LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 9 December 1937, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Friends of children having a surplus of gooseberries or rhubarb are invited to make some available for the Methodist Children’s Home, Herbert Street, for making into jam. Boys could be supplied, to pick the berries if not too far awav, and the management would be deeply grateful for any help received.

The Southland Swimming Centre decided last night to nominate Joyce MacDonald as a member of the Empire Games team. Joyce MacDonald, who is 15 years old, is the present holder of all Southland intermediate girls’ freestyle and backstroke titles and holds the New Zealand intermediate girls’ backstroke record. She has been nominated for the women’s backstroke.

At the Magistrate’s uourt at Featherston on Tuesday before Mr H. P. Lawrv, S.M., Gordon Burt, dairy farmer, of Featherston, was charged, on the information of the Inspector of Stock, Mr A. T. P. Hubbard, with having sold cream for human consumption from an unregistered dairy. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £5 and costs £1 Is. R. R. P. Hardy, dairy farmer, of Featherston, was similarly charged with having sold milk from an unregistered dairy and was fined £2 and costs £1 Is.

On the ground that it had obviously been sought only as a short-cut to divorce, an application for an order granting restitution of conjugal rights to Alexander Hewson, farmer, of Cambridge, against Agnes Florence HCwson, was dismissed by Mr Justice Callan in the Supreme Court at Hamilton yesterday. ‘ ‘ Though lam sorry for these people I cannot grant the application,” said his Honour, “for it is apparent that they are just trying to take a short-cut to divorce. The only inference that can be drawn from the letters to one another is that realising their stupid mistake in marrying they evolved this method of securing a divorce.” It was shown that the parties were married as a result of an advertisement.

The judging of the calves entered in the Greytown group of the Wairarapa District Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs’ annual competitions took place at the Greytown District High School on Tuesday afternoon. Although the entries were not as numerous as those received last year, a high standard was maintained throughout. The judge was Air H. J. Farley. The following are the results: —Championship, Noel Hutchings; type, Noel Hutchings 1, Joan Gray 2, Lorna Gordon 3; rearing, etc., Jean McKenzie 1, Rae Humphries 2, Ron Hutchings 3. Class results: Type, S. 5,6, Joan Gray I, Lorna Gordon 2, Jean AlcKenzie 3; S. 2,3, 4, Noel Hutchings 1, Marjorie Gray 2, Rae Humphries 3. Rearing, etc., S. 5,6, Jean McKenzie 1, Joan Gray 2, Lorna Gordon 3; S. 2,3, 4, Ronald Hutchings 1, Rae Humphries 2, Noel Hutchings 1, Rae Humphries 2, Noel Hutchings 3; best kept records, Lorna Gordon; consolation prizes, Ron Harris 1, Georgie Dickens 2, Margaret Gates 3. Alinimum conditions of employment of sharemilkers have been agreed upon between farmers’ and workers’ organisations, states the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. Legislation will be necessary to give effect to this agreement, but the proposed Bill will not be introduced before the adjournment. “The Government hopes, however,” states Air Armstrong, “that where sharemilkers’ agreements are not equal to the proposed minimum conditions, an alteration will be effected without waiting for legislation which will be dealt with at the earliest opportunity after Parliament reassembles.” It is stipulated that a sliaremilker whose duties comprise only milking and care and feeding of stock, including pigs, shall receive not less than 25 per cent of milk and cream payments and deferred payments. Where he also does maintenance work, he shall receive not less than 33 1-3 per cent in either case, after deduction of cartage of cream and milk. He shall not contribute towards the payment of any shares or receive any payment from the share bonus unless otherwise mutually agreed upon. A lengthy and detailed statement is given of the conditions in which the owner of the farm and the sliaremilker are to participate in numerous items of costs and income. 1

The Masterton Technical High School annual break-up function will be held in the Municipal Hall this evening at 7.45. The speaker will be the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P. All parents, old pupils and the public arc cordially invited. During the evening a presentation will be made to the principal, Mr O. 11. E. Yates.

A representative and enthusiastic meeting of the Eketahuna branch of the National Party was held at Eketahuna on Tuesday night, when the aims and objects of the organisation were explained, organisations matters arranged and officers elected for the ensuing year. Mr A. 11. Herbert was elected president; Mr P. S. Page, secretary, and Air O. Watson assistant secretary. A drive for members was arranged, a report to be submitted to an early meeting. The annual meeting of the Wairarapa Sub-Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A. was held in Masterton. last night. Air J. Nyhan presided. The following dates for .sports meetings were approved: — Mangatainoka Club, 27th December; Masterton Club, 22nd January; Nireaha Club, Easter Afonday; Wairarapa Caledonian Society, Ncav Year’s Day; Mauriceville Club, sth Alarch. Arrangements were discussed for the proposed visit to Alasterton early in the New Year of the American coach, Alfred Fitch, who is under engagement to the Wellington Centre A.A.A. Firebligkt has again broken out in Gisborne orchards in a fairly severe form. The area affected is in the vicinity of the Waimata River, including Haiti and Whataupoko, but so far it has not been found in any other part of Poverty Bay. Whataupoko and Haiti were the areas' mainly affected in last season’s outbreak, but the disease has not spread yet to tire whole of the orchards where it apireared last summer. Infection at present is mainly confined to apple and pear trees. Every effort is being made to eradicate the disease by tutting out and burning. Difficulties in working the 44-hour week and in obtaining sufficient labour for their requirements are causing grave inconvenience to many of the private hotels in Auckland. Several of the better-class private houses have already ceased supplying luncheon and dinner and only this week the proprietor of another well-known boardinghouse was forced to advise his guests that he would be unable to cater for luncheons and teas. The house had been successfully operated for more than 11 years as a private hotel, and it was only because of the difficulty in obtaining “labour, the proprietor explained, that he had been compelled to turn his house into a bed-and-breakfast establishment.

