NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sales of Fashion Goods. Many inquiries have been received from retailers in connection with the holding of sales to clear the season's fashion goods, said Mr. Thomas, Rationing Controller. "It has been decided that no reductions in coupon values will be permitted for sales during 1943." Next Stockings Coupon. The Rationing Controller, Mr. J. E. Thomas, states that the currency o,f the X 7 coupon for the purchase of hosiery' definitely expires on January 31. For the period February 1 to July 31, coupon Xl 3is authorised for the purchase of'fully-fashioned stockings of silk, artificial silk, or mixtures ihoi-Gof. All other stockings may continue to be purchased with the "M" and "O" coupons, in accordance with the general coupon schedule. NiitiOTiJiJ Saving -Quota. lii Tim; t'm; l'.:st three weeks Wellington has failed lo reach its National P.-i'-itis;- quow of £8000 on each occasion "' T'io holiday period was undoubtedly responsible for a falling-ofl' in National' Savings receipts, but the quota earr.oai.T.i which was suspended ovar the Chrisf.rnas period has again been introduced .\nci all supporters of National Savings are f:njoined to restrict spend in!? to absolute essentials and invest a portion of their current earnings in this form of gilt-edged security. Yesterday's receipts amounted to £2133, leaving a balance of £5807 to be subscribed during the week to achieve the quota. Matilda Tanks in New Zealand. Tank reinforcements recently received in New Zealand include some of the famous Waltzing Matilda type. Heavier than the Valentines and General Stuarts, 'with which the Dominion is most familiar, the Matilda weighs 25 tons Much the same in shape as the Valentine, the Matilda is easily, distinguishable by the commander's cupola projecting from the top of the turret and by the armour enclosing the bogies and tracks. The Valentine has no cupola and bogies and tracks are open. The Matilda, like the Valentine, is an infantry support track vehicle. This means that it is used tactically in close co-operation with the infantry and does not charge blindly ahead of the dismounted forces. Matildas formed the backbone of many British and Empire, tank forces for a long period when the forces were waiting for vehicles fully the equal of and superior to those they were fighting. Praise for Red Cross. The following is an extract from a letter recently received from a New Zealand Army Nursing Sister who has been with a medical unit on the line of communication with the advancing Eighth Army in the desert:—"l don't know what we would do for the men without the aid of the Joint Council of the Red Cross and ,St. John in New Zealand. Until you get in a place like this you can't realise just what is being done, and how it is going where most needed. It shows a great deal of thought and planning and good administration." Cost of Auckland E.P.S. A statement of receipts and payments of the Auckland Metropolitan Emergency Precautions Service for the three-year period from October 1, 1939, to September 30, 1942, has been sent by the treasurer, Mr. T. W. M. Ashby, to the contributing local bodies. Expenditure amounted to £264,663, the largest items being £201,274 for public shelters, including trenches, tunnels, and shelters in buildings, £25,303 for the fire unit, and £7359 forthe medical unit. Levies on local bodies totalled £118,624, of which £44,698 was outstanding on September 30 last. Of this sum £35,226 had since been paid. Government subsidies outstanding amounted to £121.815, out of a total of £197,630. Estimates for the second six months of the present financial year total £202,409, after allowing £143,736 for Government subsidies and £3436, the available balance at September 30 last.