NEWS IN TOWN

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13672, 20 June 1942, Page 2

NEWS IN TOWN

Shortest Day To-morrow, June 21, Tyill be the shortest day of the year in New Zealand. The sun rises at 7.30 a.m. and sets at 5.11 p.m. New Zealand summer time. A Stupid Act It is reported that a number of Stimsonite reflectors provided to assist night driving on the highway adjacent to the Hairini Pa have been deliberately broken, and owing to the cost of renewal it is learned that they will not be replaced by the Public Works Department. Previous instances of the deliberate breaking of reflectors has occurred at Wairoa, Judea, and on the highway at the summit of the Kaimai hills.

Trap for Motorists The rather severe frosts experienced lately have made a trap for the unwary motorist on the highway a short distance past the Hairini store. Here, on the in-bends of the road where the effects of the sun are not felt, ice has formed, and there have been several bad skids. One car turned over on its side when negotiating one of these bends the other morning. The greatest care in driving is therefore desirable.

Soldiers’ Allotments

Brief reference to the operation of the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board is made in the annual report of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Services Association. “The amount of allotment that a single member of the forces with dependants should make Avas taken up with the Soldiers’ Finance Assistance Board and Avith the Minister of Finance,” states the report. “Your committee considers that 3s a day allotment to his dependants by a single man is reasonable, but the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board, in practice, requires such man to allot 4s 6d a day, at least. It is submitted that Avhile the first duty of a single man is to care for his dependants, he has a duty to himself also, to make provision for his future, his marriage, and the establishment of his OAvn home on his return from seiwice OA'erseas. ’Hoavever, the Minister supports the practice of the board.”