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Newspaper
Ashburton Guardian
Location
Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand
Date
Dec 24, 1920
Page
5
Footnote-heavy report notes Ashburton stores lavishly display actual decorations and bright window dressing as Christmas and New Year notes appear. Shoppers flock to centres with families, couples, and visitors filling streets. retailers report strong trade and festive mood despite postwar costs.
Christmas Eve crowds fill shops and pavements as Ashburton residents exchange greetings and families reunite. The railway station handles heavy passenger traffic while the post office processes a flood of letters and parcels. Tonight and tomorrow feature carols, church services, and festive events including theatre screenings and Boxing Day sports at local venues.
Wellington December 25 The threatened strike by cooks and stewards fizzled after Seamen's Union officials withdrew support. Kennedy Wellington manager says union instructions ordered withdrawal of all notices to leave and to resume work. Wages remain unsettled after the holidays and Maori depart for Lyttelton as usual. The Arahura's Friday trip to Lyttelton is canceled.
About 80 Wahine stewards gave two hours notice but withdrew after a telegram from Wellington HQ ordering them to resume when the ship reaches Lyttelton. Maori stewards who stayed behind were told to resume on arrival. A conference after the holidays will consider grievances. The Wahine sailed to Wellington at 8.55 pm.
Sydney reports tensions rise as Manuka sails with NSW tennis team while stewards strike lingers. Coastal Merchant Service Guard expresses sympathy. disputes threaten wider waterfront actions and vessel cancellations including Riverina and Westralia crews paid in Melbourne.
The Transport Federation council met today and is likely to urge stewards to resume work to enable negotiations. The move signals a path to renewed bargaining and resolution of the transport dispute.
Fresh evidence of crew demands in the inter state steamers dispute emerges from the Wyreema case. The Australian Steamshipowners Federation reports extravagant requests including enamelware food containers and meat framed meals. Proposed menus feature porridge eggs bacon fried fish roast pork and various desserts across breakfast dinner and tea.
Housewives seek Bettle's Rennet for making junket to serve with stewed rhubarb and fruits. Junket praised as nourishing and successful with Bettle's Rennet, priced 6d per bottle at the grocer. Remember Bettle's is the better Rennets.
Dr. J. L. Cope cabled from Port Stanley that he expected to leave with full equipment and dogs on December 20 and hoped to land on Graham's Land on Christmas Day amid Antarctica exploration plans.
A British Imperial Antarctic expedition led by John S. Cope sails from London for a two year survey of the western Weddell Sea and Graham Land. The team includes Captain G H Wilkins and geologist T W Bagshawe. They plan to base at Hopeland, reach Valklandy Islands, winter in huts covered with ice, and use a wireless link for updates.
December 23 Perth report describes a Japanese leader apologizing to whites and seeking order, while Japanese groups patrol and koepangers are blocked into zones. Whites condemn negotiations, demand naval intervention, and fear further violence as camps for coloured people are set between sunset and sunrise.
In Gisborne a settlement reached after talks between Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Co directors and employees. About 120 workers at Waipaoa to return to work tomorrow with agreed wage increases retroactive to December 1 and valid until August 31, 1921.
At New York's Natural History Museum a new display reproduces a benthic sea floor in glass and wax magnified 15,000 times, revealing plant and animal life in remarkable detail.
New York December 23 authorities say Myr Harding backs creating an Association of Nations with a global Court as its core. The initial move would secure consent from the United States Britain France Japan and Italy, after which other nations might follow. Further questions would be debated at a nations conference.
NSW Parliament approves the Profiteering Bill as workers’ living wage rises from £1 19s to £2 8s from New Year. Census shows Japanese population over 77 million. Millar Timber fire in Mornington causes £20,000 damage. Wheat jumpers strike agreement with Wheat Board at 8s per hour day shifts. Electric zinc works and Hampden copper mines report production trends. Ozer tragedy updates prompt police view on shot source. Sydney harbour bridge plans underway with £5,000,000 cost and 1931 completion target.
