LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23112, 29 January 1945, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Competitors’ Success.—At the Palmerston and Waihemo County A. and P. Association show on Friday, Mr C. S. Elms (Timaru) was awarded the champi'nship for pony i ridden) and Stuart Elms showed the champion pony (driven). Mi- Elms secured first place in the classes for 12.2 hands and under, driven and ridden, and for 14 and over 13.2 hands driven. Stuart Elms was awarded equal second in the class for best boy riders under 12.

Town Clock Stops.—Owing to a fault developing in the chimes and strikingmechanism of the Timaru town clock yesterday morning they were stopped, but the hands continued to “tell the time" till 5.30 p.m. when they too, ceased to function. The Borough Electrical Engineer. Mr R. D. Veitch, said last night, that, as there were frequent calls on the staff for Sunday work, it was not felt justifiable to bring a man on duty to adjust the clock, which would be attended to when the staff resumed duty this morning.

Tomato Price Order.—An amending price order for tomatoes, coming into force on February 1, has been gazetted. The maximum retail price in the Canterbury district from February 12 till April 30 will be lOd per lb. For the Westland provincial district and the Buller, Inangahua, and Grey counties the retail price will be Hid per lb from March 1 to March 31, and 1/11 from April 1 to April 30. In subsequent seasons the Canterbury period will be from February 1 to April 30, and for the other areas mentioned from February 15 to March 31, and April 1 to April 30.

Contract Let for Tavern.—Provided building permits can be obtained and labour and material are available, the Invercargill Licensing Trust will this year carry out a building programme involving about £60,000. This amount does not include any sums that may be spent on renovations to the Grand and Milford Hotels, which the trust is to take over. A tender has been accepted for building licensed premises in North Invercargill at a cost of about £7OOO. This building will be an innovation for New Zealand, as it will be a tavern for the sale of liquor only. Tenders closing on February 1 have been called for the erection of an hotel in South Invercargill. This building will have accommodation for about 16 guests. It is hoped that plans for an hotel at Avenal will be completed shortly.

Directing Maoris. —A policy concerning the native housing scheme being carried out by the Native Department at Otahuhu was questioned by a member of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee, Mr N. Crimp, during a case heard by the committee. An appeal had been lodged by a firm against the direction of a Maori carpenter to work at Otahuhu. Representing the manpower officer, Mr J. Muncaster said that a policy had been announced by which, if Maori labour was employed, the natives who purchased the houses would receive a subsidy from the Government. For this reason, he said, the manpower office would be directing a number of Maori carpenters to the work. “It looks as if the regulations are being used to direct native labour,” said Mr Crimp. “Surely any efficient carpenter, whose direction would not greatly disrupt the flrm concerned, could be sent to the job, independent of race or colour?” The firm’s appeal was dismissed.