LOCAL & GENERAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 147, 9 July 1937, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Remuera Arrives Panama. The New Zealand Shippmg Company advise that their R.M.S. "Remuera," en route from Wellington to London and which left New Zealand on June 16, arrived at Panama on July 6. Local-Body Employers. Lo^al authorities who are not affiliated with local employers' associations have been advised by the Municipal Association of New Zealand to become affiliated as soon as possible for the reason that this will be of advantage in dealing with the various awards and industrial agreements for local-body employees. Coronation at Home. Programmes of the Uoroiiation celebrations in Hastings, England, togother with post card views, were enclosed in a letter received by the Hastings Borough Council last evening advising that tlie New Zealand senior flag had been won by the Hastings Girls' Central School and the junior flag by the All Saints' Junior School. The Director of Education conveyed congratulations on the recent jubilee celebrations.

Ouke of Cloucester Cup. "The next contest for the oup presented by his Royal Higilmess the Duke of Gloucester, fojr competition in a race for horses ridden 'by gentlemen riders, will be held by the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club during the ensuing y-ear," states Mr J. S. McLeod, president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, in his annual report presented to-day in Wellington. "The race for this cup held by the Cauterbury Jockey Club last August was an outstanding success." "Alive to Position." "The Department is fully alive to the possibilities of tl^e situation such as is feared by the council," wrote the Employment Division of the Department of Labour in reply to a' letter pointing out the alleged abuses of the Employment Promotion Fund voiced at the last meeting of the Hastings Borough Council. ' 'In due course » travelling inquiry officer will visit Hastings for the purpose of carrying out a thorough investigation of the local position," added the letter. Motor-Lorries Collide. With a crash that attracted a crowd to the scene from nearby business premises, two heavy motor-lorries eollided shortly after nine o'clock this morning at the intersection oh Heretaunga street and Karamu road. No-one was injured, but one of the lorries was extensively damaged and had to be towed away. The windscreen was shattered and the front considerably battered in, The vehicle was owned by the Havelock North Trading Co. The other, a transport lorry, was less seriously damaged and was driven away under its own power. The Ubiquitous Motor Car. "The latest figure represents 161 motor vehicles per 1000 of population, a little short of one to every six persous," reports the latest New Zgalahd Moiithly Abstract of Statistics, compiled by the Government Statistics Department, dealing with motor transport as at the end of March, 1936. "By way of comparison it is interesting to note that in 1935 the number of motor vehicles per 1000 of population in some of the principal countries where motor vehicles are in common use was as follows : — United States of America, 206 ; New Zealand, 122 j South Africa, 120; Canada, 107; Australia, 96; France, 52 ; and the United Kingdom 44. Sequel to StriKe. An unexpected repercussion of thjG recent brief strike of petrol-tank di-iv-ers was experienced m the furniture trade of the eity last week. For polishing, varnishing, etc., a large quautity of methylated spirits is required, and it so happened that wliolcsale stocks of the spirit were low at the time the oil drivers made their demonstration, and dependence for replentishment was placed on a couple of oil ships which at that time had just arrived in port. The strike, however, prevented the immediate discharge of oil cargo, and the ships sailed for other ports rather than suffer a possibly indefinite delay by awaiting a settlement of the strike. As;a consequence the furniture trade of Auckland had to carry on for a period on rationed supplies of methylated spirit. Tables Turned. The development of the export of New Zealand potatoes to South Arrierica has completely * altered the position in regard to the Australian embargo, according to Mr C. Morgan Williams, M.P. for Kaiapoi. He said that if the embargo were removed at present it would be detriniental to the New Zealand potato growers. "In fact," lxc added, "people in the trade are beginning to feel worried about the prospect of the New Zealand market being tiooded with Australian potatoes, which are only £5 a ton in Sydney. New Zealand Dakotas are quoted at up to £6 5/- a ton. on truoks, and it seems iikely that the price will go still higher, as Auckland is very short of potatoes," Mr Williams mentioned that 15,000 tons of potatoes liad already gone to South America, and three more shipments hadi been arranged. Those shipments were having a tremendous effect on the local market. '

False Fire Alarm. What appears to have been a delibcrate false alarm of fire was given to the Hastings Fire Brigade over the telephone at 11.15 o'clock last night. Tlie call was gjiven in a girl's voice, and Ihe brigade considers it was given deliberately. The engine proceeded to the point specified, the intersection of Karamu road and Jervois street, but failed to find any traces of fire. Hotels Booked-Up. Hotel accommodation in Hastings at the present time is well booked-up, there being nearly 60 competitors staying here for the competitions being held by the New Zealand Gun Club Association. This number will be added to considerably next week, when it is expeeted there will be a large influx of further competitors to take part in next week's matches.

Arbor Day. Wednesday, August 11, is to be ofoserved this year as Arbor Day. In view of the national importance of tree-planting, local bodies througjhout New Zealand are requested by the Government to organise suitable celebrations on that date. Where on account of local climatic conditions in any district August 11 is deemed unsuitable, the local bodies concerned are invited to observe some other suitable day in that month. National Party. A women' s branch of the National Party has recently been formed in Napier, in common with other towns in the Dominion, and already a large and enthusiastic membership has been enrolled. Last evening a private meeting was held, and an address was delivered on the present Government' s legislation and its eft'ect on the future of the people of New Zealand. It is intended to hold regular monthly meetings, when several prominent business men will give addresses. Making the Bluff Safe. A sinall gang of men, later to be increased, has Degun work on Bliln Hill, Napier, to make the cliff-face secure from slippingi. When the whole matter has received the attention of the acting-Ministei of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, the four men now at work will probably be increased to 30. The work is being undertaken by the Napier Harbour Board, assisted by the Napier Borough Council engineer, Mr W. D. Corbett. The board is to pay the cost of supervision and insurance, sharing with the council and tke Government the cost of wages. The Last Straw. The eagerness of stewards and porters in England to collect tips from travellers impressed Mr Herbert Gihbs,. of Christchurch, who is on a trip to Great Britain with a party of New Zealand4rs. In a recent letter Mr Gibbs writes of the matter-of-fact metnods of collecting tips on a train travfelliug to Glasgow.. Every meal and cup of tea on the train brought a demand for a further tip. ' But the most conspicuous example of all was on a Clyde excursion steamer, when "one of the sailors went round with his hat among the passengers." "I could see that a hat with a hole in it was worth a whole wardrobe of clothes," Mr Gibbs comments.