LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Special Church Services. In accordance with the King’s desire, special services will be held in St. Matthew’s Church, Masterton, tomorrow, at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. There will be a service at Bideiord at 10 a.m., and at Kuripuni at 2.30 p.m. Archdeacon Rich will be the preacher. Garments for Civilians. Arrangements being made by the Government for the manufacture in New Zealand of essential civilian clothing as far as requirements could be met under war conditions, were referred to yesterday by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan. He said these arrangements involved the conducting of a comprehensive survey of the present and potential productive capacity, for civilian garments, of each section l of the garment manufacturing industry. Record Number of Candidates. The number of candidates who will contest the general election seems certain to constitute a record for New Zealand. Candidates will represent more parties and other political movements than have ever before organised on a national basis in the Dominion to seek Parliamentary power. The largest number to go to the polls in recent years was in 1935, when there were 265 for 80 seats. The majority were representatives of three Domin-ion-wide parties, Labour, National and Democrat. This year there are 300 announced aspirants, including those of five large national political groups. Nominations will close on September 9. No-Confidence in Minister. A. vote of no-confidence in the Hon. J. G. Barclay as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Lands and Minister of Marketing, and no-confidnce in the Labour Government was carried by an overwhelming majority at the conclusion of an address given by Mr Barclay to some 600 Egmont electors at Eltham last night. The motion, which was put in the form of an amendment to a vote of thanks, evoked cheers and upfioar, but when a show of hands was called for by the Mayor, Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., there was no doubt of the verdict of the audience. A call for three cheers for the National Papty and its candidate met with an enthusiastic response. War Pension Legislation. The recent pensions legislation possessed the full approval of the R.S.A., said Mr C. O. Bell, vice-president of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, when officially opening the conference of the New Zealand War Amputees’ Association in Wellington yesterday. The tenor of the legislation, he added, was in favour of the applicant, and definite rules were laid down for the guidance of the examining medical board making it mandatory for the board to draw certain conclusions in favour of the pensioner. In many instances it was not a question of whether or not a man should have a pension, but how much the pension should be.

New Coal Source. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 700,000 tons of coal will be obtained by lowering the level of Lake Kimihia, near Huntly and extracting supplies for electric power generating plants and for household use, said the Minister of Mines. Mr Webb, at Auckland yesterday. A conference was to be held between engineers of the Mines Department and of the Public Works Department at Huntly to explore the full possibilities. It was hoped that the coal would be won before next winter at a rate of up to 300 tons a day. The mine would be practically an open quarry‘and the cost of operation far below that of ordinary mining, including the cost of lowering the lake, he said.

Accident Case. Mrs Kate Buckeridge, aged 64, of 6 Hacker Street, was admitted to the Masterton Hospital yesterday afternoon with a broken leg, which she received when she fell down some steps. Her condition is satisfactory, Borough Building Permits. For the month of August the Masterton Borough Council issued twelve building permits for an estimated cost of £3,499 10s, as compared with three permits for a value of £2,060 for the corresponding month last year. Included in last month’s permits was provision for the erection of two*new dwellings. The balance for most part covered further earthquake repairs. Maori Killed. A fatal accident occurred at Te Hauke (Hawke’s Bay) on Tuesday when a tractor overturned and the driver was killed. He was Sonny Hapuka, a Maori, aged 50, of To Hauke. Hapuka was driving the tractor, which was drawing a heavily-laden trailer, and when proceeding down a steep grade near a cutting the tractor got out of control and went over a bank and capsized into a creek, pinning him underneath. War Pensions Boards Advocated. The New Zealand War Amputees’ Association, in conference at Wellington yesterday, adopted a remit that war pensions boards should be set up in each of the main centres of the Dominion, that representation be on the basis of one Government to two R.S.A. members, the latter to include at least

Borough Building Permits. For the month of August the Masterton Borough Council issued twelve building permits for an estimated cost of £3,499 10s, as compared with three permits for a value of £2,060 for the corresponding month last year. Included in last month’s permits was provision for the erection of two*new dwellings. The balance for most part covered further earthquake repairs.

Maori Killed. A fatal accident occurred at Te Hauke (Hawke’s Bay) on Tuesday when a tractor overturned and the driver was killed. He was Sonny Hapuka, a Maori, aged 50, of To Hauke. Hapuka was driving the tractor, which was drawing a heavily-laden trailer, and when proceeding down a steep grade near a cutting the tractor got out of control and went over a bank and capsized into a creek, pinning him underneath.

W'ar Pensions Boards Advocated. The New Zealand War Amputees’ Association, in conference at Wellington yesterday, adopted a remit that war pensions boards should be set up in each of the main centres of the Dominion, that representation be on the basis of one Government to two R.S.A. members, the latter to include at least one amputee, and that a war pensioner be entitled to call, at the expense of the Government, expert medical or other relevant evidence in support of his claim.

Apprenticeship Laws. Following representations to the Minister of Labour about the rehabilitation of apprentices serving with the armed forces, a conference held in Wellington yesterday of representatives of employers’ and workers’ organisations and Government departments unanimously resolved: “That it be a recommendation of this conference that a commission be set up by the Government to overhaul the whole of the apprenticeship laws of the Dominion, which in the iopinion of the com’erence is a matter requiring urgent attention.”

Manpower Commitments. Reference to a statement by Mr Holland on New Zealand’s manpower commitments was made by Mr Fraser in a speech at New Plymouth last night. "We have never claimed we could maintain a division in the Middle East or Europe and also keep our men in the Pacific indefinitely,” he said. “When our Middle East division is in northern Europe within a period of months, our troops in the Pacific will be used to strengthen the first division. Mr Holland’s statement is incorrect, not to use a harsher term. If it becomes a widespread belief it will be a defeatist policy. We pledge New Zealand’s resources to the limit, and with efficiency to fight with the other British forces and the United Nations till victory is won.”

Building Society Meeting. An extraordinary general meeting of the Workmens Friend No. 2. Building Society was held last evening, Mr Wm. Kemp presiding over a fair attendance of members. An appropriation of £4OO was offered by tender, but as no tenders were received it was resolved that the ■ amount be appropriated by ballot. The following were declared entitled to appropriations: Mr E. A. Hubbard (Wellington) £3OO. Dr. N. H. Prior (Masterton) £lOO. Subsequently a meeting of directors was held, Mr Wm. Kemp presiding, there being also present Messrs. A. V. Dixon, T. B. Braggins, E- H. Morton, C. W. Walker, H. L. Price, S. M. Gilding and A. E. Hubbard. An apology for absence was received from Mr E. J. Brown. The finance report as submitted by the secretary was confirmed.