NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 247, 18 October 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Motorics Novel Excuu A novel excuse was advanced by a motorist, Richard Sheridan, who was prosecuted at Gisborne for driving a car on full-beam lights at 7.15 J).m. on August 21. He blamed the nformation alleged to be given in the Auckland Automobile Association's bulletin in July, stating that the hours of light restrictions were 7.30 p.m. to 6.30 a.m. daily. A traffic Inspector said he had not seen the article, but it was misleading. In fining defendant 5/ and costs, the magistrate said the bulletin was widely read.

War Prisonert Intimation that it would not be necessary any longer for next-of-kin of missing New Zealand soldiers to send private cablegrams to the International Red Cross committee in Geneva has been received by Mrs. J. D. Derig, secretary of the Mount Eden sub-centre of the Red Cross Society, from the Prime Minister, Mr.,Fraser. It is stated by the Prime Minister that the Government was assured that details would be forwarded from Geneva as soon as they were available, and following this next-of-kin would receive advice by telegram.

Depots for Soldier Patients As a stepping stone between the extreme comfort of hospital life and the more rigorous conditions of camp life, a military convalescent training depot is being erected at, Silverstream, Wellington. It will be under the control of the army and not the Hospital Board, as is the case with ordinary convalescent hospitals, states a Press Association report. Similar depots for short-term convalescent soldier patients are to be erected near Papakura and Burnham military camps. The depots were for hardening those men who had been in hospital before they returned to training camps, said the DirectorGeneral of Medical Services, Brigadier P. T. Bower bank, to-day. It was not intended to treat in the depots long-term convalescent soldiers, who would be sent to Hanmer and Rotorua. At the depots such conditions as flat feet and poor development would be treated. The buildings would also be used for war-weary men from overseas and those sent back for change, or debilitated men who would be given a period of training. The depot at SUverstream is being built on a plateau at the northern end 'of Talta Gorge. Grounds for tennis and other openair sports are being laid out, andfthe building and grounds will cover some 10 or 12 acres. The dqpot will ham-a capacity of 300.

Early Conservation Christchurch was one of the first cities in New Zealand to do something about conservation," said Mr. L. W. McCaskill, addressing the New Zealand Education Fellowship Conference. He said that it was a magnificent effort by the early settlers to put aside over 500 acres of some of the most valuable land in Canterbury. He was referring to JHagley Park, which, he said, was one of the first examples of conservation in the Dominion.

Weevils in Maize - In a reply to complaints from the Auckland Farmers' Union, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. J. G. Barclay, states that careful control is exercised to prevent the introduction in imported maize of weevils or other insect pests. The grain is required to be accompanied by a certificate that it is free from weevil at the time of shipment. "It is fourid, however, that certain weevils live inside the grain and emerge during the voyage," says the Minister. "Liaas of maize badly infected with insect pests are submitted to fumigation on arrival in New Zealand."

Patriotic Assistance In answer to a complaint that the troops In Fiji' have not received much assistance, the National Patriotic Fund Board has made a statement that at least £6 a man has been spent for the benefit of the troops there, and that remittances, apart from a large number of articles, total £16,235. A club was built at a cost of £3650, two Y.M.C.A. buildings at a cost of £3300 each, while £350 was spent on another club, and £1047 on furnishings for the institutions. Gift parcels and sporting gear had been forwarded. Five libraries had been established. Wireless sets and a complete talking picture plant had been sent, and another talking picture plant was on order. Passengers for Home Guard Some clarification of the position arising in the event of a passenger or passengers being carried by farmers to Home Guard parades meeting with injury was recently sought from the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, by the Auckland Farmers' Union. The Minister has replied that such responsibility had not been accepted for any section of the defence forces, but the position as it affected the Home Guard would be given consideration by the Government. "In the meantime," said the Minister, "it would appear advisable for the car owners concerned to consult their insurance companies, and, if necessary, a solicitor, for advice how to best protect themselves against any possible claim is> the event of an accident."