LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Cosy Theatre Renovations. Extensive renovation work is being carried out to the front of the Cosy Theatre, Masterton, with a view to improving the appearance of the building Some alteration is also l y e made to the main entrance lobby, where the ticket box is to be i emoved from its present central position and placed against the side wall. Output of Coal.

Gratification at the increased production of coal, particularly duung the past three or four months, was expressed by the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, in an interview last evening. He said it was the desire, of the authorities to restrict importations of Australian coal to a minimum and to rely as far as possible on New Zealand coal for the country’s internal requirements. Output was now at least 70,000 tons higher than last year, and during the coming summer it was intended to build up reserve stocks of coal suitable for storing. Skeleton Found.

The discovery of a completely disintegrated adult male European skeleton, partially concealed in gorse on the property of Mr John Courtney, Fairview, near Timaru, was made on Thursday by Mr J. Wilcock, Timaru, who had been out for a walk and, hearing a weasel attack a rabbit, went into the paddock and found the skeleton, which evidently had been there a long time. Only a few fragments of clothing remained. Near the skeleton was a grey felt hat. The boots, still on the feet, were a stout working pair. Effects included two watches. Minor articles were found nearby, but no money. A Gardener’s Luck.

Nearly six years ago a Dunedin suburban housewife, while tidying a flower bed in her garden, had the misfortune to lose a ring of considerable value. In the ensuing search that bed was turned over during the next few days more thorughly than it had evei’ been before, but there was no trace of the missing ring, which lay hidden until recently. The owner went out to pick a few early primroses, and, having done so, improved the moment by loosening the soil around the roots of some of the plants. She had been working only for a short period when, to her surprise and very great delight, she brought up on one of the tines of the fork the ring which she had long ago given up for lost. Failure to Furnish Returns.

A series of charges brought by the Commissioner of Taxes in the Auckland Magistrates’ Court was admitted by John Charles Edmunds. For the Crown, Mr Meredith said that Edmunds was a dealer in second-hand cars in a fairly large way at Newmarket. He also owned and trained racehorses. He came from England in 1937 and his business transactions for the last two years had been investigated by an income tax inspector. He was considered a very unsatisfactory person to deal with. He had not yet made income returns for 1938 and 1939. Default assessments had been made. On the charge of having failed to furnish returns, Mr Orr Walker, S.M., fined the defendant £lOO and for failure to register under the Employment Promotion Act the defendant was fined £5 and costs. Two other charges were adjourned. Cost of Living.

The following resolutions were adopted at a special meeting of the Woburn branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants yesterday:—“That this special meeting of the Woburn branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, consisting of all sections of the workers in the workshops, calls upon our national executive now in session to urge upon the Government that immediate relief in the way of a cost-of-living bonus oi’ a 10s a week increase in wages be granted to all workers in receipt of less than £6 a week. The increase in the cost of living and the extra taxation have again placed the homes of the working people in grave peril, reducing the purchasing power of the people to a worse position than during the depression period.’’ "That this meeting strongly condemns the increased salaries being granted to highly-paid public servants and considers that the claims of the lower-paid working man, who is in many cases short of the necessaries of life, should be attended to before those of men already in receipt of ample." Award Suspended.

The provisions of the Dairy Factories Employees' Award so far as they apply to work in cheese factories are suspended by an order issued last evening so as to enable 52 hours a week to be worked during the coming season. In lieu of overtime the following wages will be paid when the hours of work are extended to 52: First assistant, £6 ss; second assistant, £5 17s 6d; third assistant, £5 10s; fourth assistant. £5 5s 6d: enginedriver (first-class certificate), £6 ss; engine-driver (second-class assistant), £5 18s 6d; all other workers (including firemen and general hands), £5. For work in excess of four hours on Saturday, and for time worked on any Sunday or holiday, or in excess of 52 hours, the special rates prescribed by the award are to be paid. The order is in accordance with a recommendation made earlier in the week by the Industrial Emergency Council. The order will remain operative for 12 months, and 52 hours a week shall not be worked for more than 43 weeks of the. year.