NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

The Holidays. The "Auckland Star" will not be published on Monday next, Christmas Day, nor on the following Monday, New Year's Day. The Short land Street office will be open till 9 p.m. on each Saturday to enable advertisers to make suitable arrangements for the Tuesday issues and for the convenience of inquirers. Readers who will be away from home during the holiday season are reminded of the necessity for informing their newsagent of the period of absence, and where possible of their addresses during the interval, so that they may obtain the paper without interruption and be covered by the free accident insurance service.

Another Fruit Problem. Tasmanian fruitgrowers, like those New Zealand, are facing a serious problem which lias arisen out of the war. Because of export difficulties, it is estimated t,hat Tasmania will suffer a direct loss of £300.000 on her fruit this season, with other incidentals bringing the actual loss to £570,000. Catholic Attitude to War. '"In face of the martyrdom of Catholic Poland and the undisguised threat to root out the Christian religion, 710 Catholic who is worthy of his faith Will hesitate to do his part in defence of our priceless Christian heritage,"' states, an editorial in the Sacred Heart College magazine. "Xo attempt to destroy Christianity has ever been organised with such diabolical ingenuity," the article adds.

One was Enough. Discussing the responsibilities of the parents to their children during school days, the Bishop or Waiapu, in his address at the Hastings High School prizegiving, told a story which had its due effect upon the large audience. "A mother of my acquaintance was wont to spoil her son, .and when he was late in the mornings she would run down to the corner and watch for the bus, signalling Jimmy when it came in sight. One day a neighbour told her that she was spoiling her son, to which the woman retorted: 'It's taken me 20 years to break in one man, and I'll wait for some other woman to tackle the job of breaking in his son.'"

Port Waikato Sunshine Camp. Two companies of children, each comprising 150, will be entertained by the Waikato Children's Camp League at Port Waikato this summer. The first contingent will leave Hamilton by bus for camp on December 28, and the second party will comprise country children. Considerable improvements have been effected at the camp during the year. Stretchers have replaced bunks, and lockers have been fitted. Nurse L. B. M. Trickett, Auckland, will assist in watching the health of the children. The league has received a donation of £7 10/ from the Waikato Hospital nurses, who decided to forgo their usual Christmas gifts and devote their collections to the 'welfare of the children.

"Safe Walkers Commenting on the tendency of people to "jay walk" on busy streets in New Zealand, a recent arrival from England said to-day that the latest' innovation j in London, prior to the declaration of I war, was tfaie issue of badges to safe walkers. An experiment carried out among school children on' the outskirts of the city bad proved successful in' reducing accidents. Each 'child who qualified received a badge and road safety license. The license form contained a number of elementary safety rules, and every time the holder violated one of the rules it was entered* on the license. When a school teacher decided that the license-holder had too many endorsements, the license and safety badge were taken away. "Badges are not returned until the offender shows in the company of a warden that he or she is a safe walker ence more," he added. "Older children act as wardens to check offences." Unusual Bureaucratic Speed. "This is astonishing and unexpected promptitude on the part of the authorities," declared Mr. E. Aldridsre

last evening at the Devonport Borough Council meeting, when a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury advised payment of a grant of £700 as the Government's contribution towards the cost of the permanent formation of Queen's Parade. This platter has been laboured for many years between the local authorities and the Government, the basis of contention being the heavv traffic on defence business from the Devonport wharf to Calliope Dock. The offer of £750 was only received at the last meeting of the council, and it. was then stated that it was impossible, under ordinary bureaucratic procedure, to prophesy when the borough treasury would benefit. It was then anticipated that payment would be made on completion of the work, hence the surprise of members at the receipt of the cheque. In reply to a question when the workwould be commenced, the Mayor said that supplies of sealing material would be available early in January, and would be used forthwith on Quefen's j Parade. In explanation of the speed of ! payment, the town clerk said tha.t the j money was an urgent item in Defence J Department expenditure. 1

Territorials as Usual. Preparation of the Special Force and other activities directly connected with the Dominions' contribution to the Empire's war effort have not been allowed in any way to interfere with New . Zealand Territorial Force training programme, which is being carried on on the same basis as in time of peace. Although the Special Force has been formed for overseas service, the defence of Jfew Zealand remains the responsibility of the Territorial Force, part of which was mobilised, immediately on the outbreak of war, and lias ever since been carrying out its wartime duties of protecting vital points. The remainder of the Territorial Force is continuing its ordinary training, which consists of evening drills, week-end bivouacs and annual camps. Arrangements are also to be made for courses of instruction for Territorial officers. non-commissioned officers and men to be held at the district school, Trentham, as in pre-war days. Secondary school cadet training is being carried on as usual, and a course of insfl-uction for officers and non-commissioned officers is to be held early in January. Annual camps of Territorial units will be limited to six days. No.pie-canap «ounee-wilL be held.

