LOCAL & GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1939, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL

College Football. In a football match at Wellington yesterday Wellington College defeated the Otago Boys’ High School by 34 points to 3. Electric Power to be Cut Off.

Tomorrow electric power will be cut. off from 1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m., to allow essential repairs in the following districts: —Upper Plain, Kaituna, Mt Bruce, Solway, South Belt. Westbush. Short Street and Matahiwi. Odd Fellows’ Dance. The Manchester Unity Odd Fellows’ Lodge held a most enjoyable dance on Saturday night in the Masonic Hall. Mr W. A. Palmer capably acted as M.C., while Miss Colban and Mesdames Harris and Brader were responsible for the dainty supper provided.

Steamer to be Scuttled. If the weather is suitable the Anchor Company’s old coastal steamer Waimea will put to sea from Wellington for the last'time tomorrow morning, when she will be towed out into Cook Strait and scuttled off Taurakirae Head, where she will join company with many another old ship. Paddy’s Market.

Choice produce of all kinds and many other useful goods will be procurable at the Occidental Auction Mart, Queen Street, tomorrow, when a Paddy’s Market will be held by the Lansdowne School Parents’ Association. The sale will provide patrons with a good opportunity to secure goods and at the same time to help the school. St John Ambulance.

The annual report of the New Zealand governing b*ody in connection, with the St John Ambulance Brigade states that the ambulance and nursing divisions in the Wairarapa have maintained their interest during the year and rendered good service. The Masterton ambulance brigade issued 51 cadet proficiency certificates during the year. A Grand Prior's badge was awarded to Geoffrey D. Swain. Bridge Evening. An enjoyable bridge party was held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms last night by the Masterton Bowling Club. There was a large attendance of players and the winners were; Ladies, Mrs M. Rue, consolation, Mrs F. Evans; men, Mr George Beecroft, consolation, Mr Austin Weller. The president of the club, Mr S. V. Gooding, thanked the ladies’ committee for attending to the supper arrangements, which were much appreciated. Payment for Patients.

“I understand from information I have received from Wellington that the Government is considering, raising the daily payment for hospital patients under the Social Security scheme to Bs.” stated Dr J. P. Hastings at a meet - ing of the Auckland Hospital Board last night when the inadequacy of the proposed grant of 6s a day for persons receiving hospital benefits under the Act was emphasised. A discussion followed but lapsed on the understanding that the chairman would discuss the position with the Hospital Board’s Association and the Minister. Interesting Legal Point.

Saying he would take time to decide whether the opening of a door by a driver so that he could leave his mo-tor-car constituted an act of driving. Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., reserved judgment on a traffic prosecution in New Plymouth yesterday. As the result of an accident involving a cyclist who struck the door, Frank Collins was charged with driving without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road. A similar prosecution was heard in Wellington recently, it was stated, but the proceedings were dismissed, though the magistrate had suggested that there was power under, the Motor Regulations to deal with the matter. The charge on that occasion was laid under the Police Offences Act, the allegation being that the thoroughfare had been obstructed. Intoxicants & Motoring.

The proposal of the Minister of Transport, Mr Semple, to make it an offence for drivers of motor-vehicles to take intoxicants while driving or within half an hour immediately before driving is opposed by the delegates to the South Island Motor Union and by the executive council of the North Island Motor Union. This was shown at the quarterly meeting of delegates to the South Island union yesterday. Among those who attended the meeting were the president of the North Island union, Dr. E. E. Porritt, and Mr J. S. Hawkes, the representative of the South Island union on the New Zealand Road Safety Council, the recommendations of which are the basis of the " proposed legislation Mr Semple intends to submit to the House of Representatives. Statistics of Trade. Figures for eleven months of the production year, which extends from July to June, show a decrease of £3,271,000 in New Zealand exports, compared with the corresponding period of 1937-38. and a decrease of £2,658,000 in imports. The excess of exportfor the eleven months to May 31 last amounted to only £1,604,000, compared with £2,047.000 in the corresponding period of 1937-38 and £13,088,000 in the eleven, months to May 1937. Exports during May" last were valued at £6,638,000, as against £4,933,000 for April, an increase of £1,705.000. Compared with May. 1938, exports show an increase of £366,000. and they are £713,000 above those for May. 1937. Imports last month were valued at £5.338,000. an increase of £1,561,000 over those for April and £1.154,000 in excess of those lor May, 1938. All the figures of value mentioned are in New Zealand currency.

Fewer Breast-fed Babies,

Regret at a decline of 5 per cent in the number of breast-fed babies is expressed in the annual report of the Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society. “Of these new baby cases brought to the Plunket nurses for the first time when two or three weeks old. 13 per cent were entirely weaned and artificially fed, in many instances from birth,” says the report. “With our primary aim in mind, that of pi emoting and establishing breast-feeding, this trend towards artificial feeding is observed with concern, as the benefits to both mother and baby from even two or three months bi east-feed-ing are well-established medical facts. The reason for this seeming inability to suckle arc perhaps controversial, but cases coming under observation point to the fact that the mother who is addicted to smoking does not make a satisfactory nursing mother."