LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

College Concert,

Active preparation is being made for the presentation of the Wairarapa College pupils’ concert in the Opera House on' Monday, August 14. Tickets are now on sale and patrons arc assured of an excellent entertainment. Hospital Improvements.

Seven acres of land recently acquired by the Wairarapa Hospital Board as an addition to the Masterton Hospital grounds arc being developed as gardens and in preparation for tennis courts. About 20 men are al present employed on the work. A Pertinent Question.

When Mr J. B. T. Cottcrill (member for Wanganui) gave notice in the House of Representatives today to introduce the Wanganui Harbour Board District Empowering Bill, a member asked: "What about the Port Bowen? What are you going to do about her?” (Laughter.) R.S.A. Church Parade.

In company with the Legion of Frontiersmen, members of the R.S.A. will attend a church parade at St Matthew’s Church on Sunday next at 11 a.m. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War. Those R.S.A. members attending are asked to assemble in Jackson Street at 10.40 a.m. wearing medals. Australian Surfers.

The Australian Surf Life-saving Association has accepted New Zealand s invitation for a team of 18 from Australia to compete in the New Zealand Centennial surf championships, a Sydney cablegram states. The team will leave Sydney on January 12 for Auckland. It is unlikely, however, that the Hawaiian team which is now en route to Sydney to compete in the second Pacific surf games will participate in the New Zealand championships. Waterfall at Orakei. An addition to the attractions of the waterfront road in the form of a fairsized waterfall coming over the cliffs into the bush at the edge of the road just past the Orakei Wharf surprised passers-by on a recent afternoon. It had apparently been caused by the large amount of water that had collected on the country above during a heavy downpour a few minutes earlier. Runaway Beer Barrel. To meet a runaway beer barrel careering irregularly downhill was the surprising experience of the driver of a light motor-car when he was rounding a bend on the New North Road, Mount Albert, the other afternoon. The barrel was a large one and had apparently travelled some distance, for it was moving at a fast pace. Swinging from side to side of the road as it went, it proved difficult to avoid, and the car had a narrow escape. Heavy rain was falling at the time and the driver was not able to tell from where the barrel had come. One Tree Hill Obelisk. Good progress is being made with the erection on the summit of One Tree Hill, Auckland, of the 100 ft obelisk which is to be a memorial to the Maori race. A concrete foundation has been sunk to a depth of 14ft for the memorial, for which Sir John Logan Campbell provided in his will. The fabrication of the steelwork for the reinforced concrete base, on which the shaft of the obelisk will stand, is now well advanced and is clearly visible from many parts of the city. The high winds and bitter weather of the past week have made work on the summit of the hill very difficult. J. A. Campbell Memoriai. At the last meeting of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, it was reported that the amount collected for the J. A. Campbell Memorial Fund was approximately £l5O, and that the representative committee had decided that the annual interest from the trust should provide an award of approved books to the most successful student each year in the institute’s intermediate examination in horticulture, also a certificate. The award is to commence with the current year’s examination, when an amount of £5 will be allocated from the fund. The £l5O is to be invested in Government bonds and the balance in the Post Office Savings Bank.

P. & T. “Depression Juniors.” The position of what are known as the "depression juniors” in the Post and Telegraph Department was the subject of a question in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago). Mr Bodkin gave notice that he would ask the Postinaster-General whether it was the intention of the Government to do anything to improve the position of those officers in the Post and Telegraph Department who were commonly referred to as the “depression juniors,” and whether he would make a statement on the Government's intentions at an early date. “For months past,” said Mr Bodkin, “letters have been appearing in the ‘Katipo’ indicating the extremely difficult position in which those officers now find themselves because of the increased cost of living.”

Unemployment Costs. "In the last four years the Government has spent £20,000,000 on unemployment. and the problem today is just as virulent as ever it was,” said Mr W. J. Broad foot (Opposition, Waitomo) in the House of Representatives last night. “Public works is the new great primary industry in New Zealand.” added Mr Broadfoot. The Budget claimed that unemployment had been eliminated in New Zealand, but a total of £6.400,000 had been paid in providing employment last year. I am driven to believe that that is the coirect evidence, and that unemployment is more rampant than ever,” he continued. There was now another £2,500000 to employment promotion as well as a large sum made available, to the Maori people. That was conclusive proof that unemployment had not been solved, and the Government was now calling on private enterprise to help. “In spite of protestations to the contrary in my opinion unemployment will cost another £5.000.000 this year." Mr Broad foot added.

Sponsored by the committee in charge of the St. Patrick’s Centenary Queen Carnival, the dance to be held on Saturday. August 12. in the Municipal Hall, promises to be one of the most popular of the season. Special arrangements are being made regaiding music, and novelty and streamer dances will add a distinct carnival effect to the gathering.