Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 23744, 27 November 1940, Page 6

Christmas and its spirit of rcniombranco lives despite Hitler. The first Christinas cards from abroad arc already being delivered in Auckland. Last week there arrived cards from the 15th Forestry Company, New Zealand Engineers, 2nd N.Z.E.F. They have the unit name printed along the top, and in a decorative scroll the words “ A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year'to All.” No date is given, and the sender’s signature is the only personal touch about these cards, sent by the lads who have answered the call of duty.

Misunderstanding of the word “ company ” led to an. amusing incident, related in a letter received in Auckland from England. ‘‘Two English women were returning, homo one day when two Polish soldiers spoke to them. They said, they were very lonely, and would not the girls invite them one day to tea? One of the girls, who lived in a flat, said she would see what her mother said, and send a correct invitation. The mother wrote, and said she would be pleased to have thoir company to tea on a certain date at a certain time. On the day, they heard a tramping of foot coming upstairs, and when the girl answered the door she beheld 30 soldiers. It was a Polish company. The result was that the neighbours offered to take some, in and they were scattered through several houses. An Auckland importer, Mr A. C. Nurden, has received a letter from a tobacco company in Britain, which gives an interesting view of some English manufacturers about the import restrictions, and the admiration whicli the people at Home have for the New Zealand soldiers. The letter says: “It would be selfish to press our ends when your Government must bo hard put to it to obtain the sterling they require in order that your magnificent army may be kept on this side to help us in our present predicament,” and continues, “ incidentally, as you probably already know, your men are extremely popular in this country, not the least reason for which is that there are not among them any of the somewhat irresponsible spirits, sections of which appear in other armies.” A prized possession of the Southland Museum, a very large fossil oyster weighing about 801 b, was on view in the Government Court_ at Centennial Exhibition. By this time it should have returned to its proper home, but it has not, and the museum board js perturbed about its disappearance. No one seems to know what has happened to it. At the board’s last meeting it was stated that everything possible had been done to trace it. without, result, and the board decided to tell the management of (be Government Court its views on the subject.

Speakers representing the People’s Movement addressed 1,200 in the Wellington Town Hall last night and outlined a policy stressing the need to bring to an end party government in New Zealand, and its replacement by a Government that would legislate for all sections. The speakers were Mr E. R. Toop (Dominion president!, Mr A. E. Davy (Dominion secretary), Air W, H. Fortune (Auckland), and Captain S. Frickleton V.C. Approval of the main planks of the policy of the movement was signified with some dissentients by a motion passed which included endorsement of the unification proposals, a request for a national party, and for other organisations to join the movement giving effect to them. Mr Toop announced that the first plank was an ” all in ” war effort.—Press Association.

Announcing withdrawn! of the Shops and Offices Amendment • (hours of closing) in the House last night, the Minister of Labour said that the Government had under consideration legislation consolidating the Shops and Offices Act and its amendments, and a draft of this legislation would be submitted to all parties concerned before its introduction. Such a Bill was absolutely necessary, and the method he proposed to adopt would be helpful to concerned. Mr Poison said the Minister had kept his word in connnection. with the Bill, but he was sorry to hear that he intended to reintroduce the measure later on, especially during wartime. He stressed the inconvenience such a measure would cause the country districts and said he was sure the country would resent it.

In the Police Court to-day a first offender, for drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

To help the funds of Uie Navy League a brim; and buy sale will be held on Friday at. Mount. Lodge, Melville street, the residence, of Mr and Mrs W. F. Kdmond. Everyone •inlercsted in Ihe work of ibe league i- asked to be present and to bring a suitable gift.