NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 22, 27 January 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Future Petrol Supplies “We ought to have been more severe months ago, but we did not want to deprive people of some pleasure,” said 1 the Minister of National Service (Hon. R. Semple), speaking about petrol supplies to the Emergency Precautions Services executive at Ashburton. “We will have to come down more severely still,” he said, referring to the future outlook. Armistice!

It was near a military encampment “somewhere in New Zealand.” The soldiers were skirmishing over a farm. Shots were being exchanged with the “enemy” and many “casualties” were taking place. “Dead” were lying all over the place. Suddenly there was a cessation of fighting, and silence roigned supreme. Then a brawny officer approached the owner of the farm. ‘ 4 Excuse me, sir, is it safe to go through that paddock with the bull in!” Models of Whales

The largest of all animals, living or extinct, is the blue whale. An adult specimen weighs about 120 tons. An Indian elephant, 12ft. tall, would be small beside it. The blue whale is the sea leviathan of the Antarctic, and gives a prolific yield of oil. Comparisons of the two are made in an exhibit now being prepared at the Dominion Museum. Bix model whales to be exhibited are made to the same scale of three feet to an inch. The usual adult length of the species is as follows: Blue whale, 90ft. to 100 ft.; sperm whale, 55ft. to 60ft.; humpback, 45ft. to 52ft.; killer, 25ft. to 30ft.; grey dolphin, 12ft. to 13ft.; New Zealand porpoise, sft. to 6ft.

The Petrol Question. The question of petrol supplies is to be discussed at a meeting of the North Island Motor Union .in Wellington on Wednesday. This was mentioned at last ight ’a meeting of the Automobile Association (Manawatu) when the opinion was expressed that nothing should be done to embarrass the Government in view of the seriousness of the position. Une of the suggestions emanating from Auckland is that one coupon a month be issued, the argument being that motorists in New Zealand were being more harshly treated than in other English countries. However, the Manawatu opinion is that if there is any petrol to spare it should be given the business community which is in genuine need of it. Hollywood Gesture Twelve specially constructed fracture beds given by Hollywood film stars are now being used at New Zealand base hospitals for the treatment of some of the more seriously wounded men from the Libyan battlefields. The beds arrived in the Middle East towards the end of last year, states the N.Z.E.F. Times, and were used for the first time for casualties from the Cyrenaicau campaign. They are built of white enamelled metal and have brass plates at the heads, with the donor’s name inscribed on each. Two of the beds were given by Claudette Colbert and two by Randolph Scott, while the following sent one each:—Anna Neagle, Amos and Andy, Bette Davis, Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, Edward G. Robinson, Gary Cooper and Jeannette MacDonald. Order of Medals There is generally a certain amount of mystification attached to the strips of coloured ribbon worn by the officers and men of his Majesty’s fighting forces and the police. People usually associate the pieces of coloured silk with orders, decorations and medals, 1 but comparatively few of them can distinguish between the different varieties by a mere glance at the ribbons. It is laid down that British subjects shall wear the ribbons of their orders, decorations and medals in a certain sequence on their left breasts, the position of priority being in the centre of the chest. Medal 8 awarded by societies for saving life, the Polar medal, and a few others, are worn on the right breast. The sequence is laid down as follows:—(1) The Victoria Cross, (2) British Orders, (3) British Medals, (4) Foreign Orders in order of date, (5) Foreign Medals in .order of date.