General News

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23417, 26 August 1941, Page 6

General News

Men Returned from War

At least 150 returned soldiers of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force are now members of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, according to a report to the executive of the association last evening. The total membership of the association was Reported as 3561, as compared With 3291 at the same time last year.

Range in Harbour

A very heavy range was running in the outer and inner harbours at Lyttelton on Sunday night and yesterday morning. Conditions became so bad that at 6 a.m. yesterday the Tamahine, which had been labouring heavily all night at the nejf berth at No. 2 east, was shifted to No. 3 west. *

Hundalee Line Clear

Repairs to the portions of the'railway line between Parnassus and Hundalee blocked by slips in the heavy rain a week ago have been completed. The route was open to trains yesterday.

Air Mails to War Prisoners

The Postmaster-General (the Hon. P. C. Webb) has announced the following reduced rates of postage for air mail letters sent via the trans-Pacific air route to New Zealand and other British prisoners of war interned abroad: by air mail throughout from New Zealand to Lisbon, 3s; by air mail to New York, thence surface mail to Lisbon, 2s; by surface mail to New York, thence air mail to Lisbon Is (each letter not exceeding half an ounce in each case). Mr Webb added that the Post Office was prepared to bear the resultant loss from the reduced rates.—R.A.

Growth of Police Force

In 1901 the Police Force of New Zealand numbered 600 of all ranks; to-day the number exceeds 1500. In 1901 the force included 10 commissioned officers, 60 sergeants, and 25 detectives; to-day there are 28 commissioned officers, 155 sergeants, and 97 detectives. The police cost the country in 1901 3s per inhabitant; to-day the per capita cost is slightly more than 7s. These figures were'quoted by Inspector G. B. Edwards at a police function in Hamilton.

Coins Found in Sewers

Large quantities of small coins have been found by workmen of the Greymouth Borough Council who are at present cleaning the sewerage system in the town. In one drain alone coins of a total value of £3 10s were recovered recently.

Racing in War Time

“I would like to say a word in defence of our racing public who have been somewhat unfairly taken to task and criticised for their attendance at race meetings and for their alleged lack of interest and participation in the war efforts,” said Mr H. F. Nicoll, president of the Ashburton Trotting Club; at the club’s annual meeting last evening. He said that, far from this being true, the fact stood out that New Zealand was the only country in the Empire, outside of Britain, where universal service had been accepted by the people, and a great amount of quiet work was being done without ostentation, often without the recognition it deserved. This wor»«as carried out by people in all walks of life an'd frequently by those with the least leisure. Such an indictment was injurious to the part the Dominion was playing in Empire affairs.

Demand for Horse Collars

“More horse collars are being required today than during the last few years, owing to the petrol restrictions,” said Mr H. Edwards, chairman of the Auckland Footwear Manufacturers’ Association, during a case before the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. “Farmers are now using their horses more than their trucks,” he said. 1

Radio Call From Germany

A radio call on short-wave, sent out from Germany, was heard in Wanganui on Monday, when Mr Alistair Forbes, an officer on the Bank Line steamer Speybank, which was torpedoed in March, asked anyone hearing the message to communicate with his wife, formerly Miss Mavis Casbolt, who lives in Wanganui. Mr Forbes is a prisoner of war in Germany and his wife received a letter from him ten days ago.

Labour for Farms

A suggestion that elderly men in receipt of pensions be permitted to undertake farm labour without having their eligibility for pension payments prejudiced was made at the last meeting of the Auckland Farmers’ Union executive. Mr V. Simms said that many of these men were able and willing to do useful work on farms, and in the present times of labour shortages their assistance would be eagerly welcomed. It was decided to ask the Government to make provision for the employment of pensioners without necessitating any reduction in their usual pension payments. Bequests to Invercargill Church

Bequests to the Deacons’ Court of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Invercargill, are provided in the estate of Elizabeth Gow McFarlane, widow of Mr Duncan McFarlane, a former Mayor of Invercargill, whose death occurred last week at the age of 100 years,. Herwill bequeaths property at Bluff to be disposed of for the benefit of the church and in the meantime to be used as a holiday resort for Presbyterian clergy and children of St. Paul’s Sunday School. There are also legacies of £SO to the Deacons’ Court of St. Paul’s Church and £IOO to the Deacon’s Court of St. Paul’s Sunday School.

Curing of Lemons

The curing and packing of their lemons is to be undertaken by the Hawke’s Bay citrus-fruit growers. A meeting was held recently to consider the offer of the Acting-Director of Marketing to allow growers to cure, pack, and deliver to the Internal Marketing Department, Hastings, their own fruit. This offer was accepted. In the past opposition has been expressed to the Government purchase of lemons, and on several occasions representations have been made to the .Minister to allow growers to have a free marketing control of their product. This, however, has always been refused. The acceptance of the latest offer to pack and cure their own fruit, it is considered by the growers, gives them the nearest approach they are likely to get to the retention of their own individuality and at the same time receive the guarantee price.

Carpets 100 Feet Underground

A recent issue of the Templetarian, the employees’ magazine of a Glasgow carpet firm, contains the following: “The firm has, during its long history, supplied carpets for many and varied uses, but never before for use 100 feet below ground. This particular order is for an emergency deep shelter which can be used by the British Cabinet for its meetings if required.”