NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 180, 31 July 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Patriotic Funds.

Decision has been made by the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee to endorse the view of the standing committee of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, supporting the principle of a Dominion campaign at an appropriate time to raise patriotic funds, and agreeing that the appropriate time should not be for some months yet. Grant for Papakara Camp. The Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, at a meeting last evening, made a grant of £100 to provide facilities for cricket at Papakura camp. It is proposed to lay down, in concrete, with a special covering, practice wickets and a match wicket, as grass wickets are not available. An order for a marquee for the camp, at a cost of £315, has been placed. Recruiting Work. Owing to cessation of the campaign of voluntary enlistments, the recruiting sub-committee was dissolved at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee last evening. In acknowledging the work done by members of the sub-committee, the executive placed on record appreciation of the services performed by Captain H. J. Russell, who acted as liaison officer during the campaign, and Mr. F. Broad, who was associated with the community singing meetings. Hostel for Troops.

'I hp hostel for troops in the city, a building in Poynton Terrace, off Pitt Street, premises offered for five years or longer by Mr. H. J. Butcher, is to be opened on Friday, and will be available to receive servicemen on Saturday. The Commercial Travellers' Association has taken over the management, and everything excepting crockery, cutlery and kitchenware, which it is proposed to borrow for the time being, is available. In nearly all cases equipment has been donated. "Spring to It!** Speaking as president of the Xew Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association and a member of the War Council in a national broadcast last night, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., said that before long Xew Zealand would be an armed camp, prepared to give a good account of herself in defence of her own shores. In addition 80,000 men had been enlisted for overseas service, a splendid effort. But the making of the country into an armed fortress that might deter an invader depended on the spirit and morale of the people. His message was, "Spring to it, Xew Zealand." Food Storage Problem.

An aspect of the drive for increased production which is giving farmers concern is whether the Government will purchase and also provide sufficient storage accommodation for produce. When the matter was discussed by the Wellington central executive of the Farmers' Union, it was deckled to ask the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Xash, for assurances. It was stated that, unless the Minister could give such assurances, there would be a hold-up in March and April next, and it was very much better to urge farmers to grow hay and turnips to enable them to hold stock in the .autumn, instead of rape and barley for fattening purposes. The Channel Islanders. In view of inquiries received as to the whereabouts and safety of persons in the Channel Islands, the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Sir Harry Batterbee, states that a Channel Islands refugees' committee has been formed in London and a register is being compiled of persons evacuated from the islands before "the German occupation. The High Commissioner will be happy to forward any inquiries to London regarding relatives in the Channel Islands of persons in New Zealand, but there may be considerable delav before reliable information can be obtained. Names and addresses should be given in block capitals and the relationship should be stated. Centennial Tower Comes Down. Landmark of a twelvemonth, the great Centennial Tower, which dominated the exhibition buildings at Rongotai, Wellington, is being pulled down. A menace to aircraft, it had no useful place in the scheme of the Royal Xew Zealand Air Force station which the exhibition buildings have become. Standing 165 ft high, the tower showed up conspicuously from seaward, and from across the harbour, and was the main landmark at Lyall Bay since its erection more than a year ago. It was built of massive timber baulks, and was covered with a light wallboard exterior. During the course of the Centennial Exhibition, more than 1.30,000 people ascended the tower to enjoy the view from the summit. Many thousands of letters were posted to all parts of the world from the pillar box at the top.

Increase in Kiwis. Kiwis are apparently multiplying rapidly in Egmont Xational Park. Although they are not usually seen by visitors or residents at the hostels, several have been seen on the Dawson Fall* track at nijrht recently, and opossum trappers, rangers and others who have occasion at times to establish a camp in the reserve say that the call of kiwis can be herd almost any night, not from an isolated bird but from five or six foraging round about. "From my own experience I should say there are now well over 100 kiwis in the reserve," said Mr. X. P. Gibsor, of Kaimiro, ranger for the Egmont Xational Park Board. Several of these wingless birds were caught each year in opossum traps. Others became injured in the hush, and a few were to be found dead from various causes. Doubtful Debts as Donation? Money for patriotic purposes comes from many sources, but one of the most novel suggestions for swelling either the national patriotic fund or the Finance ! Minister's taxation coffers was that made at a meeting of a country racing club. The treasurer had tabled a list of payments due, principally for nomination and acceptance of horses. The list surprisingly totalled something like £I<H). Here came the opportunity for revealing a bright idea. "Let's make a patriotic donation of the whole list to Mr. Xash—he'd get the money where we wouldn't!" When the laughter had subsided the chairman remarked that, much as the club would like to make a decent contribution to the war effort, the finances of the club were by no means good enough to warrant doing so; heiwe, no doubt, the suggestion. There were some well-known names on the list, that could be marked "20/ in the £"—but there were others by no means regarded as warranting pressure for payment.