NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 76, 31 March 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Business Mind. \miiin:il i"ii> fur the positions of viccni -esitlent- \\ore lieinjr called at. the ;!iiiiii;i! meeting of a football club in a southern Inuii last week, when one niemher reeled off nine names without iinv liP>ifi)!ion. "Is that all?" a-ked the secretary, who was trying to record I lie names in <i lmrry. •'Well." said the ippiiilirr. looking at tli<- annual halanncshect. "they paid up la-t year.*'

Blackout in Canada. Rrili-h Columbia's lirsl lilackont iliurrh service was lield ill St. Mark's Vii'jlican Church. Vaneomer. The only light iii l lie cliurch «a< a candle in the pulpit, a subdued light at. the organ and a spotlight shining on the altar. Among the special hymns sung were "Breathe on Me. Breath of Life," and "Ciifo Ihe Kills.'' while the t<v\t chosen hv the rector was: ".Jesus said, I am the Light of the World''

Taking No Chances. V,\ idently alarmed by the tales of lilackoul thefts, a suburban resident who parks his model of ancient vintage on the street, has adopted an unusual, though highly effective, method to prevent tliicxc- helping themselves to the tyres of his motor car. l-'.ach of the tyres is securely chained on. the chain passing over the top and between the spokes of th" wheels, lie stressed the fact that lie had to be careful in these days of import restriction and tyre shortage.

Misunderstanding. Tt wns durina the lieiiriiijr of a divorce petition in the Supreme Court, and rmm.se] ;isl<c<l H witness for petitioner for lier inline. "Married.'' said witness, who w;i- hard of liearinir. "Miirimi'.'" siiid counsel, followinjr liisown trend of tlionjrht, "and what is your i-uriianie ':" Witness pointed out thiit slu< had informed him she was married, and had evidently misunderstood his question. "Ah, not Marion, hut married,"' said counsel, and the hearing of the case proceeded on its wn v.

Goose Feathers. Conse feathers are beinp; sought by at lra>l nno American linn, A request from Nicholas Widdcr and Company. New York, to tlio Department of Industries and Com in err p states that as most, of their former markets have been closed they desire to find new connections, and would like to have the names and addressee of firms who would he interested in exporting their products to America. "We are interested in all kinds of merchandise.'' the letter concludes, •'and riyht now we arc on the marmot for the purchase of goose - feathers and plumes."

No Time for a Haircut. Long hair, like old clothes, is becoming a sifrn of patriotic national effort in Birmingham. 'Munition workers are so hard at work in that city that they haven't time to get their hair cut. Leaving for work early in the morning and arriving hack at night, they find a visit to the barber an impossibility. In at least one large factory in the Midlands a barber, who is now working on munitions, docs a roaring trade, snipping away at his fellow workers' hair during the luncheon hour. The position is so acute that the Sunday opening of barbers' shops has been suggested.

Apple Juice Campaign. A publicity campaign to stimulate the nianufactnre and consumption of apple juice will be launched in the Wellington and Hawke's Bay districts in a few day?, and will continue for two months. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, in announcing the campaign, referred to the increased production and sale of apple juice in Canada as a useful method of disposing of the apple surplus due to -war conditions. Xew Zealand-made apple juice will be distributed at special advertised prices in order to gauge the public demand fur [ the drink, but limited manufacturing facilities at present prevent the extenI sion of the campaign to other districts.

No Census. Xo census will be taken this year, according to the Minister in Charge of the Census and Statistics Department, the Hon. W. Nash, in reply to a question as to whether the Oovoriinient had made a decision following the anthority given last year to postpone the quinquennial census, which would have been held normally in 1041. A clause in the Finance Act Xo. 1. 19-10, gave power to hold the 101] census between 1041 and 194"). the next census to be taken in 1940. The year of the taking of the census to be,appointed by proclamation by the Coventor-* iencral. The postponement of the census menus that no report will be made by the Electoral Boundaries Commission.

Appealed Too Late. "This board has no jurisdiction to hear your appeal." said the chairman, Mr. F. P. Reid, P.M.. to a woman appellant at the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Christchuich la<=t week. "But I must have some protection," said the appellant. "Since this boy was 11 years old T have slaved at the washtub for him." "I am very sorry." interposed the chairman, "'but as I have already told you, the board has no jurisdiction to hear your appeal." "What can 1 do?" asked the appellant. "Whom can I go to? I must have protection." "We. cannot- do anything.'' said Mr. Reid. "and I don't think anybody else can." The appeal in question had been lodged after the expiry of the prescribed date for the lodging of appeals. Realistic Demonstration.

A realistic demonstration of first aid organisation under the Emergency Prccautioiis Seheme was ghen by units of the Otahuhu area on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of LieutenantColonel .1, Jlardic Xeil, D.5.0.. Mr. Allan .1. Mnmly. chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, and officers of the St. John Ambulance Association. The posts were staffed and equipped as they would be in the event of an actual emergency, stretcher bearers, doctors, nurses and ambulances being in action. Patients were "rescued." and. after receiving treatment, were t ran--ported to the Otahuhu Technical High School, which was fitted out a* a casualty clearing station and hospital. First aid posts at Ellerslie. and several industrial establishments in the Westfield district, Miingcre East, and Otahuhu railway workshops were fully «stafled. In congratulating the various units on the ; efficiency of the organisation and its demonstration in action, LieutenantColonel Hardie Neil said the standard was the highest and most complete he had yet inspected.