LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The American Clipper left Honolulu for Canton Island yesterday morning, and is due at Auckland tomorrow.—Press Assn.

The Sovereign’s Birthday this year will be observed on Monday, June 2. The observance of this day as the statutory holiday will be observed by all shops, offices and factories which have provision made for the Soverign’s Birthday in their awards.

Official advice has been received in the Dominion, confirming earlier cabled advice that in view of a large number of Rhodes Scholars-elect having had their scholarships suspended for the duration of the war, the Rhodes Trustees have therefore decided not to hold any elections for 1942 scholarships. This means that no Rhodes Scholars will be selected in New Zealand during 1941. —Press Assn.

The awards for the competition in designs for the Memorial at Bastion Point, Auckland, to the late Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, are announced as follow: —First prize, £150: Messrs Donner and Bartlett, Auckland. Second prize, £100: Mr W. J. Beech, Karori, Wellington. Third prize, £5O: Mr John Blake Kelly, Auckland. The memorial is to take the form of' a park and garden of remembrance, said Mr Parry, with a simple monument of symbolic character over the tomb.—Press Assn.

The question of changing the name of the New Zealand Lady Galway Guild was raised by Mr. Edgar Hazlett at the fortnightly meeting of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council yesterday. ' Mr. Hazlett said he thought that the guild should be distinctively associated with New Zealand, and that the present title should be changed to the New Zealand Ladies’ Guild. Mr. Hazlett, whose remarks appeared to meet with general approval, added that the guild was connected solely with the patriotic women workers of New Zealand, and it should have a title which would make this perfectly clear.

The view that Christianity should mix with politics, and Christians enter it, instead of regarding it as a “dirty game,” was expressed by the Bishop of Wellington (Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland), in an address to the conference of the Church of England Men’s Society yesterday, at Christchurch. “Why is politics always regarded as a dirty job?” asked Bishop Holland. “It is because, as we see it, politicians represent a class striving to get something for their particular class.” Politics, instead of being regarded as a dirty game, ought to be the highest form of Christianity—because politics was the science of living together. The Christian had to rid himself of the idea that politics was not for him. In New Zealand, the Bishop went on, he often felt a hankering after something of the, political mind of Britain. In Britain you felt that the man who differed from you in politics was a fool, but not a knave, but in this country the political opponent was regarded as a knave..

Although current drivers’ licenses expire on May 31, motorists generally have been slow to apply for renewals. To date, the Grey County Council has issued only 60 new licenses, out of a total of approximately 1000.

An outbreak of fire occurred shortly after midnight, last night, in the Hotel Buller, Westport, but the consequences were not serious. It was reported to-day that the outbreak originated near the hot-water installation. Two bedrooms were slightly damaged by fire, and the dining-room was affected by smoke and water.

The official recount of votes cast in the election for three representatives of the South Riding on the Grey County Council will take place tomorrow afternoon. Considerable interest is being taken in the i ecount in view of the fact that,, on. the pre—liminary count, only four votes separated the lowest successful candidate (Mr. John Ryan) and the highest unsuccessfur candidate (Mr. G. Blair).

At Monday’s meeting of the Nels ol } Education Board, it was decided that tenders be called for the erection of a dental clinic at Ikamatua, the committee to provide one-third of the cost up to a maximum of £lOO. The Ikamatua Committee’s request for fencing was approved subject to the committee finding the labour. The Rotokohu Committee was granted an additional £lO to cover the cost of rebuilding the out-offices. z

Members of .the Greymouth Branch of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) were discussing lighting restrictions, at last evening's meeting of the branch, and it was remarked that the black-out at Greymouth was from the outset very severe. Information was forthcoming to the effect that the black-out requirements in the cities were now being made more strict. This brought the comment from Dr. W. McKay: “What Greymouth does to-day, New Zealand does to-morrow!”

The question of the resumption of the Wellington-Sydney steamer service was still under consideration by the Government, and the Chamber would be advised as soon as ~a decision was reached, stated the Ministei of Marine (Mr. Semple), in a letter received by the Council of Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. “I hope to goodness,” said the President (Mr R. H. Nimmo) “that, the decision will soon be reached, because it is a vital matter not only for Wellington, but also for the whole Dominion.

Sales tax receipts for the month of March amounted to £583,086 (ordinary revenue purposes, £291,443; war purposes, £291,643). The £291,443 collected in March for ordinary revenue purposes compares with receipts of £259,246 in the corresponding month of 1940, as the war expenses portion of this tax did not commence to operate until June 28, 1940. Sales tax collections (for ordinary revenue purposes) for the financial year 194041 totalled £3,515,617, as compared with £3,520,703 in 1939-40 and £3,572,110 in 1938-39.

Two reported sayings of London women in regard to the war were detailed by Dr. L. H. Hough, the American theologian, in an address at a luncheon in Auckland. A good example of British aplomb, said Dr. Hough, was the woman who, when asked how she got on in an air raid, replied, “I reads my Bible, I says my prayers, and then I says, ‘To ’ell with ’ltler,’ and goes to sleep.” The fine art of understatement, he added, was displayed by another woman in mentioning the satisfaction she got out of her little radio set: “I like to listen to Mr. Winston, because he seems so interested in the war.”

Valuable prizes for the best costumes at the Vice-Versa Dance in the Blaketown Hall to-night.—Advt.

The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, in a recent circular, regarding R.S.A. badges, emphasises that the badge is not the property of the soldier, but is issued by the Association, for his use as long as he remains a financial member of the Association. It is stated that in future, no badges should be worn without the date attachment (which for this year is coloured blue), and that returned soldiers who are ■ unfinancial with the Association should obtain a date attachment (which signifies financial membership) or return their badges to the Association.

Deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank during the month of March amounted to £2,546,913 and withdrawals to £2,130,503, leaving an excess of deposits of £416,410, states the April Abstract of Statistics. The previous month the figures were:—Deposits £2,262,405, withdrawals £2,081,406, excess of deposits £lBO,999. Deposits during the year ended March 31, 1941, totalled £28,607,221, and withdrawals £25,319,146, leaving an excess of deposits'of £3,288,075. This experience is in direct contrast with that of the previous financial year, in which an excess of withdrawals amounting to £4,311,351 was recorded, deposits totalling £25,151,287 and withdrawals £29,462,838. The amount standing to the credit of depositors at March 31, 1941, was £62,956,788, as compared with £58,002,003 at March 31 of the previous year. >.

Don’t forget to follow the procession to Victoria Park on Saturday next for Matinee Trotting and Sports .events. Funds aid combined Queerer. —Advt.

Allegations that sergeants and other higher-paid men were able to purchase tobacco and cigarettes at a discount of 12J per cent, while the rank and file had to “pay through the nose” are contained in a letter received by the chairman of the Napiei’ Patriotic Committee, Mr. T. W. Hercock from a New Zealand soldier in the Middle East and read to members of the committee. Mr. Hercock said that his correspondent was one of a number who had been five months without a parcel of any description. It was also mentioned that Australian troops had opened up their own canteens and could obtain anything they desired whether it was from New Zealand or Australia. Mr. Hercock said he was referring the letter to the authorities, but before doing so he intended to tear the man’s name off it so that he could not be victimised.

Mr Norman Stouppe, of Barry and Stouppe. Ltd., opticians, Christchurch, is in Greymouth, and may be consulted for sight-testing to-morrow (Thursday) at the surgery of Mr D. McßreartyJ dentist J—Advt.

Anothex* shipment of the popular Niue Island baskets. Round and oval shapes in medium sizes, trimmed with contrasting colours, priced from 2/11, 3/6. 3/11 each.—C. Smith’s.—Advt.