LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Flood Relief Doll. The winner of the doll donated in connection with the Hawke’s Bay flood relief fund is Miss A. Schofield, Tinui.

St Matthew's College Dance. The children’s annual plain and fancy dress dance will be held in St Matthew's Collegiate School on Saturday, July 16, at 2.30 p.m.

Fewer Unemployed. “I do not think there was ever a time in the history of New Zealand, even if we go back to the nineties, when there were fewer people unemployed at this time of the year,” said the Minister for Labour (the Hon H. T. Armstrong), at Ashburton. He said that this was partly because of the assistance of local bodies in finding suitable work for unemployed.

Housing Regulations. The housing regulations were instigated “to prevent people making a nuisance of themselves,” said Mr J. Robertson in an address to ladies yesterday afternoon at the Y.M.C.A. He had known private householders to breed Alsatians in their backyards, and the dogs to be a nuisance to the neighbours. This simply had to be prohibited. Contrary to general belief, these stringent regulations were not drawn up by the Labour Government, but by the Government of 1919.

Oyster Traps Mouse. A New Plymouth borough inspector was amazed recently when, on examining a newly-arrived sack of oysters from Bluff, he found a mouse firmly trapped by a large oyster. Apparently the shell had been wide open, and the inviting sight of the oyster inside tempted the mouse to enter. The jaws of the oyster closed over the mouse’s neck and held it fast, in spite 'of its struggles, until it died. The inspector remarked that in his experience he had never known mice to touch oysters.

“Worst Places in New Zealand.” “Two of the worst places in New Zealand to find work for unemployed are Christchurch and Ashburton,” said the Minister for Labour (the Hon H. T. Armstrong) at a conference with local bodies at Ashburton, when the absorption of men on the unemployment register was being discussed. The Minister said that the flat nature of the country and the cost of finding material made it almost impossible for local bodies to go on with schemes for the relief of unemployed. Iron Ore Deposits.

A new aspect of the proposal to establish iron and steel works in New Zealand was mentioned by Mr J. F. Rasmussen at a meeting of the Buller Progress League. Quoting extracts from a book written 53 years ago by Professor James G. Black, of Otago University, Mr Rasmussen stated that there existed in the Buller district, immense quantities of brown haemitite, which contained 60 per cent iron and very little sulphur. This ore, according to Professor Black, would be suitable for use at an iron and steel works, and it had been exploited successfully in France, Germany and Austria.

Road Cycling Race. No less than 66 entries have been received by the secretary (Mr C. Dykes) for the open race to be held by the Wairarapa Cycling Club from the’ Queen’s Hotel to Tauherenikau and back on Saturday next. The following clubs will be represented: —Poneke, Petone, Port Nicholson, Levin, Feilding, Manawatu, Dannevirke, Napier, Hastings and Wairarapa. The handicaps will be published in the “TimesAge” tomorrow. A ladies’ committee will provide afternoon tea for the competitors at the conclusion of the race. The trophies are displayed in a Window of the H.B. shop in Queen Street. W.F.C.A. Staff Dance.

Following the custom of previous years, the W.F.C.A. Stall Social Club will tender a complimentary dance to the members of their ladies’ committee in connection with the recent staff ball. The dance will be held in the Arcade Hall on Wednesday next, July 13, at 8 p.m. sharp. All staff members, friends and invitation holders- to the recent staff ball are cordially invited to attend. For the latter a nominal subscription will be charged. Music will be supplied by Barnes’ Orchestra and also the W.F.C.A. staff band. The catering, as usual, will be provided by the staff committee. Sanctuary for Ducks.

The lagoon adjacent to the Manawatu golf links at Hokowhitu is always a good sanctuary for wild duck, and at present it is estimated that as many as 3000 birds are “in residence” there. During May, June and July trout make their way up the headwaters or streams for the purpose of spawning, and at the meeting of the Palmerston North branch of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society members reported that many fine specimens of fish had been seen making upstream. A proposal to visit some of the spawning grounds or “redds,” as they are known to fishermen, is contemplated. Rates on Crown Lands.

An appeal to the Government to face up to its responsibilities and meet rating demands on properties purchased for State houses was made by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton), when speaking in the debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House of Representatives last night. Mr Kyle said that the Minister of Finance, the Hon W. Nash, represented a borough which had experienced great difficulty during the depression because of the refusal of the Government to pay rates on Crown lands. Seventy-eight acres had recently been purchased in the Riccarton district for State houses, and unless the Government paid rates pending the erection of the homes it would be necessary to increase the rates. Many county councils would find themselves in similar difficulties if the Government refused to pay rates until the land was in actual occupation. The previous Government had promised relief.

Tailors’ Award. The Second Court of Arbitration has issued the Wellington industrial district tailors and tailoresses’ award, which is to take effect from July 4, and remain in force until September 4 of this year. A short-dated award has been made to enable the union to make application for a new award if such is found necessary in order to maintain the relative position between the wages in the Wellington district and those awarded in other districts where disputes are pending. The award fixes the ordinary hours of work at 40 a week, to be worked on five days of the week, Monday to Friday inclusive, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The minimum wage for tailors and pressers will be £4 17s 6d a week. The minimum weekly wages of tailoresses will be: Journeywomen employed on coats, £2 15s; other journeywomen and machinists, £2 10s.