NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 207, 1 September 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

"Pat's All Right" "I saw Pat, and he's all right." This quite ordinary remark, which might occur in any letter, has taken on a comical sound for a Remuera family whose son is in the army in New' Caledonia. Writing home, he says, "In the usual way, when I'm writing a letter I look up at some stage and say to no one in par- - ticular, 'What else can I say?' Pat, -- who is my tent-mate, always comes forth with this: 'Tell her you saw me and I'm O.K.'" The soldier's family were delighted to hear the good news, but the fact was they had never heard of Pat before! Now, the phrase has a catch word among them to tag on to greetings. Modern Bible " - The British and Foreign Bible ; Society is already making plans for ♦"the printing of the Bible for use on • the Continent of Europe after the war, states the Church Gazette for the Diocese of Auckland. It is interesting to notice that the old sombre binding is to be discarded, and an attempt is to be made to produce the Bible in modern style, so that it will look like a book for everyday use. That seems sensible. As an example of the other point of view, in an Australian diocesan magazine of 50 years ago the editor (afterwards a bishop) objected to c the first issue of the Australian Anglican Church Directory because it had been given a crimson cover! Perhaos it is as well ideas change sometimes. Diamonds and Dinners • She was a sweet young thing, but, to use her own expression, she was beginning "to sag a bit around the knees." She had searched and searched. Almost every jeweller s in Auckland had been visited, she said. She and her fiance were not very hard to please. All they wanted was one diamond ring—one little diamond engagement ring—but she d come to the conclusion that there couldn t be 20 of them left in Auckland under £50 apiece. "It's as bad as trying to buy silk stockings," she said to a Queen Street jeweller. But before he could reply, her uniformed escort, just back from the Middle East, chimed in, "And almost as bad as trying to get a table for lunch! I'm afraid I can't compete with you Aucklanders." The couple agreeed that there has apparently been keen competition among returning servicemen for engagement rings, and among school holiday crowds for restaurant tables. Zero Hour Radio reception in the Solomons is generally excellent, says an American fiving man, Warrant-Officer James W. McAdam, who has been on leave in Auckland. Reception of scheduled programmes from the United States and particularly from Hawaii is good, but quite the best programme of all is that from Tokyo. "We call it Zero Hour," he says, "and, believe me, the boys enjoy it. It conies' over every night. Of course, the whole thing is supposed to be propaganda, but if the announcer only knew it, it has exactly the opposite effect from that intended. Tokyo gives us some of the latest recordings from .the States—l suppose they tune in in Tokyo and make recordings there—and the announcer tells us "Here s the latest number from your home town; it 11 be a long time before some of yem boys get back there to the girl friends! won't it?' But we don t mind that sort of bunk when Lhey give us the records. They put it over in absolutely faultless English, too. We sure enjoy that Zero Hour.

Sex Education A suggestion that sex education might be embodied in the new curriculum being prepared for secondary schools was made by Mr. G. J. Park, principal of Auckland Technical College, at the Dominion Conference of Technical Colleges in Christchurch. He said he believed that the consultative committees planned to make citizenship subjects essentials. These would •include -history and geography and English, for example, and biology, which would include sex education. Native Timbers "Many timbers which are to-day despised will, if treated properly, become as popular overseas and in New Zealand as any of the present standard lines," writes Mr. J. Park In an article on the timber values of native trees, which appears in the current issue of Forest and Bird. He suggests that several native trees should be cultivated on a commercial basis, and especially mentions the puriri. The grub that attacks it can be eliminated by proper cultural methods, he states. Figures are quoted for the growth rates of many native and introduced timber trees, and Mr. Park claims that puriri, kauri, rimu and kowhai will grow faster than the introduced Douglas fir. Standardising Farm Implements Standardisation of farm implements, and particularly plough heads and shares, was discussed by the New Zealand Implement Makers' Association with the secretary of the New Zealand Standards Institute, Mr. L. J. Mac Donald, at a conference in Christchurch. The association decided to set up a permanent committee to work with the Standards Institute and other interested parties when proposals for standardisation were considered. When the standardisation of plough heads and shares was discussed the association agreed to endeavour to bring into line the specifications for tne two basic types of head manufactured at present, as they varied slightly in shape. It'was stated that the two basic, types could not be departed from, and different designs of shares were necessary to deal with varying land conditions. The type of plough made in New Zealand by several manufacturers could not be made to any standard design. Hopeful Prisoners of War The confident spirit of New Zealand prisoners of war is evident m the following extracts from letters received from Bombardier Herbert P. Samnson, Oflag No. 2750, FruherOflag 111 C., by Mr. W. R. Golden, traffic manager of the Auckland Harbour Board. Writing on February 4, he said, "As the war is now m its fourth year, and the last we hope, we must again begin thinking of civilian occupations. Just before the war started I made an application to join the Harbour Board staff when, a vacancy occurred. As I am still as keen to join the board as ever, I would very much like to renew my application. I left New Zealand with the Second Echelon and was taken prisoner of war in Crete in May, 1941. You will all be pleased to know that letters, and clothing parcels from New Zealand come through quite regularly, some air mail letters taking only little over a month to reach here. We organise concerts and other amusements and sports of all kinds to make the time go." In May the writer spoke again of applying for a position personally as soon as he arrives hack, and added, "New Zealand boys are upholding New Zealand very well. They won the heavy-weight tug-o'-war and also the Rugby final against England, score 16 to 3."