LOCAL & GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1939, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

Wairarapa Tramping Club. Members of the Wairarapa Tramping Club Avill make a weekend trip to Mitre Flats on Saturday and Sunday. There are numerous interesting tramping spots around the flats, and because of this they have been very popular with Wellington and local trampers for some years. Endeavour Inquiry.

The naval inquiry into allegations of disaffection in H.M.S. Endeavour was continued in Auckland yesterday. The commodore commanding the New Zealand Squadron, Commodore Riv-ett-Carnac, presided, being assisted by other senior officers of the station. During the day further questions were asked of ratings who had been punished by warrant and evidence was also heard from other ratings who volunteered information. After a full day’s sitting the inquiry was concluded, and the next step in the matter will be the report made by the commodore to the Admiralty in England.

Alleged Offer of Bribe. The Auckland district committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference held an inquiry into an allegation that an attempt was made by an outsider to offer a bribe to the jockey P. Burgess to pull Suleiman in tne Waihou Handicap on the first day of the Te Aroha Jockey Club’s annual meeting in February. The committee dedecided that another jockey who was alleged to have been involved in the matter was npt guilty of any evil intent. The second jockey was admonished and advised to communicate with the racing officials immediately if any incident of the kind occurred again. Politics and Defence.

Rigid opposition to the recent suggestion that Territorial units be formed, completely officered, by certain political groups on the ground that it was wrong to allow any political group to be organised and armed as a complete unit was suggested to the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last night in a recommendation from the board of the Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce. Agreement with the junior chamber’s view was expressed, and it was decided to bring the question to the notice of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand. Import Regulations.

Appealing for suspension of the import control regulations on account of their alleged illegality, a second petition was presented by the Govern-or-General on Friday by the Bureau of Importers. In a reply, received by the bureau, his Excellency states that he does not feel justified in intervening in a matter on which the Courts of the Dominion have not yet finally pronounced. The bureau has been informed by its legal advisers that the judgment delivered by Mr Justice Callan in the case of F. E. Jackson and Company v the Collector of Customs has made the regulations illegal. This claim was emphasised in the petition, which was signed by the president of the bureau, Mr W .A. Boucher, and other members. Funeral of Maori Chief. About twenty-five cars followed the cortege of the late Mr Taiawhio Tikawenga Te Tan to the Native Cemetery from the Meeting House at the Te Ore Ore ra yesterday afternoon. Amongst those present were several well known Wairarapa station holders who have been associated with the late chief for.many years. At the pa the Rev E. J. Rich delivered an inspiring address. He also officiated at the graveside, and was assisted throughout by Mr V. Joblin. The wreaths were numerous and rich in design and colour. Many came from prominent people. The pall-bearers were Messrs W. Te Tau, E. Te Tau, L. Te Tau, R. Te Tau and R. Parata, nephews of the late Mr Te Tau, and Mr C. Holland.

Shortage of Female Labour. Plans are now under way to bring to New Zealand skilled girl factory workers from Britain and Australia. Female labour for factories has become so hard to find that this step is being taken at once. At the same time requests are now before the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, for an extension of the adult] apprenticeship subsidy scheme to cover women workers. If this extension is granted it will be practicable to employ unskilled women who are more than 21 years of age. The shortage of female labour is reported to be causing embarrassment to manufacturers, particularly in the North Island. Clothing and footwear factories are probably most directly affected operations, in many factories having been delayed for lack of skilled girl workers. For Widow or Estate? An originating summons to determine whether funeral and death benefits payable by the United Ancient Order of Druids in respect of one of its deceased members should be paid to his widow or to his estate, was brought in the Supreme Court at Wellington yesterday. In August, 1937, Edwin Hugh Gough, Petone, died without leaving a will. The widow contended that £l2O in death and funeral benefits from the Ancient Order of Druids was payable to her, but children of the deceased by a former marriage claimed that the money formed part of the estate and that they were entitled io part of it because the deceased died intestate. The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) said the case was interesting arid probably important. and he would take time to consider his decision. Government Printing. ‘■There is a strong feeling that the Government is launching out unduly in the printing field,” said Mr M. G. C. McCaul, a past president of the. Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, in explaining the attitude of the Associated Chambers to the proposed new Government printing office to the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. Referring to the ample printing facilities which existed throughout the Dominion, Mr Caul said that for the Government to erect a very large printing plant vras a duplication of machinery and altogether unnecessary. ‘‘lt would be far more economical for the Government to let a great deal of its printing out to contractors,” he said. “There, is being done by the Government today a great deal ci' the type of printing that should be done by private printing houses. That is the feeling of the Associated Chambers.”