General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23803, 24 November 1942, Page 4

General News

* “No Wet Canteen in King: Country” The Wellington Methodist Synod’s resolution expressing grave concern at the "questionable action” of the Government in opening a wet canteen in the King Country and thus introducing liquor to a prohibited area, was commented on yesterday by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). He said there had been no violation of the pledge given by the Government to the Maori people. Apparently the Synod resolution referred to a wet canteen at a northern military camp. “There is evidently some misconception as to the nature and limits of the area known as the King Country,” Mr Jones added, “and it should be explained that the camp in question is not in the King Country and is not in a no-licence area. It is clear, therefore, that there has been no violation of the pledge given, as stated by the Synod.”—(P.A.) Wholesale Milk Prices The suggestion of the Christchurch City Council that it should be given power to set up a committee of milk producers, vendors, and representatives of the council to fix wholesale prices for milk for city supply has been referred to the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). The council sent its suggestion to the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. J. G. Barclay), who replied that, as the question concerned the Price Tribunal, he had referred it to Mr Sullivan. Power Board’s War Investments Reporting to yesterday’s meeting of the Waitaki Power Board, the secretary (Mr T. Malley) said that, in accordance with . the decision of the town committee, the sum of £IOOO had been invested in the second Liberty Loan. This investment, he added, brought the board’s investments in these loans to £6OOO, Spinning of Waste Carded Wool Waste carded wool purchased from the mills is to be spun by hand by members of a Waimate committee and helpers, and all profits from the sale of the product will be devoted to the Prisoners of War Fund. A method of hand-spinning this wool has been evolved by Mrs A. O. Johnson, of Waimate, who has arranged for supplies from three mills, arid already has orders in hand for the wool from various centres. Details of the scheme were submitted to the Waimate Patriotic Zone Committee, when a permit for the work was issued, and members complimented Mrs Johnson upon her initiative in organising the effort. E.P.S. Gas-Masks Gas-masks for Metropolitan E.P.S. personnel are being held in store. The chairman of the organising committee (Mr W. Machin) explained yesterday that they had not been issued, because National Service Department instructions made it clear that once a gasmask had been issued to a person it could not be issued to another unless it were given special treatment, which was not available in Christchurch. Mr Machin said E.P.S. personnel was changing too much to issue gas-masks under that condition, because substantial numbers of masks might become lost to the organisation. Tests had shown that the masks could be fitted in a few seconds, so that it was/considered there was no present urgency in distributing them. Letter from Prisoner In Hong Kong “No money, minimum clothes, footwear, and so on, but never downhearted.” wrote Mr R. H. Wild from an internment camp in Hong Kong to a Wellington friend, The writer explained that he had been interned in Hong Kong with other British. American, and Dutch civilians. There were 3000, mostly British, in his camp. He adds; “I am very well, if streamlined, but perhaps the better for it. Time passes quickly enough, though I would prefer working to doing nothing.” Mr Wild is a son of Mrs E. L. Wild (Bealey street, Hokitika), and was for many years a memoer of the Canterbury Education Board. He had been with the South British Insurance Company in Hong Kong for' some years before the outbreak of war with Japan. Methodists and Church Union The attitude of Methodists to the proposal for church union is shown in a report being submitted this week to the annual Synod at Blenheim. A total of 167 quarterly meetings were issued with ballot papers, all but three casting votes. The principle of union was strongly affirmed by 44 circuits. The following is a summary of individual votes: For the basis 275, for amendments 1268, against the basis 1204, neutral 35. At Greymouth, St. Paul’s quarterly meeting was in favour of the principle, with amendments. £6O Instead of £25,000 When a proposal was made to send £25,000 to Russia the National Patriotic Fund Board had only £6O in the bank. The money was available when contributions came in from provincial patriotic councils, but there was a little delay in getting the amount to honour the contract. This statement was made by the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) at a meeting held last evening to discuss the holding of a United Nations Fair to raise money for patriotic funds, when he emphasised the need for patriotic councils to fulfil their quotas. “If provincial councils don’t send contributions to the National Patriotic Fund Board there are far-reaching effects,” said the Mayor. E.P.S. Tug-of-War A tug-of-war contest between E.P.S, teams was suggested by Cr. R. G. Brown, chairman of the City Council entertainments committee as an attraction at the United Nations Fair to be held in Christchurch, when a preliminary meeting was held last evening to make arrangements for the fair. “We would have half the town there,” said Cr. Brown. “They are all in it. We have got ‘Tiny’ Lyons on the council. He would be all right on the back of the rope.” Imports of Watches The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has been advised by the Customs Department that a further allocation will be granted for imports of watches from all sources during ths seventh period to the extent of 150 per cent, of the value of licences applying to the same sources in 1940. The additional allocation will be available only for imports of wristlet watches of a type suitable for the use of members of the armed forces. Soldiers’ Parcels “We get a lot of complaints from time to time that men are not getting comforts and parcels," said the (Mr E. H. Andrews) when speaking at a meeting held last evening to discuss the holding of a United Nations Fair for patriotic purposes. “For every complaint," he added, “we get 100 letters thanking Us and telling us how acceptable the parcels are, and how regularly they arrive. There is one man on the Gold Coast—the only New Zealander there —who gets parcels regularly.” Washed Out to Sea Two men had an adventure in a “flattie” on the Grey river on Sunday. About 11 a.m. the men endeavoured to pull upstream from the vicinity of the Signal Station, but found the current too powerful, with the result that their frail craft was carried down to the bar and across to the open sea. The alarm was given by the signal station, which communicated with the harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar), who arranged for Mr J. Kelly to take his small launch to the scene. This operation took some time, and it was not until 3 o'clock that the rescue was made. The incident served to illustrate the danger of rowing light boats in the vicinity of the bar, for steps to salvage craft in distress must take time, besides proving an inconvenience to those concerned.