LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 February 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Fine Gladiolus. A beautiful gladiolus spike is at present on exhibition in the window of Mr H. L. Esau. Queen Street. It was shown at the Hutt Show yesterday by Mr H. G. Smith, of Renall Street, Masterton, and was awarded the championship for the best gladiolus in the show. The blooms, of which there are a dozen out on the spike, all nicely placed, are white edged with pink. It is known as Enides. Shortage of Skilled Workmen. The intention of the Government io send a representative to Australia io select building tradesmen for employment in New Zealand was mentioned by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in an interview last evening. By obtaining skilled men from Australia. and probably from the United Kingdom and Canada as well, it is hoped to accelerate housing construction throughout the Dominion. State Lotteries. A reply by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, to a protest from the Auckland Presbytery against the suggestion by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, to introduce a State lottery in New Zealand, was received at a meeting of the presbytery. Mr Savage said there would be too many other matters to be dealt with by the Government to allow such a question to be given consideration.

Blind Institute Appeal. As the result of an appeal by Mr G. Ashdown, a sum of about £47 was donated towards the funds of the Institute for the Blind at the Rasterton A. and P. Association’s Ram Fair at Solway today. The Wairarapa Auctioneers' Association donated £5 is, and Sir William Perry £3 3s, while Mr J. E. Hewitt donated a sheep, the proceeds of which are to be given to the fund. I. Conference. Advice has been received by Mr W. J. Mountjoy, secretary of the Wellington Employers’ Association, that he was successful in the ballot for the employers’ representative to attend the conference of the International Labour Office in Geneva this year. Mr John Roberts, Christchurch, will be the workers’ representative. Both nominations are subject to confirmation by Cabinet, which will also appoint the representatives of the Government.

An Unsatisfactory Response. A Hastings branch of the Defence League was • formed last night at a Large public meeting. Sir Andrew Russell emphasised the need for a more adequate defence system. Mr Cullen, M.P., stressed the unsatisfactory response to the volunteer system and asked would not any Government be justified in inserting a compulsory clause in the Act. Others present spoke in similar vein, and a resolution was passed urging universal national service.

Cricket on Saturday.

Owing to the holding of the ‘‘Keep Fit Week” procession at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, all cricket matches (both senior and junior) will commence at 2.30 p.m., and play will be continued till 6.30 p.m. The procession is to move off fropt Wagg’s parking area at 1.30 p.m. sharp, and all players are asked to gather, in full cricketing attire, under the Wairarapa Cricket Association’s banner, by 1.15 p.m. All other sports are being well represented, and it is, therefore, hoped that there will be a full muster of cricketers.

C. and A. Baths Praised. Recent visitors to Masterton have spoken in high terms of praise of the C. and A. baths in Masterton, the excellent management in connection therewith and the clear water which is available to swim in. So clear is the water that children who dive for threepenny pieces are able to see the coins in the bottom of the baths. An elderly lady visitor, who has extensively toured New Zealand, considered that the C. and A. Baths were the most tempting to bathe in which she had experienced in the Dominion, praising the cleanness of the water.

Survey of Children's Feet. Final arrangements for a survey of children’s feet in the four centres, embracing primary and secondary schools, so that standards may be laid down for lasts for children’s shoes, have oeen made by the footwear committee of the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Association. The survey will be made by school medical officers and wifi cover children from the age of five to those in their ’teens. Information about the height, weight and certain other particulars concerning the children will be obtained and this information, when collated, will be used to lay down standards for lasts, from which shoes will be made permitting children’s feet to grow normally. The survey will also permit manufacturers to make shoes which will fit all normal feet types.

Married Women Teachers. The withdrawal of the board’s former discretionary powers to decide whether a woman teacher should be allowed to retain her position after marriage was strongly criticised by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, when notification was received from five teachers that they had married, but would retain their positions. The effect of the board’s inability to dismiss them in reducing the number of permanent'positions available was. regarded seriously, and members expressed freely the view that except in certain circumstances, marriage should be regarded as a full-time occupation. Mr J. A. Valentine, chairman, was empowered to make representations to the Minister that the board should again be granted power to use its discretion in the dismissal or retention of married women teachers.

Demanding With Menaces. Threatened that "anti-capitalistic racketeers were operating in New Zealand and had marked him down to suffer material loss,” a Wellington business man received an anonymous letter requesting £2OO as a guarantee of protection. He received three more letters, and after a telephone conversation with an unknown person drove to Lyall Bay, where the money was ■to have been collected. Two detectives were hidden in the car and after a chase a man was arrested. Douglas Maxwell, labourer, aged 27, pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday to four charges of demanding £2OO with menaces from William Richard Kenner and to two charges of causing to be received letters threatening to burn down a building. He was committed by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M.. to the Supreme Court for sentence.