Free-of-Interest Loans.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 195, 19 July 1941, Page 6

Free-of-Interest Loans.

A loan of £SOO to the Government, interest-free for the duration of the war and for six months thereafter, has boon made by Mr T. It. Lees, of Palmerston North. The total of interest-iree loans and gifts is now £2,701,027. Valuation of City. The city of Palmerston North, according to the Local Authorities Handbook, had as at April 1, 1940, a gross capital value of £7,958,088 (land and improvements) and a rateable capital value of £2,271,409. The area is 4851 acres. Checking Tuberculosis. Stressing the heavy incidence of tuberculosis among Maoris, the Taranaki Education Board has urged that X-ray examinations of Maori school children be carried out as the first step in a general scheme for all senior primary school pupils. ■ Gift to Legless Airman. New Zealand war amputees have folluwed with interest the career of Squadron-Leader D. R. S. Bader, D. 5.0., D.F.C., and, as a tribute, they are sending him an inlaid cigar and cigarette box. In the making of the attractive box some twenty different kinds of New Zealand wood were used. Schoolgirl Injured. Emerging from behind a stationary bus into tlie patli of a passing car in Kangitikei Street, a schoolgirl, Shirley (Jottam, whose parents reside in Miro Avenue, yesterday’ suffered a fracture of the right leg and severe injuries to her jaw. The driver of the car was Mr S. J. King, of St. John’s Avenue. The injured girl was taken to hospital. Unfit Men.

Speaking at a meeting at Auckland the Minister of Health (Mr Nordmeycr) stated that of 102,000 men examined for the Navy, Army, and Air Force in New Zealand, 59.000 had been found unfit for service. Of 5225 men examined for the Navy, 1947 were unfit; of 140,290 examined for the Army 53,045 were unfit; and oi 11,350 examined for the Air Force 4619 were unfit.

Telegraph Messengers. An acute shortage of telegraph message hoys in Auckland has developed due to the accelerated promotion of youths round IS and 19, and the Chief Post Office is calling for applications to fill 30 positions immediately. The question of the appointment of telegraph message girls at suburban offices to replace hoys with experience who are called into the main office is before the authorities. All Purposes Appeal.

There is only £4OOOO to come in to reach the total aimed at in the £1,000,000 all purposes patriotic appeal. The Wellington provincial figures are made up as follows: London appeal, £17.000; methopolitan., £103,440; Wanganui, £43085: Wairarapa, £29,630; Palmerston North, £17,300; Feilding, £12,410; Levin, £11,960: Taiunamnui, £5975; Taihape, £4050; Marton. £3300; Waimarino, £1944. Total, £250,700. Lost Banknote Recovered.

When looking through his pockets after returning home from shopping in Palmerston North, yesterday a resident of Kopane realised that he had lost a £5 note. He immediately returned to the city in an effort to find the money anu after some hours’, searching went into a shop and found the note lying on the floor directly under an electric light. The note had evidently been there since it was dropped some hours before, and at least a hundred people had passed Ixisidc it and failed to notice it. Waterfront Hours. ,

A remit from Hawke's Bay, on the subject of hours of work on the waterfront, was before the annual conference of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. The remit was as follows: “That this conference notes with surprise that waterfront workers are asked to work a day shift of 11 hours, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and points out that, from practical knowledge, eight hours’ hard work is as much as any man should be asked to do. We support the attitude that three shifts should work eight hours each.” It was referred to the Dominion executive for investigation and, if necessary,, action. Entertainment For Blind.

Tiio Palmerston North Rotary Club yesterday entertained twelve blind men and women from Palmerston North and Feilding at afternoon tea at the P.D.C. The club was represented by Messrs A. A. Langley and J. Selwyn, and a concert party .consisting of Mesdames Prince and Iloskings and Messrs L. Wood, A. Sundborn, and J. R. Brown gave a number of items which were greatly enjoyed. Mr E. W. Simmonds, on’ behalf of tlio blind people, expressed thanks to those who had assisted in making the party an outstanding success, which would l>c long remembered by all. The hope was expressed that regular meetings of this kind would he held at suitable intervals.