NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20628, 2 December 1941, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

More Pheasants Pheasants received from Rotorua have been liberated by the Wairoa Rod and Gun Club during the past six months. So far good hatchings have been reported and the birds are rapidly on the increase. The club appeals to farmers and others to protect the pheasants as far as lies in their power and to report any poaching immediately.-—Special. Music Examination Results » In the written examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London, held in Gisborne on November 1, the following candidates were successful. —Harmony, Grade 2: Enid V. Trotter (Miss M. J. Smith, L.R.S.M.). Grammar of Music, Grade 4: .Leah R. Mackay (Miss E. Watson, L.T.C.L.), Dulcie J. Glockler and Margaret J. Vette (Convent). First Aid Passes Recent and successful candidates foi the first-aid certificates of the St. John Ambulance Association included five members of the Gisborne Company, National Military Reserve. They comprised : Privates S, Barker, 11. Clark, W. Jackson, 11. Stichbury, and C. Vance. It is proposed to oiler training facilities to a further group of men from the National Military Reserve when the St. John classes resume in February. Four Days at Christmas At a meeting last night the Master Butchers’ Association agreed to close down for four days at Christmas and also at the New Year. The shops will close at the usual time on Christmas Eve and will not open until the Monday morning, while the corresponding days will be observed over the Newi Year week-end. A similar decision was reached at a meeting of the Gisborne Master Grocers’ Asso--1 ciation, also held last evening. Health Camp Donation A donation of £lO from the club’s “Sunshine Box” was made to the Gisborne Health Camp Committee by the Gisborne Rotary Club at yesterday’s iuncheon. This followed a statement by the chairman of the gathering, Mr. F. T. Robinson, that the work of the camp was dependent entirely on subsidised donations. Every effort was required to keep the camp going, and the improvement in the health of the children attending it was so marked that it was most desirable to keep the camp open. Tribute to Fallen A tribute of respect to the memory of Lieutenant A. G. Ilultquist, M.P., and of Lieutenant Wattie McKay, whose death in a German prisoner-of-war camp was reported on Saturday, was paid at a meeting of the executive of the Rau Aroha Club. It was decided, on the motion of the president, Mrs. Teoti Rupi Wawatai, to forward letters of sympathy to the families bereaved. It was decided further that the club should be represented at a gathering in honour of the late Erena Koopu, regarded as the last chieftainess of Ngapotiki and Mahaki, which gathering will be held at Ihe week-end. Soldiers’ Wives and Mothers A proposal to establish a women's division of the Returned Services Association, approved in principle at the emergency conference held in Wellington last month, was favourably received at a special meeting of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening. Mr. C. A. Harries, a Gisborne delegate to the conference, said that the matter was taken up with keen interest in Wellington, and it was agreed that individual district associations be asked to submit suggestions for the constitution of the new division. It was the intention to give wives and mothers of men serving overseas full recognition as associate members of the association. Association Title Consideration of a change of title in accordance with the move of the national body was deferred by the special general meeting of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association held last evening. The president, Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Gambrill, stated that the matter could well be held over until the annual meeting in April, when a motion to amend the rules formally will be submitted. Last night’s meeting was called primarily to confirm an amendment to the rules approved by the last annual meeting, to provide for a postal ballot in any future election for an executive post. Confirmation was made without much discussion, though the wish was expressed that the new rule be so framed as to permit of votes being cast at annual general meetings, as well as by post.

Institute, of Secretaries

In the recent examinations held by the New Zealand Institute of Secretaries, R. D. Donald, Gisborne, received a pass in Book-keeping, Stage 11. Candidates sat at 25 centres. Spinach as Health Food Spinach growers had been seriously handicapped during the last three or four years through dietitians first stating” that spinach was practically useless as a food and then, when production had decreased and the demand also, suddenly changing their minds and including spinach in their recommendation, stated Mr. A. Turner, assistant-manager, Turners and Growers, Limited, when he gave evidence before the Price Tribunal in Wellington. Radio Staff Trebled. A trebling of the radio staff of the Post and Telegraph Department since war began was reported to the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board in Wellington, by a departmental witness. He said that the amount of commercial traffic handled was almost nil; most of the men were engaged on work for the armed services. Superannuated engineers had been engaged making possible the release of 15 engineers who, he believed, were given specialist positions in the services. Drunk in Gladstone Road On charges of having been found drunk in Gladstone road and of casting offensive matter on the road, a Maori, Kolii Takao, aged 42, of Ngatapa, was brought before Mr. M. Doyle, J.P., in the Gisborne Magistrate’s Court to-day. Senior-Sergeant I-I. H. Russell stated that the accused was arrested at 3.45 p.m. yesterday by Constable G. Waple. The accused was convicted and discharged on the drunkenness charge, for which he was a statutory first offender, and on the other he was fined HI. Land for Soldiers ‘‘The general determination of the | conference was that the Government might purchase what land it thought fit for soldier settlement, but that the Returned Services Association would have something to say regarding the terms of settlement.” said Mr. C. A. Harries, discussing at a special meeting of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association last night the decisions of the recent emergency conference in Wellington. He said that an important report on land settlement was received by the conference, which was informed that the Government had purchased under the Small Farms Act a total of 21 blocks, comprising 31,000 acres, at an average price of £5 per acre. The suitability of certain of these blocks was questioned, and the conference was firm in its determination that veterans of this war would not be settled on the land under the handicaps which soldier settlers faced after the last war.