NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 69, 18 September 1930, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Yesterday in Parliament.

The work of the House of Representatives at yesterday's sitting did not represent any appreciable progress towards tho close of the session, which is generally recognised as being not far distant. In fact, the day was productive of very little in the shape of real accomplishment. The whole of the afternoon was devoted to tho presentation of reports of select committees, and a discussion developed on the recommendation of the Agricultural, Pastoral, and Stock Committee that the Government should favourably consider .the petition of the New Zealand Pig Breeders Association for the removal of iniport duties on cereal and vegetable and stock foods. The recommendation was opposed by the Canterbury and Otago members, who contended that if the request was granted the wheat industry would be jeopardised. An amendment was moved that the report be referred back to the Committee for further consideration, and the discussion was proceeding when the tea adjournment was taken. One of the indications of the near approach of the end of the session was afforded by the introduction of the Washing Up Bill (officially called the Beserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill) and the Local Legislation Bill. The whole of the evening session was given to hours of further discussion on the motion for the committal of the Nurses' and Midwives' Registration Amendment Bill, which had previously been subjected to prolonged debate. The motion was taken to a division, and was carried by 56 votes to 14, but no progress was made on the Bill in Committee, as the midnight adjournment hour had then arrived. Education in Obstetrics. The executive committee of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society decided yesterday that the £6000 surplus over the £25,000 required for endowing a Chair of Obstetrics at Ofcago Medical Schoool shall be devoted to the provision of travelling scholarships in obstetrics and diseases of women. The scholarships will bo available for New Zealand graduates of medicine, and for the endowment of obstetrical research in the Dominion. Matter for Civic League. "While we are on the subject of bus services, 1 would like to ask why three bus chassis which cost £.1450 each, and which were landed ten months ago, are still lying idle in the Lyall Bay sheds," said a member of the Boseneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Electors' Association, at the annual meeting last evening. The president (Mr. .F. W. Moore) replied ■ that- the matter was hardly one for the association to deal with, but if the delegates to the Civic League were supplied with the details they could mention it at tho next mooting of the league. Access to Balena Bay. The necessity for providing better access to Balena. Bay for Boseneath residents during the bathing season was stressed at tfie annual meeting of the Boseneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Electors' Association last evening. It was decided to press for tho construction of the proposed right-of-way between Grafton and Maida Vale roads. A Much-wooed Damsel. "From the water supply standpoint in its future developments, Wellington appears to me to be like a very eligible young lady having many suitors around her. As to which suitor- she will finally choose, it rests with the family, our City Fathers, to decide," said Mr. 6. A. Hart, at the close of the paper on Wellington's water supply which he read last night to the technological section of the Philosophical Society. "Her welfare," he went on to say, "has been taken to heart very much by tho members of her family, who| have been in the past, and are ;it tho present, much to bo commended for tho1 interest which they aro showing in providing her with the most eligible auito*.'?

Efficient Fire Brigade. Praise for the Pctono I'iro Brigade was given by Inspector Hugo at the annual reunion of the brigade last night. The inspector said that the Pe--1 tone Brigade was looked upon as one ! of the most up-to-date and efficient in the whole of New Zealand. : Patron of the Arts. After formally spening the annual ex- ■ hibition of the Wanganui Arts and . i Crafts Society at the Sargeant Gallery I last evening (states a Press Association telegram), the Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloe, inspected the exhibition and bought a picture, "Ploughing," by Mrs. Whitcman, of Kaitoke, Wanganui, for £50. The artist is well known for her studies of animals. The picture is painted in oils and shows a typical plough team in action. Making the Buses Pay. A suggestion that the revenue from the Boseneath to Courtenay place bus service might bo increased without a corresponding increaso in the fares by the introduction of a concession ticket similar to that used on the Kelburn tramway was made at the annual meeting of the Boseneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Electors' Association last evening. It was pointed out that while the buses were usually full going up they were poorly patronised on the down trip. Fares of 3d for the up trip and 2d for the down trip were suggested. The meeting resolved to mention the matter to the tramways manager. Sale of a Hotel. The petition of Margaret Diamond, of Wellington, who asked for the appointment of a Commission or other relief in respect of the purchase of the Central Hotel, Wellington, was reported upon by the Public Petitions A to L Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday. The Committee expressed the opinion that the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration, and that the Government should be asked to place the petition and files before the Crown Law Office for investigation. Difficult to Understand. "We unsophisticated ratepayers cannot understand why the City Council does not undertake work which entails labour only," remarked Mr- F. W. Moore, president, at the annual meeting of the Boseneath and Oriental Bay Municipal Electors' Association last evening. He said that an amount of £500 had been voted several months ago for work on Maida Vale road, and not a tap of work had been done. Representations had been made to the City Council, and the reply received was to the effect that the plans had not been prepared by the City Engineer's Department. Why expensive plans . wore necessary for such work it was v,cry difficult to understand. Public Service Efficiency. "It is sometimes suggested," states the Public Service Commissioner (Mr. P. D. N. Verschaffelt) in his annual report, "that the non-eompetitivo and more or less sheltered nature of the Public Service tends to dull the edge of enterprise, and does not provide the incentives that underlie the hope of profit, as in private business. There are State trading Departments where the urgo of service for profit is just as potent as with private enterprise, and in non-trading Departments there is a tradition of disinterested and efficient service which not only commands respect and appreciation, but is itself conducive to the best results. From a close observation of the staffs in either branches of the Service I am satisfied that they are equally efficient.'' Quakes and Water-mains. The quostion of a really serious earthquake occurring in Wellington and the location of water-mains was raised at Jast night's meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society. It was suggested that in the consideration of future water schemes it should be borne in mind that to have all one's eggs in the same basket is to look for trouble. At present the city's watermains come along the edge of the harbour, along the known earthquake fault. A big shake might destroy them all, hence new mains should bo brought into the city by some other route. It was also suggested that there should bo some organisation in existence which could deal with an emergency like a big quake. With broken water-mains, fires would become serious, and no one ■would know what to do. A Sympathetic Audience. An incident which took place at Miramar recently showed how the sympathy of the crowd goes to "the un-dor-dog." In this particular case tho nnder-dog was a small boy who had succumbed to the glamour of riding on a milk-cart in preference to the routine of school work. Apparently it was not the first time he had "wagged it," for an attendance officer who was driving along in the locality soon recognised him, and stopped his ear and took the youngster in charge. If ho expected the boy to "come quietly" he was disappointed, for as soon as a favourable opportunity presented itself the boy jumped out of the moving car and was off like a shot. The officer followed in hot pursuit as soon as he could stop the car, and a headlong chase ensued, the boy, to the admiration of a large number of workmen engaged in the vicinity, holding his own for a time. Bound and round went the twp, to the accompaniment of encouraging shouts of "Go it, youngster!" from the workmen, who had all downed tools to watch the race. Finally, however, the boy was gathered in, and the men resumed their labours. To them, at least, the little drama was over. An Uncertain Life. That a fireman's lot "is not a happy one," was shown at the annual reunion of the Petone Fire Brigade last night. At about 11.30 p.m., when the festivities were at their highest, an alarm sounded and eight men made a hurried departure on one of the engines. Luckily it was only a chimney fire, and in twenty minutes the men were again enjoying the' reunion. Eoad Behind Patent Slip. Representations had been made to the Civic League to investigate the matter of an alternative road round the Patent Slip in view of the inconvenience caused by the frequent blockages by boats going on the slip, stated the report of the Boseneath and Orjcntal Bay Municipal Electors' Association, which was presented at the annual meeting last evening. It appeared that the City Council had power to authorise the Patent Slip Company to. construct a road behind the slip when conditions warranted such action, and tho Civic League was following up tho matter. City Clerks' Wages. A complaint that the wages paid to casual clerks by the Christchurch City Council had been reduced from £4 10s to £4 a week was made at Monday's council meeting by Councillor A. E. Armstrong, reports "The Press." Councillor E. H. Andrews (chairman of the Finance Committee) replied that the wages had been increased last year, and the original wage was reverted to this year. Each casual, he said, made a good deal out of overtime, and few of them received less than £C fls a week. Councillor Armstrong: "They are paid below the award rates." • Councillor Andrews: "There aro no award rates. It waa only during the lifo of the last council that the wage was £4 10s. They work only seven hours a day, plus overtime. Some do quite well out of it, and they are all well satisfied as far as I know. I suppose that if they thought there was a possibility of getting an e±tra ten shillings they; would naturally try to it."