LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Musical Examinations. At the musical examinations held in Wellington recently by Trinity College of Music, Elizabeth Clarke was successful in passing in the preparatory division. She- is a pupil of Miss C. Cummins, A.T.C.L., Matahiwi. Girls for Flax Factories.

An application to the Auckland Maori Utilisation Committee for 70 girls to work in linen flax factories has been received from the South Island, where four factories are established, Tapanui (Southland), Otautau (Otago). Fairlie (Canterbury) and Seddon (Marlborough). Hostels have been provided to accommodate girl employees, who work a 51-day week and receive 12s 6d daily for the first six months, and thereafter 13s. The application has begen referred to the National Service Department. Army Trucks and Produce.

Transport operators from many parts of Canterbury met at Christchurch yesterday to consider the announcement that Army trucks would be available for the cartage of farm produce during the harvest. The following resolution was carried: “That while no objection is raised to Army trucks being used on farms for harvesting work this meeting views with alarm the suggestion that Army trucks may be available to cart farm produce to rail, ship or store, in competition with the transport industry, which is obliged to obtain licences under the Transport Licensing Act and is saddled with heavy traffic fees, petrol duty and tire taxation.” Sugar Permits.

Permits for sugar issued in December io bakers and pastrycooks may cover both December and January allowances, according to rationing instructions just issued to chief postmasters. In cases where bakers, pastrycooks, and other manufacturers require butter, wholesalers may be authorised to supply in December up to 50 per cent of the January quota. No permits for butter will be issued for children’s Christmas parties, though sugar and tea may be made available under the same conditions as last year, namely, to recognised organisations for beverages provided at the parties. Medical School Staff.

“The staff of the Medical School has had to deal with more than twice the normal number of students in 1931 there were 271 and in 1942 the number had increased to 552 —and we are absolutely at bedrock so far as staffing is concerned. It will be necessary to cut down teaching if the staff is reduced, and that would be a calamity,” said Dr C. E. Hercus, dean of the Medical Faculty, before the Industrial Manpower Appeal Committee at Dunedin yesterday, when an appeal by the University of Otago for Dr J. C. Lopdell wps heard. The appeal was against the granting of permission to Dr Lopdell, a member of the teaching staff at the Medical School, to accept a position with the Department of Health in Western Samoa. The university’s appeal was upheld by the committee by a majority of one.

Chamber of Commerce Proposed. The formation of a Chamber of Commerce in Masterton is to be considered at a meeting of those interested, to be held in the Y.M.C.A. on Wednesday next at 8 p.m. Business men are specially requested to attend, as it is felt there is an urgent need for a body to deal with matters of importance to the town and district. The meeting has been convened by Mi’ J. H. Cunningham.

Successful Shop Day. The Masterton Free Kindergarten Association’s shop day in Masterton yesterday proved most successful. The gross takings amounted to £75. Cakes, produce and useful articles met with a ready sale. A competition for a sponge cake was won by Mrs Walsh, Opaki and one for sausage rolls Avas Avon by Mrs Burgess, Cornwall Street. A Christmas cake was won by Mrs Crowther. Braeburn, and a mat by Mrs Nissen. The association desires to thank all donors and all Avho assisted in any way. Interhouse Association Dance. The Wairarapa Interhouse Association held a well attended dance in the Masonic Hall, Masterion, last night. The music was played by Mrs V. J. Ashton’s orchestra and extras were played by Misses B. Hawke and N. Marsh. Messrs J. Bruce and F. Stains were the M’s.C. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss Padski and partner. Supper was served by Cathie’s Interhouse team. Interhouse girls who had gala day tickets for sale are asked to return them immediately to the secretary, Mi- V. G. Davies. The matter is important. School Flooded. The Mangatainoka School, the most northerly outpost of schools under the Wellington Education Board, was on Thursday, as always when heavy rain falls, in a shocking condition. The 45-year-olcl building is almost falling apart and the corridor was Avell under water, the headmaster having to bore holes in the floorboards to prevent the flooding of adjacent classrooms. Rain was literally pouring through the ceiling, and children’s coats, hanging in the passage, were thoroughly soaked. Every classroom received a share of the leakage. In places the floorboards are almost rotted' away as a result of repeated soakings.

Macris Awarded Compensation. Maori owners of Native land in the Waiwhetu district, Lower Hutt, by the judgment of Judge A. A. Whitehead, of the Native Land Court, have been awarded £47,870 compensation for 70 acres, 2 roods, 8 perches, taken by the Crown under the Public Works Act for State housing. Included was 12£ acres, used as a military vehicles park, for which £5199 was awarded. The hearing was before the court on 11 days in August and September on an application by 'the Minister of Public Works to ascertain the amount payable. This land came into the possession of Native owners in 1847, when it was awarded to them as part compensation for the loss of their pahs and cultivations. There are a number of Native houses on it, west of the Waiwhetu River, but the land has been mainly used for agricultural and market gardening purposes.