NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 122, 24 May 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Citizens’ Lunch Club. To-day’s subject is “Pacifism and Patriotism’’ by Mr. H. 11. Banks, of Auckland. Mr. L. G. Sinclair will be in the chair. Passion Fruit. A local nurseryman says that owing to the lack of summer sunshine in the past season, passion fruit grown in this district is less than half the average crop. No Golf Competitions on Sunday The Council of the New Zealand Golf Association has sent the following memorandum to clubs affiliated to tho association: “As the lving has requested a day of intercession next .Sunday it is the wish of the Council that all golf clubs* should refrain from holding competitions on that day.” Plant Native Trees. The Public Works Department is stated to have accepted tenders for the supply of 10,000 native trees for planting in the Manawatu district. This innovation will met with approval, but comment is freely made on the fact that of the hundred or more’ varieties specified, not one of the familiar Maori names are given. Duck Research. The fact that ducks had no crop, which was not generally known, made research work a problem in deciding whether these birds were able to get sufficient feed in New Zealand, said Mr. R. S. Naylor, at a meeting of the Auckland AcclimaSisation Society. Mr. Naylor said that Chinese rice made excellent duck feed and he advocated growing the grain in New Zealand. Its possibilities had been definitely proved. Gisborne Road. Service. The goods transport business between Gisborne and Napier, conducted by the Napier-Wairoa-Gisborne Transport Company, has been taken over by the Railway Department. The department announces that tho service will continue to be operated as previously. The price involved in tho deal is stated to be £14,000, excluding book debts and investments. Included in tho transaction are 20 trucks, a car, garages and sparo parts. Soldiers’ Wives. Constant complaints are being received in Auckland from wives unable to obtain the marriage allotment held back from the pay of husbands who are serving in tho second echelon of tho Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Because all payments are authorised in Wellington, these wives cannot obtain satisfaction from post offices and army authorities in the Auckland Province, and as week follows week without any money being received, many of them have already been reduced to distressed circumstances. Enemy Aliens. Letters and telegrams from all parts of New Zealand have been received by Mr. Allan J. Mood}*, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, warmly endorsing his recent outspoken appeal for the internment of all enemy aliens. An Invercargill writer said that unfortunately the Government did not seem to realise that without national security there could be no social security. ‘ ‘ There can be no doubt that there is a hidden danger in this country,” Mr. Moody said, “and lljw Zealanders should awaken the Government to its full responsibility.” Countrywomen’s Effort. Very gratifying success attended the shop opened by the Country Women’s organisations in the Blue Star Store, Broadway, yesterday, over £2O being realised for tho Red Cross and St. John Appeal. Generous contributions of homo produce, vegetables, etc., soon found purchasers and a cake made by Mrs. E. Dymock and iced by Mrs. F. J. Murphy found good support for competition. It is expected that many more contributions will be received to-day to make the effort really worth while. Members of the organisations divided their time selling badges in various areas and assisting in tho shop. Pheasant Liberations. A decision to spend up to £1,500 on pheasants for liberation in 1942 was made at a meeting of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. This amount is to provide for tho delivery of about 2,700 birds. Tenders have been received, but as the president, Mr. F. E. McKenzie, gave notice of motion to change the policy of the society so that most of the birds should be liberated in February and March, instead of libcrat--1 ing two-thirds of the birds in July as previously, it was resolved to defer con- ' sideration of the tenders until the ■ policy had been decided. The society ' has acquired some quail from the South 1 Island and intends to breed quail in the future..