General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22516, 26 September 1938, Page 10

General News

Parliament in November At the moment it is planned to hold the first session of the new Parliament in November of this year. An Extraordinary Gazette published in Wellington calls the General Assembly together on November 17. As with all such documents, the summons from the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, is interesting if only for its wording. The message says: "Know ye that I, George Vere Arundell, Viscount Galway, the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, being desirous that the General Assembly of New Zealand should be holden as soon as may be, do hereby summon and call together the said General Assembly to meet at the Parliament Houses, situated in Bowen street, in the City of Wellington, on Thursday, the seventeenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, at twelve of the clock at noon." "Politics a Serious Matter" "I want to impress upon you that politics are a serious matter, and you must be aware of the significance of your position as bosses of the politicians," said the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) at a ball, held by the Motueka branch of the Labour Party. "Politics are not a matter of likes and dislikes, but the bread and butter of existence. You must therefore not treat the election as a matter for personalities, but as a matter of tremendous importance to you and your country." In the depression years the Minister said enough tears were shed by the people, underfed and underclothed, to fill a reservoir or even put out ail the fires at Motueka. Now there was prosperity and security, and if people valued them they would vote Labour on October 15. The Minister was given a rousing reception.

"Returned Soldiers Disillusioned"

"Soldiers who returned from the last war came back to find a place hardly fit for heroes to live in. They were treated just as returned soldiers are always treated. They were disillusioned and realised the futility of war," said the Rev. W. E. D. Davies, who is a chaplain to the forces, last evening, when about 80 returned soldiers made their annual parade to St. Matthew's Church. "But did they throw their weight in with the moral and spiritual workers as they should have done?" he asked. "They were apathetic, and even blamed the churches for the war, a foolish thing to do. But now the young men are measuring up to a discipline that is almost self-imposed, and the future lies in them." During the last five years the war men had been coming back to the church, realising its value at last, and were giving the lead to the younger men. Railway and Shipping Rivalry What he described as "unnecessary competition" between the railways of New Zealand and shipping interests was referred to by Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., in proposing a toast to "The Mercantile Marine" at the combined shipping companies' annual smoke concert at Wellington on Saturday night. Mr Wright spoke in particular of the South Island Main Trunk railway, now under construction. When completed, he said, the line would never even pay for axle grease. It ran along the coast and would not open up new country. "All the line can do," said Mr Wright, "is to carry produce and passengers from Marlborough to Christchurch. We were told by the people who advocated the scheme that it would do away with the long sea trip up the coast, but no man outside Porirua, who has travelled from Dunedin to Christchurch by train, would believe in going up to Blenheim when he could get a comfortable berth on a fine steamer."—Press Association. • Rumour of War "The rumour that war has been declared is without foundation," the broadcaster announced during the Geraldine Racing Club's meeting on Saturday afternoon. This statement was issued to counteract rumours of a general declaration of war, which caused concern to many racegoers. A wireless enthusiast reported that general mobilisation had taken place .in Czechoslovakia, and this was exaggerated, as it passed from person to person, to a statement that general mobilisation had taken place. An announcement over the course broadcasting system that the Hon. G. R. Hunter was wanted in Wellington made some people jump to a wrong conclusion that war had been declared. Bombing Competition at Wigram A bombing competition for members of the Canterbury Aero Club was held at Wigram yesterday morning, 12 pilots taking part. The club's Taylor Cub machine was used throughout the competition, with flour bombs as missiles. The winner was A. F. Potter, with G. M. Hare second. Dominion Day The thirty-first anniversary of Dominion Day falls to-day. The day is observed in remembrance of the advance of New Zealand, largely brought about by the late Sir Joseph Ward, from the status of colony to that of Dominion. It is not a general holiday and is not very widely observed now, but it will be kept in Auckland by members of the legal profession, by banks, by the Stock Exchange, and a. few others. The Supreme Court has adjourned for the holiday, but the Arbitration Court will continue its sittings and will deal with a compensation case. New Jewish Year The year 5699 in the Jewish calendar begins to-day, and to mark the event special services were held in all synagogues throughout the world at the week-end. Starting to-day. • a period of 10 days' penitence will be observed, and will conclude on Wednesday, October 5, with the Day of Atonement. Continuous services will be held throughout the final' day, which is observed as a rigid fast. Services in Auckland will be conducted by the Rev. Alexander Astor: The date of opening the new Jewish year is movable. Last year it began on September 6, and next year it will open on September 14.

Special Passenger Carriage

A special passenger carriage for the convenience of motorists who have trucked their cars and are travelling between Otira and Springfield, and vice versa, has been provided by the Railway Department. The" carriage, which will accommodate 16 persons and which has firstclass seats and a stove, was a de luxe car built for the South Island tour of King George V and Queen Mary when they visited the. Dominion as Duke and Duchess of York. Until about seven years ago it served as the vice-regal car. Large plate-glass windows will give tourists and others every opportunity of seeing the country between Springfield and Otira. Lodges and Security Scheme At the half-yearly meeting of delegates to the Otago District, M.U., 1.0.0. F., the following resolution was carried:-—"That this meeting records its firm conviction that the Social Security Act. in its present form, will have the effect of so seriously impeding the work of friendly societies as to threaten their extinction. Believing that the interests of our Dominion will be best served by fostering the friendly society movement, this meeting deplores the absence of provision in the act for the encouragement of these societies and the use of them in servicing the scheme."—Press Association.

Scouting on the Increase

"I believe that in five years we can have 20,000 boy scouts in New Zealand," said the Dominion Chief Commissioner, Mr H. Christie, at the annual conference of the Boy Scouts' Association. A. recent census showed that there were 12,437 scouts in the Dominion, 1347 more than the previous year.' World, scout statistics showed that the movement had to-day a membejship of nearly 3,000,000 scouts in 49 countries.

Sporting: Attendances

The opinion that an increased number of participants in various field sports, and the growing popularity of golf were factors contributing to the decline in attendance at sporting fixtures was expressed by members of a deputation that waited on the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, at Auckland. "I will not object to more people taking part— I do not, want too many looking on," the Minister said, in referring to the value of ample sports grounds in good order, and a physicallyift nation.