the manufacture and/or assembly of secondary or storage cells and batteries commonly known as wet batteries or any part or parts thereof, dk subject to the registration provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act. The notice requires all principals engaged in the industry to forward to the secretary of the Bureau of Industry a completed form on which certain particulars are asked relative to the business concerned. Asked last evening for a statement in regard to this registration, Mr Sullivan said that following a request by the industry, the storage battery industry was recently brought within the licensing provisions of the Industrial Efficiency Act. “A plan,” he proceeded, “is now in course of preparation, but the Bureau of Industry desires to ascertain who are engaged in this industry and certain relative details, so that no one will be overlooked when discussions are being held regarding the plan. To obtain this information I have decided to apply the registration section of the Industrial Efficiency Act.”