LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost in Masterton. A frost of 9.9 degrees was registered in Masterton this morning.

Wellington Competitions. In the piano solo for children 10 to 12 years of age at the Wellington competitions yesterday Edith Bettelheim, of Masterton. was highly commended.

Seaman Killed. An able seaman on the Kaimai. which is under charter to the Westport Coal Company, was killed after falling while attempting to board the ship at Westport last night. He was W. Rigg, single, aged 26, of Auckland. Bookmakers Fined.

As the result of police raids, six persons were charged in the Magistrates' Court, Palmerston North, yesterday, with having carried on the business of bookmaker. Mr Lawry, S.M., fined five of them £lOO each, and one £25. Rugged Wrestling.

Rugged wrestling characterised a professional heavyweight contest at Auckland last night in which Earl McCready was fully extended in securing a points decision over Joe Corbett, after each man had secured a fall. Fund for Fighter Planes.

The first New Zealand fund to buy fighter planes for Britain was opened in Southland with the Prime Minister’s approval a few weeks ago and already more than £15,000 has been contributed. The objective is £21,000, the cost in New Zealand currency of two fighters. The Government has been asked to forward the cost of the first plane to the British Government immediately.

Railwaymen’s Demands. A moratorium covering overseas debts for the duration of the war, the removal of any additional taxation on railwaymen and a protest against the National Security tax are among proposals approved at a mass meeting of railwaymen’s organisations in Christchurch. Another resolution carried favoured the removal of all taxes from superannuitants receiving £3 a week or less. Social Security Payments.

It is now almost 10 years since payment of quarterly levies, first for unemployment and more recently for social security, was required in New Zealand. Those who are making their social security payments this month are receiving a fresh coupon book, the fifth in the series. It makes provision for contributions payable up to November, 1945. When the system was first introduced there was a widespread confidence that it was merely a temporary expedient to tide over the depression. Wet Canteens Problem. “The question of wet canteens in

territorial camps will be considered by the Government very shortly,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when asked in an interview last night if any decision had yet been made on this subject. No decision, he added, had been arrived at. “Any assumption about the Government’s policy in connection with wet canteens in territorial camps is premature,” said Mr Fraser. “Representations have been made to the Government, and due weight and regard will be paid to them.” Drunken Motorist Sent to Gaol.

“Motorists know very well that this is looked on as a serious offence, and if they go out and drive in that condition they can't expect any consideration,” said Mr Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, during the hearing of a church of intoxication in charge of a car. Accused, Alfred Thomas Melrose Church, plasterer, aged 47, pleaded guilty. The magistrate sentenced him to seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour, cancelled his driving licence and debarred him from getting another for 12 months.

Theft By Secretary. The theft of money totalling £228 from the Devonport Returned Soldiers’ Club between April, 1934, and August, 1940, was admitted by Ernest Masters, aged 60, clerk, in the Auckland Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Masters said that he was a war pensioner, havingbeen a prisoner of war in the last war. He was secretary of the Devonport Returned Soldiers’ Club to March last, when he was also appointed treasurer. Some time after his appointment as secretary he began using the Club’s money for his own purposes, continuing to do so till March last. The police said that Masters gave himself up. He pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. Warning to Motorists. Blasting carried out by the Public Works Department in connection with the recent widening of Makuri Gorge, has left the batter at certain points in a shattered condition. Travellers arc directed to exercise caution at all times in traversing this section of road, but most particularly during wet weather. The following advice is given by the county overseer: Should the driver of a motor-vehicle observe a boulder on the road, he should not drive close up

to it, but look for a location where the bank is low and unbroken, as the boulder may be a forerunner of further slipping. Before removing the obstacle, he is advised to inspect the batter al the place where a slip has recently been cut back to allow for the passage of traffic. He should stop his car at a safe point and inspect the slip to ascertain if the passage is open and safe. Careful driving through the gorge, particularly when negotiating corners, is advised.

Evacuated Children. ( No definite advice has reached the Government as to when New Zealand may receive its quota of British children. to be evacuated to the Dominion. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, stated last night that he was ■ unable to say if the children would ar■rive in New Zealand unannounced as ’ was the case in Victoria. “Our people in all parts of the Dominion,” Mr .Parry said, “are keenly and sympathetically interested in the little ones from Home who they hope will eventually come to them for their care, and any information coming to the Government which can be made public will be promptly published.” Mr Parry said nominations and offers to take charge of the British children were still being received. Combined, they happily placed 8000 of the children. "Very many of the letters received from New Zealand mothers offering to care for the British children.' 1 the Minister added. "are very finely expressed with sentiments good to read and to appreciate.”