News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1940, Page 4

News Of The Day

Too Much Speed. Three motorists were charged in the Whangarei Court today with having exceeded speed limits. A fine of £2 and costs was imposed on Richard Henry Baff for driving a car in excess of 30 miles per hour, while for driving motor lorries at more than 25 miles per hour, Bruce Bond was fined £1 15/- and costs and Frederick Raymond Meyer was fined £2 and costs. * * * 9

N.C.O.’s Leave For Camps.

To join non-commissioned officers who are in training at Trentham Messrs J. J. Gordon, of Whakapara, and C. M. Wilson, of Whangarei, left by train today. Yesterday Messrs D. Davis, of Paihia, and J. L. Norwood, of Whangarei, left for the Burnham Camp. The non-commissioned officers are training for posting to the Third Echelon of the Second Expeditionary Force.

The Bible In Germany. It is generally assumed that Hitler's “Mein Kampf” has been the best seller throughout Germany in recent years, states the “Manchester Guardian.” But, according to a belated report of the Prussian Bible Society recently received in London, the Bible has been outstripping “Mein Kampf” by 200,000 copies a year. Curiously enough, ever since the Nazis came to power in 1933 the sales of the Bible have soared, reaching ,an average of 950,000 copies a year, or nearly 6,000,000 in the six years. Commenting on this an official of one of the British missionary societies said that the new interest in Bible study in the Lutheran and Reformed Churches as a result of persecution had probably led to this widespread buying.

Married Women as Nurses. The practice of not employing married women as nurses in public hospitals is to be waived as a war measure, according to an announcement by the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt. The present shortage of nurses, Dr. Watt said, would undountedly be accentuated by military requirements. It was suggested that where members of the registered nursing staffs married they should be allowed to retain their positions and, if necessary, be granted living-out .allowances so that they might live out while not on duty. In the case of pupil nurses who married before the termination of their training, it was considered that, provided the husband were leaving on active service, they should be encouraged to return to hospital to complete their training. * V • * Poor Use of Leisure. As a result of investigations revealing the poor use to which leisure time is put by many young people in New Zealand, the physical welfare and recreation branch of the Internal Affairs Department has decided to make the organising of recreation clubs one of the main planks in its platform. An inquiry conducted recently by the Labour Department through its youth centres revealed a jnost marked deficiency in hobbies, reading and wholesome social activities. Of -the 1157 youths and girls interviewed, a large number indulged in no activity of this kind whatever. The pioneer effort in organising clubs is the boys’ club, formed in Invercargill by the Southland recreation officer. It is reported that already the physique and health of the boys have shown noticeable improvement. It is not intended to compete with existing organisations, but it is considered there is an unexploited field large enough to occupy all the attention that can be brought to bear for years to come. * * * *

Hukerenui Show Entries. Those desirous of forwarding entries for the Hukerenui Show, to be held on Saturday, February 10th, are reminded to make an effort to deal with the same as early as possible, in order to make the last-minute task as light as possible for the secretary. Entries close on Wednesday, February 7th. 50

Parks and Reserves A conference of superintendents of parks and reserves and chairmen of reserves committees of all centres in the country opened at Wellington yesterday, and will continue over three days. Mr W. Duncan, of Wellington, was elected president; Mr J. W. Andrews, of Hutt, vice-president, and Mr D. Tannock, of Dunedin, secretary. The committee consists of the superintendents of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. * * * * Mixed Spelling. On display in a Hastings draper’s window are a number of souvenir towels which recall the dispute which raged so fiercely some years ago as to whether New Zealand ' was to have a Centenary or a Centennial. Possibly in an effort to please all parties, the manufacturer of these articles has inscribed the different kinds of towel in as many different ways—“ Centenary,” "Centennary” and “Centennnial.”

Change of Designation. A change has been made in the designation of the anti-tank regiment which is part of the divisional artillery of the second echelon of the Second Expeditionary Force. Hitherto called the 2nd (Anti-Tank) Regiment, New Zealand Artillery, it is henceforth to be known as the 7th (Anti-Tank) Regiment, New Zealand Artillery. This does not indicate that it is the seventh anti-tank unit formed by New Zealanders, but that it is taking its place with other divisional artillery units of a specialised nature, such as the 4th, sth and Gth Field Regiments. The anti-tank unit formed by New Zealanders in England does not take part in the change, because it comes under the classification of brigade troops and supplies an anti-tank company to each of the infantry brigades.

Green Peas At The Pole. When Admiral Byrd set out for the South Pole recently in his ship North Star, he took with him some peas grown in Marlborough. The officials of the Marlborough Court at the Exhibition had given samples of Marlborough wheat, barley, .and edible peas to the Hydroponics Institute to be grown in tanks full of chemical solution, said the manager of the court, Dr. Redman. Visiting the Exhibition, he said, the noted explorer saw samples of the peas which in a short time had reached a height of nine inches. He was apparently impressed by the possibility of obtaining by hydroponics or soilless gardening, supplies of. green vegetables in the polar regions, .and arranged to take a case of Marlborough peas on . board the North Star. The chemical solution was to be kept warm in ' the polar regions by having placed roirnd the tank, bricks heated on the ship’s galley. On arrival at Little America, it was intended to build a greenhouse, and possibly Admiral Byrd might even be lucky enough to have Marlborough green peas at the Pole.

Boys’ and girls’ school clothes have always been a strong point with Henry Wilson. Ask the mothers of the district where they buy their children’s school clothes and they will invariably say, “At Wilson’s.” Quality, price and style all come to those who shop at Wilson’s!