NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 283, 28 August 1942, Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF

Stabilization Plan “The Government is working on a plan to stabilize all wages and costs, and that, I think, will be a big faqtor in all our future negotiations,” said the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Mr. Barclay, addressing the electoral committee ot the New Zealand Meat Producers Board in Wellington yesterday. “The more stable we can keep our internal economy at present, the better will be our position at the end of the war. If we allowed prices to soar and then flop back we would not add to our strength. The only men who would benefit would be speculators and those in between the producer and the consumer.”

Upper Hutt R.S.A. Branch. . ' , The Wellington Returned Services Association has decided to enlarge the clubrooms of the Upper Hutt sub-branch in order to cater adequately for the increasing membership. t

Whey Butter. . An increase in the retail price of whey butter from 1/3 to 1/5 a lb. is authorized by a price order issued last night, me new price will apply at all points where a freight paid delivery is available. At other places the freight chargee may be added.

Manners Street Quake Damage. The special committee" of the Wellington City Council set up in connexion with earthquake damage and its implications to Manners Street (oyer which there is a street widening proclamation), met yesterday afternoon, the mayor, Mr. Hislop, presiding. .No statement wa issued for publication. Knocked Off Truck. Knocked off a truck in Petone at 3 p.m. yesterday, Mr. E. Topp, a seaman on a coastal steamer, received severe head injuries, injuries to his right leg, concussion and shock. The accident occurred at the corner of Richmond Street and Jackson Street, and he was taken to hospital by the Wellington Free Ambulance. His condition was reported last, night to be satisfactory.

Work Held Up. , The Liverpool miners returned home yesterday because of the refusal of the truckers to work under the clipping shed, where trucks are diverted to the main rope road. The truckers contended that the shed, which was damaged by wind, was in a dangerous state. The management’s promise ot early repair was considered inadequate. The waterside workers were also idle owing to dangerous conditions.—-I .A. Ambulance Trips to Otaki. In view of the extra cost that the Free Ambulance is involved in by the establishment of the Otaki Beach Hospital the Wellington Hospital Board acceded last night to an application by the Ambulance Association for a further increase to £2300 in the board’s annual grant tor the current financial year. The association is to be advised that if there is a loss in connexion with Otaki Beach Hospital the grant will be reviewed. The grant last year was ilbW.

Wellington R.S.A. , The Wellington Returned Services Association now has a membership ot 3460, of which 253 have returned from service with . the 2nd N.Z.E.k. The Wellington Returned Services Association has the second largest membership of all the Returned Services’Associations throughout the Dominion, Christchurch being the largest with 3488 members. There are now 1449 members of the various Returned Services’ Associations in New Zealand who have served overseas with the 2nd N.Z.E.I.

Firm’s Loss Through Fire. A dance studio on the upper floor ot Carey’s Building, High Street, Lower Hutt, was completely gutted by fire about 2 a.m. yesterday. The stock in the shop below was seriously damaged by water. The firm of Carey’s Cash Drapery Stores is a heavy looer as new season s goods had only just arrived and, under present conditions, are irreplaceable The Lower Hutt Fire Brigade eonhned the fire to the upper story. A dance had concluded shortly before the fire, which started in a kitchen attached to the studio, was discovered.

Properties Change Hands. For a sum of about £oooo the Gov ernment has purchased (for the use of the Health Department) a quarter of an acre of land in Hobson Street east from the Jackson estate. Another city property change has been the purchase by James Smith. Ltd., from Mr. Edward .Rowe ot the property adjoining the. Smith block in lower Cuba Street. This is a threestory brick building, having a frontage to Cuba Street of 40 feet by a depth of <0 feet. The Bruce Woollen Company arm Webby’s Club are tenants of this building. Extension of Hut at Railway Station. For the first few mouths ot its existence the Salvation Army hut at the Wellington railway station tor soldiers showed a loss, but the latest return showed a profit of £284 for the month. It was reported to the Provincial Patriotic Council that the change had been brought about through the enlargement of the hut and the provision of a kit room, where men on leave or returning from leave could leave their kits for. a few bouts free of charge. The council has now.decided to provide still another extension, agreeing to accept the tender of Mr. E. R. Glass at £750.

Christmas Postings. ■, r. Parcels for the Middle East and Great Britain, which the senders desire to be delivered in time for Christmas, shomd be posted not later than the end of beptember. Under existing conditions, the Post Office states that it can.gne no guarantee that parcels will be delivered on any particular date, and it is necessary, therefore, particularly in view of the' shipping position, (lint parcels intended for delivery before Christmas should be posted in ample time. ae Post Office strongly recommends that parcels should be packed in a strong and compact manner, and says it is desirable that they be sewn up in canvas, saekiu", or other suitable material.

Much Smoke, Little Fire There is no smoke without fire, but a house in Newman Terrace, Wellington, in the lunch hour yesterday produced more smoke than a small fire which had broken out in the sitting-room warranted. This was because the fire had got behind one of the walls, allowing the smoke, to spread all about the house, and by the time the brigade arrived the building seemed to be heading for destruction Ihe brigade soon discovered that the blaze, which had been caused by a radiator that had been left on, was' confined to part of the sitting-room, and put it out with one line of hose. The house is a two-story wooden building owned by Mr. M. H. Sisson, and damage was done to the sitting-room and its contents by tire and water. Machines from Central and Thorudon lire stations answered the call. Interpreter in Difficulties. Tlie impossibility of translating suing, common forms of address, and affectionate terms literally into another lan--uase, was indicated in the Supreme Court in Wellington yesterday, when two Yugoslavs were parties tn divorce proceedings before Mr. Justice Smith. The wife, who had been in New Zealand for four years, spoke little English, with the resuit that all evidence and crossexamination was taken through an interpreter. The implication of terms in letters and words used when husband and wife addressed each other, whether they were used formally or affectionately, was several- times closely examined. On one occasion, the use of the slang term “to hit it off” created some confusion be cause allegations had been made by the wife of blows received from her husband. Apology from Counsel. A comparison unfavourable to the Wellington police drawn by an Auckland solicitor in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, drew from Mr. btout. SM, a demand for an apology, after a breeze between counsel and the Bench. Objecting to the granting of a remand on the application of the police. Mr. W. Noble. Auckland. who had travelled specially to appear for an accused person, said: “They arrange things better than that in Auckland. I* was not prepared for this when I came. Mr. Stout, ine police probably did not expect an Auckland solicitor here. In a small matter like this it would have been natural to instruct someone in Wellington. further objection by counsel led to Mr stout asserting that Air. Noble was insulting and impertinent to the Const. When Mr. Noble gave an assurance that he was not referriiiK to the Court, the magistrate replied that it was the Court which granted the remand. Mr. Noble apologized when requested to do so.