NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 30 November 1939, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Enlistments From Public Works Praise for the type of men employed by the Public Works Department was expressed in Auckland by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in stating that a large number of the men had enlisted in the military forces and many more would be following them. The public works men nad a record for speed and efficiency jqual to anything in the world. The majority were of a fine class and were physically fitted by their work for military service. The Maori Viewpoint An explanation of why many Maoris who are willing to do work on State subsidised schemes will not register with the Department of Labour was given to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, by two members of the farmers' deputation which waited on him in Wanganui. They said that the average Maori wanted to live on his own piece of land, and when they registered for work they were sent away to some of the bigger schemes in other districts, away from their homes.

Beautification of Camp

Every effort is being made to beautify the Papakura military camp, and already, while many buildings are still being erected or have yet to be begun, much progress lias been made with the laying of ornamental lawn plots and flower-beds. In front of camp head-quarters, for instance, a large circular flower-bed has been planted in dahlias. When other flov, rers have been placed in the various beds, and when the shrubs already planted have had a few months’ growth, the appearance of the camp should make it a garden spot for the Papakura district.

Charges Against Two Young Men A puece of rubber hose, a bucket, 12 gallons of petrol, a draw knife, spanner, piece of wire netting, rubber cape and hacksaw, to the total value of £3 14s Ad, were articles alleged to have 'been stolen during the past month by Frederick Allen Hume, aged 24, and Percy Donald Green, aged 22, 'both labourers, when they appeared in the Police Court this morning before Messrs. F. J. H. Ellisdon and J. E. Benson, J.P.s, on a series of charges of thrift. There were five charges against Hurne and three against Green. Senior-Sergeant J. F. H. Macnamara said the thefts took place at Patutahi and that further inquiries were to be made. A remand until Monday was granted by the Bench.

New Hospital at Hanmer Construction of the Queen Mary Hospital for male patients at Hanmer is expected to be completed before Christmas as the contractors for the work are engaged now in adding the final fittings and decorative touches. The opening of the hospital. however, is not expected to take place before Easter because of the delay that has been experienced in supplying the district with electric power from Lake Coleridge. It is said that the new hospital cannot be used until it is supplied with power for lighting and cooking, while the erection of the proposed new boiler house and laundry to serve the institution also has been held up pending the development of ihe power supply scheme. A total expenditure of well over £IOO,OOO is ultimately planned in connection with the institution.

Charge for Broadcasting The national broadcasting service recently wrote to the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association stating that it would be pleased subject to the approval of the association, to-broadcast commentaries on play in the Plunket Shield matches, Wellington v. Auckland and Wellington v. Canterbury during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The chairman, Mr. J. li. Phillipps, said that the association had to safeguard its Plunket Shield gates, both in its own interests and those of visiting teams. The national broadcasting service had never given the association any assistance in the past, and he did not feel inclined to grant the permission asked for unless some payment was made. Other members supported the chairman’s views, and it was decided to inform the national broadcasting service that it could broadcast commentaries on the two Plunket Shield games providing it paid the association £25 for the two matches.