LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 August 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Maori Believed Drowned. A Maori youth. Roger Joe, aged 17 years, who left his home on horseback to return to work at Springhill Station more than a week ago, is feared to have been drowned in the Mohaka River, Hawke’s Bay. Joe set out at 4.30 p.m. on July 28, after being warned not to attempt to ford the river, and has not been seen since. With the saddle still on, and- lame and exhausted, his horse was found lying on the bank of the river about a mile below where it was believed he tried to cross.

Demand for Electric Power.

“The demand for electric power has been increasing at such a rate that particularly in the North Island the output from additional generating units now being installed will be almost absorbed as soon as they can be brought into operation,” said the Minister of Public Works, Mr Armstrong, in his annual statement, presented to the House of Representatives yesterday. “Without the use of standby plants at peak periods the present North Island supply systems could not meet existing demands. The urgency of providing additional supply will therefore be fully appreciated, specially in view of the industrial developments which are taking place. Unfortunately, the shortage of experienced men and the uncertain delivery of machinery and equipment from overseas have delayed the completion of some extension works which have reached an advanced stage.”

Post War Work.

“After the war a large number of men will be returning from overseas service who will not be able to resume immediately their former occupations or who will require to be specially trained in vocations best suited to their individual circumstances,” said the Minister of Public Works, Mr Armstrong, in his annual statement, presented to-the House of Representatives yesterday. “In the interim other work may have to be provided for some of these men, and with this object in view careful consideration is being given to the selection of national development works where they could be employed pending their rehabilitation in normal civil occupations. A comprehensive schedule of important postwar projects.has been compiled, including provision for flood-control and soil-conservation measures, the improvement' of access and transport facilities, and the resumption of construction programmes which have been suspended during the war.”

Plunket Society.

The- treasurer of the local branch of the Plunket Society acknowledges the receipt of the following subscriptions and donations: —Mesdames A. P. Hodson and C. Clydesdale £1 each; Mesdames Graham Cowie. R. A. Pyne, J. Eastwood, 10s each; Mesdames R. J. Fowler, P. Hawksworth, G. W. Morice, R. Matthews, Schlegel, D. W. Harris, R. S. King, J. L. Williams. R. E. Kember, R. Bunny, C. Wong, P. Kummer, Meyrick, C. A. Skeet. E. M. Spier, E. W. Smith, L. Roach, H. King and Miss J. Cooper, 5s each.

Alternative Service.

“What is the Government going to do about alternative service for conscientious objectors?” asked Mr Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga), when speaking on the Estimates in the House of Representatives yesterday. “Many hundreds of these men have appeared before the Armed Forces Appeal Boards,” continued Mr Doidge. ‘lt is obvious that all of them cannot be elevated to the Legislative Council.” The Chairman of Committees, Mr McKeen, ordered the withdrawal of the reference, Mr Doidge complying. Mr Doidge asked whether the conscientious objectors were to be allowed to keep safe jobs and safe skins. One possible answer was that they would be allowed to keep safe jobs and safe skins because by precedent they probably would be running the country in the next war.

Flogging Sentence. Further criticism was heard from Opposition members in the House of Representatives yesterday of the Government’s decision that a sentence of flogging on four prisoners in the Auckland Gaol for assaulting warders should not be carried out. Mr Broadfoot contended that Cabinet had exceeded its legal right, and that its action was a gross interference with the courts of justice. In his written reply to a question of which notice had been given at an earlier sitting, the Minister of Justice (Mr Mason) said that the Government was opposed to flogging as a method of punishment, and was not convinced that it was an effective deterrent. Every possible precautionary measure was being taken for the protection of warders, and legislation would be introduced during the present session dealing with the subject of flogging. In a further statement, Mr Mason said that while the law was as it was, the sentence under discussion could not be criticised, because the case was particularly bad, but the proper course was to amend the legislation.

A dinner will be tendered to members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Midland Hotel, Masterton, on Monday next, at 6 p.m., by the Masterton District Patriotic Committee. '