General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 194, 15 August 1936, Page 8

General News

I Parking Attendants. ‘ “It is time this business was cleared up once and for all,” said the president, Mr. A. Grayson, at a meeting of the council of the Automobile Asso- ' ciation (Auckland), when it was mentioned by the secretary, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, that, although the association had dispensed with the services ot street parking attendants, some of 1 these men were still requesting money from drivers. Man’s Pay for Man’s Work “If a boy of 18 cannot do a man’s work then he never will,” said Cr. J. S. McKay, chairman, when the Waimate West County’Council was discussing the proposed farm wage scale, which fixes the minimum wage for a man as being appli ..bie at 21 years of age. “If he earns a man’s wage he should get them,” Cr. McKay added, pointing out that Jiat was the practice of dairy factories. Repertory Societies “repertory societies have filled a gap in New Zealand and have helped the legitimate stage considerably,” said Mr John Farrell, manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in an address to the Timaru Rotary Club. “We welI come such societies and hope to seethem prosper,” added Mr Farrell, who mentioned that Elaine Hamill, the popular New Zealand actress, had been playing in a repertory production in Australia, and that it was from there that J. C. Williamson's had secured her services. The Wrong Bride. At a recent country wedding a re? markable resemblance between the bride and the bridesmaid (her twin) led to an embarrassed bridegroom and bridesmaid being nearly married. The bridesmaids, following the usual custom, had preceded the bride to the place where the ceremony was to be performed. Apparently, in the minister’s opinion, one twin was as good as another, and he proceeded with the ceremony. The prompt action of one of the guests probably saved the dazed pair from their fate and an indignant bride from the loss of her bridegroom. Weight Lifting. A world’s record for the middleweight class was achieved by L. Hogan, of Auckland, at the weightlifting competitions held this week. Hogan beat the world’s record for a pull-over at arms’ length by lifting 14511 b, this representing an increase of 511 b on the previous record. Three qualified judges, Messrs. J. Elliott, L. Wilson and G. Thornton, officiated, and the scales were tested and certified as accurate. Besides representing a world’s record, Hogan’s effort was a record for the middle-weight, lightheavyweight and heavy-weight classes in New Zealand and Australia. Safety First Campaign “This is the first step the Government has taken in introducing a safety first campaign, and it is the duty of all motorists to co-operate to bring that campaign Into successful operation,” said the chairman (Mr F. J. Williams) at a meeting of the Automobile Association of Otago when a letter was received from the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) in connection with the imposition of a speed limit of 30 miles per hour in all towns and boroughs. Mr Williams said he wished to impress on all members that the limit was to be strictly enforced, and breaches would result in prosecutions. The Legal Opinion Delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association in Hamilton waxed facetious at the expense of the legal profession when an opinion was received from a solicitor on a portion of the company’s articles of association. “What does it really mean, Mr Chairman?” asked a supplier when the secretary. Mr C. S. Stubbs, had spent, some ten minutes in reading the text of the letter. “Perhaps you would like another opinion to corroborate it,” observed another shareholder, amid laughter. “Never mind —we got a lot of words for our money,” added a third, to reduce the conference to laughter. Not so Big—But Home. Invercargill has taken on a new charm for Messrs. M. F. Woods and A. C. Gormack, who have just returned from a visit to the United States and Canada. After having been whisked up the Empire State building—the tallest in the world—in a lift travelling at 1000 feet a minute; staying in ; the Hotel Stevens (Chicago)—the biggest in the world—a place of oGOO rooms (and a bath, telephone an I i wireless in every room!) with a staif of 700; inspecting the San Francisco- , Oakland bridge—the biggest in the world; and standing small and insignificant near ftie thundering immensity of Niagara Falls (the widest fails in the world), they find their home town comforting in its smallness. Aerodrome for Taumarunui The establishment of an aerodrome for the Taumarunui district was discussed at the meeting of the Ohura County Council on Wednesday. The chairman, Cr. O. C. Pleasants, said the matter had been discussed at a conference of local bodies of the district, when a committee consisting of the chairman of the local bodies and 1 three members of the Taumarunui Aero Club was set up to report to a future meeting regarding a site and i other aspects. He had made it clear 1 that it would not be possible for the Ohura County Council to co-operate as a whole, as some of Its ratepayers • would bo nearer the Te Kuiti aerodrome. In any case he considered the : proposal was a long way before its ' time.

Struck Oil! Five years ago a comparatively small independent oil operator in Texas discovered the largest and richest field ever opened up. Known as the East Texas field. It is still running under its own pressure. The discoverer of that field, Mr Oliver J. Perren, passed through Auckland on the Mariposa on a round-the-world trip. He told of the hectic days that followed his discovery, how he had worked for four days and four nights without a break, how he had heard the newsboys crying in the streets of Dallas, “O. J. Perren discovers richi est oilfield to date.” Tense excitement. almost hysteria, followed, and to prevent operators from running their fields “wide open,” it was necessary to declare martial law. Mr Per. : ren was modest about his own fieldt*“I am only in a small way,” he saioT i “I’ve got 22,000 wells on the East ■ Texas field. My area covers 65 miles . in length, and is from two to ten ; 'miles wide.”