NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 79, 30 September 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Art Union Draw.

The drawing of the "Call and Collect" art union will take place at the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, tomorrow, commencing at 9.30 a.m.

War Library Service

The War Library Service, one of the activities of' the National Patriotic Fund Board, has supplied 123;667 books and 132,080 periodicals to Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel. These figures were contained in a report placed before a recent meeting of the standing committee of the board. Last month's" distribution comprised 4610 books and-6819 periodicals.

Jewish Day of Atonement,

The Jewish Day of Atonement commences at sunset this evening. The ritual in connection with it involves a" strict fast and is penitential in character, the day being regarded as one of the holiest in the Jewish calendar. This evening there will be a special service in the" Synagogue, and there will be further services tomorrow.

Lights at Street Crossings,

A request by the Commissioner of Transport for the better lighting of pedestrian crossings during the period of restricted lighting was received by the Petone Borough Council last night. The Commissioner suggested the suspension of a shrouded street light over the crossings. The borough inspector, Mr. G. A. Booth, said the lighting controiler. Mr. E. F. Hollands, did not agree with the suggestion of using shrouded street lights, and the inspector was experimenting with bracket lamps to be placed on poles opposite the crossings in the manner of Belisha beacons. The matter was left in the hands of the works committee.

Heavy Fire Loss,

The fact that New Zealand's peacetime fire loss was one of the highest in the world was stressed by Mr. W. S. Mac Gibbon, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, speaking at a meeting of business men in Christchurch, when E.P.S. 'fire prevention requirements were explained. Mr. MacGibbon said that business men could do much to reduce . this loss, much of which was due to_ carelessness, neglect, or accumulation of dirt and rubbish. Fire loss was more than ever today, when . stock and buildings could not be replaced except with difficulty.

Clematis and Kowhai,

"It has been suggested that clematis could be used, perhaps with kowhai, to make a decorative avenue somewhere in the city, and I shall put this novel proposal before the parks committee of the City Council," said the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. J. A. C.

Allum, while opening the Cheeseman Memorial native flower show in the Auckland Museum. The clematis on display at the show was garden-grown and much of it had come from the Domain, said the Mayor.

Hares' Depredations,

Hares on the Waimakariri River flats have proved to be a problem in the river trust's protective tree-plant-ing projects. During a tour with a representative of "The Press" Mr. H. W. Harris, engineer to the trust, pointed to areas where scores of young poplar trees had been ring-barked by hares, and to young pine trees with their tops eaten. Mr. Harris said that the number of hares on the flats was illustrated by twp drives recently in which a total of 600 to 700 hares had been secured by the parties, aggregating between 60 and 70 guns.

Territorial Training.

"This is getting a bit too much, and it is going to interfere with production,^" said Mr. S. H. Lill at a meeting of the Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, discussing the proposed period of two months' training each year for members of the Territorial Force. He said that the^ scheme was to! take men from the towns for training during the winter, and those from the country in the summer months, a system that would clash with the busy periods on farms, reports "The Press." It was decided to send a remit to the provincial executive proposing that men from the country be allowed to do their training at the most suitable time during the year.

Breeding of Horses,

The Government remounts scheme for the breeding of horses continues to make headway, according to a statement made last jiight by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry). The Minister said that this was so, even though petrol restrictions had affected the cost of transport of stallions. An assurance had been given by-the Racing Conference that funds would be available for the 1941-42 season to meet moneys' paid as subsidies over and above the amounts provided by the Act. The scheme, which had been worked splendidly by the Department of Agriculture and the Racing Conference, had been instrumental in arresting the rapid decrease in the number of horses in the Dominion. Official reports showed that during the 1939-40 breeding season 39 stallions were subsidised in the various remount districts throughout' the Dominion. The response was .satisfactory, 1339 mares being served, 790 foals resulting. The foaling percentage during the season averaged 59 per cent, a distinct improvement on the first year's operations. : The amount of subsidy paid in the 1939-40 season was £5123 Bs, of which £1123 8s was provided by the Racing Conference. In the 1940-41 breeding season 40 stallions were subsidised and 1381 mares served. As the foaling season was only now starting, the foaling records would not.be available for some months. The Racing Conference provided £1118 12s during the season. ~