LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Colombo Road Bridge. At its meeting last night the Masterton Borough Council decided to take over the control and maintenance of the Colombo Road bridge. Previously the bridge was jointly controlled by the borough and the Masterton County Council. First Woman Juror. The first woman juror was sworn in for service in the session of the Supreme Court which opened in Auckland yesterday. She was Miss Elaine Rebecca Kingsford, of Takapuna. She was called in the first jury case to be heard, in which a man was charged with false pretences, but she was challenged by counsel for accused. Petrol for Home Guard, In cases where other transport facilities are not available an issue of petrol is to be made in future to Home Guard units to enable their members to travel by motor transport to and from rifle ranges for musketry practice. This announcement was made by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in response to an inquiry last night. The Minister added that the cost of the petrol supplied would•be a charge against the capitation grant. Wairarapa Cricket. The Wairarapa cricket season will be officially opened on Saturday, October 30. At present three teams will compete in the senior championship, though efforts are being made to provide another eleven in order to avoid a bye for* one team each Saturday. The competing teams so far are Wairarapa College, Old Boys and Red Star. A junior competition is to be held this season. Park Wickets. The Wairarapa Cricket Association was granted the use of the wickets at the Masterton Park for the ensuing season by the Masterton Borough Council last night. In a letter to the council the secretary, Mr G. B. Peterson thanked the council for its past generosity and referred to the Park Custodian, Mr F. H. Knowles, as having given courteous and efficient service. Manpower Position. The executive of the Wellington Returned Services’ Association unanimously passed the following motion on Monday night: —“That this executive realises at once that the exigencies of the* military situation may demand that the present furlough men be returned to active serivce and that the decision in that regard must in the final event rest with.the Government in consultation with General Freyberg. It does, however, make the strongest possible representation that the present is an opportune time to review thoroughly the manpower situation and to comb out the ranks of the 35.000 fit A men now retained in so-called essential industries.” A Handsome Gift. The historic Christchurch property “Risingholme,” on which the house was built by the Hon. William Reeves, M.L.C., in 1861. has been purchased by Mr J. R. McKenzie and presented to the Christchurch city council. The property contains 5J acres, with some of the finest trees in Christchurch. The house is a two-storey building containing 10 rooms. The place was recently offered for sale at public auction, but the reserve price of £3OOO was not reached. Residents . of the Opawa and St. Martins districts, supported by leading citizens, petitioned the council to buy the property and ' preserve it for the city.

Gift- Acknowledged. The gift of a golden pheasant to the Park by Mr J. Sutherland, of Walton’s Avenue, was acknowledged with thanks at last night's meeting of the Masterton Borough Council. Vegetable Contracts Owing to the many requests received from commercial market gardeners, the Internal Marketing Division has agreed to accept contracts under specified conditions, for the supply of carrots, parsnips, cabbages and swedes, at prices previously advised to growers’ associations The conditions under which application for contracts can be made are notified by advertisement in this issue. Home Management. At the Gospel Hall, Queen Street, Masterton, at 7.30 o’clock tonight a film screening will be shown of the management of the Children’s Home, Marton. The Home is run by the church on the lines of its homes in other parts of the world and is for orphan or destitute children regardless of race or creed. There is no waiting list for the home. The manager of the Marton Home, Mr Charles Johnson, who will be accompanied by his wife, will speak. No collection will be taken. Visitors will be present from the Methodist and Salvation Army Homes. Retiring Age for Civil Servants. “I think you can take it as official that the Government favours the principle of public servants being retired at 60 years of age after 40 years’ service, or at 65 years of age in any case,” said the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, addressing the annual conference of the New Zeaalnd Public Service Association in Wellington yesterday. “As a general principle that will operate.” he said, “but I don’t think there could be anything worse than the idea that because a man has reached the age of 60 years he has finished his contribution to the Government and service of the country.” To say that a man was finished at 60 years was entirely wrong, but he should have the right to retire then after 40 years’ service. Mr Nash said he thought it would take a long time to work out all the principles to be- operative in the superannuation and retirement system. He would like to sec the Superannuation Act entirely, consolidated so that many anomalies could be removed. Need for More Miners. Concern over the manpower position in the Waikato coalfield was expressed at a meeting of the Waikato Coal Mines Control Board on Monday, stated the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, at Auckland on Monday night. The board felt that unless more miners and truckers were employed in the mines it was doubtful whether the output of coal could be increased to the extent considered essential. Mr Webb said representations were being made by the board to the Government stressing the need for additional labour. It was felt that the men now in the mines were turning out the maximum possible and nothing would be gained by working them to a condition of industrial fatigue. More coal meant more men in the mines. The board had also decided to recommend to the Government the erection of another 50 houses in the Huntly West district for occupation by miners, said the Minister. It was futile to speak of increasing the mihe staffs without providing housing. A.l- - contracts had been let for the erection of 50 houses in that district and 25 were now under construction. If the board’s recommendation was adopted by the Government the provision of 100 homes would go some distance in relieving the shortage of accommodation.