LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19889, 19 May 1936, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Italian Bank Rate Reduced. —A message from Rome states that the Bank of Italy has reduced the bank rate from five to 4i per cent.

Currency In London.— Fine gold was quoted in London yesterday at £7 0s Id an ounce (£7 0s 2d on Friday), the dollar at 4.96 11-16 (4.96 i), and the franc at 75 3-8 (75 7-32).

Grafton Bridge. —A proposal to place grills as high as the lamp standards to prevent persons climbing over the balustrades was received at a meeting of the Auckland City Council last night, and referred to the Works Committee.

New Zealand Mines Trust. —A message from London states that the New Zealand Mines Trust Agency and Trustee ‘Company has declared a dividend of eight per cent, with a profit of £12,137. The reserve fund is £SOOO, and £2452 has been carried forward.

Wrestling Matoh. —In an exciting match at Wellington last evening, with Jack Forsgren (Canada), Earl McCready (Canada) retained the British Empire wrestling championship. The challenger was unable to continue after the sixth round.

Socialising All Services. —” It looks as though the Government is going to cut out all competition and socialise all services,” commented a member at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce executive meeting last evening when the question of railway and road transport was being discussed.

National Timber Company. —The accounts of the National Timber Company, Limited, for the year ended March 31 show a net profit of £4357, an increase of £Bl6. Dividend for the year is unchanged at 5 per cent., 2i per cent, interim and 2$ per cent, final now recommended.

Pedestrian Traffic. —Commenting on the deaths of two aged persons who were knocked down by motor cars in Auckland streets, Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., emphasised the necessity for more care in crossing streets. The only effective method he could suggest for dealing with the problem was some control ot pedestrian traffic.

Soldiers and Sanctions. —The Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association at its annual meeting adopted as a remit for the annual confurence '‘that the New Zealand Government should be asked to declare itself regarding the League of Nations Covenant by the imposition of rigid sanctions.”

Magnificent Flowers. —Many visitors are being attracted to Lincolnshire to see the magnificent display of flowers of over 3000 acres, where the thriving British bulb and flower-growing industry is giving permanent employment to more than 2000 workers. It is estimated that over 9000 tons of flowers leave the district annually for London and other markets.

Thrilling Experience. —While participating in a tent-pegging competition at the camp of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles, at Waimahaiho, the horse of a trooper stumbled and fell. The rider was caught by one foot and dragged a little distance. Fortunately the stirrup leather then broke and the trooper escaped with a few bruises and a shaking. I-t was a very narrow escape.

Forty-Hour Week. —The fortyhour week is to be introduced by the Stratford Borough Council for both its office and outside staffs. After making the decision last night, the council appointed a sub-committee to investigate means of bringing about the change. The Mayor, Mr J. W. McMillan, received support for his suggestion that a five-day week would be most suitable.

Praise for the Press. —“I was surprised and delighted at the high standard of the press of Nexv Zealand,” said Mr N. A. R. Watson, of Calcutta, while visiting Wellington. “It is much higher than we have at home in Scotland. Every meeting and every speech worth while seems to be given Its proper value, while the selection of cable news seems to be admirable. Reports of meetings are well treated, and everything is so well set out—really most creditable.”

Increase In Sales of Margarine.— Because of the low price of butter the consumption of margarine per head in the United Kingdom in 1934 was 334 per cent less than in the period 1924-28, whereas the corresponding consumption of butter showed an expansion of no less than 57 per cent. Last year, however, there was a substantial increase in margarine sales in England. Consumption for 1935 was 6.3 per cent greater than for 1934.

Profits Doubled. —The accounts of Morris Motors, Limited, Great Britain, for the year ended December 31, disclose a net profit of £1,315,533, the highest for eight years. This compares with a profit of £643,756 earned in 1934. The directors propose to increase the dividend on the ordinary shares from 10 per cent, to 15 per cent, free of tax, and to make allocations of £600,000, against £150,000, to reserve fund, and £70,000, against nil, to income tax reserve, the balance carried forward then being slightly higher at £238,531, against £236,145.

School Inspectors’ Report.—The school inspectors’ report rend at the meeting of the Beard of Governors of the Hamilton Technical High School last night showed the standard maintained at tlie school to be very high. The principal, Mr W. Fraser, stated that it was the best report the school had received. The board congratulated the principal and the staff on the satisfactory nature of the report. Members expressed the opinion that there were good reasons against all of the report being made confidential, as the public had a right to know the stale of affairs disclosed in the report, which contained much that would be of public interest. In the Dress Department of Hooker and Kingston’s this week thousands of yards of materials are being featured for “Home Sewing Week.” Smart Tweeds and Worsteds for costumes, lovely coatings, charming silks for evening wear, together with expert advice at the counter as to how to make these materials up with the help of the McCall patterns. Decide on making you new garment up this week for a special concession of one penny in the shilling discount will be allowed on all purchases of dress goods during “Home Sewing Week” at t Hooker and Kingston's,, now on.**-

Frost at Ruakura. —This morning 1.8 degrees of frost were registered at Ruakura. Yesterday 2 degrees were recorded.

Mouth Organ Band. —A meeting is to be held to-morrow at Wanganui for the purpose of forming a Mouth Organ Band.

Cold Storage Spaoe The Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Company, Limited, has decided to expend £35,000 to increase their works at Moturoa. The additions include a four-storey building for cold storage purposes.

