LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Municipal Library. At the end of March there were 685 subscribers to the Masterton Municipal Library, as compared with 615 at the corresponding period last year. The amount received in subscriptions for the year totalled £233 and the amount spent in the purchase of books was £275 13s. There were 199 juvenile subscribers at the end of March. Lesson in Borrough Affairs. The proceedings of the Masterton Borough Council were enlivened last night by the presence of a number of boys and girls from the Masterton Central School, who attended in order to gain first hand knowledge of the way in which local body business is conducted. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, explained various points of procedure for the benefit of the scholars.

Growing of Vegetables. The Masterton Borough Council agreed at its meeting last night to make available any vacant land, considered suitable, for the growing of vegetables. Councillor W. Kemp reported briefly on a meeting of residents held the previous night to consider the matter. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, said the borough had more land available for the purpose in view than could be utilised. Price Variations Explained.

Variation in prices of the same commodity from place to place was explained by Mr H. L. Wise, M.Com.. a member of the Price Tribunal, when speaking at the annual meeting of th* Wellington branch of the EconomicSociety on Monday night. The type of goods and service provided was one of the chief factors, he said. Some stores operated purely on a cash basis, while others gave credit, and others provided delivery services which varied in quality and extent. It was at the varying pre-war level that many prices were fixed by the tribunal, added Mr Wise.

State Housing. Reporting on a meeting of the Works Committee and Mr Basire, of the State Housing Department, the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, speaking at last night’s meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, said several alterations were agreed upon to be embodied in an amended plan of subdivision in respect to the Kummer Estate property, Upper Cole Street. Mr Basire was told that it would be much more economical if the State erected houses on vacant sections on formed streets, instead of openingup new roads. The council had agreed to supply the Housing Department with particulars of vacant sections available on formed streets. The Pacific Command. Immediate clarification of New Zealand’s position in regard to the United Allied Command in the South-Western Pacific was urged by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), a Christchurch Press Association reports. Mr Holland said he was aware of certain negotiations which had taken place, but now that the position had been clarified so far as Australia was concerned, a full statement from Mr Fraser would be welcome in New Zealand if negotiations had now reached a stage where such a statement could in the public interest be made publicly. “Another most important question is that of New Zealand Ministerial representation in Australia,” said Mr Holland. “This position has hung fire far too long already and should be decided without further delay. It would be interesting to know who acted for New Zealand in Australia during the negotiations just concluded,”