NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 76, 26 September 1942, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Christmas Mails,

The public is reminded that Christmas parcels and newspapers for the United Kingdom and the Middle East should be posted not later than September 30.

Fur Coats at £10,

Professor Copland, Australian Prices Commissioner, has fixed a price level to^bring fur coats within the range of a large section of the population. The coats are to sell retail at £ 10. The ban on fur coats is removed. Under a Gazette order unspecified furs must not be distributed or sold, and, except for defence purposes, their manufacture is forbidden. Unspecified furs are the skins of any animal except cattle, goats, sheep, lambs, or rabbits. The order gives inspectors authority to inspect the books of fur manufacturers or dealers, to demand returns of stocks, and to inspect premises.

More Virility Urged.

A plea to make the Auckland Society of Arts a more virile body and the community's spearhead in combating the vandalism which "is rampant in every walk of life" was made at the sixty-first annual meeting by the president, Mr. R. O. Gross. "We are living too much to ourselves, but w. must consider future years," Mr. Grosi said. "We should not be a society oi platitudinarians, but should set about taking the lead in all things covered by the idea of beauty. We should make it a lull-time job—being active propagandists for the preservation of worth-while things."

Petrol Allowance.

The annual meeting of the South Island Motor Union, in Christchurch yesterday, was attended by North Island representatives. A resolution was adopted that in the opinion of the North and South Island Motor Unions it was essential in the national interest that transport be kept mobile and that the present petrol allowance had proved inadequate for this purpose. Therefore, in view of the present petrol stocks and general conditions, it was urged that the full face values of the coupons be restored at the earliest possible date.

The Drinking Habit,

"That drinking habit seems to be much too common among young men nowadays," said Mr. Justice Fair in the Auckland Supreme Court on Thursday. It had been pleaded on behalf of a man of 20 who had broken into a shop and stolen that he had been consuming liquor that afternoon. "There seems an impression abroad, continued his Honour, "that it is a manly way of spending their time, and a way of showing that they think they are manly. It is a very foolish and mistaken point of view. There are many better ways in which young men can enjoy themselves than by drinking in hotels and elsewhere."

Dominion Day.

Although Monday will be, observed as Dominion Day in accordance with the Public Holidays Act of 1910 which fixed the fourth Monday in September for such observance, today is the real anniversary of the date upon which New Zealand was officially elevated in status from Colony to Dominion. By Order-in-Council dated September 9, 1907, and by Proclamation the following day, the style and designation of the colony" was altered, the change taking effect on September 26 that year. For 35 years, therefore, New Zealand has been a Dominion. Dominion Day is no general holiday and the wheels of industry will not cease, the main celebration of the anniversary being the flying of flags from Government and public buildings. It will not even be a bank holiday as has been customary in the past.-

Renewing Rusty Car Plates

It is not generally known that car owners can, and should, obtain new number plates to replace those which have become rusted or have been so knocked about that they no longer serve their purpose as a rapid means of identifying the vehicle on which they are carried, for which purpose the sticker does not suffice. The Automobile Association points out that it is obligatory under the Motor Vehicles Act for every motor vehicle to carry distinguishable number plates and motorists who are using vehicles with plates that have got to the stage pi deterioration that they are difficult to read are strongly advised by the association to make application immediately to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles ,at the Post Office for new plates. Unless they do this they are liable to prosecution and fine.

Fruit Prices Soar

With oranges for civilian consumption in Sydney reported to be in short supply and bringing fancy prices, the outlook for the New Zealand public is not encouraging. The Sydney "Sun, of September .15, published illustrations of "choice delicious apples" and "choice navel oranges" selling at sixpence each. The secretary of the New South Wales Chamber of Fruit and Vegetables (Mr. MacDermott) is quoted 'as saying that "with 35 per cent, of this season's light crop taken for the Army, the public will just have to face the fact that there will not be enough oranges to go round." He added that with all grapefruit frozen, pineapples likely to be frozen, and most other fruit at present in short supply and selling at high prices, all he could suggest was to hold on until summer fruits were in the shops. According to the report, oranges could be bought for less than sixpence. The cheapest were selling for 2£d, but these were described as small and shrivelled and one greengrocer said they were the same oranges that he normally sold at 6d a dozen. When questioned about the high prices being charged for oranges, which on the basis of the number in a case the "Sun" described as exorbitant, greengrocers replied that with supplies short and therefore fewer sales, they had to charge a good price to live.

N.Z. Relief Money

When Norwich, Bath, and Exeter were damaged by German air raids earlier in the year, the New Zealand High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Mr. Jordan, wrote to the civic heads of those cities extending the sympathy of New Zealand's Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). He also sent £150 each to the relief funds of Norwich and Bath,.and £250 for Exeter, the money being drawn from a sum placed at Mr. Jordan's disposal for relief purposes by the New Zealand National Patriotic Fund Board. A letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Exeter indicates the need and the value of such help after heavy air blitzes. "Since the Danes destroyed our city in 1003, no such catastrophe has overtaken us," stated the Mayor of Exeter. "But for our fire service and static water tanks, the whole city would have gone up in flames, which would have been an even greater calamity than the Great Fire of London, for we had 20,000 houses compared with London's then 13,000." The shopping centre of the city almost completely disappeared.' There was a death roll of over 200; more than half the houses were damaged, and about 2000 others were gutted or were made uninhabitable- The civic authorities had to billet more than 5000 homeless people, while i another 2000 found accommodation 1 -for themselyes.