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Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 124, 24 April 1940, Page 8

Anzac Day. The “Manawatu Standard” will not bo published to-morrow, Anzac Day. Rare Fish Caught. 'What is believed to he an elephant fish, about 3ft. Gin. long, the body of which resembles a shark, with a trunk hanging from the nose, lias been caught at Tangimoana. Notable Anniversary.

Yesterday was St. George’s Day and the twenty-second anniversary of the brilliant raid on the German naval base at Zeebrugge, which materially altered the trend of enemy naval policy in the Great War. Game Control.

Strong objections to the suggestion of the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) that there was a need for acclimatisation societies to be under the control of the Government were voiced by speakers at the annual meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society' in Hamilton. 'J lie Minister’s decision to close the 1941 season for grey duck also came in for some criticism. Care With Motor-Cycles.

Congratulations on the wonderful results achieved by the motor-cycle clubs in accident prevention during the past 12 months were expressed yesterday by the Minister of Transport (Hon. H. Semple). He said that, apart from July and August, every month of the last statistical year .had shown a reduction in motor-cycle accidents. In the 12 months motor-cycle casualties had' been reduced to 667 from 875, a reduction of 208 persons injured. Plainer Language.

A quaint old legal circumlocution which adorned the pages of the Gazette has now disappeared. Whenever land was taken for railway purposes, the proclamation always began: “Whereas it has been found desirable for the vse, convenience, and enjoyment of the such and such railway to take further land . . . ” In the latest issue a new and simple form of words has been adopted, omitting the preamble and merely stating that certain land has been taken “for” a particular railway.

Only a Truce. “The National Party must be kept alive, so that in by-elections or the general election falling due next year, we shall not have forgotten the tenets of the party,” said Dr J Guthrie when introducing Mr E. W. Doidge, member for Tauranga, to the National Club in Christchurch. As they knew, there was a truce between the two political parties, said Dr Guthrie. They had arrived at the stage when, for the time being, hostilities were almost suspended. “But we have not forgotten our creed and our duty to the country,” he said.

Second Echelon Inspection. Troops of the Second Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are to be inspected on Sunday by the Chief of the General Staff (Major-Gen-eral J. E. Duigan), on the Trentham racecourse.

Searching Medical Test. A complete change in the system of X-raying recruits for tho Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force has been made by the army authorities. In future the men will receive this examination before being finally, accepted for training. Tho procedure in the past has been 'to X-ray the men after they have gone into camp. The Anzac Spirit. Each year two medals are presented to boys attending Clyde Quay School, Wellington, who in the estimation of the scholars and teachers show in their characters tho spirit of Anzac —qualities such as service, sacrifice, comradeship and unselfishness. Scholastic attainments in this instance are considered of secondary importance. Preferred on Farms.

Tho statement that already ]2OO farmers and many skilled farm labourers had been prevented from going to the war was made l>y the Minister for Manpower (Hon. P. C. Webb), replying at Lake Tekapo to a statement made at the. high-country runholders’ conference that there were no reserved occupations in New Zealand, and that recruiting was denuding the high country of skilled labour. Banknote Problem.

Many fairly large sums in Australian banknotes brought by travellers to New Zealand for sale as unofficial exchange are held in Auckland. As permission to take these out of the country must now be obtained under the Finance Emergency Regulations, which are designed to prevent operations for which such sums were intended, some holders express anxiety regarding their position. All-in-Struggle. The conviction that the Empire was faced with a long and grim struggle was expressed by Sir Harry Batterbec, High Commissioner for tho United Kingdom, in a speech at Christchurch. He said he was confident of the ultimate success of the Allied cause, but was convinced that that success could be attained only if all tho people of the Empire put forward their utmost effort. School System Criticised.

Terming the present-day educational system the exemplification of “the velvet glove without the iron hand,” Dr W. M. Thomson deplored tho standard of writing and spelling and the lack of Bible knowledge among primary school children, at the annual householders’ meeting of the Hawcra Main School. The children’s lack of Bible knowledge was a grave charge.of neglect against very many parents, lie said. Delays To Mails.

Complaints which have been made during the last few months about the length of time taken by airmail matter to reach destinations in England were referred to last evening by the Postmaster-General. He said that, though occasionally there had been eases of delay these had been caused mainly by time lost in awaiting connections, and not to censorship or delay on the air service, as had been suggested in some quarters. Popularity of Trailers. The caravan trailer is increasing in popularity, states the report presented by tlic Transport Department to the Road Safety Council. New regulations regarding trailers are proposed by tlie Department with a view to preventing traffic accidents, ft is considered that trailers should be limited to a speed of 35 m.p.h., that their maximum dimensions should be a width of 6ft. 9in. and a length of 20ft., and that warrants of fitness bo required every six months. It is the opinion of the department that no additional braking equipment is needed on trailers provided the brakes on the hauling unit arc efficient enough to ensure a satisfactory stopping distance. —Press Association. School Boundaries. When the school boundaries were being discussed at the meeting of householders at the Russell Street School, the headmaster (Mr J. Connor) explained that the position was rather anomalous. When application had been made for tin; admittance of one child lie had found that the boundary went through the breakfast room of the flat where the child lived. He had admitted the child, although it slept- outside the school boundary. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr J. A. Grant) said that the boundary did not ruii down as rar as Featherstou Street, but went to “within a chain of it,” and a child living in Featherstou Street was supposed to go either to the Terrace End or Central School, although the Russell Street School might be nearer. The householders decided to apply to the Wanganui Education Board for a revision of the boundares.