NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 99, 23 October 1940, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

"Who's Next?" Art Union. The drawing of the "Who's Next?" art union is to take place at the i Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, tomorrow, commencing at 9.30 a.m. Chinese Tenacity. In his references to the reopening of the Burma Road Dr. Pao, ConsulGeneral for China in Australia, appealed to his fellow countrymen to double their efforts in supporting their country against aggression. Dr. Pao also said: "Facts prove that the longer we resist the stronger we become. The heroism of our defenders and the determination of our compatriots have won respect and admiration throughout the world. If China should be held in bondage and contempt, liberty and freedom in the Pacific will vanish." Died Hard. "The pioneers of manufacturing in New Zealand had no easy task," said Mr. C. M. Bowden, manufacturers' representative on the Bureau of Industry, in an address to members and friends of the Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand last night. "Many of them had to fight their way against opposition and prejudice. For many years 'colonial made' was a synonym of poor design and quality, and that prejudice, whether well founded or not, died very hard. Today there is a different outlook. It is recognised that New Zealand has passed the stage of being a huge farm. The advantages of industry are becoming known and appreciated. I do not think industrial development is opposed to primary interests. In many cases they are related. New Zealand has need of both and our progress depends on the expansion of both." Conscription Supported. "When we consider the appalling consequences of our Empire's defeat I am astounded that questions should even now be asked why conscription has been introduced into this country," said Mr. D. W. Russell, president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, at the Home Guard meeting in the Civic Theatre, reports the "Press." "It is in force in England. Such a question needs no reply. It is obviously the fair and equitable way to ensure that all classes make a corresponding sacrifice and do their duty. This, anyway, was the opinion of the annual conference of the Returned Soldiers' Association which met last May and which adopted a resolution requesting the Government to demand equality of sacrifice and expressed the view that this object could only be attained by a national register and the introduction of compulsory universal national service. A similar resolution was passed at the conference in 1939." Patriotic Donations. The secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr. G. A. Hayden, stated today that he had received a letter from the secretary of the Taranaki Provincial Patriotic Council asking him to draw attention to the desirability of people, when they are making donations to patriotic funds, being sure that the collector is an authorised person. "I have just had a case here of a man in soldier's uniform making collections ostensibly for patriotic purposes," stated the letter from the secretary of the Taranaki council. "When handed over to the police they found lists on him that indicated that he had been working other parts of the country-" The letter added that in view of the appeal now being made by the provincial councils to raise £1,000,000, it would be as well to issue a general warning to the public against giving to other than authorised collectors. Mr. Hayden explained that the official collectors had a printed numbered list or an authorised collector's card and receipt book. Guarding Stewart Island. "The most cheering news that I received today was that there are 24 men on Stewart Island available for the Home Guard and that there have been 24 enrolments," said Captain W. Bell, commander of the Home Guard for the Invercargill area, at a meeting in Invercargill last week. Captain R. J. Hamilton, master of the motor-vessel Tamatea, said that even before the war broke out all the fishermen on Stewart Island had offered their services to the Navy as members of crews of minesweepers or for service anywhere else. They had not been accepted, and that was that. The men of the island had arranged for its defence. They were all handy with the rifle and could shoot men as easily as deer. There were some good landing places on the island, but though a raider might secure a footing there he would not get away again, provided the people of Stewart Island were given the necessary equipment. Lieutenant-Colonel A. S. Bruce Smith, commander of the Home Guard for Otago and Southland, said that there was a general plan for the defence of the whole of New Zealand. Ants in Power Poles. "The menace is apparently not as serious as was at first thought," said Mr. W. R. Leighton when a report on the infestation of power poles by white ■ ants was received at a meeting of the ' Waitemata Electric Power Board on Monday. Specimens of the native white ■ ant, the report stated, had been found : in the sapwood of natural round poles at New Lynn and in other parts of the board's district. These were to be distinguished from the Australian species now established in Auckland which attacked the heartwood of all timbers from the inside, and was a i ground-living insect. So far as the board's assets were concerned, no anxiety need be felt about the pre- , sence of the native termites. Their : activities were confined to natural round poles erected before 1933, which were gradually being replaced by desapped or concrete poles Specimens of termites removed from poles at New Lynn had been examined by the chief entomologist of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, who said they belonged to the New Zealand species, not the , Australian earth-dwelling type. Australian Speech. When Mr. R. McCall, manager of the Victorian branch of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, who has been selected by the British Broadcasting Corporation to go to London for the duration of the war to give direction to the transmissions to the Pacific area, meets officials of the 8.8.C. he hopes to point out that some Australians can talk reasonably good English and prefer to forget the pseudo-Cockney accents with which some Australians have been blessed. Speaking at the luncheon of the Weilington Rotary Club yesterday, he said there seemed to be an impression in ■ England and elsewhere that there was ■ a definite Australian accent, and the 8.8.C. had increased that impression with Australian soldiers it had chosen [ to interview, but the voices had not been typical of Australia as a whole. "Will Sir Thomas Beecham get to England before you?" asked a Rotarian. Mr. McCall: "If he's carrying any tales to the 8.8.C. I don't think they will be well received, because the things he said about Australia are nothing to the things he said about the 8.8.C. I think he enjoyed being rude to Australians, and Australians enjoyed being rude to him." Mr. ; McCall added that Sir Thomas was ' one of the most stimulating people ; ever -to visit the Commonwealth. He i was a charming man, but he did like 1 an argument, and he was too clever ( for most of his opponents- 2

Maori Relic Found. While he was ploughing virgin land on his father's farm at Ruby Creek, on the west bank of the Grey River, Mr. John Burt uncovered a Maori adze, fashioned out of a white, flinty stone, and perfectly shaped, states the Christchurch "Press." No socket exists in the tool for fixing a handle, but the adze is perfectly cut and the edge is almost chisel-pointed. Loyalty Not Suspect. Reporting to the Anglican Diocesan Synod last night, the refugee committee stated that it had been in close touch with the refugee families brought to its notice and had had no cause to suspect the bona fides or loyalty to New Zealand of any refugee who had accepted its help. The interest taken by church people in their welfare had been met by the refugees with gratitude and humility, and the committee urged members of Synod to continue to show the utmost charity and good will towards those people, most of whom were naturally classed as enemy aliens. The committee consists of the Rev. E. O. Shield, the Rev. W. Langston, Mr. F. T. Clere, and Mr. R. Liggins. A Changed Outlook. "When the present contest against the Nazi threat to world freedom led to such momentous happenings as the invasion of the Netherlands and Belgium and the downfall of France, and left Great Britain and our Commonwealth alone to face the enemy, it was felt both by the Bench of Bishops and our standing committee that the j time was unsuitable for a meeting of Synod," said Archdeacon W. Bullock in his presidential address to the Anglican Diocesan Synod yesterday afternoon. "No one quite knew what the next day would bring forth. Since then, however, the faith and courage of the British people have so reacted to the situation as to give a greater sense of security to the normal undertakings of men, and it was further felt that there was certain necessary [business that required to be done." Archdeacon Bullock added that the standing committee therefore had decided a little more than a month ago that they should meet for such business as was essential.