Time to Assist. "What we want is optimism, confidence and hard work to prepare us for any eventualities that may arise." said Professor F. P. Worley, speaking at the Royal Empire Society's luncheon yesterday. Professor Worley, in mentioning the activities of the society, said that the time was opportune for all patriotic societies to assist each other.

Farmers* Christmas Shopping. Farmers and their families thronged the streets of Whangarei to-day, rushing through their Christmas shopping, which, in a number of eases, had been delayed till the arrival of the monthly cream cheque. Yesterday suppliers of dairy companies in the middle north were paid cheques totalling over £110,000, and in nearly all other dairy farming centres payments were made on the same day, fcr the 20tli of each month is the farmers' usual pay day.

| Achilles Congratulated. The Devonport Borough Council last evening decided to send a radio message to the commander and men of H.AI.S. Achilles, expressing the appreciation of the people of Devonport of the gallantry of the company of the cruiser in her fight with the Graf Spee. Mr. T. C. Hobbs-Jones introduced the proposal, saving that many of the personnel- of the Achilles were Devonport boys, and that it was a matter of great congratulation to all associated with the naval base. The proposal was warmly supported by the Mayor, and enthusiastically carried by the council. Lord Galway to Attend Service.

Ihe Governor-General, Lord Galway, will be in attendance at the united thanksgiving service to be held in the Domain Cricket Ground on the afternoon of Sunday, January 7, as the first major Centennial feature in the citv. His Excellency will read the New Testament lesson. In addition to this service, in which it is expected thousands of Aueklanders will take part, churches of all denominations will hold special Centennial services on the same date. Bishop Liston will be the celebrant at Solemn Pontifical Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Centennial Masses will also be celebrated in all other Catholic parishes throughout the province. United After Fifty Years.

On the Dunedin railway station platform yesterday afternoon a woman 77 years of age kept a keen look-out for the brother whom she had not seen for 52 years and whom she had believed to have been dead for more than a generation. The brother, Mr. E. M. Jarvis, of Capetown, South Africa, had likewise long believed that he was the only surviving member of his family, until a strange chance brought brother and sister together again. In the bustle of holiday traffic they were not sure that one would recognise the other, and it was decided that the Cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which Mr. Jarvis wears in his coat lapel, should be a means of identification. Mr. Jarvis left Dunedin for Australia in 1887, and after having lost touch with the family, went to South Africa ten years later. Recently he got. in touch .with the Otago Early Settlers' Association, and through the publication of a donation by him of some old-time relics the fact that he was alive, and his address, became known to his only surviving sister, Mrs. A. Brosnan. She got into communication with her longlost brother, and an affectionate reunion yesterday was the result. Comforts for Troops.

Although the organisation has not been in existence long, the National Patriotic Fund Board and the officers associated with it have given practical demonstration several times in the course of the last few weeks of their capacity to handle the job with which they have been entrusted, even if the call on their services is made at short notice. A typical instance of the value lof having this national organisation to look after the welfare of the men goin<* overseas occurred recently. Notification was received at the office of the National Patriotic Fund Board in Wellington one afternoon recently of the impending departure next day of a draft of Xew Zealand troops for service abroad. There were only a few houi-« m which to act if these troops were to be provided with comforts aboard ship. Action was called for, and it was supplied. The co-operation of men in certain business firms was enlisted, and, with their help, inside a couple of hours complete arrangements had been made for the placing aboard the ship of sports equipment, books and other comforts The recent periodicals and the books were supplied by the State country library service, which is giving valuable assistance in the administration of the National Patriotic Fund Board's scheme for the provision of suitable reading matter for the troops in eainp and aboard ship.