General News

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23319, 3 May 1941, Page 8

General News

Widening Scope of Anzac Day After a discussion about the observance and significance of Anzac Day. at a meeting’ of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, it was decided to ascertain the opinion of the federal executive of the Returned Sailors’, Soldiers’ and Air- - men’s Imperial League of Australia about April < 25 being observed as a national commemoration day for the fallen in any war waged by the Empire. This would be done before considering making any definite recommendation to the forthcoming Dominion council meeting. —Press Association. Thief Apprehended in Quick Time A rug, stolen from a motor-car within a stone’s throw of the Central Police Station yesterday morning, was recovered, and the thief arrested, before the owner had even had time to miss it. Yesterday afternoon the rug, blue, with vari-coloured checks, was lying in the detective office waiting for the owner to complain of its theft. It was taken from a motor-car parked outside the Canterbury Public Library, a hundred yards from the detective office, about 10,30 a.m.; someone saw the theft, told someone else, and after about half-an-hour the police were informed. It’was not long before a man answering to the j description given to the police was apprehended. Late in the afternoon the owner claimed his rug. San Francisco to Singapore Made possible by increasing commercial and military co-operation of the British, Dutch and American Governments, the inauguration of a fortnightly air service from San Francisco to Singapore was announced yesterday by Mr P. S. Delaney, South Pacific traffic manager of Pan-American Airways. At present PanAmerican Airways clippers span the north Pacific from San Francisco to Hong Kong once a week. The new regular service starts on May 20.—Press Association. Class for Boot Clickers The class for the training of auxiliary war workers in boot clicking is expected to begin at the Christchurch Technical College in about a week. Twelve men have been selected as students and Mr E. W. Ramsdale has been appointed instructor. This information was given the board of governors of the college by'the principal (Dr. D. E. Hansen) last night. Mr Ramsdale, said the report, has had a long experience in the boot trade: and attended technical classes in bool; and shoemaking in Melbourne. The clicking class is an adult apprenticeship training scheme designed to train, in a short course, workers for the boot industry to fill the labour shortage caused by the war, Non-Smokers on Transports The National Patriotic Fund Board has decided to increase the quantity of chocolate and other confectionery placed on transports during the voyage from New Zealand for the benefit of men who are non-smokers. This decision was made in accordance with a recommendation received by the board recently from a lieutenant who acted as gifts officer on one ship. He said he had found that there were many non-smokers, and suggested the advisability of putting aboard more sweets to provide more adequately for a substitute for cigarettes and tobacco. From now pn the comforts provided for each 1000 men aboard will include 1000 6d packets or blocks of sweets and chocolate.—Press Association. Maori Church at Akaroa Sir R. Heaton Rhodes and his niece, Mrs P. 'Woodhouse, some time ago offered; to present a new altar for the Maori Church at Onuku, Akaroa, which was restored during the Akaroa Centennial celebrations. Sir Heaton Rhodes has written to the secretary of the church fund, Mr L. J. Vangipni, submitting designs of Maori work for the altar.. He States that it is proposed to use taniko work, similar to that at the church at Ohinemutu, which is closely woven and does not collect dust as the tukutuku work does. Mr Tai Mitchell has been written to asking if he can have the altar made. , Australia’s Wooden Ship One of the largest wooden cargo steamers built in New South Wales for many years is: nearly ready for launching from the shipyard of Mr Ernest Wright at Tuncurry, states the "Sydney Morning Herald.’’ The ship is being built for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company, Ltd., and will be launched about the end of July. The vessel is being made of Australian hardwood obtained within a radius; of 30 miles of Tuncurry. All employees at the shipyard are local men, with long experience in boatbuilding. It is hoped that successful construction of this ship Will stimulate wooden boatbuilding along ihe north coast. Dimensions of the vessel are: Length 160 ft, breadth 36ft, depth oft 9in, The height of the forecastle above the deck is 33ft, and the size of the hold is 40ft by 16ft.' The ship will be of the one-end type, with machinery aft, strong bulwarks, one masti and a long,, swinging derrick. It will accommodate a Crew of 16 men. R.A.A.F. Intelligence Tests Intelligence tests used by the R.A.A.F. have , been so successful that the system is to be extended. This is expected to widen the field from which personnel is being recruited. The tests are mot concerned with education or Schooling, but are aimed at determining the "native ability” of the trainee or his capacity to absorb instructibn of different kinds. An Australian Air Department spokesman said recently that use of the tests at Initial training schools had resulted.in the retention of many recruits who had failed in their first examination. Many recruits who might otherwise have been discharged had succeeded at their second attempt. The tests would be extended immediately to R.A.A.F. recruiting centres, where every air crew applicaht would have to be examined before being placed on the reserve.