LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Clothing Trade Busy. Activity in the clothing manufacturing trade in Auckland is described as intense. Overtime is being regularly worked in an endeavour to complete orders before Christmas. In the normal course of events the industry would be busy at this period but the chief reason for the exceptional rush is attributed to the leeway in work resulting from staffing disorganisation during the measles epidemic. Boy Scouts Jamboree.

Preparations for the departure of the New Zealand contingent of 6(fo Boy Scouts to attend the jamboree in Sydney at the end of this month are going rapidly ahead. Leaders have been appointed, and the boys will leave in two parties, one from Auckland and the other from Wellington on December 20. Each party will comprise 300 boys. It will be the biggest youth contingent ever sent from New Zealand. Infectious Diseases. For the week ended yesterday, 23 cases of infectious disease and four deaths —three from tuberculosis and one from pneumonic influenza —were reported to the Wellington office of the Health ' Department. In the central Wellington district there were eight cases of diphtheria, five of tuberculosis, four of pneumonic influenza, two of scarlet fever and one case each of erysipelas and hydatids; and, in Nel-son-Marlborough, one case of diphtheria and one of erysipelas were reported.

Big Cricket Score. A new cricketing record for Manawatu was established by J. Murchison, of Kia Toa Club, on,Saturday when he carried his bat for the excellent score of 261 not out. It is also claimed that Murchison has established a new Wellington provincial record, the previous best effort being 260 by J. S. Banks, of Institute Club, Wellington. The previous best score so far as Manawatu senior cricket is concerned was 25S by A. Me Vicar in 1920 when playing for Railway. Murchison was over tour hours at the wickets. Resolution Against Strikes.

At a general meeting of the Longburn branch of the Freezing Workers' Union the following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That while sincerely sympathising with the Westfield freezing workers in their recent trouble over the ring system, this meeting heartily endorses the statements of the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, and the president of the Labour Party, Mr J. Roberts, and the statement of the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, more recently, at Westport, with reference to strikes and the necessity for full co-operation with the Government and the country.” \ ’ ' Use For Gas-masks.

The immense number of gas-masks which were recently issued to men, women, and children in England have not all been placed aside safely for future use, according to a member of the ship’s company on the Akaroa, which arrived at Auckland from Southampton. He said that before leaving England he had seen children in his neighbourhood being sent to shops with the gas-masks for use as pails. Together with about 11 more of the crew, he had received a gas-mask while the Akaroa was in London and he still had it with him. Several people of his acquaintance, he said, had received two masks in the rush to distribute them.

A Long Fast. The claim that he has not eaten any food for 68 days is made* by Mr F. W. Popham, of Upper Symonds Street, Auckland. On September 24 Mr Popham, who suffers from recurring attacks of quinsy, rheumatic fever, and high blood pressure, decided on a 100day fast as a means of improving his health. He was then 16st. lOjlb. in weight, and his disabilities made it difficult for him to walk. During the fast he drank only water and an occasional cup of tea. As his weight dropped, Mr Popham stated that his health and strength improved. Now he is 12st. 911 b. and is confident that he will be able to complete the 100 days, which will expire on New Year’s Day. Failure to Report Accidents.

There were far too many cases of motorists not reporting accidents, said Inspector J. Cummings, in the Magistrate’s Court, Palmerston North, yesterday, when a man was charged with having failed to report forthwith an accident in which a pedestrian he knocked down received slight injuries. Sometimes, said the inspector, it took days, even weeks, to locate drivers. He did’not make the remarks with a view to having a heavy penalty inflicted on defendant, but if such cases were not reported representations would have to be made to have the penalty increased. The magistrate, Mr H. P. Lawry, said that the reason for the obligation to report such accidents was to give the police an early opportunity'to find out whether there had been a breach of the law.

The Drivers’ Award. As an outcome of representations made by the Drivers’ Federation to the Federation of Labour about matters m dispute in the general and local bod., drivers’ award, an Auckland Pi ess Association message reports, it is stated that the employers in the industry have agreed to meet representatives of both federations to discuss the alleged defects in the awards. A conference is to be held in Wellington in about a. fortnight’s time, and it is looked upon by the drivers in Auckland as yet another attempt to settle the alleged grievances without resorting to direct action. The questions in dispute arise out of the recent awards issued by the Second Court of Arbitration and relate principally to hours.

Traffic Ramp at Kaiwarra. Weathex 1 permitting, the approaches to the new general traffic ramp in Kaiwarra, Wellington, will be surfaced this week. If that job is completed there is no reason, in the opinion of the city engineer, Mr K. E. Luke, why the ramp should not be opened to the public toward the end of next week. The Public Works Department has completed its task, except for the hanging of the lamps. The standards, graceful, four-sided, tapering ones, have been erected for more than six weeks and are wired ready for the lanterns which are to enclose the bulbs. Officer's of the Public Works Department see no reason why the ramp should not be opened without any lamps or lights, as there are hundreds of unlighted bridges throughout the country and the headlights of any properly-equipped car will give all the light required to pick up the white concrete roads over the ramps.

The Farmers’ Magic Cave will open on Friday. ■