GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 February 1940, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

One Common Patriotic Fund The Waimea County Council at its monthly meeting endorsed the proposal of the Nelson Provincial Patriotic Council to have one common fund for all patriotic purposes, thereby preventing individual appeals for different purposes being made from time to time. It's Honour Knows Referring to the fact that on the list ot cases to be heard at the present criminal sittings of the Supreme Court was a charge of bookmaking against two men, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, addressing the grand jury, said th at the jury would tiave to decide whether the actions of the men as testified to m evidence were consistent with those ot a bookmaker. His Honour said he had a passing knowledge of what were the actions of a bookmaker; in la-t more than a passing knowledge, because, before he was elevated to the Bench, he had appeared for the defence in many such cases The Army Department advises by advertisement in this issue that 69 reel uits are required to fill vacancies in the Royal New Zealand Artillery. The period of engagement is five years, which may be extended. Applications should be made to the nearest Defence Office by noon on 16th February. Vacancies exist in the N.Z, Naval Forces for stokers, seamen boys, short service seamen, assistant cooks, assistant stewards, artificers, etc. Particulars are advertised in this issue. The Labour Party will hold a dance at the Velma Hall to-night. The music will be by the Labour Dance Band of 7 players. Prizes wil lbe given for Early Bird. Lucky Spots and Monte Carlos Dancihg will commence at 8 o’clock. A special item will be the latest British soldiers’ song hit, "Here We Qo Again" which will be played by the dance band. Sqpper will be served by the ladies.

Corrugated Iron If anyone desires to put a new sheet of corrugated iron on Fido’s kennel, similarly cover a henhouse, or build any sort of shed or outhouse in corrugated iron, such desires should be forgotten at once. Under existing legislation these things cannot be done: in fact, there are a lot of things which used to be done which are now taboo (says the Dunedin "Star”). The control of *he sale of corrugated and fiat iron (an dalso of galvanised pipes) has been instituted by the Minister of Supply vthe Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in order that the best possible use may be made of the small quantities now available. Builders, plumbers, etc., who have contracts awaiting materials receive prior consideration. Actually, corrugated iron, under the Supply Control Emergency Regulations, 1939, may be used only for the roofing of major buildings of a permanent nature, this being extended to include large milking sheds on dairy farms, large poultry sheds on poultry farms, wool sheds, and pig houses on pig farms. In no case, however, may corrugated or fiat iron be used for walls of any building unless special sanction is given by the Minister of Supply. Leaflets from Aeroplanes To further the Army Department’s quest for a constant supply of recruits for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, machines of the Royal New Zealand Air Force flew over Auck- i land from Hobsonville last night and ' dropped thousands of leaflets drawing! attention to the country’s military needs. They used busy shopping areas as their main targets. Payment of Witnesses The duty of the police to see that witnesses called in Court cases knew the recently-enacted regulations in connection with the payment of expenses was stressed by Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Hamilton Police Court. The regulations state that it is necessary for a person called as a witness to produce a certificate from his employer before expenses will be paid. Difficult Year In Melanesia The present work in the Melanesian mission could not be carried on unless the income in future were maintained, said the Rt. Rev. W. H. Baddeley, Bishop of Melanesia, speaking to a j large gathering in the hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Parnell. The bishop who is in New Zealand for the General Synod to be held in Nelson this menth, said that muon damage had been done to mission property by earthquakes, tidal waves and hurricane In addition, the mission’s income from the Church in England had been cut down since the outbreak of war, and. owing to the fall in the price of copra, the natives’ alms had decreased. Interesting Trophies A trio of interesting trophies is at present cn display in the Southland reception room in the Dominion Court at the Centennial Exhibition. One of them is the Ranfurly Shield, probably the best known trophy in New Zealand, but seen by relatively few people. The second is the Bledisloe Cup. and the third is the South Island Challenge Shield for lamb. These three trophies are all held at the moment by Southland and make a unique collection. Street Meetings Restricted Effective steps have been taken by the Hamilton Borough Council to prevent street meetings that are calculated to cause obstructions to traffic or breaches of the peace. All the organisations accustomed to holding street meetings in Hamilton have been notified that the borough by-laws require that no meetings will be permitted without the written consent of the council. In only a few instances, including applications by religious bodies, has consent been granted. The permission given to the Communist Party to hold meetings in Seddon Park has been withdrawn by the Hamilton Domain Board, the controlling body. Increased Bookings

