LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Productive Value of Land.

The opinion that in any purchase undertaken by the Government, the value should be assessed on the basis of the productive value was endorsed by the New Zealand Counties’ Association conference in Wellington yesterday. Patriotic Donations. Legal opinion was given the New Zealand Counties’ Association conference in Wellington yesterday to the effect that donations might be made for patriotic purposes out of the general account, under existing legislation. Opposition was expressed to any proposal to strike a rate for patriotic purposes. Disease Insurance. Unanimous support for a Hawke’s Bay remit requesting the Government to consider an adequate system of insurance by hospital boards against disease contracted by nurses and other employees subjected to the risk of infection by reason of their occupations, was indicated by the conference of the New Zealand Counties’ Association in Wellington yesterday. Land and House Values.

A reply to an inquiry by Mrs Dreaver (Government, Waitemata) as to whether it was intended to bring down legislation this session to prevent people buying houses and renovating them to resell at inflated prices, was given in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. “The subject of stabilisation of land prices to prevent the difficulties which arose after the 1914-18 war and to discourage speculation in land, while conserving the equity of owners of land and houses for use and production, is under consideration by the Government,” said the Prime Minister.

Religion of Teachers. “Religious convictions should not be taken into consideration in making an appointment,” said the Minister of Education, Mr Mason, in replying in the House of Representatives yesterday to a question by Mr Acland (Opposition, Temuka), who inquired whether a board of governors of a State high school had any legal authority to inquire into the religious convictions of an applicant for a position on the staff and to take these into consideration when making an appointment. The Minister said that the secondary school regulations required that the board of governors should appoint the teacher who had the required qualifications and who was classified for the grade of the vacant position or for a higher grade. "There is,” he added, "no authority in the Education Act or regulations which empowers a board of governors to inquire into the religious convictions of an applicant, but there is nothing in the Act expressly preventing such inquiries.”

Indoor Basketball.

The following is the draw for the Wairarapa Interhouse Association’s indoor basketball competition which will be continued in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium on Monday night:—Cathies B v. Macduff’s B, 7 p.m.; United v. Sparklets, 7.18;. Hansell’s A v. Cody’s, 7.36; Rangers B v. Transport, 7.54; McKenzie’s v. Macduff's A, 8.12; Lancers v. Garages, 8.30; Hansell’s B v. Borthwick’s, 8.48; Cathies A v. Hosiery Mills, 9.6; Rangers A v. C. Smith’s, 9.24; W.F.C.A. v. Woolworth’s, 9.42.

Tea and Sugar Rations. Tea and sugar rations for August will remain the same as for July, announced the Food and Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas, yesterday. Coupons will be available as follows: — Sugar: Nos. 37 to 40 with a value of 12 ounces each; tea, Nos. 37 to 40 with a value of two ounces each. Sugar coupon No. 49 released in April last is available only up to July 31. This coupon, which has a value of three pounds of sugar, was released for the making of jam or marmalade in the homes during the period from April to July.

Linen Coupons. A reduction in the number of coupons required to be used by housewives in replacing household linen was advocated by Mr Atmore (Independent, Nelson) in notice of a question on behalf of Mr Barnard (Independent, Napier) in the House of Representatives yesterday. In a note to his question, Mr Atmore said that a constituent recently had to part with 16 coupons for two pairs of single sheets and one pair of pillow-slips, and complained with some force that she urgently needed more linen but could obtain it only at the cost of going without summer clothes which she also needed.

Motor Speed Restrictions.

The apparent ignorance on the part of many motorists of the 40 miles an hour maximum speed restriction which now applies on all roads in New Zealand subject, of course, to any lesser restrictions such as the 30 miles an hour limit in boroughs and town districts, was referred to yesterday by the Minister of Transport, Mr O'Brien. “The restriction,” he said, “was imposed for the conservation of tires and is in line with action taken in most other British countries and in the United States of America. I am informed that the corresponding speed limit in Australia is 30 miles an hour. “The car tire position is particularly serious,” said the Minister. “Since the restriction was brought into force, almost exactly 12 months ago, there have been 238 prosecutions by the Transport Department alone. It is noticeable that the Courts are taking a serious view of the breaches, and the fines in general are higher than those usually imposed for exceeding speed restrictions.”