The percentage of the 305 pupils in the Danhevirke High School unable to swim on Ist November was 10, and the percentage who cannot swim more than one length of the baths was 15. For the past fortnight these pupils have been receiving instruction daily in the baths and excellent progress has been made. The school is 'particularly f ortunate in having on its staff one so highly qualified in this work as Mr D. P. Lindsay, M.A., who in addition to representing New Zealand overseas as a swimmer has made a study of modern methods of tuition of children. Under his supervision all the pupils in the school are at present receiving instruction in the rescue, relief and resuscitation methods of the Royal Life-Saving Society. The monthly meeting of the CaTterton School Committee was held on Monday evening, Air H. J. McKenzie (chairman) presiding, The headmaster, Air McPherson, submitted his report for the past period. It was reported that the spoil from High Street now under repair by the Main Highways Board, was being used to fill up the swamp on the new school grounds. The headmaster advised that the annual school ball would be held on 15th December and. various members of the committee were delegated to assist. It was decided that the Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner, be invited to address the children on the occasion of the break-up. It was agreed that the monthly meeting be held in January and not eliminated as in previous years.

“Any action, such as a quota on English goods entering the market will, as surely as the sun sets, bring a quota on our primary products entering the United Kingdom,” said Mr C. W. Budd in his presidential address yesterday to the annual meeting of the United Kingdom Manufacturers and Ne w Zealand Representatives Association at Wellington, when he reviewed recent economic and political trends in New Zealand, especially relating to trade between the Dominion and Great Britain. He said he hoped that no “drastic and unwarranted” action would be taken by New Zealand. Everything possible should be done to facilitate a. more free exchange of goods between New Zealand and Great Britain, which was the main and best market for the primary produce of the Dominion. Numerous complaints have been received by the Automobile Association (Wellington), regarding the method ad.opted by the Public Works Department in tar-sealing the Western Hutt Road. It appears that last Friday one side of the road was sealed for a distance of about two miles and .before this portion was sufficiently dry for the use of motorists the Public Works Department proceeded to seal the other side of the road on the following

morning. As a result the sealing was not dry on any part of the road and it was lifted and thrown up on to the chassis and bodies of cars by the wheels, causing considerable inconvenience and annoyance to motorists. The Automobile Association has protested to the Public Works Department with a view to the work being completed in a more satisfactory way. The conversion of two cars and the theft of 15 gallons of petrol were reported in Carterton on Tuesday night. It appears that an attempt was first made to gain access to the garage of a motor firm in Carterton, but, this being unsuccessful, a car in a private garage nearby was removed, to be changed shortly afterwards for another car parked in a Carterton street. The owner of the second car on leaving the residence he was visiting, found, to his surprise, a car which was not his own, parked outside. The missing car was discovered yesterday morning abandoned near the Waiohine Bridge on the main Carterton-Greytown road. It appears that when the second car was taken, a visit was paid to the garage which had first received attention and two petrol pump locks were broken and 15 gallons of petrol stolen. According to the speedometer of the car, a .journey of about 100 miles was made before the car was abandoned. During the journey a tyre was punctured and in the attempt to remove the spare tyre, the rear of the vehicle was damaged. The police are investigating the matter.

A Hollywood cable states that the Australian film actress Jocelyn Howarth has been granted a divorce from George Brent.

The Government has purchased land in Pahiatua upon which it is proposed to erect twelve houses.

A display of the work of the pupils of St. Bride’s Convent will be held at the Convent from 2 till 5 p.m. to-morrow (Friday). Parents and friends are cordially invited to be present.*

The hon. treasurer of the Alasterton branch of the Plunket Society desires to aeknowledge j the following subscriptions with thanks: —Mrs R. Keltic £2 2s, Airs B. J. Roach £1 Is, Airs Y. Welch 10/-, Mesdames J. R. Donovan, L. P. Chcsterman, L. W. Hutchison, F. AI. Alorton, B. G. Dean, S. J. Daken, T. Smith and Paul Wilton, all 5/-. At about midnight on Tuesday night, Air H. F. Toogood, who was returning from Te Wharau, where he had delivered a political address, was implicated in a collision at Ahiakouka, states the Greytown “Standard.” Air Toogood alleges that he was well on his right side of the road when the impact occurred. The other ear bore a Government number, and both were more or less damaged, though no one was injured. A trout weighing about 211 b. is reported to have bfeen found in the stomach of a shag shot in the Wairarapa district. A letter to this effect was received by last night’s meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s council from Air J. Bull, Alasterton. He stated that he had been shooting extensively in the shaggeries of that district and had found trout in the stomachs of most of the birds killed. A 241 b. trout would measure about 20 inches in length and would be about four'inches in depth.