NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

"Trials of Modern Life."

A discussion on calculating the expectation of life took place during a case in the Christchurch Supreme Court, states the "Press." • At the age of 70, it was stated, the expectation for legal purposes was six years. "We have it on the high authority of the Psalmist that man's years are three score and ten," said Mr. Justice O'Regan. "But I notice a man in Auckland celebrated his ninety-second birthday the other day," he added, "Ah, but that man was born 92 years ago, your Honour," said Mr. Alan W. Brown. "I venture to say that if he had had to live at the rate we do today he would not have reached that age." Mr. Brown added that the trials of modern life tended, more than ever, to reduce man's expectation of life.

"What Is The Church Doing?"

The war has not altogether silenced the jibe, "What is the Church doing, anyway?" states the "Church Chronicle," official organ of the Church of England in the Wellington Diocese. Now, the Church is doing a very great deal in her unobtrusive way, the journal continues. She is ministering to the men in the camps both for their bodily and their spiritual needs; she is represented in the desert wastes of thy East and at the watching battle-lines on the English coat':; she is caring for the men wherever they may be on leave; she is giving succour and consolation to the civilian populations where the bombs are falling thickest. Hhe chaplains, clergy, and lay workers are in the front line wherever it may be. For its part the Church Army, now as in the war of 1914-18, is carrying on its magnificent job close into the heart of warfare.

Highway lights and Headlights

A road safety message of the Automobile Association draws attention once again to a factor of road courtesy and good driving often overlooked— driving with headlights full bn in streets and thoroughfares adequately lit with modern highway lights. "Lack of thought is the real cause for driving on full headlights in well-lighted city streets, but there is also a certain amount of ignorance involved," says the association. "Drivers coming into a city from the country neglect to adjust their lighting to the conditions which obtain in city streets. The proper use of headlights is a matter for each driver. Think of the other fellow and adjust headlights to meet conditions."

Purging the City Roll

For many years past it has been patent that the Wellington City district electors' rpll, used in Mayoral, City Council, Hospital, and Harbour Board elections, has been swollen by a great many names, probably some thousands of people no longer eligible as voters —people who have left Wellington, women who have married, but whose maiden, as well as mai*ried, names remain on the roll, and some, but not many, deceased persons, for these last are removed on the receipt of advice from the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. The City Council last year by resolution empowered the Town Clerk to make as complete a purge of the roll as possible. The procedure followed has been to write to the addresses of those who did not vote at the last election and of other persons believed to be no longer eligible to vote. If within reasonable time replies are not received the names may be struck off. It will, of course, be competent for persons whose names are struck off, through their failure to reply or through possible error, to have them reinstated, either by making inquiry at the special rolls office at the Town Hall, or in the supplementary roll after the printing of the main roll.

Fire Brigade Goes Juvenile.

For too many years past the Fire Brigade has had the wrong end of Guy Fawkes night fun, This year they are going to have a hand in lighting fires as well as :'n putting them out, and have entered into preparations for Tuesday with as much enthusiasm as the youngsters, but this is a special night, with a big burn at the Basin Reserve, a charge ctt the gates and the takings to go to the patriotic funds. The guy builders at the Central Station are making a 12----foot Hitler and probably a Goering in proportion and will head a procession of children's guys through the city from the Government Buildings on Tuesday afternoon. There will be a second procession in the evening, starting from the Town Hall for the Basin, where an officer of the brigade will hold mock court (with an absolutely foregone conclusion) and Hitler, Goering, and assorted guys will get what is coming to them. Attempts to centre guy parades have been made in a small way in previous years, but thir. parade, headed by band, fire engines, and tenders, and at least two guys that are guys, should be a real turn-out. The brigadesmen have gone juvenile, and like it. Those who are willing to act as collectors along the procession route are asked to apply on Monday morning to the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, Room 108, T. and G. Building, or telephone 46-837.