"Although tourist trallic from overseas has fallen away tremendously because of the war. there has been a heavy increase in the number of bookings for tours within New Zealand, probably from the same cause," said Mr L J. Schmitt, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce this week. Not many holidaymakers in New Zealand were going overseas, Mr Schmitt added, and local tourist traffic had been considerably stimulated in consequence. Trips to the South Island were popular, but the Centennial Exhibition had attracted thousands from Auckland. The inclusive tour arranged by the Tourist Bureau to Wellington and the glacier district in the South Island had proved highly attractive, and 40 bookings had already been received. "The bureau in addition has set itself to cater for those people with long holidays still to come who have been debarred from using their cars by the petrol restrictions," Mr Schmitt continued. "Tours by rail and service car, with side trips in public vehicles, have been planned so as to offer something by way of recompense for the restrictions imposed by the war. and the public response has been extremely gratifying.’

Normal Routine Upset The upsetting of normal routine by the air raid precautions that are so necessary in Great Britain at the present time may not be fully appreciated in New Zealand, but an English manufacturer writing to a Dunedin business man gives some idea of just what the precautions mean in his own business

alone (says the "Star’’) He mentions that air raid shelters and black-out precautions have already cost his firm £3,500. It is compulsory to have air raid shelters, pumps, ana decontamination squads, and the place certainly becomes disturbed with the holding of air ra-d practices, curtains at the windows, and such like. The glass roofs are painted over, and this means more electricity and work being carried out in artificial light during the day. But he philosophically dismissed it thus: “In fact we are having a very lively time, and the same applies at home.” The Women’s Christian Temperance Union will resume monthly meetings on Tuesday next, 13th February, at '2.45, p.m. It will be a special "Centenary” meeting in memory of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the world’s W.C.T.U., Frances E. Willard. The Richmond branch of the W.D.F.U. will hold a Garden Party at the home of Colonel Lorimer, Richmond, on Wednesday, 14th February. Buses leave Jones’s Corner at 2.15 p.m. At the Oddfellows’ Hall to-night the Loyal Nelson Lodge will entertain the dancing public of Nelson to “the dance of the year.” For the Early Bird ctmpetition at 8.30 p.m. prizes will be presented to the winning couple. At 9.30 p.m. the Monte Carlo waltz will take place, with valuable prizes A feature of the programme will be an exhibition of comic dancing by a leading Nelson comedian, during the supper interval at 10.30. Excellent music will be provided by the dance band. With a perfect floor and special supper, dancers are assured of enjoyable entertainment second to none. The members of the visiting Blenheim tennis team be the guests of the evening at the Stoke Dance Hall. Two wristlet watches will be given to the Monte Carlo winners, one watch having been donated by Mr Geo. Rennison. Mr F. Wilkinson will be the M.C. and Mr Harold Williams’ Dance Band will supply the music. A bus will leave the Suburban Bus Stand at 8.30 and return after the dance.

| Dangerous Vandalism 1 An example of larrikinism which, had it not been discovered, would probably have resulted in a serious accident, occurred at Central Park. Whangarei. In the curve of the water chute used by hundreds of small children and otiiers, the borough park superintendent, Mr F. S. Holman, found two 2in nails driven into the boards. They were at the point where the swimmer, after his slide, is precipitated into the water, and were so placed that they would have penetrated deeply »nto the body. The nails, which were headed, had been clumsily driven into the chute with a stone, which was found near by. Maori Next of Kin A recruiting officer in a district with a large native population has remarked the curious fact that Maori recruits enlisting *or the New Zealand Expeditionary Force almost invariably give the names of their father as the next of kin. Pakehas, on the other hand, usually give their mothers’ names when asked for next of kin (states the “Star"). The military officer has been unable to obtain an explanation of the Maori preference for the father, since the recruits whom he has questioned on the point usually smile shyly and say that it is the right thing to do.