NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 284, 1 December 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Ex-Servicemen's Clabrooms The official opening of the Mount Albert Ex-Servicemen's Club rooms was performed by the Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. H. A. Anderson, on Saturday afternoon. The transformation and equipment of the club rooms, which were the infant section of the old Mount Albert district school, was effected by the ex-ser-vicemen themselves. The dedicatory blessing and prayer was offered by the Rev. G. E. Moreton, honorary chaplain to the club. Besides the club president, Mr. H. G. Jenkin, speakers included the Minister of Education, Mr. Mason, Mr. C. S. Morris, representing the Auckland Education Board, and Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, vice-president of the Auckland Returned Services' Association. Messrs. J. A. Lee and W. T. Anderton, M.P.'s, were also in the official party. In the evening a concert and dance was held. New Tokaanu Road Reasons for the stoppage of work on the new Tokaanu Road were explained by the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Armstrong, during his visit to Taumarunui last week, when reference was made to the matter by the Mayor. The Minister said it was more than a question of completing the two miles of road. It meant metalling the whole road at a cost of £40,000, but it was not the money so much as the want of labour and material that delayed the work. Steel was required for a number of bridges, one of which was 120 ft. He said the military authorities did not think the road important to them. He would submit the matter to the military authorities again and reconsider the question when he returned to Wellington. Frying-pan Menu During a discussion at a meeting oj the Wanganui Hospital Board regarding the appointment of a dietician, the remark was made that dietetics should be taught in the schools. "This should not be started in hospitals when people are already ill," said one member. "People should know how to prepare the right food. How can we have a healthy people when one-third of the population lives from the frying pan?"

Frying-pan Menu

Women Taxi-drivers Three women are now operating taxis for a Dunadin company, and a fourth will begin work shortly. At least one of the women has been employed for over two months in taxi work. As the war progresses it seems likely that women will play an increasingly • large part in taxi staffs. The manager of the company employing these women stated that they were replacing men who had joined the services and were readjusting the shortages of staff arising from this cause. The women accepted the work of driving taxis on the understanding that the men whose places they filled would be given their jobs again when they returned from overseas. The manager added the women were giving every satisfaction in their work, and worked the same shifts as the men had done. They were most efficient drivers. Had Watched Others A story illustrating the sangfroid, apart from his exploits on the fieid of battle, of Major-General B. C. Freyberg Was told by Lieutenant K. J. Staunton when speaking at the New Plymouth Victoria League recently. Major-General Freyberg was being driven through the streets of Cairo one day when he realised that his chauffeur was making a poor job of his driving. "Are you new at this job?" asked the general. "I have never driven a car before," came the astonishing reply. The driver hastened to add that he had watched others driving, and thought he knew what to do with the various levers. Major-General Freyberg leant back and said crisply, "Very well; carry on." Old Bridge Removed Built over 60 years ago, the overhead bridge in Fanshawe Street, City, connecting two parts of the premises of the Kauri Timber Company, Ltd., was demolished yesterday. The road was closed at six o'clock in the morning, when the work started, and was available for use again early in the afternoon. The bridge was lowered in two sections, without untoward incident. The timber, although in good order in spite of its age, is considered to be of no commercial value. The bridge was used to enable products to be wheeled from one part of the premises to another, but had had little use during the past 12 years.