NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The “Fifth Column” The need for Rotarians to assist in keeping up the morale of the people, especially in view of the serious situation in Europe, was stressed by Mr. W. Fraser, president of the Hamilton Rotary Club, at its weekly luncheon. “We have a ‘Fifth Column’ in our midst—those people who are adopting a defeatist attitude,” said Mr. Fraser. “There is a good deal of this defeatist attitude about and Rotarians can do a great deal to offset it.” Producers and the War Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of the Cook County Council, the chairman, Mr. W. G. Sherratt, referred to the duty of the primary producers, and said that the producer owed a duty to the Empire bv doing his best in the productive effort. He considered that before long conscription would be necessary, and he urged that the Government should take the public more into its confidence than it had done, for all were behind the war effort, except, perhaps, a few Communists. In conclusion, he urged on all to keep their chins up and not to became panicky, at the same time helping each other in the war effort Rural Housing Act Undoubtedly better and more suitable accommodation than at present existed was required for workers on farm lands, stated Mr. A. T. Carroll, chairman of the Wairoa County Conncil, in his annual report to the council yesterday, when he added that one result of the Rural Housing Act would be to arrest the drift to the towns where housing conditions were more attractive. The Wairoa council had decided to adopt the scheme and to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to raise a loan of £IO,OOO. Approval had been given, and the council was now in a position to advance money to those farmers re-’ uiring it under the provisions of the A ct.—Special,