NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 129, 27 November 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Not Arms Alone.

"Victory will not be ours if we depend on arms alone," declared Mr. G. W. Guthrie, of Wellington, in his presidential address to the New Zealand Importers' Federation yesterday. We were fighting for right against might, he said, and there was a power behind our arms which came from God. "A year ago," Mr. Guthrie added, "our Empire was ill prepared to enter a war of such magnitude, and we should indeed be thankful that after considering such setbacks as the withdrawals from Norway and France, we have reached a stage where the enemy is in some measure checked."

Holidays and Armed Forces,

Public holidays are nothing more than a name to members of the armed forces. On Monday, for instance, flight riggers in training at the R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Rongota'i, toiled on aircraft in full view of the beach,' where crowds of bathers were enjoying the excellent weather conditions. The same applied in Army establishments, in all of which training proceeded as usual. Patriotic Recitals. The secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board announced today that as the result of the pianoforte recitals given in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin by Ignaz Friedman patriotic funds had benefited by £521 3s sd. The net proceeds made available to the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Fund from the two recitals in Wellington were £183 18s Id and £152 10s lid respectively. The Christchurch performance produced £119 3s lid and that at Dunedin £65 10s 6d. A recital is also to be given at Auckland by Friedman, in aid of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Fund. New Governor-General. That the Dominion is fortunate in securing the services of Sir Cyril: Newall as Governor-General is the opinion expressed by a New Zealander who has close personal knowledge of him. Writing to a friend in Wellington he states: "I note in this morning's paper that our Chief of Air Staff, Sir Cyril Newall, is off to New Zealand as Governor-General. I have seen him a lot during the last year at the Air Ministry and I can only say that all the critical civilians-in-uniform like myself have grown to like him immensely. He is a most charming man—simple, friendly, and kind. New Zealand is indeed fortunate to get such a man." Like Father, Like Son. When Lance-Corporal S. G. Fltchett, of the Wellington College Cadet Battalion, stepped forward yesterday afternoon to receive the Red Badge for the best battalion shot from the hands of the Governor-General, Lord Galway, he was watched by his father, Lieutenant W. B. Fitchett, an old boy of the college and now a member of the Board of Governors. Thirty-one years ago Lieutenant Fitchett was also a lancecorporal in the college cadets, and he, too, won the trophy for the champion shot.

Army Wants Theodolites,

The Army authorities urgently iequire a number of theodolites for survey work with the Expeditionary Force and also for the use of artillery units. The Army is prepared to purchase these instruments from persons willing to dispose of them, and anyone prepared to do so should communicate with the Quartermaster-General's office, Army Headquarters, Wellington. In vieW of the good result of an earlier appeal for binoculars, it is hoped that there will be an equally satisfactory response to this request.

Liquor at Country Dances,

Notice was given by Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon of his intention to ask the Minister of Justice (Mr. Mason) whether he had noticed the comparatively trifling penalties inflicted by some Magistrates for breaches of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1939, in regard to liquor at country dances, and particularly the decision. of one Magistrate that liquor cached and consumed two or three hundred yards away could not be construed to be in the vicinity of the dance hall, and, if so, whether the Minister would take steps to have the matter dealt with in compliance with the obvious intention of Parliament.