Proposed Avenue.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1943, Page 2

Proposed Avenue.

The Masterton Borough Council has granted permission to the Beautifying Society to plant a suitable avenue of trees alongside the pathway between the swing bridge in the Park and the Masterton Hospital.

War Expenditure Control. The main reason for the Opposition leaving the War Administration and the War Cabinet, Mr Bodkin, Opposition member for Otago Central, stated in the House of Representatives last evening, was that the Leader of the Opposition was denied control of war expenditure. Mr Holland had asked for a committee and prepared a statement he wished to make, but it was censored and he could not make it. What was any self-respecting leader to do in such circumstances but get out?

Optimist Club Debate. A debate, “That the Wairarapa College Hall should be'used for public dances,” was enjoyed by members of the Masterton Optimist Club last night. The affirmative was taken by Messrs C. W. Gaze (leader), L. Coley and C. Smith, and the negative by Messrs Esler, Donovan and Carle. The adjudicator, the Rev. H. Taepa, gave his decision in favour of the negative side and. congratulated all taking part on the way they had presented their case. Mr W. R. Nicol, who was present as a guest acted as timekeeper and chairman, and gave an interesting summing up of the debate. He and the adjudicator were thanked for their assistance.

Air Mail Service.

With the inauguration of the air mail service, the time occupied in the transit of mail matter to the New Zealand forces in the Pacific has been reduced from two weeks to a few days. It was an event of real interest to all ranks when an airliner with the first load of about fifty thousand letters landed at an airport “somewhere in the Pacific.” Flying Officer J. Coom, of Masterton, was in charge, and his co-pilot was Flying Officer B. T. Drummond, also of Masterton. Sergeant C. Burrows, of Auckland, was wireless operator. All three have had operational experience against the Japanese. Major R. A. Young, Public Relations Officer in the Pacific, welcomed the crew and assured them that the new service would be greatly appreciated.

The Scrimgeour Case.

Speaking in the House of Representatives last evening of the Scrimgeour appeal case, Mr Bodkin, Opposition member for Otago Central, said it had disclosed some of the method of appealing for departmental officers. Other disclosures had been the referring of the Scrimgeour case to four trade union officials. This was an unheard of procedure in New Zealand and the question should have been referred to the House of Representatives. Mr Bodkin said he held no brief for Mr Scrimgeour, but he was entitled like anyone else to fair and just treatment. His original appointment had been a political one for services rendered to the Labour Party. At one time his utterances had been lauded by the Labour Party, but when ho lost favour he was shanghaied out of the broadcasting service. He agreed that Mr Scrimgeour should have been sacked, but the Government should have taken the direct course. It had probably not dared to do this because there would have been an explosion from the trade unions.