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Evening Star, Issue 23725, 5 November 1940, Page 6

A commentary on the Melbourne Cup will be rebroadcast by 4YA to-night at 5.15. During the commentary the children’s session will be handled through 4YO. A recording of the commentary will be included in the 9 o'clock newsreel. “ This has been wanted for a long time,” said the president (Mr W. A. Jenkins) at last night's meeting of the Otago Swimming Centre, when reporting on the decision of the “annual conference of centres, recommending the use of shorts by male swimmers. Mr Jenkins said that the New Zealand Swimming Council approved of the proposal, even for championships under its control, the only reservation being that a world record could not be claimed by a swimmer wearing shorts instead of the full costume. The secretary was instructed to write to the City Council, directing its attention to the fact that the use of shorts had been made legal by the controlling body of swimming, and asking that the regulations be so amended as to permit of shorts being warn by men at the Municipal Baths.

Heavy rain during the running of the Bardowie Handicap at the Waikato Hunt meeting, at Cambridge, resulted in some of the jockeys coming back to scale several pounds heavier than they had weighed out. The increase was the result of the extraordinary amount of water their clothes had absorbed during the race, which was run in a downpour. The discrepancy did not result in the decision being upset, as there is provision in the Buies of Racing to meet such a contingency.

When the Otago Swimming Centre held its annual meeting on October 7, it was decided to forward from the meeting a cable convoying good wishes to the centre’s patron and former president, Second-lieutenant J. L. MTncloe, who is serving with the Divisional Supply Column of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in Egypt. By air mail, under date October Id, has come acknowledgement from Lieutenant M'lndoc, who savs, “ I make no apology for saying that I was deeply touched by the kindly thought which prompted the sending of the message by my old friends on the centre, and as opportunity offers I shall pass it on to other Otago swim-, mers in Egypt. That may be difficult, because at the moment our boys are occupying widely scattered positions.” Lieutenant M'lndoe mentions that the divisional baths at Maadi are a great boon and very popular. He has swum a great deal in Egypt, and while at Ferry Dost, Lake Tirsah, he swam across to Sinai almost every day—half a mile there and back. He added that the standard of swimming, diving, and water polo in Egypt was very high.

Because of the heavy enlistments of bandsmen for home and overseas service, the annual Dominion brass bands contest for next year has been abandoned. The subject was discussed at a meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Brass Bands’ Association in Wellington yesterday, and the decision to abandon the contest was unanimous.

The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded to last night’s meeting of the Mogiel Borough Council'a circular letter” about the postponement by the British Government of the despatch of further parties of children to the dominions until after the European winter. No useful purpose would therefore be served by receiving further offers of accommodation meanwhile. He asked that it be arranged to notify future applicants accordingly. It had been decided not to accept meanwhile any further offers of accommodation for children either from relatives or friends, or from people willing to accept unspecified children. On the resumption of the scheme further offers of accommodation would be invited and nominations would be accepted as the homes held over were absorbed. It was desired that the particulars already assembled be kept together readily available for use when required. Owing to the small number of children already received in the Dominion, it had not been practicable to send children to many towns, and some disappointment had been felt; but this was unavoidable.—The mayor (Mr Hartstonge) said that this letter would convey the necessary information to many who had expected some of these children locally. The Napier branch of the New Zealand Labour Party last night nominated Air A. E. Armstrong as the official candidate for the Napier seat at the General Election. Air Armstrong, who is a son of the Minister of Housing, went to Napier some months ago from Christchurch, .and has been attached to the Labour Department as liaison officer. Ho was formerly a member of the Christchurch' City Council. His selection was unanimous, but the nomination will have to be ratified by the Labour Representation Committee. — Press Association.

When 12 mysterious cases were sold at auction for £SO in a city mart recently, all the purchasers found themselves in possession of goods which they were able to dispose of at a substantial profit (says the Auckland ‘ Star ’). The cases were unclaimed luggage, and their contents were unknown, both to vendors and purchasers. But the curious thrill of “ buying a pig in a poke ” attracted keen competition, bringing the prices for the packages to an average of £4 each. One case was found to contain valuable cosmetics, now unobtainable in.-the Dominion, which wore sold by the lucky purchaser for £l7. Another contained crystal ware, which also returned a handsome margin to the buyer, while others were found to contain large quantities of stationery, fancy soaps, perfumes, and cutlery. The higher standard of health of the men at the Wingatui and Forbury Park military camps over that of the northern ones is a matter for favourable comment by the local military authorities. Contributory factors are the bracing southern climate, and the fact that local camps have been modelled on lines which experience has proved are superior to those followed in the layout of their northern counterparts. Earlier mistakes have been eliminated, camp facilities and general layout being as near ideal as possible under existing circumstances.

