NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 145, 21 June 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Don't Change Horses "I don't believe in changing horses crossing the stream," said the Rev. Jasper Calder at the Auckland City Mission's annual meeting. "We are passing through difficult times, and I don't want to change my staff, I don't want to change my executive, and"—looking round at the guest of honour—"l don't want to change my bishop." The latter remark was greeted with sustained applause. Need for Maori Soldiers Disapproval of the recruiting propaganda conducted by the Hon. P. K. Paikea has been expressed by the executive of the Arawa Returned Soldiers' League, in that the league that emphasis should be put ftn overseas service to reinforce the Maori Battalion, and not on territorial service. Mr. Paikea will be visiting Tokaanu this week-end, and it is planned to invite him to include Rotorua in his tour so that the Arawa people in general as well as the Arawa Returned Soldiers' League can have the opportunity to place their views before him. Emergency Fire Service Recruiting for the Emergency Fire Service in Auckland, which commenced in March, has been completed, except in the Takapuna, Devonport and Otahuhu areas. Each of these districts requires twelve men to brine the unit up to establishment. Trie E.F.S., which is an alternative form of home defence, is open to married men with two or more children, any man over 40 years of ape, youths between 18 and 19 years of age, and other men not required for overseas service. The approximate strength of the service at the moment is 42.") men. A large number of prospective non-commis-sioned officers are at present in training at the Central Fire Station, and the Auckland City Council has agreed to close a portion of Beresl'ord Street on certain nights in order that practice might lie carried out. Service Clubs "The National Patriotic Council floes not favour proposals to establish service clubs," said Mr. K. 1,, llsmar, secretary, at. a meeting of '.ho standing committee of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic .Council last night, when the question of establishing clubs for scrvi< o men with funds raised for patriotic purposes was considered. The Auckland Rotary Club had offered to undertake a club service, and had asked how it could assist. The Mayor, Mr. .T. A. C. Allurn, said that recent difficulty in accommodating service men on leave in the city had been overcome by the overflow from the Carrie Hostel being taken in at the Sailors' Home. The general wish of • -le public was that patriotic funds Fbould be conserved for rehabilitation purposes. It was decided to * sr - U ? e matter to the Metropolitan i a.riotio Committee, with the suggestion that it confer with the Rotary Club.

Shortest Day j To-morrow will be the shortest day of the year, when the winter solstice occurs, and after which the days will slowly start to lengthen. Considered the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere, the shortest day in this countrv comes l usually about a fortnight after the winter season has set in. t Big Blast Prepared Twenty tons of gelignite have been used in placing shots in the limestone quarry of Wilsons Portland Cement Company at Portland in preparation for an immense blast, by which it is hoped to bring down : 25.0,000 tons of limestone. Explosive ' from a _ thousand cases has been tamped into forty deep holes down the quarry face for some distance back, and is to be touched off all at one time. j New Military Hospital The new military hospital in the' Domain has reached a stage where it would be possible for patients to be admitted if the necessity arose. 1 Mattresses are on the beds, and linen and blankets are available for immediate use, while all the other' numerous final indoor details are 1 being attended to by the nursing staff. After some delay in delivery ; a lift has arrived from overseas and j is being installed. Chief anion" the tasks in hand at the present time is i the formation of an approach road for ambulances. I Motor Lighting Change j The new regulations applying to ! motor vehicle lighting in Auckland will not come into force on Monday, l as was anticipated. A statement to 1 this effect has been made by Mr. R. i H. Bartley, Auckland district light-1 ing controller, who explained that' he had been advised by the Domi-j nion lighting controller, Mr. F. T.: M. Kissel, that there had been delays in signposting the necessary roans, : and until such work was complete ■ it was not possible for the rcgula- j tions to be brought into force. Mr. 1 Bartley said that notice would be, given in the near future of when I the regulations would apply. Mean- j time recommendations made this ! week for making the regulations less | drastic are to be considered. Kingsford Smith Memorial Shown in New Zealand fur the | purpose of inaugurating a fund for' ia memorial ambulance for the R.N.Z.A.F., a _ Kingsford Smith memorial exhibition was on display at the Farmers' Trading Company' during the present week. The work I of Mr. A. E. Byrne, of Australia, the. exhibition included a perfect detailed ; model of the Southern Cross, a silver I i globe showing ''Smithy's" pioneer j flights, a hand-printed book of re- j I membrance and a series of photographs of the original crews. Large crowds inspected it and contributed i generously to the fund. Mr. Bvrne himself was in charge of the exhibit assisted by Mr. O. Davies. of Air Headquarters. Wellington. The exhibit is to be taken to America and Canada next week to raise money for a memorial bomber squadron. j