LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Motor Union Conference. The next conference of the North Island Motor Union is to be held in Auckland. Automobile Association. The Wairarapa Automobile Association now has a membership of 3785, a substantial increase compared with last year, when the total was 3253. In 1935 the membership was only 1532. Closing of Badminton Season. A large attendance of members of the St. Matthew’s Badminton Club is expected on Friday night when a Yankee tournament will be held to mark the official closing of the badminton season. Aerodrome to be Enlarged. Temporary improvements, to cost approximately £lB,OOO, are to be made at once at Rongotai Aerodrome to enlarge the landing field to the minimum essential for the safe handling of the present and still growing volume of air traffic. Euchre Tourney and Dance. There was a large attendance at the euchre tournament and dance held in St Patrick's Hall, Queen Street, last night in aid of the East Queen in the St Patrick's Centennial Queen Carnival. The prize winners for the euchre were ladies—Mrs Phillips and Mrs Allen, men, Mr Coley and another. The music for the dance was supplied b>’ Mr West and Mr R. McPhail, acted as M.C. Teachers' Camp. Approval has been given by the Wellington Education Board to a scheme whereby a group of teachers will be permitted to camp on school grounds handy to the exhibition during the Christmas vacatin. The board has advised Mr G. R. Ashbridge, secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute, that it is prepared to agree to the application, subject to the consent of the school committee concerned. A further condition is that the board reserves the right to determine the school to be used. Avenue of Poplars. An avenue of Lombardy poplars has been planted on both sides of the Waipoua River from the vicinity of Queen Street to Colombo Road. Altogether, 120 trees have been planted, 60 on either side. The poplars have been put in on the river side of the stopbanks and in a few years’ time will present a charming vista looking down the river from Queen Street. The trees were donated to the Masterton Beautifying Society and were planted by that body m conjunction with the Masterton Borough Council. Wellington College Bequest.

tifying Society and were planted by that body m conjunction with the Masterton Borough Council. Wellington College Bequest. Advice that under the will of the late Mrs J. P. Firth, widow of a former headmaster of Wellington College, several legacies and bequests had been made to Wellington College, was received at yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Colleges Board. The sum of £lOOO is bequeathed for investment, the income to be used for the unkeep and beautification of the memorial hall at the college. After satisfying certain other legacies, the ultimate residue of the estate is bequeathed to the governors of Wellington College in trust to establish a scholarship at the college to be known as the Joseph P. Firth Scholarship. Mrs M. Mitford. of Wellington, has donated £ 100 to found an annual prize in science, as a memorial to her son, Dr Mitford. Roadside Hoardings. “The continued erection of roadside hoardings is a matter calling for the strongest possible protest,” stated Dr E. E. Porritt, president of the North Island Motor Union in his annual report. "A motion for your consideration embraces a recommendation from the executive council, in view of the persistence of firms in erecting advertising hoardings in localities where they mar science beauty or cause road danger, that affiliated associations be asked to urge their members not to patronise goods or services that are so advertised. The union feels most strongly that such drastic action is called for to keep the development of the hoarding menace within bounds. The Government has the opportunity for removing the cause for our complaint when it introduces the town-planning legislation, which, it is understood, is in the course of preparation. Geneva Labour Conference. Mr G. M. F. Jackson, chief clerk of the Department of Labour, and deputy-registrar of industrial unions, who was a Government representative at the recent International Labour Conference in Geneva, has returned to Wellington. In an interview, Mr Jackson said the major item for discussion at the conference was the generalisation of the reduction of hours of work, in other words, 40-hour week, but in view of the prevailing international situation discussion on this matter was deferred. Considerable interest was displayed in the operation of the 40hour week in New Zealand, and in. this matter New Zealand was considerably in advance of other countries. Forty-three nations were represented at the conference. Germany, Japan, and Italy were members of the organisation. Spain was not represented. Pedestrian Crossings. “Again this year I find it necessary to comment that there is much room for improvement in the marking and use of pedestrian crossings. Dr E. E. Porritt. president of the North Island Motor Union stated in his annual report. "No standardised method of marking them has yet been fixed, and the observance of their rights by different classes of traffic at crossings is still irregular. The union has made strong representations to the Transport Department to have crossings at all times adequately marked and in hours of darkness adequately lit. It is desired also that motorists should have warning of their approach to a crossing by a suitable marking being set on the roadway. The Departmental view is that a standard on the kerb is sufficient indication, but it appears to have been overlooked that such a standard may be blocked from view by parked vehicles, verandah posts, or other objects, and that in any case the motorist should have his eye on the road rather than on the footpath. The adoption of a method of control of traffic at pedestrian crossings by lights is strongly urged, although it is realised that in some localities the expense involved may be a bar to universal adoption. However, if it were determined as a matter of policy that traffic at these points should be so controlled. it would greatly assist in the proper observance of regulations by all road users.