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Evening Star, Issue 24136, 5 March 1942, Page 6

An appeal to young Maori men to join cither the special home defence Maori Battalion, which is to be recruited from volunteers for overseas service, or the Territorial force was made by Mr P. K. Paikea, member of the Executive Council representing the Native race, in an address last evening. Air Paikea, who spoke first in English and then in Maori, said he was sure the formation of a Maori Battalion in New Zealand would foster extra keenness in the Maori war effort. The job of keeping the battalion at full strength lay with the Maori people—with the elders, with every able-bodied man, and with the mothers of their Maori youths.

The executive of the Returned Services’ Association, at a recent meeting, resolved to send, through the appropriate a suitably-worded message of appreciation to the Vatican for broadcasting the names of prisoners of war, particularly Now Zealanders, thus giving untold relief to numerous anxious relatives.

A recent inquiry by the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association revealed that up to the present only 34 servicemen who have returned from the present war, including several voluntary patients, have been sent to mental hospitals. This number of mentally sick out* of over 3,000 returned sick and wounded personnel is less than 1 per cent. Taken over the whole of tho forces, the percentage is fractional—indeed, far less than the normal civilian ratio in the male population. The No. 4A Armed Forces Appeal Board had the unusual experience iu Hastings of hearing an_ appeal on behalf of a Chinese reservist, a fruiterer, who was appealed for by his father. In evidence, the reservist stated that ho had enlisted for the Air Force, but had been rejected through defective eyesight. Ho stated that ho had been engaged in A.R.P. work _ in Canton during tho Japanese bombing raids, and since the start of the present war he had been appointed by tho Hastings E.P.S. Committee to organise the Chinese of the district for the provision of vegetable supplies in the event of an emergency. He added that his younger brother was in camp as a Territorial. The board decided to adjourn tho appeal sine die, but indicated that the matter would probably come up for review at a later date.

Tho question of what kind_ of tree provided a power pole which was featured in a damages claim cropped up incidentally iu the Supreme Court at Auckland. The pole had broken off at tho ground when a workman was working on it at a height of about 20ft, and had released wires on one side, causing extra tension on the pole from wires still attached to another side, and the break had shown that the pole had decayed at the core. One electric line “ ganger ” of long experience said he did not know just of what wood the pole was, hut he was convinced that it was not ironhark. A forestry expert expressed the view that the pole was of Australian red gum. Later an engineer was able to state from records that the polo_ was one of a shipment from Australia in 1916, and that it bore on its butt the customary brand of the New South Wales Forestry Commission, signifying that it was an ironhark pole. It had been in the ground about 24 years, and showed little sign of decay from the outside.

Advice that Anzac Day will be observed this year in the same manner as previously, unless untoward circumstances occur meanwhile, was received at a recent meeting of the Dominion Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association. The advisability of permitting largo congregations of people must, however, bo considered when the time comes. On January 31 last the financial membership of the 94 affiliated branches of the association showed an increase of 1,700 over the same date last year. Included in this total were over 1,200 returned service men from the present war.

On Tuesday afternoon a preliminary meeting of the Otago Museum Arts and Crafts Club for Children was held in the Chapman Gallery and Fels Wing. Dr Skinner welcomed the prospective members, and explained the objects of the club. Following this, a short talk was given in the Maori meeting house. A photograph of the children was taken, and they then made a tour of the galleries in order to choose suitable exhibits as models to work from. The specimens submitted as tests for admission to the club were good, and the enthusiasm of the children is very encouraging.

A trial dispersal which was held at the Caversbam School yesterday afternoon demonstrated tho efficiency and speed which have been attained by' teachers in Dunedin in the evacuation of children from schools in readiness for any emergency. The school consists of two buildings, the infant department (Classes I. to IV.) with 125 pupils, and tho other, some blocks away, used by Standards I. to IV. with 493 pupils, the main building being of two storys. Within a minute of tho alarm bell, all the pupils had evacuated the main building and collected in the grounds in dispersal groups and not more than'two minutes later they were well on the way to their homes, under tho supervision of teachers. The infant classes were little slower in leaving their classrooms, and in some cases caught up with the older pupils when they were on their way home. In 17 minutes the supervising teachers had) returned after seeing the children to safety. In the event of a sudden raid, another plan, which has been prepared, will bo brought into operation. Under this scheme the children will be cared for by the teachers in the school area, and will he sent to their homes' as soon ns it is considered safe for them to go.

The exhibition of pictures by United Kingdom and New Zealand war artists was opened in the Early Settlers’ Hall this afternoon by tho mayor (Mr A. H. Allen). Tho exhibition, which is on loan from the British Government, is arranged by tho Otago Provincial Patriotic Council, under the direction of Mrs Murray Fuller, and is a very fine one, lining three walls of the hall. Included among the many artists is Peter Mclntyre, of Dunedin, who has 10 subjects covering a wide range, from scenes of aerial combat to a study of Second-lieutenant Upham, V.O. Many of the pictures, which embrace water colour, oils, etchings, and pencil studies, represent important stages in the progress of the war, while civil life and industrialism are not overlooked. There are also light sketches of life on troopships, the carefreeness of which contrasts vividly with such presentations as Charles Pears’s depiction of the Jervis Bay drama, one of the finest works in the collection. The exhibition will continue until March 15, and admission is free. A collection box w installed inside the door and voluntary contributions may ho made. In the Police Court, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., yesterday after noon, a charge of receiving plywood to the value of £6 las, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained, was preferred against Wilfred Frank SnelIcksE. Accused, wbo was represented bv Mr O. G. Stevens, pleaded guilty Ho was placed on probation for one year, and ordered to make restitution of tbe amount, £6 15s.