A road' safety message of the Wellington Automobile Association draws attention once again to a factor of road courtesy and good driving often overlooked—driving with headlights full'-on 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 this 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.”

It is announced by the promoters of Tattersall’s sweepstake that after November 18 the sum of £I,OOO will-be provided out of eacb T “ consultation ” for Australian and New Zealand war funds. The money will be paid to the Returned Sailors and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia, and will be distributed at the entire discretion of the federal Executive of the league to the Red Cross Society, soldiers’ comforts funds and .such other funds as may be decided. It is estimated that New Zealand’s share will be between £5,000 and £6.000 a vear.

“ Please to remember,” used to be the cry on November 5. but this year the absence of the refrain has been more marked than in any previous year. The memory of poor old Guy Fawkes is lading rapidly, and possibly the difficulty of obtaining masks this year may have influenced the juvenile section of the community to refrain from “cadging ” pennies, which the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot has developed into in recent times. Certain it is that to-day there was a conspicuous absence of any “celebration” of any nature. It does seem as if the youth of the city missed an opportunity of substituting Adolf Hitler for Guy Fawkes. A bonfire with Hitler as the principal participant, if only in c-fligy, would surely have resulted in the hat being well filled. A Guard on Honour on the occasion of the civic farewell to His Excellency tho Governor-General at the Town Hall to-night will be provided by the Headquarters Company. 4th Battalion, National Military Reserve, under the command of Captain A. .1. Lennox. It will assemble at the Market Square and proceed to the Town Hall via PGnccs street at 7..'10 p.m., and is to be in position fronting tin* municipal chambers for inspection by His Excellency .at 7.0 f) p.m. The hand of the 3rd Field Regiment. New Zealand Artillery, will also be in attendance.

Loyalty and support to the Dominion executive of the New Zealand R ced Soldiers’ Association were confirms • t the monthly meeting of the Christchurch branch of the association last evening (says the ‘Press’), when a Press Association message reporting the quarterly meeting of the Auckland branch of the association was discussed. The .report contained a criticism of an action of the Dominion executive, and a threat to secede from tho parent body. “Wo must have complete unity at a time like this.” said the president (Mr D. W. Russell), when the discussion was opened, and he emphasised the local body’s complete confidence in tho parent body. An illustration of the regularity of shipping from Great Britain to the Dominion, in spite of intensified enemy attacks, was provided yesterday by Mr E. J. Bell, librarian of the Canterbury Public Library. The library, Mr Bell said, took about 200 British periodicals, weekly, monthly, and quarterly. In the 10 months of this year the sequence of these periodicals had been completely maintained, and as far as he knew no accounts, invoices, or correspondence of any description had gone astray. Flags on many business houses, including the ‘ Evening Star ’ building, were flown at half-mast to-day as a mark of respect to the late Sir Percy Sargood. Mrs J. Cooper, of Main road. Ravensbourne, has received a card from her brother, Warrant Office Charles Whittet, of the Royal Scots Regiment, intimating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany. Previously he had been advised as missing. The card is of a formal nature, and carries only a temporary camp address which is in code. Printed in German there are two lines, one of which reads; “ I am all right—slightly wounded—as a German prisoner of war, and feel well.” The other line is: “ From here 1 shall be transported shortly to a camp the address which 1 shall advise vou of. Only then 1 will bo allowed to receive mail from you and to write again.” The message ends: “ Kind regards.” In the card received by Mrs Cooper tho second message had been struck out. only the first remaining, but the words “ slightly wounded ” had’ also been struck out. The translation given above is literal. When paper was placed over a frying pan in use in a caravan at the Tahuna Park motor camp and caught alight the Citv Brigade turned out at 11.29 this morning. No damage was done, but the owner of the caravan, Mr King, of Tuatapere, received a cut which had to be treated at the Hospital. At 12.20 an automatic false alarm was received from the Stock Exchange. Late yesterday afternoon two automatic false alarms were received from Messrs Irvine and Stevenson’s factory in Fillcul street.

Referring to medical benefits, Mr Nosh said that since the Social Security Act came into force. .'57,000 babies had been born, which meant a payment of sers for each to the medical profession. The proposals were still under consideration in regard to medical benefits between the Government and the B.M.A. —Auckland Association message.