NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 107, 7 May 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Milk Production Cost [ The production'of 50 to 60 gallons of milk a day would require a capital investment of about £6000, plus the wages of two men and other incidentals. This gallonage could be delivered by one man with a suitable van, said S. G. Farquhar in reply to Mr: G. W. Dell at a sitting of the Milk Supply Commission at Christchurch. Farquhar said that he would leave it to the commission to say which cost the most, producing or vending. Religion in Schools Pleasure at the progress of the work of the Bible in Schools League is expressed by the Methodist Times. "It is gratifying to find that while the number of schools in the Dpminion, because of consolidation, is 272 less than five years ago, the number where religious instruction is given has increased from 905 to 1042, while those with daily religious observance have increased by over 331 per cent from 354 to between 475 and 500," says the journal. "It is good to learn that whereas in 1937 there were 1320 schools without any . religious activity, that number has now-been reduced to 807." the Tobacconist's Return "Yes, tell us about that; it is something we are all interested in," commented Mr. Justice Callan when a country storekeeper, giving evidence in the Supreme Court, was asked questions about the difference between the wholesale and retail price of tobacco and cigarettes. The witness said he was not able to quote offhahd the wholesale prices for the various brands on the market, but he indicated that the retailer's profit was approximately 2d on a 2oz packet of tobacco and Id on each packet of cigarettes, thus ranging from 6 per cent on tobacco to double that on some brands of cigarettes. Horses in Parks - When the reserves committee of the Christchurch City Council decided recently to prosecute two men for riding horses in the Spreydon Domain, it found that under the bylaws It did not have a sufficient case. The by-law said: "No person shall ride furiously within the limits of a park, or exercise a horse in clothing, or train a horse, pony, or donkey therein, for racing, or for any purpose whatever." On the recommendation of the committee the council decided to adopt the following amended by-law: "No person shall ride,.drive, exercise or train a horse or pony within the limits of a park." "Not Keen!" "The old cemetery here is a wizard of a place," writes a New Zealand soldier from a base in the South-west Pacific. "Apparently an Irish regiment was stationed here about 100 years ago and there are some very curious inscriptions qn the ancient tombstones. One reads as follows: — 'Sacred to the memory of John Atkinson, prisoner of war and constable at Government House, who was accidentally drowned while fishing for the Commandant; aged 36 years. This stone was erected bv Captain Thomas Ryan, of the 50th Regiment, to mark his deep sorrow at the sad event.' Another old soldier who died in 1841 requests:— 'Prepare yourself to follow me.' But, having learned some of the history |. of- these early characters, I'm not keen."

Population Change The recent census in the province of Manitoba, Canada, showed that the British population declined in 10 years from 368j010 to 360,560, while the foreign-born stock increased from 332,129 to 369,184. In other words, there was a loss of 7450 in British population, which was accompanied by a gain of 37,055 among the non-British, chiefly Ukrainians. This is giving Canadians food for thought. Hutt Main Sheet Values One of the largest deals for vacant land in Lower Hutt city was recently completed with the purchase by the Union Bank of Australia of a site opposite the new post office at the corner of High Street and Andrews Avenue. The purchase price was £8000. The site has a frontage of 51ft in High Street and '121 ft in Andrews Avenue. It is the intention of the bank to erect a large multistorey modern building, fully reinforced against earthquake shocks, to provide adequate accommodation for the bank and for other businesses, with provision for shops on the ground floor, and for offices and other requirements served by a modern lift on the upper floors. The style of architecture will be in keeping with the progressive spirit of Lower Hutt. War Widows * Pensions "That is quite inadequate," commented Mr. A. J. R. Blakely, a member of the Second N.Z.E.F. when pensions and allowances to widows of soldiers were explained at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch branch of the Returned Services' Association. Answering a question by Mr. Blakely, the secretary; Mr. E. P. Willcox, said a war widow received 30/ a week, plus an economic pension of 15/ a week. If she happened to work —as did many of these young women—she did not receive the economic pension. If the widow had children, she received £2 a week, plus 10/ for each child and 15/ economic pension. A widow with two children received £3 15/ a week. "There has been no increase of the basic rate of pension for war widows," added Mr. Willcox, "and we are appreciative that an injustice is being done." On Leave in Tripoli A Dunedin soldier who, after a spell of hard fighting, was granted leave in Tripoli, appears to have been chiefly interested in the food that could be obtained as an alternative to the monotony of the army diet. Preparations for the leave were described in a letter to a friend as "a bit of a task." Grease, oil, jam and margarine had to be removed from his battledress, which he pressed by placing it under that portion of his bedding which served as a mattresss. Soldiers were not allowed to purchase meals or bread in the town, and the local. oranges the Dunedin man found to be so sour that "they would turn a Poorman green with envy," but he lost no time in consuming a large quantity of dates. His most amusing experience was one which proved that the local bakers did not believe in selling their bread overweight. Watching the sale of a loaf, he saw it carefully weighed. The scales showed that it was 10 milligrams heavier than the law required, so the baker cut a small piece of crust off one end to make it the exact regulation 1 weight of 350 milligrams.