GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 October 1941, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Maori Soldiers’ Complaint. An investigation into complaints of unfairness in the distribution of gift parcels and comforts to members of the Maori Battalion overseas was requested by the Waiapu County Zone in a letter to the East Coast Provincial Patriotic Council. Complaints were that Maoris did not receive their due share, as one gift parcel was often allocated to four and often to more men, whereas their European comrades at the same issue received a parcel each. The complaints arose from statements made by officers of the Maori Battalion who recently returned from Egypt. The Spirit of Service A striking instance of the keen enthusiasm of a youth to serve with the fighting forces was provided in an in eident which occurred on the Great South Road (Auckland > on Tuesday afternoon (records the “Herald"'. He was proceeding to the city in a small tourer model motor-car which suddenly caught fire. Passing motorists as sisted him to extinguish the flames around the engine. This accomplished, he turned to the others, and asked for a lift to town. In reply to suggestions that he should see to his car he said it I could wait—he had an appointment in connection with his enlistment in the Royal New Zealand Air Foice as a pilot. Not even attending to his hands, which were scorched and fire-blackeiu | ed, he hastened on his journey. Religious Education ! His belief that no change could be | secured in the official attitude to relig- | ious education in New Zealand unless | the churches could go to the Govcrni ment "with some sort of agreed pro- ; oosals.” was expressed by Archbishop i West-Watson in his address to the Anglican Synod service in the Christchurch Cathedral (reports the “Press"» ! '1 am also inclined to think that *j-,e Government would welcome such i agreement and that, if it could be asI ,-ured that it was not to he involved in i inter-church conflict, it would meet the churches in a generous spirit." He com- | mended to Synod a motion for co-op-j eiation with other synods and other denominations in "a new nation-wide 1 movement to strike out the word ‘seeular’ from the Education Act. and to plan a programme for reform.” I Weeds tor Drugs ' A protest at the planting by the i Hastings Borough Council of two types I of noxious weed, foxglove and nightshade, for medicinal purposes, was voiced by Hawkes Bay County Council J members, who were of the opinion that i this would be a menace to the district around Hastings. The borough council's proposal is to plant about 26 acres jin Hastings in certain weeds, which will ; b( manufactured after the crops have : been harvested into drugs which are in i short supply owing to the war. The ( county council was given an assurance ! mat the weeds would be picked well | before seeding and that therefore no ) danger would result, but members o I the county council hold that in spite of : all care there would be a risk, and that effective control ould he difficult. One councillor aaicl there were hundreds of acres of foxglove already growing in Hawkes Bay, and it was already listed as a noxious weed for Hawkes Bay. Lewis and the Petrol Shortage j The question of the zoning of bpwlI ing clubs to enable players to compete j in inter-club competitions without the j need of long trips by motor-car was i again discussed by the Christchurch Bowling Centre at a meeting this week j (reports "The Press”). It was suggested by several delegates that clubs were ! being forced to withdraw from compei titions because of the shortage o| petrol, and to avoid this games should ! be arranged among clubs with direct communication with each other. Mr A. Dickson, for the match committee, said some groups were easy lo ar- ! range, but with outlying clubs it war : hard, and sometimes impossible, to en j sure transport without a change in i trams or buses. "The more I consider : it. the greater is the problem: it is most unfortunate that bowlers have been ; spoon-fed in the last few years. Not ! so long ago it was nothing to travel long distances to matches on trams or j bicycles.” Mr Dickson said. It wo.. ! agreed by members present, that nc ! club wished to win points by default, j and it was left to the match committee , Shortage of Farm Labour. Will) the object ol assisting l< alleviate the acute shortage of lam ! labour, the Southland Council o Primary Production is recommendinj to the Government, that there shoulc i be compulsory registration of men ex i perienced in farm work who are now otherwise employed. A decision tc I this effect was made by the counci ; this week (reports the “Southlanc | Times”). It was made clear that sue! • registration would not mean that regis ' tered men would be compelled to worl on farms, but the list would be usefu in enabling the authorities tr keep ii • i contact with a possible reserve o (I labour so that offers of urgent season I al work could be made to experienc'd i: men who might be spared for the pur i! pose from their present employment i The secretary (Mr A. L. Adamson > said he had written to the Minister o i National Service 'the Hon. R. Semple >; advising that there were no single mei • and lew married men available fo ’ farm work in the province. It wa suggested that compulsory registratioi j be arranged for men who within ; • igiven period, for example, live year.' had transferred from farming to othe i work. The procedure adopted in th< i cheese industry had been suceessfu . i{> d there was no reason why it shouh j no* be just ac successful with genera ! Twin Sets in Soft Pastel Shades, nev • jde. w Dainty Lace Patterns. Pink j Blue. Maize and Green, 39/6. McKay’s.

“Emergency Precautions Services” A change in the name of the Christ church emergency organisation from Emergency Precautions Scheme to Mayor (if Christchurch (Mr E. 11. Andrews), slate; "The Press." The change was made on the suggestion ol Ihe controller of the supplies section (Mi R. I>■ rich - vho po nted out that with the development of the organisa Uon lo a point where it is almost realty lo give full service to the community, the new name would give the scheme a better standing in the community. Mi Dench also argued that the change would result in greater pride in mempublic' confidence in the service to bi icndered. The adoption of the wore "services” would also bring the or.'nrp isntion into line with similar bodies n other countries. The Mayor pointed mil that Ihe change did not involve any change in the popular abbreviation ol the title. "E.P.S " Visits to Holy Land. Many New Zealanders serving witl the forces in the Middle East are mak ing extensive tours of Palestine and thi Holy Land during periods of leave, ac cording to letters reaching relatives In a recent letter an Aucklander re ferred to the beauty of some of thi countryside he visited. Its broad pad docks and rolling hills studded witl sheep and cattle reminded him of Nev Zealand, and he added: "I found mysel wishing I’d appreciated my own lam more than 1 had dune."