LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 204, 11 June 1945, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The 25th anniversary of the Baring Square Ladies’ Guild will be c ®^ e ‘ brated on Thursday afternoon with a re-union of past and present members. The Guild has organised a public meeting for Thursday evening in honour of Sister Mildred, who for 25 years has been working as a deaconess in Ashburton.

A dairy farmer who was seeking the assistance of the Supreme Court, Auckland, to get his wife to return to him explained to Mr Justice Callan that his wife had thought she would like life on a farm, but it had not turned out that way. “She got to hate the cows?” suggested his Honor. “She never knew one end of a cow from another,” replied "witness. “But she knew that she hated both ends,” his Honor concluded. ’

An offer to give £SOO for the relief of distress in Britain caused by the further reduction in food rations has been made by Mr F. W. Burley, of Hamilton, with the condition that £SOO worth of unused current issue coupons for butter and meat be collected by some Hamilton organisation. Mr Burley said that a big share of the work of collecting would be clone by the women of Hamilton and that by consuming a little less meat and butter no great hardship would be imposed on anyone and health would certainly not suffer. - »

The Wellington Chamber of. Commerce passed a resolution that in view of the critical food situation no more farm workers should be called up for military service, and holding that instead every effort should be devoted to the production of move foodstuffs. It was also decided to ask the Government for an early decision and pronouncement on the matter and to institute a scheme of priority for the return of farmers from overseas. In the course of the discussion one member said that they wepe entitled to expect soon a specific pronouncement by the Government about the release of men from the fighting services for civil production. —P.A.

“All through the war Britain has been sustained not only by the military support but by the practical sympathy and understanding of New Zealand and the other British countries overseas, shown in countless ways,” said Sir Harry Batterbee (High Commissioner in New Zealand for the United Kingdom) at the annual meeting of the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men in Wellington. “Only the other day I received an anonymous donation of £5 as ‘a victory gift to the Channel Islanders,’ which was sent to me under cover of a letter in which the writer described himself, or herself, as ‘A New Zealand worker who is grateful that we were spared the horrors of war.’ As the gift was anonymous it was impossible for me to acknowledge it, but I should like the donor to know that both the gift and the spirit which prompted it are warmly appreciated.”

A novel method of overcoming the power shortage and the regulations forbidding the electric lighting of shop windows from the mains has been devised by a firm in Auckland. It is using a wind-driven generator mounted on the roof of the building and it provides sufficient, electric power to light the windows satisfactorily.

Of the Ashburton County’s patriotic quota of £8622 for the current year, £2G27 has already been raised, said the County Clerk (Mr (3. Kelly) today. Deposits made lately by district patriotic committees total £494 10s Id, as follows: —Greenstreet, £lB 10s; Wakanui, £2OO 10s; Hinds, £23 19s; Lagmhor-Westerfield, £2; Lowcliffe, £65 10s; Ruapuna-Carew, £ls; Dorie, £33 ss; Ealing, £136 Is Id.

“In view of the very successful days experienced by the Auckland Racing Club, I think ail appeal from this committee might meet with some success,” said Mr- G. W. Hutchison, at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. “They have already given £IOOO, but I am sure that when they made that donation they did not realise what a wonderful meeting they were going to have. They can surely spare a few crumbs for us.”

About 70 couples were present at the annual social and dance of the Ashburton Young Farmers’ Club, held in the Ashburton Technical High School on Friday night. Winners of novelty dances were Mrs Knapp and Mr M. Cunneen, Miss R. Jackson and Mr B. Quaid, and Miss S. Cairns and Mr I. Kermode. A game was won by Miss E. Pile. Music was played by Mr Chapman. Mr. H. Bennett was Master of Ceremonies.

The concluding function of Girls’ Life Brigade week in Ashburton was the annual parade of the battalion at the evening service at the Baptist Church yesterday. There was a large congregation. The Rev. J. Browning conducted the service, the theme of his address being “Our Great Captain, the Magnetic Christ.” The Scripture lesson was read by Commandant M. Money and prayers led by Captain M. Patterson. The battalion sang the Brigade Hymn, and the choir sang “Just as I am.” A double quartette of brigaders sang “Help Me to be Holy.”

Addresses on his work with the Sudan United Mission were given by Mr K. J. Knobbs at Ashburton yesterday. He spoke at the Baptist Church in the morning, at Tuarangi Home in the afternoon, and at the Salvation Army in the evening. He showed missionary film strips to the Ist Ashburton Company of the Boys’ Brigade at the Baptist Church on Saturday evening. At the Salvation Army service Bandmaster G. E. Argyle gave a talk on “Impressions of the Annual Congress,” dealing with the hand’s visit to Wellington during the King’s Birthday week-end.

A high tribute to the Red Cross in supplying comforts and parcels to pris-oner-of-war camps is paid by Sergeant J. D. Murray, Royal New Zealand Air Force, in a letter to his parents, Mr and Mrs G. W. Murray, of Alford Forest Road, Ashburton. He was taken a prisoner when the Rangitane was sunk in November, 1940, and recently arrived in England after 4t years in German hands. Parcels from next-of-kin had also been much appreciated. One sent in January, addressed to Germany, had been received. Sergeant Murray writes in the highest praise of the hospitality in England, where he is at present on 42 daysMeave. He expects to tour the United Kingdom in that time.

Government departments have never possessed a reputation for quick service, and one department has set no precedent in its dealing with a Hawera society. Early last year the Horticultural Society was asked eo enter the “Dig for Victory” campaign by organising competitions, prizes for which would be provided by the department. The society, acting practically as an agent for the Government, ran the competition, and, as cash prizes were offered, had to amend its rules before it could control such a competition. Prize money was not immediately forthcoming from the Treasury, and as the society had just, been formed and was at the time without finances, it was placed in an embarrassing position. Now a year has passed and, after making further representations, the society is able to assure the winners that there are definite indications that the money will be gi'anted. The amount involved is about £6.