LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23594, 1 March 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Petrol Regulations The oil fuel emergency regulations No. which make provision for the replacement of lost petrol coupons, enable the commissioner to recall coupons should occasion arise. By way of penalty for a false declaration, the commissioner may prevent a person from obtaining coupons for the duration of the war. February Bankruptcies Only three bankruptcies were filed at the office of the 'official assignee in Auckland for the month of I'ebruarv. The number compares favourably with that for when two petitions were filed. The total for the year is now seven, one more than for the two months last year. The petitioners were a traveller, a salesman and a labourer. Newmarket Baths Popular

Although the novelty of the Newmarket swimming pool has not yet worn off, probably the sultry weather was mainly responsible for the remarkable attendances during the past two days. The baths attracted 2000 people on Wednesday, bi|t an even better record was set yesterday, when 2800, ol whom 1500 took their plunge during the evening, sought temporary relief from the humid conditions in the sparkling fresh-water pool.

Special Petrol Coupons From to-day a special issue of petrol coupons is to he made to commercial travellers and others instead of the special licences by which it was possible to obtain motor-spirit from any reseller. The colour of the new coupons is gold and each will entitle the holder to puichaso two gallons from any source of supply. No more than a month's supply will be given at the beginning of each month.

Delay to Air Service Poor visibility at New Plymouth, combined with the bad surface on the landing field at Bellblock aerodrome, caused a delay of slightly over an hour in the arrival of Union Airways monoplane from the south yesterday, ihe aeroplane remained at Palmerston North until 2.M p.m., and then came direct to Auckland, arriving at Mangere aerodrome at 4.10 p.m., 70 minutes later than usual. After the machine arrives in Auckland to-morrow, it will probably leave again for New Plymouth 011 a special flight.

Busy Medical Boards Medical boards set up for the examination o! recruits in the Auckland area of the northern military district continue to work busily on two days and one night a week. Jt is no longer necessary to have boards sitting at the drill hall every day, but the number of volunteers examined maintains a fairly high average. The three boards which sat last week examined 179 recruits, ot whom slightly more than half were immediately passed as fit and about onequarter were temporarily rejected. February Pay Days

Jn spite of the fact that the month had only 29 days, workers who normally receive their salaries or wages on a Thursday were pleased to discover yesterday that Leap Year February had five pay days. On the other hand, workers who receive not a weekly wage but a yearly wage tried to convince themselves and others that, because they usually work 36-3 days and are paid accordingly, the fact that this year they will work 366 days for the same wage meant that yesterday they worked for nothing. Warm Day in Auckland

With the temperature reaching 78.'J0 degrees, yesterday was the hottest day in February and the second hottest day of the summer. Humidity added to the oppressiveness and beaches and swimming baths were popular in the evening, when there was little respite from the warmth. Throughout the day clouds came up from the north-west but were not sufficient to obscure th<> sun for any appreciable period. At Whangarei 81 degrees were recorded and the day was regarded as one of the hottest of the summer. Petrol in Demand With petrol coupons authorised for use during February valueless from today onward, motorists who had not exhausted their February allowances took the precaution yesterday of using up their remaining coupons. Service stations generally experienced better business, and some that usually close at 6 p.m. were open last night. It is expected that petrol will bo in demand to-day also, as many motorists with empty petrol tanks were anxiously awaiting March 1 to use some of the coupons set aside for this month.

Inadequate Art Gallery "The work of tho Art Gallery is severely hampered by want of proper accommodation," said Miss E. Melville, chairman of the City Council Libraries and Art Gallery Committee, speaking at the opening of the British loan exhibition yesterday. "Fourteen years ago the council decided that the city needed a new gallery," she said, "but we stand now just where we did then. The whole of this building is urgently required for library purposes. L should like to pay a tribute to the excellent work which the chief librarian and director, Mr. Barr, and his staff are doing under extreme difficulties." (Applause.)

Early Easter Easter, with its accompanying holidays, will fall this year almost as early as it is possible for it to do within the range of 3o days allotted. Sunday, March 24, is Easter Day. The only occasion in this century when the dny fell earlier was in 19.13, when it was on March 23. The earliest possible date for it is March 22. but this is of extremely rare occurrence. The latest date on which it can fall is April 2.>, and this will be experienced in three years' time. The irregularity of the date is shown by the fact that last year it was on April 9, and next year it will ho on April .13.

Group Travel Movement Tho group travel movement, sponsored by the physical welfare and recreation branch of the Department of Internal Affairs in conjunction with tho district physical welfare committees, enters upon its second year this winter. Group travel, while mainly a cheap off-season holiday development, has not been dormant during the summer. A party of tiO South landers travelled to the Centennial Exhibition. The group travel movement aims at making all sorts of recreative and educational contacts for its parties. Members of kindred bodies, when in other towns, can visit one another under its auspices, and visits may be made to factories, sheep-runs, gold mines, and other places not ordinarily seen by tourists.