Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 8

Local and General News

Cyclist Injured Shortly after mid-day yesterday a young woman was knocked off her bicycle by a car in High Street. The cyclist suffered injuries to a leg, necessitating attention at the Public Hospital. Grant Approved Advice has been received by Mr Clyde Carr, M.P., from the Minister of Health (Hon. P. Fraser) that he had approved a grant to cover the cost of providing a fuel store and rubbish incinerator at the Timaru Technical College. Social Security A Feilding youth is stated to be receiving money for doing nothing. He refused to join a union and was dismissed by his employer, who, although anxious to retain his services, was threatened with prosecution. The youth applied to the Social Security Department for relief pay, and has been granted 10/- a week. Exemption Granted Farmers who cart milk and whey to dairy factories for neighbours as well as for themselves are exempted, by an amendment gazetted last night from the requirements of the Transport Licensing Regulations under which a regular system of payment would have to be agreed upon. The Transport Department has notified traffic inspectors to this effect. Society’s Membership During the last 14 years revenue from membership of the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Society has averaged £2OOO, a record of which the members may feel justly proud. The annual report of the society states that the membership revenue of £2206. the record total of 1937, was maintained, a sum of £2207/10/- being collected last year. Protection of Orchards Regulations permitting the use of certain substances for the protection of fruit trees and grape vines from insects and birds are issued with the Gazette. Orchardists may now resume the treebranding of stone fruits and the use of green birdlime sticks on vines. It is pointed out that this substance, when placed among the tendrils, acts only when the sun is shining, releasing the bird when it loses its tackiness. Counsel Rebuked The non-appearance of counsel in a case called in the Timaru Magistrate's Court yesterday was the subject of comment by the Magistrate, Mr H. Morgan. Addressing counsel after a brief adjournment, Mr Morgan said that the Court expected counsel to be on time when cases in which they were concerned were called, and the Court should not be inconvenienced by a tardy appearance. An apology from the solicitor closed the incident. Factory Employment The Minister of Mines announced that he is setting up a special committee consisting of two members of the Labour Department, two members of the Industries and Commerce Department and two representatives of manufacturers to discuss the whole situation relating to factory employment and the needs of secondary industry. This committee will report .to the Government at the earliest possible moment. Magistrate’s Court Mr H. Morgan, S.M., presided over a short sitting of the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Charged with riding a bicycle at night without a light, William Henry Loonies was convicted and fined 7/6 and costs 2/-. On a complaint for the disobedience of a maintenance order in respect of his wife, Ernest James Nixon was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as 15/- weekly is paid off arrears, £B/1/-, and current maintenance at the rate of 23/- a week kept up. Compulsory Training Advocated A motion favouring compulsory military training in preference to the voluntary system of defence was adopted unanimously at a meeting of the executive of the South Canterbury South African War Veterans’ Association on Wednesday evening. The motion was as follows: “That in view of the failure of the voluntary system of defence this executive seriously considers that compulsory military training is the only and most equitable solution to the Dominion’s defence problem and to meet the present urgent serious situation." The secretary, Mr H. C. Thompson, was appointed delegate to the Dominion Conference of the South African War Veterans of New Zealand to be held in Christchurch in August. Weight of Potatoes Over a period of years complaints have been made by waterside workers concerning the weight of potatoes in sacks. The matter was even the subject of conferences, it being finally decided that the weight should not exceed ISOlbs. For a time farmers gave attention to the matter, but it would appear that some are again becoming lax. Recently waterside workers in Timaru handled an overweight shipment, but did so under protest, and the Waterside Workers' Union has drawn the attention of the Grain and Produce Merchants’ Association to the position. In their own interests farmers would be well advised to see that the sacks are not overweight for the loss would be their own in the event of overweight potatoes not being handled.