LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hansell’s Dance. There was a large attendance at the Masonic Hall, Masterton, last night, when Hansell’s Interhouse team and Sports Club held a successful dance. The music was supplied by Mr J. Barnes’s Orchestra and extras were played by Mr Haeata. Mr H. Pratt efficiently carried out the duties of M.C. and supper was served by an energetic committee of ladies.

An Impudent Theft,

While the occupants of an Auckland house were listening to the radio in the kitchen one evening last week a thief opened the front room window and stole two handbags containing £125 in notes. The handbags were found later under nearby hedges, but the money and other contents, which included all the household ration books and two savings bank books, are missing.

Catholic Action Cup. Over the week-end a team representing St. Joseph’s Literary and Debating Club, Hastings, visited Masterton to contest a challenge by the Masterton Catholic Club for the “Marcus James” Catholic Action Cup, which was held by the visitors. Prepared Debate, Oratorical, Christian Doctrine speech, Elocution and Impromptu speech were held. The Masterton Catholic Club secured the most points, and were, therefore, successful in defeating the holders of the Cup. The adjudicators were Miss O. Sutherland, Mr F. Gair, and Rev. Father McGlone, Carterton. Esperanto Club.

The president, Mr E. J. Esler, presided over a good attendance of members at the meeting of the Masterton Esperanto Club held at 8 Short Street, Masterton, last evening. The usual period of study and grammar revision was followed by a reading from the N.Z. Esperanto Association’s publication, “La Interna Ideo.” The article dealt with customs amongst the Swiss peasantry and in particular with the mixture of ancient paganism and of Christianity that makes up their traditional observance of Christmas. An interesting meeting concluded with a “conversational half-hour” in Esperanto lead by Mr N. Lamont.

War Pensions. Doubts held in some quarters as to whether the increase in war pensions announced in the Budget cover all partial disablement assessments were cleared up by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, to whom they were referred yesterday. From the announcement in the Budget that the disablement pension would be increased from £2 to £3 a week returned men and interested parties acquired the impression that only the total disablement rate was to be raised. Mr Nash said it had to be clearly understood that the increase would apply to all disability assessments. The 100 per cent disablement rate would in future be £3 a week and a man with a 50 per cent disability would, of course, receive 30s a week. No matter what the degree of disablement the pension would be assessed on the new 100 per cent rate.