LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Another Frost in Masterton

Following on a series of frosts this week, 7 degrees were registered this morning in Masterton.

Further Recruits. The latest enrolment in Masterton in the special military force is that of C. A. Ward, of Masterton, while two further recruits have come forward for special service either in naval or military forces, N. A. Mackay and A, C. Brown, both of Masterton. Survey of Local Sports Clubs.

Miss N. Thomson, area instructor for the Physical Welfare Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, is now in Masterton making a survey of the local sports clubs and their facilities. The Department is aiming at achieving a loose federation of sports clubs throughout New Zealand with a view to increasing their _ efficiency and widening their activities. The survey now being made is a preliminary step in the proposed plan.

Swimming in Military Camps. A recommendation that the New Zealand Swimming Association should offer its services to the Government for the teaching of swimming at the military training centres was made at a meeting of the Auckland Swimming Centre. It was decided to approach the Dominion association and also to request the Government to provide a swimming’'pool in every training camp in New Zealand, together with a qualified instructor. Tennis Season in Masterton.

The mild winter experienced, and the present conditions have resulted in the lawn tennis courts in Masterton being at their best. The season will commence on Saturday when St Mathew’s and Kuripuni clubs (both hardcourt clubs) will hold their official openings, to which members of kindred club are invited. The Memorial Tennis Club will open its season on October 21, Masterton on October 28 and Park on November 4.

Long Felt Cricket Need. A long-felt need in cricketing circles will be filled by the umpires’ association which was formed in Hastings on Tuesday night. The organisation’s main objective-is to ensure a supply of competent non-playing members to control cricket in the town, and thereis no doubt that it will be a great asset to the sport. The need for the right type of men was stressed by Mr H. G. Apsey, who presided over the meeting.' It was essential that there should be men in control of matches who were possessed of a triie sense of sport. He appealed to explayers and others interested in cricket to continue their association with the sport by offering their services, even if temporarily, during the season for umpiring.

Maori Craftsmanship. Modern Maori men and women, will demonstrate the traditional craftsmanship and culture of their race in the great carved meeting-house which is being erected at the Centennial Exhibition. This Maori Court, a hall 77ft by 34ft in area, stands in the transport section of the exhibition, adjacent to and contrasting with the Fijian Court, which also takes the form of a native meeting-house. The hall is the work of skilled builders versed in the ancient lore of the Maori, and is an outstanding example of native architecture and decoration. Much Maori legend and history is woven into the grotesque and fascinating woodcarvings inside and out, while the walls are lined with woven reeds in characteristic Maori patterns. Here Native artists, men and women, will carry out the carving and weaving practised in ancient days. Teachers and the War. “First interest of a body , like the N.Z.E.I. in wartime is to look to the good of the children, to ensure that, whatever else happens, their privileges are maintained, and their needs supplied,” states “National Education.” “Then the rights of such of our members as enlist for military service must be protected. Action along these lines has already been taken, and the executive has met the departmental officers and discussed with them various methods of securing promotion, grading, superannuation, and leave of absence, and other related matters. The discussions took place in an atmosphere of complete co-operation and ready sympathy, with the idea of giving the fullest possible protection to teachers who enlist. Members may rest assured that everything possible is being done, and that there is general agreement on all sides that soldier teachers should not be permitted to suffer professionally in any way. Fair Rents and Shops. The proposal to bring certain shops within the scope of the fair rents legislation has been excluded from the Fair Rents Amendment Bill by the Statutes Revision Committee of the House of Representatives. The report of the committee was presented in the House yesterday by the chairman, Mr Schramm (Government, Auckland East), and adopted. Explaining the changes made by the committee, Mr Schramm said it had come to the conclusion that shops could not be included under the Bill, as the principles governing the rents of shops were different from those relating to homes or dwellings. Shop rents were governed by the law of supply and demand, whereas there was an almost permanent shortage of housing accommodation. The Bill as amended applied to houses that had been converted into flats either before or after the passing of the legislation, Mr Schramm added. The committee considered that places of that kind should be dealt with. Maori Battalion. A rifle battalion comprising Maoris for service in or beyond New Zealand as combatant troops is to be formed. The Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, said yesterday that (he decision had been made by the Government after consultation with a committee of members of Parliament, including the four Maori members. Preparations are being made for recruiting to begin on October 9. Maori registration agents will be appointed for duty in those parts of the Dominion populated by the Maoris, and these recruiting agents will work under the direction of, and assist, army area officers. The names and addresses of the Maori registration agents will be notified later. In the first instance recruiting is lo be open to single men between the ages of 21 and 35. Members of the Maori race who wish to offer their services will be required to complete' a registration form, copies of which will be obtainable at army offices, Post Offices and from any of the recruiting agents, A site near Palmerston North has been selected as the camp site.