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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 24 October 1940, Page 4

Service Wear: For the very latest in Suits, Shorts, 2-piece Costumes by Speedo, Jantzen, etc., go to Huggins’ Service Store.* Trathen's say, “Come and look around”; the Store overflows with New and Attractive goods—Frocks, Costumes, Coats, Beach and Holiday Wear, Bags, belts, Scarves. Many at last year’s prices.* Sports Shirts in Celanese, Cellular Weave, Locknit, in full range of colours, 8/11, 10/6. —Huggins’ Service Store.* Holiday Wear at Trathen’s: Smartly Tailored Costumes from 79/6; Spring Coals lightly priced 49/6, 69/6, 99/6.*

Prizes Unclaimed The fate of unclaimed art union prizes was revealed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, who said that philanthropic and kindred bodies benefited from them. He said many people who participated in the £SOOO alluvial gold art unions either mislaid their tickets or failed to examine the published results, and it was surprising how many prizes were forfeited because they were not claimed v/ithin the three months stipulated. “The philanthropic and kindred bodies benefit from these unclaimed prizes,’’ Mr Parry said. “We have been able to make allocations twice yearly to the bodies from surplus profits of the art unions, a good deal of which comes from unclaimed prizes. The position really is that the greater the number of unclaimed prizes, the greater becomes the amount handed over to deserving bodies for the fine work they render to the community.” Conscription Supported “When we consider the appalling consequences of our Empire’s defeat I am astounded that questions should even now be asked why conscription has been introduced into this country,” said Mr D. W. Russell, president of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association, at a Home Guard meeting in the Christchurch Civic Theatre. “It is in force in England. Such a question needs no reply. It is obviously the fair and equitable way to ensure that all classes make a corresponding sacrifice and do their duty. This, anyway, was the opinion of the annual conference of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, which met last May and which adopted a resolution requesting the Government to demand equality of sacrifice and expressed the view that this object could only be attained by a national register and the introduction of compulsory universal national service. A similar resolution was passed at the conference in 1939.” Increased Cost of Living Complaints about the increased cost of living in New Zealand were not justified when prices here were compared with other countries affected by the war, the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister for Mines, said at meetings held in the Buller coalmining towns of Millerton, Stockton and Denniston, when speaking to meetings of waterside workers and railway employees. There had been little increase in the prices for goods produced in New Zealand and no more than a reasonable one on imported goods when the many difficulties at the present time were fully considered. The Labour Cabinet was keeping a good eye on the marketing position, and it would not allow the people to be exploited. Speaking of the suggestion by some persons that the Government should take over the Bank of New Zealand, Mr Webb said that such a step would be unwise because of the unsettled state of foreign finances at the present time. However, the Government, with four of the six directors of the bank, had virtual control. X-Ray Magic A group of American experimentalists endeavouring to extend the uses of X-ray have found that mutation can be brought about by treating seeds with the ray, says the “Journal of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.” It is claimed that new varieties of narcissi have been developed by exposing bulbs to X-ray, and grapefruit two inches high have burst into bloom at the age of five weeks. A Useful Ally Many of the New Zealand soldiers serving in the fly-infested areas of the Western Desert have a very useful little ally, according to a letter received in Christchurch from Private F. Marshall, formerly of Hokitika. It is the chamelen, which is found on small bushes growing in the desert. “It sits on the brim of my hat all day long swatting flies with a tongue about seven inches long,” writes Private Marshall.

Users of Transport “The principle that users as well as operatores have a claim to become shareholders in merger transport companies, in order that the users’ interests may be represented on the directorates of such companies, is now being recognised by the Transport Department,” said Mr A. C. A. Sexton at a meeting of the Franklin subprovincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at Pukekohe. Mr Sexton added that the users were taking the controlling interest in a merger company at Tauranga.