LOCAL & GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1939, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Professional Boxing Contest. A professional boxing contest held at Dunedin last night between W. Parris, Wellington, (10.41) and Norman Fisher, Christchurch (10.1|), resulted in a win on a knock-out in the ninth round for Parris. The bout was one of the best witnessed in Dunedin for some years. Motor Drivers and Liquor. Proposed legislation about the taking of liquor by drivers of motoi' vehicles was discussed at Wellington yesterday by a sub-committee of 11 of the 14 members of the Road Safety Council. The Commissioner of Transport, Mr G. L. Laurenson, presided. The resolutions carried, which also dealt with penalties, tests for intoxication and a number of otner matters relating to liquor and driving, are first to be submitted to the three members of the council who reside away from Wellington.

Military Ball. At the last meeting of the Military Ball Committee, further progress was made towards the . forthcoming function, which will be held in the Municipal Hall on June 21. Music is to be supplied by Frank Pool’s Blue Rivei - Dance Band, while the decorative scheme will again be in the hands of Sergeant J. K. Welch. Invitations will be issued shortly, and the committee would be glad to receive the names of any who desire to be on the invitation list. School Telephones.

An internal telephone system has been installed in the Central School, New Plymouth. Fourteen rooms have their own telephones connected with each other free of charge by the staff members of the Post and Telegraph Department in their own time. It will be a distinct advantage as a time-saver, particularly in the frequent cases when the dental clinic, which is situated at the Central Infant School, requires a pupibfrom any class. A monitor in the office can contact the pupil immediately. The headmaster has a special long ring which will reach him in whatever room he may be. Company Fined for Trespass.

A fine of £lO, with an additional penalty of £356 15s Bd, double the amount of royalty due, was imposed by Mr R. Ferner, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court at Greymouth yesterday on United Sawmills, Ltd., who were charged witn cutting and removing without authority 198,550 ft of timber in a provisional State Forest in Kopara. Anthony Farrelly, manager, was fined £2 10s for aiding and abetting the company. Appearing for the company, Mr F. A. Kitchingham said that the tresspass was committed without the knowledge of the directors. For the Crown, Mr A. A. Wilson declared that the trespass was deliberate. The company had previously offended, but the department had not prosecuted.

Erection of Factory in Dunedin. To make final arrangements for the erection of a factory for his companies in Forth Street, Dunedin, Mr W. R. Slack, works manager in Sydney for Reckitts (Oversea) Ltd. and ColmanKeen Ltd., arrived at Wellington by the Awatea from Sydney yesterday. Mr Slack said the establishment of the factory had been decided upon before New Zealand imposed its import restrictions, but mat action had accelerated the companies’ plans. The construction work will begin shortly. It was estimated, he said, that the factory would employ 60 hands at the commencement. Blue, metal polish and most of the products of the associated companies would be manufactured n New Zealand. Immigration Policy. The Government’s policy on immigration was discussed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, when replying yesterday to a deputation which had suggested that the labour shortage on farms, in factories, and in the home might be overcome by bringing migrants to New Zealand. He said the Government aimed at finding work for New Zealanders before embarking on an immigration scheme. Mr Parry said it was good to realise that enterprise and the conditions of today, which were causing New Zealand to advance so rapidly, brought in their train an abundance of work. It was correct that in primary and secondary industries there was not nearly sufficient labour available, but it would be wrong to say that the Government was not making stout efforts —not without success —to relieve in many ways the position. Morally Bound to Return. “New Zealand Rhodes Scholars are morally bound to return to their own country only if there are opportunities awaiting them when they arrive,” said Dr. W. E. Henley, former Rhodes Scholar, who returned to Auckland by the Monowai yesterday. He was asked to comment on a statement cabled from Australia which was reported to have been made in an interview that he was returning to New Zealand because he felt that Rhodes Scholars were under a moral obligation to return to their own countries. “That is only half of what I said. I added that an obligation existed only if there were opportunities for them,” said Dr. Henley. He knew of several who had returned to the Dominion only to find that there was nothing for them to do. Rhodes Scholars seemed to return to the larger countries, including South Africa, Canada,, and the United States, and a fair number were also found in the Commonwealth. A Link with Scotland. Between 100 and 150 parcels of heather are received each year by the Scottish Society of New Zealand from people in Scotland. At the annual meeting of the society in Christchurch (Mr G. M. Teller) said that each bunch of heather bore the name and address of the sender and in many instances a correspondence had sprung up between sender and recipient. “Some members here have corresponded and exchanged gifts for more than 20 years with people in Scotland whom they have never seen,” he said. “All types of letters are received, from crofters to titled folk, and this forms a valuable tie between this country and the Home land.” Mr L. R. Gifford, who is correspondence secretary of the society, said that sometimes as much as 7s 6d postage was required for the dispatch of the parcels to the Dominion. “When we see the amount of postage involved, it makes us wonder if we would be prepared to do as much oursevles,” he added. The Y.M|C.A. invite applications for the position of associate secretary io the Masterton branch. Applications close on Monday next.