LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Death From Injuries. Edward Walker, aged 72, who was knocked down by a motor truck on May 27, died on Saturday evening in the Dunedin hospital. Territorial Parade. There will be a parade of C Company, First Hawke’s Bay Regiment, in the Masterton Drill Hall at 7.30 o’clock tonight. Harrier Visit Cancelled. Owing to illness and other reasons the trip to Dannevirke for the harrier rally which was to have been made by the Kiatere Harrier Club on Saturday, was cancelled. A Hiker Killed. Sadie Isobel Barnett, aged 22, of 18 Clyde Road, Riccarton, was killed yesterday afternoon by falling over a cliff near Gebbie’s Pass on the hills overlooking Lyttelton Harbour. She was one of a party of hikers. Sick and Wounded Fund. In a little more than four weeks since the inauguration of the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund appeal the objective of £250,000 has been reached. Wellington, with £58,390, tops the list for provincial donations. Next is Canterbury with £55,000. Badminton Team. The following is the Wairarapa A grade Badminton representative team to play the Manawatu Association at Palmerston North next Saturday: Messrs P. Hawksworth; J. J. Payton, P. Rishworth, G. B. Peterson, B. M. Hurley, N. Faulknor, emergency, C. J. Carle. Misses B. Payton, Nan Rishworth, E. Madsen, U. Holtham, V. Watson and N. Yates. Military Ball.

Indications point to the fact that the Military Ball, which will be held in the Municipal Hall on June 19, will be one of the most popular social functions of the year. A representative committee is working hard to ensure the smooth running of the ball and a large number of invitations are being sent out. Any person desirous of obtaining an invitation is asked to communicate with the secretaries, Sergeants A. H. Green and O. C. Cardno.

Meeting With G. B. Shaw. The story of a meeting with the famous British playwright, George Bernard Shaw, was related by Mr George Smith, of Auckland, in an address to the Hamilton Rotary Club. While visiting a London Art Gallery, said Mr Smith, he saw Shaw gazing intently at a painting. Approaching him he asked if he would mind if three New Zealanders introduced themselves to him. “Well, I suppose I am one of the sights of London,” replied Shaw, with a twinkle in his eye. Maoris’ War Effort. An indication that the Maori, along with the pakeha, was making some contribution toward the Dominion’s war effort by increasing production, was given by Mr R. Harrison, a director of the Hokianga Dairy Company, in speaking at an Auckland Rotary Club luncheon. In the past year, he said, the company increased its output by 100 tons, which represented 250,000 lbs of butter. “Half the supply to the factory is from Maoris which shows they are making some effort to help under war conditions,” said Mr Harrison. First Use of Gas. The credit, or discredit, of first using gas in warfare did not belong to the Germans but to the Russians, who employed tear gas in January, 1915, said Professor F. P. Worley in a lecture in Auckland. It was not until the following April that German troops on the Western Front released 168 tons of chlorine on a front of four miles, causing 1,500 casualties, of which one-third were fatal. Phosgene was used first in December, 1917, and mustard gas in July, 1917.

Visiting Debaters, Visitors will be welcomed at the weekly meeting of the Masterton Optimist Club at 5.30 o’clock tomorrow night in the Y.M.C.A. when the visiting Australian debaters will give their first addresses in the Dominion. The speakers will take for their subjects “Conscience and Society’”, and “Australia’s Population Problem.” Considerable interest is being taken in the visit of the debaters, Messrs D. Campbell, B.A. (Queensland); and A. M. Jenkins, B.A. (Sydney), and the club is fortunate is being able to have them as its guests. Members of the public who would care to be present are asked to communicate with Mr Murray Daniell as early as convenient. Arthur’s Pass Board.

The action of the Railways Department in not making grants which might assist national enterprise and ultimately bring better returns to the department was criticised at the annual meeting of the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board. Members contended that the Railways Department was one of the chief beneficiaries of tourist and excursion traffic to the national park, and yet it refused to make any grant to assist the board in its programme of improvement. After discussion it was decided to write to the Railways and Lands Departments asking for grants, and to the Department of Internal Affairs asking for assistance in the formation of tracks and the erection of huts under the physical welfare scheme. Attendance at Meetings.

“I do not think that members of Parliament oi’ men who have regular meetings on the evening this . board meets should be members of the Otago Harbour Board,” said Mi- F. E. Tyson at the last meeting of the board. “There are too many prolonged absences from meetings,” he continued, “and can members who offend in this way do their duty to the board?” Mr Tyson suggested that if it was not' suitable for some members to attend in the evening the meetings should be held in the afternoon. “If members cannot attend within reason they should not be on the board,” he concluded. Other members considered that afternoon meetings would not bo suitable, and that such a change would still not allow members of Parliament to attend. No action was taken.