OUT AND ABOUT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 13744, 1 May 1945, Page 2

OUT AND ABOUT

Prisoner Freed According to advice, Corporal F. W. Hamilton, of Katikati, lias been freed from a prisoner of war camp and is now safe in the United Kingdom. Katikati Peppy Day According to the Katikati correspondent the poppy day sales at Katikati this year show a slight increase, the proceeds amounting to £39/16/0 as against just over £3B last year. Regional Planning Meeting The next meeting of the Bay of Plenty Regional Planning Committee will be held in Whakatane on Wednesday, June 27. This was decided at the executive meeting in Tauranga on Thursday. Closing of Bowling Season The Tauranga South Bowling Chib’s summer season will be officially closed on Saturday, May 12. Should peace celebrations be held prior to this date a one-day tournament will be conducted on the second day of the holidays. Sixteen teams are required. N.Z.E.F. Casualties , A Katikati soldier, V. Cunningham, whose father is Mr J. T. Cunningham, has been killed while serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Lieut. C. H. Davis, whose wife is Mrs E. M. Davis, of Tauranga, has been wounded in action. Request Deferred

On the motion of Mr J. B. McKinney, seconded by Mr J. K. Hamilton, it was resolved that the request from Mr J. L. Harper to the Tauranga Branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to support his application for a passenger service from Tauranga to Hamilton, be deferred until such time as the special tribunal of the licensing authority sits in Tauranga. The question was discussed at a meeting of the branch on Friday. •

Victory Celebrations

Confirming the announcement by the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash) that schools will close on the day the war in Europe is officially declared over, and*on the following day, the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. P. Mason), asks that before a school is closed the children be assembled and the significance of the occasion briefly explained to them. In primary schools the ceremony of honouring the flag will be performed, and other schools are asked to have some appropriate ceremony. After that it rests with the local authorities whether or not schools participat ein other community ceremonies. In the event of peace in Europe being declared after school hours', schools will close on the two following days and will have a ceremony when they reopen. Should peace come during the school holidays there will he no special extension of those holidays.

Co-operation With Russia The public is reminded of the meeting of the Society for Closer Relations with Russia, to be held in the Wesley Hall, on Friday next, May 4, at 7.30 p.m. The subject is, “Why We Should Co-operate With Russia After the War.” A circle of members of the society will discuss this vital question and the audience' will be given an opportunity to ask questions. The public is therefore, cordially invited to attend the meeting on Friday. Children’s Gumboots Supplies of children’s gumboots and goloshes may he available this winter, says the Economic Information Service. Arrangements have been made to import a small quantity from Canada, but there is no definite information regarding the date of arrival or the number which will be released locally. Children’s rubber footwear is no longer manufactured in New Zealand, and, although some gumboots and goloshes for adults are produced, these are not for general use, but for industrial purposes only.

No Lights

The question of unlighted cycles in this district during the hours of darkness was referred to by Sgt. W. H. Simister, officer in charge of the Tauranga Police Station, in conversation with a representative of the Times. He said that action would be taken against the offenders. This habit is very prevalent in Tauranga and is a danger to wheel traffic and pedstrians alike. The law provides that during the hours of darkness? cyclists must have lights fixed to their cycles. Formerly, it was half an hour after sunset and half on hour before sunrise.

Hosiery From United States

Arrangements are being made to import a considerable quantity of fully-fashioned rayon stockings from the United States, says the Economic Information Service. They should be obtainable from the principal retailers throughout New Zealand within the next few months. These, in addition to the balance of last year’s quota, will -relieve the local shortage. The 20.000 dozen pairs of fully-fashioned stockings made each year in the Dominion fall short of requirements. Thus, imports to meet the Rationing Controller’s requirements have to be sought. However, mock-fashioned stockings sufficient to meet the demand are manufactured in New Zealand.

Katikati Mon Return

Included in the draft of members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which .recently arrived in the Dominion, were the following Katikati men: Cpl. P. Ramsbotham, Pte. W. Bryan, Cpl. S. Precious, Pte. 11. Finlay, Pte. J. S. Butler and Cpl. T. A. Canned. On their return to Katikati; these men were met at. the station by a large number of residents and the Katikati Brass Band played martial airs, writes the Katikati correspondent.

Due on May 1

The first instalment of the charge on income other than salaiy or wages derived during the year ended March Rl, 1 945, falls due on May 1 and on the same date an instalment of the Registration Fee (5/-) is payable by all persons aged 16 years or over who are not exempt. Female contributors who have not yet obtained a coupon book of the second series, commencing with the May, 1945, coupon, should obtain a book from their nearest money-order office without delay.

Vital Statistics

Vital statistics, as supplied by the Registrar of births, deaths and marriages (Mr J. H. Dashwood) reveal an increase in births and marriages, for April and a decrease in deaths, compared with the corresponding period in last year. The following are the figures for lasl month, those for the same period last year being given in parentheses: Births 15 (9). deaths 5 (9), marriages 5 (2). For the first four months of this year ended on April 30, there were S 4 births, 28 deaths and 2 0 marriages, compared with 5 7 births, 20 deaths and 25 marriages in that period in 1944.

Publicity for New Zealand

“Not enough is being done by our Government to provide publicity for the Dominion in England, and we make a poor showing in comparison with other countries,’’ said WingCommander J. Garfield Stewart. M.C., R.A.F.. of Takapuna, who has returned from overseas. “Thousands of people in England asked me about New Zealand, but it is difficult to find any information to send them. Emigration from England to New Zealand will be much greater than after the last war, but surely we can do better and tell the people there more about our country.”

Rainfall in .April

There wore nine wet days in the Tauranga borough in April, the total fall in this period being 2.71 inches. The heaviest fall of 1.G7 inches, was recorded on April C. The fall in April of last year was 3.C0 inches.

Shipping Activity

Arriving at Tauranga at 9.15 yesterday morning, the Northern Steamship Co. Ltd.’s vessel. Kapiti, of 2SC tons, brought a cargo of 98 tons from Auckland. She left at 3 p.m.,

with a cargo of 24 tons, including IG9

sacks of maize

Patriotic Radio Appeal

The Anzac night radio appeal for patriotic funds resulted in £SS/7/being promised at Katikati during the evening, states the Katikati correspondent. Further donations continued to be received throughout the next day and the grand total on Thursday evening amounted to £ CS/IS/-. As there is no patriotic set-up at Katikati. the amounts, when collected, will be forwarded by the Postmaster to the Tauranga centre.