Masterton’s Park.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 4

Masterton’s Park.

“The Park is looking an absolute picture at the present time,” stated the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. He considered that the custodian (Mr F. H. Knowles) and his staff were to be complimented on their work. Borough Library. Altogether 5931 books (366 of which were reference) were issued by the Masterton Borough Library last month and 1244 new books were added to the library. Subscribers at September 30 totalled 653, against 595 at the corresponding date last year. In the juvenile library there were 180 subscribers. Too Much Absenteeism. “There is far too much absenteeism in mines and factories, and I appeal to workers who are fit not to waste one day and to feel that every extra hour' or day is assisting the nation’s war effort,” said the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, in an .interview at Auckland yesterday. He emphasised that every day lost by a fit man or woman was helping the enemy. No Sunday Tennis. The Council of the University of Otago yesterday reaffirmed its attitude toward the playing of tennis by students on Sundays, and after a long discussion rejected a recommendation by the board of control that play be allowed between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the University courts. The board, in a letter to the council, stated it was making no pioneer proposal, and other colleges in New Zealand permitted Sunday tennis. Home Guard Training.

Captain Raymond Lee (N.Z.T.S.) and Sergeant-Majors Stanton and Burling, the newly appointed Instructional Staff for the 7B Group (Wairarapa) have completed a four days’ course of instruction for the officers and n.c.o’s. of the Pahiatua Home Guard Battalion. The attendances were most encouraging, and over the whole course the number parading averaged 52 daily. Some of the trainees travelled over 20 miles each day. Instruction was given in elementary drill, musketry, and communication drill for all ranks, and in addition the officers received a lecture on general administration. while the n.c.o’s. were given a course in bayonet fighting. Sequel to Motor Fatality. A jury of 12 in the Supreme Court, Wellington, found David McPherson., carpenter, aged 23, guilty on a charge of negligent driving of a motor car and causing the death of Joyce Lucy Fokerd at Moera on February 22 last. Mr Justice Ostler suspended accused’s driving licence till the end of its term, and prohibited him from obtaining another driving licence for five years. In passing sentence, his Honour said it was not a bad case, there being no suggestion of alcohol. Accused must have suffered mental distress through having killed the girl. His Honour thought accused would be sufficiently punished by prohibiting him from obtaining a driver’s licence for five years. Move for Increase in Wages. Applications for an increase in rates of pay to cover the increased cost of living which, if granted, will affect all awards, industrial agreements and apprenticeship orders have been made by the New Zealand Engine Drivers and Fireman’s Industrial Union of Workers. November 18 has been fixed for the hearing of the application by the Court of Arbitration in Wellington. The application is similar to that made in 1940. when, on May 20, the New Zealand Federated .Painters and Decorators’ Industrial Association of Workers applied to the Clerk of Awards, Wellington, under the Rates of Wages Emergency Regulations for a general order increasing rates on the grounds of increased costs of living. The previous application was heard on August 9 last year, the Court making an order increasing rates of remuneration by 5 per cgnt as from August 12.