D Annunzio rejects the Italian government ultimatum and vows to oppose the Rapallo treaty as forces around Fiume tighten. General Caviglia orders legionaries to quit Fiume within 48 hours while exchanges with Veglia and Zara report clashes and prisoner takes. A government air drop urges residents to evacuate by Christmas morning.
The November started poll in Scotland covers 572 of 1214 divisions. Of 1 153 978 votes cast 60 percent backed no charge 38 percent backed no license and 2 percent backed license reduction. Resulting in 447 licenses to be cancelled including 99 in Glasgow.
The Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister for Agriculture and Immigration and in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts, is spending the holiday season in Ashburton County. The Prime Minister received a Christmas and New Year greetings cable from Edward, Prince of Wales, in reply to their message. Sir William Herries, recently out of hospital, plans to England on high passage in the Arawa and may resign his portfolios or oversee a reorganisation.
Reports from Shanghai dated December 23 say about 2000 lives were lost in an earthquake across Kansu. The first shock hit December 16, and aftershocks continue. Several towns were demolished in the northwestern province.
In Pekin on December 22 American British and French ministers met at the Chinese government’s request to discuss a four million dollar famine relief loan. Negotiations progress but a key issue remains unresolved as the consortium demands direct transfer to the Foreign Relief Association to ensure famine use, while the Chinese government seeks funds handed to the Finance Ministry.
British naval mission chief Admiral Kelly received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Saviour but returned the decoration. Reports from London describe Bolsheviks concentrating at Baku for a potential move on Georgia and the Caucasus as a base for operations against Persia.
A British soldier suffered a remarkable wound when a German bullet hit the left abdomen, damaged arteries and veins, traveled to the heart, and lodged in the left pulmonary artery. An X-ray failed to reveal it, the leg became gangrenous and was amputated ten days later, and the patient died after surviving one month.
A fragment notes eighteen first magnitude stars with a rough distance hint. It states they lie at least 212000 times farther from Earth than the Sun, indicating immense interstellar separations and early astronomical estimation.
In Commons Sir R S Horne cites a government plan for trade with Russia and a July memorandum, while Mr Balfour discusses League of Nations finance for impoverished Europe and an insurance scheme. The Premier argues for cautious Eastern policy and maintaining Greece relations amid Sevres Treaty changes.
In the House of Commons Sir Donald Maclean attacked the passing of 559 million in estimates in one night. He urged forming an Estimates Committee and allocating at least forty days to finance with next session devoted mainly to finance and economy. Bonar Law agreed that finance control was unsatisfactory and suggested the idea might be adopted.
The House of Commons held an all night sitting to debate Lords amendments to a seventeen page Agricultural Bill. By 10 o clock they had reached only page six with about twenty oppositionists and twenty ministers present.
A reader disputes a Guardian paragraph accusing local dentists of leaving town for three weeks. Evidence shows three dentists were on holiday and a fourth leaving that evening, while two residents struggled to obtain care earlier.
Frederick Watkins a 60 year old single man drowned this afternoon in the Molyneaux river while driving a dray with two horses. The incident occurred midstream as the horses struggled. Watkins freed the leading horse but perished while attempting to save the other.
A conference of ex soldier representatives from across the empire will meet in Cape Town on February 23 with Earl Haig to preside. Delegates from Great Britain Canada South Africa Australia and New Zealand will attend from fourteen organisations to discuss matters affecting returned soldiers. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association has named Wellington and Christchurch delegates Mr C W Batten and Mr W B Ledley.
A public meeting in Methven discussed establishing a maternity home or cottage hospital. Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board members, Health Inspector E N Johnson, and local officials attended, with questions about site, funding, and district return. A sub committee was proposed to draft policy before further action.
In London representatives from New Zealand Australia and Highland discuss phosphate production from Nauru and Ocean Islands. They plan to return to Australia soon to oversee the project. New Zealand acts to ensure local plants can convert shipments into superphosphate, with possible government works at a central port, likely Wellington.
Households anticipate an easy dessert titled Stewed Fruit with Curds made with BETITLEYS RENNET. A family tester praised the flavor and urged serving with BETTLE'S RENNET for best results.
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