ASHBURTON NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 233, 1 October 1931, Page 14

ASHBURTON NEWS.

Reduction in Allocation for Relief. (Special to the “ Star.”) ASHBURTON, September 30. At a meeting of the Ashburton Unemployment Committee this afternoon, Mr R. Kerr, presiding, it was reported that £573 0s 6d would be required to give the unemployed the customary two, three and four days’ work next week. The amount available was £3BO 14s and it was decided to give the twoday men one day, three-day men two days and the four-day men three days. In Ashburton work will be provided for 111 two-dav men, 155 three-day men and seventy-three four-day men. At Hinds work will be provided for nineteen men, Springburn nineteen and Mayfield three. The allocation was left to the postmasters concerned. Fifteen applications for work under No. 4a scheme were granted. Mr W. E. Leadley, representing the Unemployment Board, was present, and matters in connection . with the schemes were discussed in committee. Musical Recital. There was a large attendance at the musical _ recital given in St Andrew’s Hall this evening, under the auspices of the musical circles in Ashburton, in aid of the Marjory Alexander Fund. Miss Alexander, who is well known in Ashburton, having won the piano championship at the local competitions for three years in succession, contributed several items. Women’s Temperance Union. In the absence of the president, Sister Mildred (vice-president) presided over a meeting of the Ashburton branch of the. Women’s Christian Temperance Union held in the Baring Square Schoolroom yesterday afternoon. It was decided to assist the Plunket Society with the quick lunch counter on Labour Day, the following committee being appointed: Mrs H. Stone, Mrs Aitkenhead and Miss Jackson. The secretary of the South Canterbury District Union advised that Miss C. Henderson, corresponding secretary of the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union, would be available to address a meeting in Ashburton on October 20. It was decided to invite Miss M’Lay (organiser for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union) to visit Ashburton in November and spend a fortnight in the county. Mrs A, Thornton and Mrs C. Hopwood reported on the Temuka convention. Congratulations were extended to Mrs Robinson on her election as president of the South Canterbury District Union; also to the Hon D. Jones on his appointment as Minister of Agriculture. St Stephen’s Men’s Club. A pleasant evening was spent in games and dancing at the final social of the season of the St Stephen’s Men’s Club, when there was a good attendance, including a large number of members of the Girls’ Friendly Society. A competition was won by Misses Ida ITillier and Felsie Childs and a number of items were given, including a one-act play, in which Messrs R. M’llraith, L. Armstrong, C. Childs, M. Lees, J. Hamilton, S. Childs and H. Patterson took part. Messrs Patterson, Lees, Armstrong, Hamilton and C. Childs also gave a topical chorus. Music was supplied by Messrs R. B. Barnett and S. M. Cassidy. Personal. Mr D. Scrimgeour, who has been in the service of the locomotive department of the railways for thirty-one years, the last thirteen of which he was stationed at Ashburton, retired on superannuation to-day. Mr A. A. Craighead, who has been in the employ of Moore’s, Ltd., for the past eleven years, has severed his connection with the firm. Prior to his departure he was met by the staff and presented with an eiderdown quilt on behalf of the management and his fellow employees.