LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 March 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Exhibition Attendance. At the centennial exhibition yesterday, the attendance was 44.729, bringing the total up to 1.979,633, a daily average of 17.3-10. Freedom From Fires. The services of the Masterton Fire Brigade were not called upon during the Easter holidays, the cqre shown by residents to minimise the risk of fire being reflected in the absence of an outbreak. Victim of Crossing Smash Dies. Mr John Murray Scott, divinity student of Lyall Bay. who was injured in the accident at the level crossing south of the Petone railway station yesterday, when a train collided with a motor car. died in the Wellington hospital last night. Military Enlistments.

The following are the latest enlistments at the Masterton Defence Office for overseas service: Messre J. Haxton, W. A. R. Churchouse (Masterton), P. J. Monaghan (Ekctahuna) H. J. Phelps (Martinborough): and N. M. Nix (Featherston). Spectacular Finish in Race.

One of the most spectacular finishes seen in such an event in the district for many years concluded the fifth Grand Prix conducted under the auspices of the Canterbury Auto-Cycle Club at Cust yesterday. R. Lawton (Wellington) beat B. Rosson (Dunedin) by 4 4-ssec., the distance separating them being about 30 yards. These two riders were among the first five throughout the race.

Gun Dog Championships. The Hawke’s Bay Gun Dog Championships were decided at Hastings during Easter. The Retriever Championship. was won by Mr M. A. Rawlins’s (Masterton) Labrador "Cleopatra May.” which dog also secured first place in the water section of the All Breed Championship. Mr W. Harding’s (Masterton) Curly-coated Retriever, "Maestrae,” secured second place in the Novice Water Trial.

Easter Trains Crowded. Trains in and out of Masterton during Easter holidays were well patronised. All trains were crowded, and there appears to have been more passengers travelling this Easter than was the case last year. Probably the petrol restrictions have something to dowith this, as many people found themselves unable to proceed on tours by car owing to lack of petrol. The rush had eased off today. Express goods trains to and from Hawke's Bay continue to travel via the Wairarapa owing to restrictions on the Manawatu Gorge route. Motorist’s Suggestion.

Stating that petrol rationing had reduced the private car owner to onethird of his normal mileage, a motorist suggested in a letter received by the Auckland Automobile Association that the cost of warrants of fitness, driving licences, and" insurance should be correspondingly reduced. “It is a novel suggestion,” said the president (Mr F. G. Farrell), “and should not be turned down.” It was decided to write to the North Island Motor Union informing it of the suggestion.

New Zealander’s Work in China. The establishment of the Chinese Industrial Co-operatives in the interior of China for the organisation of industry on co-operative lines was principally the work of a New Zealander, Mr Rewi Alley, said Mr J. Bertram, speaking at a League of Nations Union luncheon in Auckland. The organisation was of recent development and was the result of war conditions. It was established in, order to get the workers together so that they could be put into productive work. They had the right to elect their own committees and were not exploited by anyone. This was one instance of the good the war was doing China. Esperanto Club.

The Masterton Esperanto Club will open its 1940 season next. Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Club Room, in the Municipal Buildings. The secretary, Mr W. H. King. D.8.E.A., will be in attendance from 7.45 p.m. to receive new members. The first portion of fthe club evenings (each Thursday) will be devoted to tuition, following which items in the international language will be presented. A special class will commence study at lesson one, and continue weekly under the guidance of the secretary. The advanced class will be conducted by the club president, Mr A. G. Wiltshire.

Survey System in Schools. "I do not see how there can be lack of uniformity' in the procedure of promoting pupils in tlie schools,” was the comment macle by the chief inspector of primary schools (Mr A. F. McMurtrie) when a report from Akaroa “that inquiries wore being made about the alleged lack of uniformity of procedure in Canterbury schools" was referred to him. Explaining the accrediting or survey system which had now superseded the examination system in the primary schools, Mr McMurtrie said that there could scarcely be lack of uniformity as all pupils were now given certificates after completing a course in Form II (Standard VI). Another official comment was that there would not be a lack of uniformity, but some schools would probably be slower than others in accommodating themselves to the change from the examination system to the survey system. and this might give the appearance of a lack of uniformity. This would be rectified with time.

Maoris and Home Brew. Efforts are being made by the police Ito stamp out the drinking of "home brew" by Maoris in the far north. This action has been taken as a sequel to the death of a Maori in a brawl near Houhora. Two Maoris were at first brought before justices on a charge of manslaughter, but the justices did not consider (here was a case to answer and the charge was dismissed. Following this, the police brought charges against all the Maoris concerned of lighting in a public place, and fines of £5 wore imposed on each. When these cases were heard. Detective J. B. Finlay, Whangarei, said that Maoris were easily affected by liquor, but the vile concoction that some of them made as "home brew" was sufficient to drive them almost mad. The police had evidence that “home brew" was made in one of the Native Department's land development camps at Ngataki, and that both male and female Maoris were drunk as the result of drinking the brow. Many of these people were living in impoverished! conditions.