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Evening Star, Issue 25495, 28 May 1945, Page 4

The National Patriotic Fund Board has sent itsvsecretary, Mr G. A. Hayden, overseas on board business. He will visit the United Kingdom, Italy and the Middle East. Part of Mr Hayden's mission is concerned with the realisation of the board's assets in the three theatres of war, and he will also discuss certain aspects of the administration of the New Zealand Forces clubs in those countries./ In England Mr Hayden will meet those in charge of the reception of released New Zealand prisoners of war, Major S. C. Read, the representative of the board there, and other patriotic workers with whom he will confer on the welfare of the released prisoners and New Zealanders still in the services.

To the end of April the number of servicemen and women recorded with the Rehabilitation Department as returned from overseas was 42,770, comprising 42,295 men and 481 women, states the department's monthly review. Demobilised home service personnel to the same date totalled 28,095, made up of 26,891 men and 1,204 women. During the month 1,767 returned men and women and 429 demobilised home service personnel were recorded by the department. As at the end of April 13,096 ex-service men and women had been placed in employment by the Rehabilitation Department. An interesting letter received by the Hastings Borough Council from the schools meals organiser, Hastings. England, expressed great pleasure at the last gift of New Zealand honey sent from Hastings, Hawke's Bay, states the 'Daily Telegraph.' The letter stated that the gift was used in school canteens solely for children, and previously these children had not been supplied with such a luxury. The letter went on: "If you could have witnessed the children partaking of their sweet course, you would have derived much pleasure; as one five-year-old declared: ' I cannot eat any more pudding, but I'd like some more honey sauce.' " ißefore vacating the chair at the monthly meeting of the Taieri County Council. Cr Wither the retiring chairman) said the comity's financial position was quite good. The total receipts for the year, including the balance from the previous year, bad been approximately £38,000. The expenditure had been a little over £29,000. and the balance approximately £9,000. imonast the largest amounts on the expenditure side was the cost (about £3,000) of the lorries and the car. These, said Mr Wither, would prove J a great benefit to the county. The hospital levy had amounted to over £5,000. The Taieri County Council has received from the Minister of Defence and member for the district (Hon. F. Jones) a reply to its application that the prevention of flooding of the Taieri be given a higher priority on the list of works that are to be carried out with the new equipment which the Minister of AVorks (Mr Semple) is importing to minimise flood damage by rivers. It might not be possible to accord a higher priority as requested (says Mr Jones), but this would not prevent the district affected receiving the attention it deserved.

The 'Governor-General has received from Queen Mary the following reply to the message sent to His Excellency on the occasion of her birthday: "My warmest thanks to you both and to the Government nnd ipeoples of New Zealand, its island territories, and Western Samoa for the good wishes on my birthday." The first New Zealand school for apprentice watchmakers has been opened by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Horological Institute, reports the ' New Zealand Herald.' Twelve students were enrolled and it is expected that the number will he increased next week The school was officially opened by the president of the institute, Mr J. Murrcll, who expressed pleasure nt the good beginning. The director of the school is Mr C. Smith, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The sale of mutton birds for the season recently opened is now covered by an order defining prices which are entitled to be charged by mutton-birders, by wholesalers, and by retailers. The maximum price which mutton-birders may charge is Is a bird. The retail price in the Otago-Canterbury area is Is Bd, while additional charges which are permitted are 3d for smoking and 2d for cooking, or 5d for smoking, and cooking.

That some men held strange ideas as to the best way in which to secure the return of their wives from whom thev were separated was the comment made in the Magistrate's Court, Greymouth, by Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M. They appeared to think that non-pay-ment of maintenance would ensure a return of marital bliss. The experience of the court was that the better way was to keep up the payments and thereby spare the wives the agony of instituting proceedings and appearing in court.

■ No tariff concession in hotels conducted by the Invercargill Licensing Trust will be given to commercial travellers, members of automobile association?, the Public Service or any other organisation. This decision was made bv the trust when a letter from the Public Service Association was considered. Members discussed the position, and they said they saw no reason why any class should benifit by concessions ; trust hotels were not on a competitive basis and their over-all charges would apply to everybody. Allegations that 60,000 cases of ser4 vice biscuits now in store at Timaru' would be wasted unless used soon, and complaints that foodstuffs and materials of great value were stored in many parts of New Zealand are not confirmed by the experience of Dunedin manufacturers. These charges were made nt a meeting of the South Canterbury Regional Planning Committee, when it was resolved to complain about them to the War Assets Realisation Board. Service biscuits are manufactured in comparatively large quantities by various concerns throughout New Zealand under contract to _ the British Government, but the biscuits can only bo despatched to operational zones ns shipping becomes available. The stocks are examined .regularly by quali. tied inspectors, and it has been proved that, if packed properly, the biscuits will remain in excellent condition for long periods.