LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Native Royalty’s Cruise. Passengers in the Imperial escort vessel Leith for a portion of her recent cruise to South Pacific islands were Queen Salote Tabou of Tonga and her husband, the Prince Consort Tugi. They were embarked at Levuka and were taken back to their own island, being disembarked at Nukualofa.

Taueru Stream Bridge. It was reported at yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton County Council that the Local Government Loans Board had approved of an application for a loan to reconstruct the Taueru Stream Bridge. As soon as the plans and specifications are completed tenders will be called for the work. Pending receipt of the loan money, the cost of the work will be met out of revenue.

Lo'cal Body Amalgamation.

The contention that Christchurch would benefit from the passage of the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill through the replacement of the present nine local bodies by one central authority was urged by representatives of the Christchurch City Council, who appeared before the Select Committee on the Bill yesterday.

Display of Cinerarias. The display of cinerarias in the Begonia House in the Masterton Park at the present time is a particularly mpressive one. As many as eight shades of blue pre included in the collection, which is notable for its profusion of choice blooms. In addition to the cinerarias there are some beautiful cyclamen and lachenalias in full flower. The Begonia House will be opened to the public during weekend periods in the near future. Cactus Planting.

A suggestion by Mr Howard Edwards, a well-known Wanganui horticulturist, that bays of cactus plants be planted on Castlecliff Beach and bordered with Canary Island palms, is causing a great deal of public interest. Much good work is being done by the Wanganui Beach Improvement Society at Castlecliff, and it has the support of the city council, whose gardener, Mr S. I. Cox, is carrying out a specially-planned beautification scheme. Dearer Meals.

A general increase in prices of meals was decided on by Wanganui restaurant proprietors yesterday. A three-course dinner will now cost Is 9d, instead of Is 6d; in the past soup, meat and vegetables could be had for Is, but as from today the price is Is 3d; a minimum of 4d is to be charged for morning teas, and afternoon teas will be Is instead of 9d. The reason for the increase is the recent advance in wages paid to waitresses and kitchen hands and the general rise in overhead costs. Billiards and Snooker.

Playing in The Y.M.C.A. billiards and snooker competition last night, the Y.M.C.A. A team and Pioneers drew. The detailed results are, Pioneer players mentioned first in every case: —Billiards: T. Rimene beat J. Coleman; J. Wilson lost to J. Nicholls; J. Rimene beat G. Coleman; R. House lost to T.; Jaspers; T. Potangaroa lost to A. McWhinnie. Snooker: T. Rimene beat J. Coleman, J. Wilson beat J. Nicholls, J. Rimene lost to G. Coleman, R. House lost to T. Jaspers, T. Potangaroa beat A. McWhinnie. The draw is as follows:—Tomorow, Post Office v. Daniell’s; Tuesday, Catholic Club v. Y.M.C.A. B team.

Scout Jamboree. This evening Wellington Boy Scout leaders to the number of about 150 will confer with the organisers of the New Zealand Centennial Jamboree to discuss plans for the celebrations at the end of next year. It is estimated that the total cost of the jamboree will be about £15,000, which will be met by the subscriptions of the boys. About 5000 New Zealand scouts are expected to attend, at an average camp fee of £3. The costs of organisation, and of preparing the site, will also be considerable. The estimated number of scouts likely to attend the jamboree has been based on a recent Dominion census of scouts, which shows that there are 12,500 active members of the movement in New Zealand, of whom 7,700 are eligible to attend the jamboree. Wellington has some 1,200 scouts and the Hutt Valley 700.

Women in Politics. The reviving interest of women in politics in New Zealand was emphasised by Dr D. G. McMillan, M.P., in an address at Riccarton to a meeting which included many women. Women were interested in the Labour Government today, he said, first, because it was a radical Government and women had always had to look towards radical governments for emancipation, and second, because of the way they would benefit advantageously from the social security scheme. It was Seddon’s radical government that gave New Zealand women representation and women supported the Radical Liberal Party for many years after. The decadence of the Liberal Party saw a waning of interest by women, but with the rise of the Labour Party had come a revival of interest, and, Dr McMillan said, the women’s vote in no small measure was responsible for the success of the Labour Government.

Fate of Friendly Societies. . “The friendly societies of New Zealand will flourish after the introduction of this scheme just as did the friendly societies after the introduction of the scheme in England,” declared Dr D. G. McMillan, M.P., in an address on the social security scheme at Riccarton. “We have been told that the scheme will spell death to the friendly societies,” Dr McMillan said. “Yet we find, that in Great Britain, where the societies do not administer the health benefits, they were stimulated by the scheme. When Lloyd George introduced his scheme in Great Britain the friendly societies voluntarily gave up the administration of the health and medical benefits. Yet they have continued to flourish as never before. Similarly in New Zealand the giving up of the medical benefits will not affect the societies. The friendly society members will not pay into the lodge for the doctor, medical, or hospital. They will continue to pay the extra medical benefit and the funeral benefit. And the lodges will continue to thrive as they are doing in England.” Dr McMillan pointed out that at present the lodges and friendly societies paid out fees to hospitals and doctors and for medicines, and retained nothing at all for administration costs.