LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wellington Y.M.C.A. Membership. The membership of the Young Men’s Christian Association. Wellington, now stands at 1065, comprising 498 boys in the city and suburbs and 567 senior members. Sale of Work. The annual sale of work held by the St Matthew’s Ladies’ Guild in the Parish Hall yesterday was an outstanding success. The well stocked stalls all reported brisk business,' the gross takings amounting to £lll. Men Patients Drink More Tea. During a discussion at the Waipawa Hospital Board on the quantity of consumption of various goods and their costs, it was revealed that men patients’ consumption of tea arid sugar was greater than that of the women patients. Incidentally, the men were responsible for a greater proportion of the breakages. Accountants’ Thesis Competition. The first prize of 50 guineas in the thesis competition of the New Zealand Society of Accountants for the encouragement of research has been awarded to Mr A. E. J. Anderson, Wellington, whose subject was “Executorship Accounts.” The second prize of 30 guineas was won by Mr H. R. N. Newman, Auckland, with a treatise on “Coal-mining Companies’ Accounts.” Mr J. A. C. Sinclair, Auckland, won the third prize of 20 guineas with a thesis on “Road Transport Costs and Charges.” Athenia Survivors. Two survivors of lhe liner Athenia, which was torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat the day after war was declared, arrived in Wellington on Tuesday. They are Clive Newcombe, aged 13, and his sister, Jean, aged 10, who are the nephew and niece respectively of Mrs L. J. Maule, Kelburn. These children, who are members of a branch of the Newcombe family (well known in Karori), resident in the United States, were among those who were, subsequent to the sinking of the Athenia, landed on the coast of Galway, in Ireland. Free Painting of Mudguards. The desirability of having the rear mudguard of bicycles painted white was emphasised at a meeting of the Otago Automobile Association, and because the Automobile Association in Christchurch had instructed one of its officers to paint the mudguards of cycles belonging to school children, it was decided that the association’s signposting officer should visit Dunedin schools and paint free of charge cycle mudguards. In Southland the Automobile Association discussed the same question and decided against taking any action, believing that there would be a lot of paint wasted. Falkland Islands. This is an island group belonging to Britain in the South Atlantic Occam There are two islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, containing respectively about 2580 and 2038 square miles with a great number of smaller ones. They are hilly and boggy, entirely destitute of trees, but covered with a variety of grasses, very nutritive for sheep and cattle. Fish and sea fowl abound. Wool, frozen meat, hides and tallow are the chief exports. The climate is equable and very healthy. The Falkland Islands were discovered by Davis in 1592. Along with South Georgia Graham’s Land and the Sandwich Islands they form a Crown colony. Increase in Rates of Pay. An increase of 11 an hour for all men employed on public works, equal to 5s a week, was announced yesterday by the Minister of Public Works. Mr Semple. In addition, a special allowance of 5s a week will be paid to married men who have to leave their homes and accept single men s accommodation in Public Works camps. Mr Semple explained that for a long period the Public Works men on the minimum wage had been receiving less than they would have been paid under awards for similar work outside State employment. The general increase of 5s a week will bring the minimum wage on public works to £4 ss.

Centennial Exhibition.

Immediately on his return from a world business tour, Mr T. B. Cavaghan, secretary and director of Ford Motor Co. of N.Z. Ltd., visited the Centennial Exhibition. In view of the fact that, during his trip, Mr Cavaghan visited both the New York and San Francisco Expositions his comments will be of great interest. Upon entering the grounds he spontaneously remarked that the layout and design of the Exhibition was far superior to those he had seen overseas. In both San Francisco and New York the exhibits were haphazardly placed, and it was very easy indeed to become lost. In addition, it was difficult to plan a route that would enable the visitor to see all the exhibits. The planning of the Centennial Exhibition was admirable. Mr Cavaghan was, naturally, anxious to see the Ford exhibit and al the conclusion of a very detailed tour he expressed himself as being unable to offer any suggestions that would improve the layout as it stands at present.