Local & General

Chronicle (Levin), 6 March 1948, Page 4

Local & General

National Party Caucus ; The 'deteriorafion of industrial relations will be one of three topics discussed at a caucus of the National Party - on April 2.. The ! other business will be consideration of reports of the recess committees j on international affairs and future action in connection . with Parliamentary affairs. • . Gun To Be Desfroyed How a retired farmer,- William Potter, aged 77, of Puketapu, was fatally injured ■■ while lifting a loaded shotgun from a heap of farm equipment in a shed was related at an inquest. A police ballistics expert, Senior-Sergeant G. Kelly, of Wellington, said hammer guns of all 'types were dangerous. It was an ' unfortunate fact that many people failed to realise they had not made the gun perfectly safe by merely uncocking it. "The circumstances show that Potter had the 'caught hammer,' acci'dent, with -which this office is only too familiar," said Mr. Kelly. The Coroner authorised the police to destroy the weapon. Mayor's Honorarium The Stabilisation Commission has refused approval to a proposal to increase the honorarium of the Mayor of Te Awamutu from £100 a year to £200 (states the Waikato Times ) . The proposed increase was agreed to by the outgoing iiCouncil a year ago, and supported by the Chamber of Commerce. The decision had to be made by the outgoing council as. the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act had* laid down that the council in office could not determine the amount of the honorarium. The commission has notified the present council that it will sanction an increase to £150 a year. The borough council has decided to appeal ag'ainst the commission's decision. Trout Thieves To Wfite Essay Three youths who took trout from the Utahina Stream by unlawful means last' November are to write an essay- as punishment. This was decided by Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M.,.in the Magistrate's Court. It was stated that the youths had acted hUan unsportsmanlike manner in catching the fish' with nets and sticks and w-ire netting. They had been apprehended by a ranger. "Trout fishing represents a very valuable national asset, in which yon as future citizens and taxpayers will have a substantial interest," said Mr. Paterson. He ordered them to ask the. Conserva-r tor of Fish and Game^-Mr. S. McNamara, to take them' round so , they could see what the' department was doing in conserving fish. After their visit they were to write a short account of what they had seen an'd hand it to the child wel- . fare officer.