LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tribal Committee Dance.

The Te Whiti Tribal Committee held a successful dance in the Orange Hall, Masterton, last night. The ‘'After Beat” dance band provided the music and supper was served by a ladies’ committee.

Coursing Meeting, Provided sufficient nominations are received the Wairarapa Coursing Club will hold a two-day meeting on August 14 and August 15. A 32-dog maiden stake, for the Watson Rose Bowl and a 16-dog open stake will be held. The draw will take place in the A. and P. rooms at 8 p.m. tomorrow. The committee will meet at 7.30 p.m. The Joke on the Taxi Driver.

Instancing the nature of some of the calls for service which had to be answered; a Wellington taxi driver stated last night that he received an urgent call to an address where it was stated that a sick baby had to be taken away. When “baby” was brought out it was found to be a five-gallon beer jar and was solemnly pronounced to be empty. War Damage Premium.

The intention of the Government to reduce the war damage premium as from February 28 next in the event of there being no call on the fund in the meantime was reiterated by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, during consideration of the vote for the War Damage Fund in the House of Representatives yesterday. He said he could not at this stage give the exact amount of the reduction, but it would be considerable.

Lucky Escape from Death. , Knocked down by a tramcar which was proceeding in a westerly direction along Manners Street, Wellington, at 7.45 o’clock last night, an American service man was fortunate to escape serious injury. When the tramcar was brought to a standstill he was jammed firmly under the forward platform, but the wheels had not reached him. The tramcar had to be jacked up before he could be dragged clear, and he was assisted away, suffering from minor injuries.

Bursary for Defaulters. The granting of a dental bursary to a student who had been in a detention camp as a defaulter, had undergone a sentence in gaol and had repented, was criticised by Mr Polson (Opposition, Stratford) during discussion on the estimates of the National Service Department in the House of Representatives last night. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, replied that he was not familiar with the circumstances, but he would have them investigated and if the situation required to be rectified he would have that done. Ml’ Polson said the question had been raised on a previous vote, when the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, had stated that the student concerned had slipped in and been allowed to remain. It was not right Mr Polson contended, that a man with such a record should be favoured with a dental bursary. In university circles the whole question of the method of awarding dental bursaries was considered unsatisfactory.