Gold In Australia —The gold output in Australia continues to expand, production for the quarter ended March 31 amounting to 244,966 fine ounces, against 153,580 ounces for the first quarter of 1935. The output to March 31 this year is valued at £2,130,723 Australian currency.

Rotorua Mud. —A ton of mud from Rotorua is to toe sent to England for distribution amongst British Spas, where considerable interest has been aroused in the use of mineral impregnated mud in the treatment of certain diseases. If as is expected the mud is found beneficial, it is probable that extensive shipments will be the outcome.

Hamilton ’Plane’s Trip. —On the way south to Wanganui Mr H. T. Morton landed the Hamilton Aero Club’s ’plane ZK-ACA at the New Plymouth airport on Saturday. He flew to Wanganui the same day, halting again at New Plymouth on Saturday on his return to Hamilton via Te Kuiti. Mr Morton carried a passenger.

Motor-Oycllat’a Condition. No change was reported this morning in the condition of Mr David Connelly, cycle dealer, of Frankton, who received severe injuries to the back the motor-oycle lie was riding in a reliability trial collided with a motorcar at Hafligatiki on Sunday afternoon. Mr Conholly will be removed to the Waikato Hospital to-morrow for an X-ray examination.

Horses Poisoned. —Two valuable draught horses owned by Neil Gunn and Sons, of Waltepeka, near Balclutha, are believed to have been poisoned. On Sunday the horses, with others, had been fed with chaff that had been under lock and key since last season. Yesterday one animal, a bay gelding, was found dead near a heap of chaff that had been spread the previous night. The other, a mare was lying dead at a spring about 200 yards away from the chaff. The police are investigating.

Maori Boy’s Death. —A verdict that death was due to pneumonia was returned by the Coroner, Mr F. W. Platts, at the inquest at Cambridge, yesterday, concerning the death of Moi*eliu Rau Tairi, aged 8, son of Mr and Mrs Rau Tairi, of Leamington, who died on April iiL The coroner said it would be advisable for Maoris to take their children to a doctor if they developed a persistent co-ugh. In this case the parents did not realise the seriousness of the illness, as all their other children were well.

Payment of Wages. —At Whangarei yesterday, a loeal farmer was convicted and ordered to pay costs (£1 14s) on a charge that “in the absence of an agreement in writing to the contrary he failed to pay wages at intervals of not more than one week.” The Magistrate, Mr G. N. Morris, said he had not realised the seriousness of the position regarding breaches of the Act dealing with wages, and there was no doubt that farmers must come into line and keep within the provision of the Act.

Treatment of Rheumatics. Two Napier doctors are achieving satisfactory results toy modern scientific treatment for diseases of the bone and joints, such as rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago. In principle the treatment copies nature. The patient is placed in a cabinet and is submitted to a high temperature for some time, with the result t'hat the carefully controlled temperature in the body does nature’s work. In some types of rheumatism the treatment is said to toe 100 per cent, efficient. One patient has been transformed from a helpless cripple Into an active man, able to walk long distances, ride a bicycle, etc.

Praise for Young Pianists. — 11 For the life of me I cannot see why the New Zealand Broadcasting Board does not use the talent available in the Dominion,” said the Judge of the music section, Mr F. Wentworth Slater, at the opening of the Christchurch Competitions Society’s festival. He was referring to the piano solo for children 10 years and under 12. “ When I was here three years ago,” he added, *• I remarked that the piano work was the finest I had heard connected with any competitions. I anticipated a great treat on this occasion, and I was not disappointed,” he added.

License Cancelled. —At Otahuhu yesterday Reginald James Lidgard, a labourer, was fined £ls and £2 4s costs and his license cancelled, with an embargo on obtaining another for two years, for toeing intoxicated whilst in charge of a car. Lidgard had been pursued toy a constable and motorist who deposed that he steered a very erratic course and neglected to stop when signalled to do so. The Magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, characterised the case as a very toad one and complimented the motorist, Mr W. S. Bremner, for the trouble he had taken. His action had probably averted a disaster.

Shops and Offices.— At a meeting of the Auckland Employers’ Association yesterday appreciation was expressed at the action of the Minister of Labour, the Hon. 11. T. Armstrong, In deferring the operation of the shorter working week provided tor in the Government’s Industrial legislation. “ I think the postponement will enable most employers who wish to do so to apply for an extension of the hours laid down in the legislation,” said the secretary, Mr W. E. Anderson. He added that the meeting had also expressed appreciation of the amendment made to the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill by the Labour Bills Committee which permitted the employment of a shop assistant for five consecutive hours without a meal so long as the person concerned was given a break of 10 minutes in the period. It is with pleasure that House and Dakings announce the arrival of an unusually line and varied collection of American styled Frocks. Designed and made up in exceptionally fine artificial Silks —in a delightful range of plain shades and a really beauliful assortment of patterned crepes—these Frocks represent an Unrivalled Buying Opportunity, to those who take advantage and inspect without delay. It is particularly noteworthy that the prices are very moderate, ranging from 39/6, 49/6, 59/6, 69/6 to 79/6. Undoubtedly no better value has ever been offered, and we suggest that, us quantities are not unlimited, your immediate inspection Is advised. Plan .an early visit to House and Dakings.**