LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nursing Division Inspection. Members of the St John Ambulance Brigade, Nursing Division, are reminded that the annual inspection will be held in the Masterton Drill Hall, Lincoln Road, at 7.30 o’clock tonight. j Warm Weather Returns. After a fairly long spell of wet weather the district has experienced more congenial conditions. High temperatures were recorded in the Wa’< rarapa yesterday and indications at present point to a continuation of more settled weather. As a result of the recent rains vegetables and flowers .in town gardens are making prolific growth. Interhouse Dance.

A short but impressive ceremony took place on the stage in the Municipal Hall during the Wairarapa Interhouse Association’s gala dance on Monday night when a two-tiered birthday cake bearing four candles was cut by Mrs L. B. Maunsell, wife of the president of the association. All the hall lights were put out and the candles were blown out by Margaret Costello. Medical Board Sittings.

Sittings of the medical board to examine men called up for Territorial service by the second ballot will be held in the Masterton Drill Hall at 10 a.m. tomorrow and at the same time on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The sittings will complete the examination of men called up in the district. Drink at Dances.

Penalties inflicted by magistrates for breaches of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1939, concerning liquor at country dances, were the subject of a question of which Mr Polson (Opposition. Stratford) gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday. The question was addressed to the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason. Mr Polson asked whether the Minister had noticed the comparatively trifling penalties inflicted by some magistrates for breaches of the Act, and particularly the decision of one magistrate that liquor cached and consumed 200 or 300 yards away could not be construed to be in the vicinity of the dance hall. He also asked whether Mr Mason would take steps to have the matter dealt with in compliance with the obvious intention of Parliament in . passing the legislation to stamp out this social evil.

Charge Withdrawn, A charge of a breach of the Alien Control Emergency Regulations, 1940, brought against a young German Jewess; Use Katzenstein, in the Auckland Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, was withdrawn yesterday at the suggestion of the magistrate, Mr. Orr Walker. The magistrate said he had considered the legal points raised by counsel, Mr. Terry, and found there was a defect in the proceeding. He suggested that the police withdraw the present information and added that the case could be heard de novo. The police might consider that adequate warning had been given. Further proceedings would only result in punishing the defendant and would not act as a warning to the public. The police withdrew the information. The charge was that the defendant had altered her certificate of registration by crossing out the vord “German” and inserting the word .lone" in the space provided for showing nationality. Released From Roto Roa.

Paul Desire Nestor Verschaffelt, retirea public servant, aged 53, was fined £1 Is. and costs, in default four day's imprisonment, by Mr. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court. Wellington, yesterday, for drunkenness in a public place, it being his second offence within six months. Defendant pleaded not guilty and a police constable and sergeant gave evidence that while they were walking along Lambton Quay they were approached by a Government messenger who asked them to go into the Government Building. There they found defendant drunk. They accompanied him to the street and arrested him. Defendant said from the witness box that he was arrested on the steps of the building and did not go out to the street voluntarily. On October 23 he had been convicted of drunkenness, breach of a prohibition order and disderly behaviour and committed to Roto Roa Island for two years. He had been released and was taking further proceedings. Mr. F. W. Ongley appeared for defendant.