LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1941, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The “Times-Age.” The “Times-Age” will not be published tomorrow (Christmas Day) or on New Year’s Day. , Money Refunded. At the Masterton Railway Station £2OO was refunded to people who were obliged to cancel holiday trips on account of the restrictions on travel. Services of Grant? Jury. In future if there is no criminal business to occupy the attention of the Supreme Court session at any centre, members of the grand jury, though previously summoned to 'attend, can now be informed their services are no longer required. This is provided for in the Grand Jury Emergency Regulations, 1941, gazetted last night. Hitherto there has been no such provision, and even if there was no criminal business the Court and the grand jury members were summoned, they were still required to attend. Apple and Pear Crop Purchased. An announcement that the Government and the representatives of the apple and pear industry had reached a satisfactory agreement as to the terms of the Government purchase of the apple and pear crop for the coming season was made last evening by the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay. “By this agreement, the Government will undertake to purchase the total marketable crop at an overall average price of 5s 3d a standard pack case,” said Mr Barclay. He added that as soon as possible in the New Year the Internal Marketing Department would circulate to all growers detailed particulars of the procedure which is noxV to become operative. Defence Works.

The Building Construction Control Notice No. 6, which has been gazetted, is to enable urgent defence construction works to be given first preference in both manpower and materials. The Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, said last evening that following Japan’s entry into the war and the calling up of further men for service in the armed forces, it was essential that all defence construction should be speeded up and the necessary manpower diverted temporarily to meet these requirements. There were many building organisations throughout the country which could assist and the Government would call on them as and when required. Stricter Control of Building.

“Owing to the uncertainty of the future supply position,” said the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, “it is necessary for a stricter control of building to be exercised and accordingly the notice requires that henceforth local authorities shall not issue building permits for any building or constructional work which requires the use of more than scwt of structural or reinforcing steel or the estimated cost of which exceeds £lOO, without the precedent consent of the Building Controller. The notice, however, does not apply to any work which consists of the erection of any dwellinghouse, the estimated cost of which does not exceed £l5OO, provided, of course, that less than scwt of steel is required in the construction of such dwelling.”

Petition in Bankruptcy. Thomas Hodgson Fawcett, transport driver of Masterton, has been adjudged a bankrupt on his own petition.

Art Union Prizewinners. In connection with “Our Christmas Holiday” Art Union the following Wairarapa residents won £lO prizes:— Ticket No. 199,331, “Springdale,” Rangitumau, Masterton; 199,254, F. and K„ Pownall Street, Masterton; 199,449, “Midwood,” Greytown. Five pound prizes went to 199,122, “Taxi,” Masterton; 199,224, “X Luck,” Masterton, and 58,528, “Pleasant Holiday,” Mangamutu, Pahiatua. Price of Potatoes. , As a result of this abnormal position, prices of potatoes which in the ordinary way would at this time of the year be from £l2 to £l4 a ton wholesale, have risen to the unduly high level of about £36 a ton. With a view to providing reasonable protection to the consumer and at the same time ensuring a reasonable return to the grower and middleman, the Price Tribunal has by a Price Order issued last evening fixed the maximum “ceiling” prices.

General Medical Service. The progress of the general medical services scheme since its introduction On November 1 was referred to by the Minister of Health, Mr H. Nordmeyer, in an interview last evening. “The latest available returns from district offices of health,” he said, “show that more than half the doctors in practice are either claiming direct on the Social Security Fund or accepting in full settlement of their accounts the amounts set out in the Social Security Amendment Act. The numbers vary in different health districts from 15 pei’ cent to 72 per cent., though most districts show an average of 50 per cent.” Youths For Seasonable Work.

Upward of 1000 youths and students throughout the Dominion will assist in ordinary as well as seasonal farming operations over the holiday period as a result of a scheme planned and put into effect by the Placement Offices and Youth Centres in co-operation with education authorities and farmers. In the Wellington . and Hutt districts, 76 youths had applied and all had been placed, compared with 32 placements out of 120 applications last year . The majority of the boys were being sent to the Taranaki province, but Wellington was also supplying youths for seasonal work in Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu, the Hutt Valley and Marlborough. Helpers and Donors Thanked.

The Air Force Relations Committee thank the following helpers and donors of tinned food: —Mesdames Anderson, J. A. Betts, T. Beetham, D. Baird, T. Brown, D. Buchanan, J. Bird, Braggins, H. Beetham, A. W. Buchanan, N. Blundell, F. Bodie, W. Burling, H. Brickman, J. Caselberg, Cruickshank, Davison, P. Fagan, Glover, S. Gill, E. Hodder, G. Hyde, Hornabrook, H. Harcombe, Henson, G. Jones, Longstaff, Lord, J. Lett, Martin, Laird Meredith, G. Moore, Lathan, O'Connor, J. Payne, Rishworth, M. Robinson, C. Yorke, G. W. Sellar, D. Thompson, Tatham, Thomas, T. F. Watson, Whitton, Wardell, G. C. Williams, Winzenberg, .B. Vallance, Misses W. Nicholls, E. Carey, Butement, McEachen, Ashwell, Pearce, Langdon, M. Falloon.