LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Croquet Club Gathering. An enjoyable time was spent at "flag bridge” by the members and friends of the Masterton Croquet Club in the Y.M.C.A. Hall on Tuesday night. The winners were Mesdhmes Barber, Palmer and Thompson. Speeding in Streets. “When the vehicles in a street are travelling at 30 miles an hour, and one motorist comes along at a speed of about 35 miles, something is likely to happen.” This was'the view expressed bv Mr R. C. Abernethy, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Invercargill, in fining a young man for speeding. Waterfront Work. “Many men are anxious to join the Waterside Workers’ Union,” said a union official, when giving evidence during the hearing of a civil claim in the Supreme Court at Auckland. Witness said that on a recent occasion, when the union was admitting 100 new members, 1250 applications were received. The last admission of new members had taken place last- April, when about 1200 persons applied and 150 were admitted. Religious Teaching. A denial that the Government was in any way opposed to full religious liberty for the people or that it was antagonistic to religious instructions in schools was given by the Minister of Education, the Hon P. Fraser, speaking in the Dunedin Town Hall last night. Mr Fraser said he intended to call a conference as soon as possible to see whether the question of religious instruction in schools could not be satisfactorily settled once and for all. R.S.A. Membership Increase. “I am very pleased to state that our active membership to June 20 was 1755, as against 1569 to June 15, the nearest date last year,” said the president (Mr A. W. Mewton) at a meeting of the- executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association. “I see we are still keeping ahead of Dunedin, whose membership to June 15 was 1469,” he continued. “I hope the increase will continue, because it is my ambition to see that every returned soldier in New Zealand, and not only in Canterbury, is a member of the association.” Judgment Against Detective. A Wellington police detective, Joseph Geoffrey Long, was ordered to pay £75 general damages and £54 8s 3d special damages, by Mr Justice Quilliam in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday. Charlotte Ella Carter, widow, Wellington, proceeded against Long to recover £343 3s 9d damages, arising out of a motor car collision on the Waikanae bridge early on the morning of January 1 last. The claim consisted of £250 general damages and £93 3s 9d special damages. At the time of the accident her son was driving the car. A Rumour Denied. In a statement yesterday, the Prime Ministre, the Rt Hon M. J. Savage, denied that the Government was contemplating the purchase of the Self-Help business. His statement was prompted by a telegram from the Hon W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, to the effect that absurd but persistent rumours were current regarding the Government’s intention to purchase the SelfHelp stores and operate them, and asking for a formal denial. “People will insist on saying stupid things,” Mr Savage said. “We have not had the slightest thought of purchasing the Self-Help stores or any other stores.” Curse of Silver Poplar. Power to check the spread of silver poplar, which has been desired by the New Brighton ’ Borough Council for some years, was taken by the council at its meeting this week. The council took advantage of the recent addition of silver poplar to the schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act, and passed a motion formally declaring it a noxious weed. Cr J. N. Clarke remarked that silver poplar might look very pretty, but to realise its effects it was necessary only to see “the curse of silver poplar on Jubilee Avenue.” The Mayor (Mr £. L. Smith) said that the council would now have power to order the clearing of properties.