NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 169, 19 July 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Strain of Waiting _Hearing that his tobacconist might have some tobacco, a Ponsonby resident went to him one morning with a view to obtaining his favourite brand. The tobacconist informed him that he was expecting a consignment that day, but it had not come to hand, and he advised him to call again in an hour or two. The man went away and returned in due course, but the tobacco.had not arrived. ? Several fruitless visits followed throughout the day, and at last the man explained in desperation: "For goodness sake give me a packet of aspirins, and then I can sleep until it does crime!" South Island Main Trunk - Excellent progress is now being made with plate-laying on the railway between Aniseed and Kaikoura. The rails are now only about seven nnles from the township. It is .estimated that the main line will be through to Kaikoura in about two months. Considerable work will be required in the yards at Kaikoura, but if the present rate of progress is maintained passenger traffic should be running on the line well before Christmas. When the line has been completed to Kaikoura, the only gap remaining will be between Kaikoura and Oaro, a distance of about 14 miles. Already on this section the line has been pushed on to Goose Bay. A number of tunnels have yet to be finished and others have to be lengthened. Another two or three bridges have also to be built. The completion date depends mainly on the labour available. No trouble with materials is anticipated.

"My Bantams And I" The young people of the Auckland district have in many novel ways made a. commendable contribution to the patriotic effort since the outbreak of war, not only m raisins funds, but in providing coinforts for the fighting forces. Sucn an example was mentioned at the civic reception at Mount Albert on Saturday evening to the men who have returned from service overseas. The hon. secretary of the Overseas Gift Fund, Mr. T. R. Congalton, read a letter he had received from Jill Drummond, 6, Fowlds Avenue. As epss are scarce ladies are buying my bantam eggs. I thought it would be kind to give the first ten shillings to the next boy who received a wallet from the gift fund Please find in this envelope the first ten shillings my bantams and I have earned." The large gathering was not slow to show its appreciation of the donor's sentiments.

Unfair to Pre-war Officers An example of the effect of the reduction of officers in the New Zealand Army is provided by a company commander with 19 years' continuous service, who . has been an officer for 12 years. He is now a sergeant in the N.Z.E.F., while some young officers who have come in during the past couple of years have merely dropped to lieutenant. The whole position, said another officer, could only be described in terms uncomplimentary to the authorities. Primary Production Councils The Dominion conference of the New - Zealand Farmers' Union in Wellington adopted a resolution expressing the opinion that district primary production committees be disbanded as soon after the war as the manpower position was relieved. An opinion was expressed that the committees should never have been started at all. It was considered that primary production councils and district committees should be concerned with administrative work only, and all policy matters concerning the welfare of primary producers should be dealt with by the Farmers' Union. Factors in Child's Life ■■ "I do not think that the school is the greatest factor in the growing life of the child," said Mr. A. F. McMurtrie, assistant director _ of Education, speaking to the Wellirtgton branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. "Of three factors I would place it last. The first is the home, and the better the home and the warmer the family life, the better the boys or girls will be I believe there is some slackening of the home in this country, but also I believe that it is not confined to this country. Secondly, I would place the group of people in which the child lives. Thirdly, I would place the school." Devotional Soldiers "Despite human frailty, our Catholic New Zealanders were known everywhere as the most sacramental Catholics soldiering in the Middle East," said the Rev. Father Forsman, chaplain to the forces, preaching in St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday morning. "Men came to me at all hours of the day and night to receive the sacraments. In England, in Egypt, Greece, Crete, Libya, Syria, Cy.renaica, Tripolitania and Tunisia, on troopships coming and going, both in action and out of it, our men were faithful to their religious duties. They valued the Mass and the sacraments above their lives. Indeed, the Mass and the sacraments were their life. God certainly protected us, for though we were attacked several times at Mass, 110 one was injured."