NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 92, 16 October 1934, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Lo&t? "It has been said that New Zealand is round tlio corner," said Sir Alexander Roberts at the annual meeting of the Automobile Association, Wellington, last night, "but I am not certain as to what street wo have turned into." Better Buildings. The suggestion that publicity should bo given to the point of view that the setting back of buildings in connection with the Jackson Street widening gave an opportunity for more modern architecture to be give-n a chance was made by Councillor J. dimming at the meeting of the Pctone Borough Council last evening. In supporting Mr. dimming's point of view, Councillor V. A. Noble said this was a glorious opportunity for getting buildings erected in the main street more in line with modern ideas. Highway Finance., "They take away £500,000 from us, then lend it to us and charge us interest on it," said Mr. E. A. Batt at the annual mooting of the Automobile Association, Wellington, last night, when referring to motor taxation and the deterioration of roads. "The Highways Board cannot do the work on the money it is getting today." Eeferring to the road from Shannon to Palmerston North and the Sanson Road, Mr. Batt said that repairs to these were not being held up by the Government but by local bodies which did not pay their quota. "Many of the local bodies have been endeavouring to hold down both motorists and Highways Board until they get to the stage when they would say 'We will do the whole thing ourselves.' " Impressions of Australia, After an absence of four months spent in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, Mr. Marcus Marks, a member of the Wellington Free Ambulance Board and the Wellington Fire Board, returned yesterday afternoon by the Monowai. Mr. Marks said in an interview with a "Post" representative that the impression he had gained last winter of Australia's rapidly improving economic position had been amply confirmed. In none of the three State capitals did ho see any outward appear-, ance of depression. He was satisfied that tho Wellington Free Ambulance service had nothing to learn from similar services in Australia, and that the Wellington Fire Brigade,1 considering the size of tho city, and other factors, compared very favourably with the brigades in the three cities he had visited. The- weekly demonstration given by the Melbourne Brigade was literally an eye-opener, and it attracted considerable public attention. Tho equipment was in keeping with the size of tho Victorian capital and tho efficiency maintained was remarkable. At the time of his departures Melbourne was being decorated for the visit of tho Duke of Gloucester and tho Centenary celebrations, and the effect created was most spectacular and beautiful, the' Shrine of Remcmbran.cc, which had been given special attention, being a. particularly striking features of-the scheme. Pipe Bridge Tallies. A summary of traffic tallies taken in connection with the question of allocating the maintenance cost of the Hutt Pipe Bridge and the Waiwhetu Bridge was received at the meeting of the Petone Borough.Council last evening from the Town Clerk, Wellington. The tallies were taken on a week day, a race day, and a Sunday. The Town Clerk (Mr. H. Firth) said that the last, tally was taken in 1932, and comparing then and now, Wellington's percentage- had been decreased from 32.81 to 29.92, Lower Hutt'a from 30.34 to 29.12, Eastbourne's from 19.07 to 17.24, and the Hutt County's from 3.55 to 3.0, but Petone's had been increased from 14.2 to 20.72. Investigations proved that on the Friday (week day) a particularly heavy lorry, engaged on a big job, had crossed the bridge no fewer than 17 times, and when the total figure for the day was multiplied by 300, to give the balance nf the yo.ir, it was seen how Petone's pcn1 entnee hnd gnnn up. The lorry might not cross tho. bridge for a. month at a time, but Petone was unlucky in this iiifitnni'O. The mn.ttnr wn.= referred to the finance committee for consideration and with power to act.

What is a Coalition? "What," asked the teacher of an Australian school class, "is a coalition?" He had boon reading all about what Dr. Page and .Mr. Lyons hail been doing and saying and thinking. "It's what happens when two'motor-cars hit head on," volunteered the small boy in I ho front row, thereby proving that out of the months of babes and sucklings, as Scripture says, you will often get a good tip. I Councillors as Board Members. The Mayor of Petouc (Mr. A. Scholefipl(l') last evening reaffirmed his opinion, expressed at a previous meeting, llrat the duties of representatives of the borough ou various bodies should be split up among the councillors, instead of being borne solely by the Mayor. Mr. Scholefield said that the overburdened Mayor would be relieved by the arrangement he suggested, and greater interest would bo taken by the councillors. The. following councillors were appointed to the various board's: —City and Suburban Highways Board, Councillor E. T. E. Ho'gg; Wellington District Free Ambulance Board, Councillor E. N. Campbell; Petone Fire Board, Councillor G. Eondon. Another innovation mentioned by the Mayor was the supplying of the minutes on which reports were based. Petone Bathing Shelters. The question of modernising the bathing shelters at P.etono was raised by Councillor B. W. Toomath, chairman of the beach beautifying committee, at the meeting of the b Petono Borough Council last evening. Councillor Toomath said that the time had come for the council to consider whether to modernise the existing bathing facilities or to erect a new central bathing pavilion on the site chosen by the committee some years ago. This could be made an, issue at the next election. Councillor W. 11. Edwards said that he considered the damage done to the sheds was disgraceful; It was decided to take steps to keep the bathing sheds under supervision.. On Councillor Toomath 's suggestion, it «was decided to ask the borough engineer to bring down a, report on the cost of modernising the ,bathing shelters. A Passport Colloquy. Mrs. Bisson Church, of Masterton, amused a gathering of Channel Islanders in Wellington last night, describing her difficulties in' obtaining a passport. She is a Jersey woman, and being desirous of leaving New Zealand she applied for a passport in the usual way. It could not at first be obtained without a visit of inquiry from a policeman, who {old her she was a foreigner. This she stoutly denied.. ' "On the contrary," she explained, "I come from Jersey." "What's that-to do with it?" said the officer. "Well, I'm a British subject," said Mrs. Bisson Church, and added, "What's more, my people conquered England." "That's enough," replied the policeman. "1 can't help what your people did. You can't have your passport, and that's all there is to it." But Mrs. Bisson Church had the last word: "Wo are mote than British. Wo are Channel Islanders." She got her passport in the end, but she added that she had .some difficulty in convincing, the police that she was, at any rate, legally a British, subject. McKenzio Baths, A letter from the McKenzic Baths Committee offering to hand over the baths in Udy Street to the- council was received at the meeting of the Petono Borough Council last evening. The commit-to suggested that as the late Mayor of the borough, Mr. David McKenzio, was a prime mover in the establishment of the baths, the council should erect a memorial on the site. The council was thanked for the various ways in which it had helped in the establishment of the baths. Councillor E. T. E. Hogg asked if the financial circumstances of the baths committeo could be made available, as it was rather a responsibility taking over a concern like the baths. The Town Clerk (Mr. H. Firth) said that there was a credit balance of £ 1 13s 9d, this being' made possible by the proceeds from the sale of the old hotel, which realised £55. The matter was roferred to the finance committee. Tolephono and Telegraphs. The annual report of the Associated Chambers of Commerce expresses appreciation of tho "person-to-person" toll call facility introduced by - the Post and Telegraph Department, remarking that tho system is of distinctadvantage to the business and general community, and should increase the revenue of the Department by encouraging long-distance calls. The new telegraph rates are not praised in tho report, which states that the executive of tho association believes that the higher rates are merely to enable tho Government to cover up losses in other directions. However, in view of the statement by the Postmaster-General, that tho new charges will be. reviewed after they have been in operation for six months, the executive decided to withhold any action in the matter, but meantime to watch carefully the effect of the rates. Tho Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department was interviewed to ascertain whether the present charge for telephone calls to Australia could be reduced. The executive sought the co-operation of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Australia, and the subject is still in hand.