St. Andrew's Day.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 2, 30 November 1944, Page 4

St. Andrew's Day.

Todav is the festival of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland. Flags were flown from Government buildings to mark the occasion.

R.S.A. and Military Defaulters. At the suggestion of headquarters of the organisation the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Services' Association has decided to call an extraordinarv general meeting of members to discuss the matter ot military defaulters. Use of Motor Horns.

'the council of the North Island Motor Union, at a, meeting yesterday, criticised the unnecessary use of motor horns, and it was decided to ask the transport authorities" to be strict in the enforcement of the regulations covering the subject. Damage Bill Amended. The Legislative Council yesterday passed the Earthquake and War Damage Bill after introducing an amendment providing that damages shall he determined as soon as is reasonably practicable in each case. This amendment was later adopted by the House of Representatives. Christmas Leave For Soldiers.

It was announced last evening by the Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) that all Army personnel who can be spared at Christmas will be granted leave to enable them to visit their homes. This arrangement will apply particularly to members of reinforcements of the Second N.Z.E.F. who are at present in camp. Harbour Board's Loss. At a result of the decline in trade, the decreased number of vessels using the port and the continual increases in costs, the Wellington Harbour Board had suffered a loss of £38,632 on working for the year, stated the chairman of the board (Mr W. H Price) in a review of the board's working for the 12 months ended September 30.

Farmers' Holiday Petrol. "That if rationing is still in force representations be made for a full petrol coupon for June and July, so that the farming community will be able to enjoy their holiday period the -ame as the town and industrial people do at the Christmas period." The foregoing resolution was carried at a meeting of the North Island Motor Union council yesterday. I Soldiers Help Onion Crop. At the conference of Primary Production Council chairmen and secretaries from the southern half of the North Island, in Palmerston North yesterday, appreciation was expressed to the Army authorities for allowing about 200 men from the Third Division to assist in urgent work in the very large area at Opiki used for the growing of onions. Highways Board Operation's.

Forty miles of dustless surface roads had been put down by the Main Highways Board during the year and 119 miles of repealing had been done, said Mr M. H. Wynyard, a member of the board, at the North Island Motor Union council meeting in Wellington. The board was making provision for overcoming delayed maintenance to the extent of some £200,000 a year. Dairy Workers' Wages. "I am advised by the Conciliation Commissioner that the Conciliation Council dealing with the dairy factory dispute, which has been sitting for the last two days, is proceeding satisfactorily, and tonight the parties are very close to agreement on the question of payment of wages and hours of work," said the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb) last evening. "The sitting will be continued on Thursday and a further announcement will be made as early as possible."

New Sanatorium. The Western Districts Sanatorium Committee, at a meeting, decided that an early start should be made with the erection of a new sanatorium to accommodate 200 beds. It was desired that the site be close to a city, and Wanganui was suggested because of its central position in the committee's district. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), W. Broderick (Wanganui) and P. E. Stainton (New Plymouth) have been instructed ttf bring down a building programme for submission to the executive of the committee.