LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2782, 1 December 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

In the examinations under the Electrical Wircmcn's Registration Regulations held recently, S. J. Kirkby, of Cambridge, was successful in the practical section. Remarking that the Coalition had come before the people without a policy and had asked for the electors' confidence, Mr S. N. Ziman, in the course of his address at the Town Hall last night asked, "What would you do if a man came to you and asked for a blank cheque?" Promptly come the reply from the back of the hall:— "Charge him twopence!" Employees of the railway workshops throughout the Dominion are being required to take three weeks' holiday in the Christmas and New Year, instead of the usual fortnight. It is stated that the programme of rolling stock repairs is so well forward that unless there is a suspension of the workshops operations, some further staff dismissals must take place. The great reduction in railway traffic during the past year has very substantially reduced the call on tho repair staffs, though an improvement in traffic would probably see tho slur-i ngain fully equipped.

“Have you paid your ‘dole’?’’ was the all important question yesterday. From appearances at the local Post Office it was evident that the “evil day” had postponed as long as possible. As yesterday was the last day before the penalty would be added to the unemployment levy, the usual last minute rush occurred and for the greater part of the day, the Post Office officials were kept busy collecting the quarterly five shillings. A new advertisement appears in today’s issue advertising the claims of Greosol. Sold by Mr T. H. Boyce Greesol is . guaranteed to bo a sure, ready removal of all grease and dirt from gas and electric ovens. Housewives have long been wanting a preparation such as Greesol, and a demonstration a few days ago convinced an Independent representative of its efficancy. It is claimed that Greesol will not injure the enamel on stoves and is not injurious to the hands. A “black shirt’’ brigade was recently organised to ensure that candidates are permitted to have a fair hearing at political meetings in and around Christchurch. It was to make its presence felt very shortly if the plans of a small committee of well-known citizens were carried out. The members of the committee banded together for action in view of howling down candidates recently. Most of the candidates, however, disapproved of the new organisation. Hotel keepers in Wellington state that the depression is hitting them harder than it is most people in business, and unless some relief is given them, some may be in a serious position. Against the wishes of most licensees the price of draft beer has had to be reduced from sixpence to four* pence in some of the public bars, the hotelkeepers say they cannot afford to sell at that price, because the brewers have passed the extra duty oa them and they are selling at a loss. “An hotel at the present time is not worth keeping, and we are losing money hand over fist, and this pricc-qutting business cannot go on,” said a W'ellington publican. Two bell boys on the Matson steamer Sierra, which arrivod at Auckland from Sydney on Saturday, are making their trip in order to earn money to allow them to complete their college education. When they arc not on duty, they occupy their time in “swatting.” An older member of the crew of the ship remembers that a lad who years ago made several trips as a boll boy on a steamer so that lie might be able to finish his college course in San Francisco, is now a vice-president of one of the biggest steel corporations in the world.