LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

No King's Birthday Parade One result of the Government's decision to further the training of the Territorial Forces is that the King's Birthday parade, arranged for June 3, lias now been cancelled. It was explained yesterday that concentration on the mobilisation of the territorial force would make such a parade impossible. Demand for Dominion Honey The ready demand which two recent" shipments of Now Zealand honey had mot with in Australia was referred to yesterday by Mr. J. B. Unswortli, an apiarist from Rotorua who has returned from a visit to the Commonwealth. Mr. Unswortli said that honey in Australia mainly came from tree flora of the euealypt variety and the Dominion product, especially white clover honey, lmd boon greatly appreciated. The "Filth Column" The need for Itotarians to assist in keeping up the morale of the people, especially in view of the serious situation in Europe, was stressed by Mr. W. Fraser, president of the Hamilton Rotary Club, at its weekly luncheon. "We have a 'Fifth Column' in our midst—those people who are adopting a defeatist attitude," said Mr. Fraser. "There is a good deal of this defeatist attitude about and Rotarians can do a great deal to offset it." Cyclists in America "Cycling on the United States highways is a strenuous, nerve-wracking affair," said Mr. Kaikee Klmras, during an address to the Auckland Rotary Club yesterday. Ho and two fellow Indians are on the last lap of a world cycling tour. "When we were there we found ourselves the slowest people on the road," he added. • "Most of the traffic on the main highways seemed to bo travelling more than 60 miles an hour, and wo found it hard to keep out of trouble." Power Supply Expansion An increase of £2271 in the gross sales of current for April, 1940, compared with the corresponding month last year, was shown in the report presented by the manager, Mr. A. Main, at yesterday's meeting of the Waitemata Electric-power Board. Sales totalled £14,488, compared with £12,217 in the previous April. During the month a large amount of engineering work, including feeder lines to the Hobsonville and Whenuapai air bases, had been completed. Shortage of Shearers "More than ever before we are in urgent need of shearers. The position is becoming increasingly serious, and we are looking to the Young Farmers' Clubs for help," remarked Mi'. A. Lawson at a meeting of the Manawatu Young Farmers' Clubs district executive. During a discussion on a proposal that a shearing contest be staged Mr. Lawson pointed out that farmers were in a growing difficulty, to which the clubs could in large measure afford a solution. They should be encouraged to take a lively interest.

Flight Again Postponed A further postponement for 24 hours of the flight from Auckland to Sydney of the flying-boat Awarua on the regular weekly service was decided upon yesterday as a result of an unfavourable weather forecast, and it is now hoped to leave Auckland at daybreak to-morrow. The forecast indicated that extremely strong headwinds were likely to .be encountered and that the crossing, if undertaken to-day, would be unduly, prolonged. The Awarua will be commanded on her coming trip by Captain Oscar Garden. Quality of Seed The sale of seed of inferior quality was discussed a meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production yesterday. The opinion was expressed that, as an emergency measure for the duration of the war, the Government should be asked to introduce a Seeds Act to ensure that primary production would not be retarded through the use of inferior seed. It was also decided to draw the attention of the director of primary production; Mr. R. B. Terinent, to previous remits along these lines which had been forwarded. Civil Servants' Jury Service After consideration Mr. Justice Fair, in the Supreme Court yesterday, granted exemption frorp jury service to a civil servant who brought with him a letter in which it was stated that his absence would cause inconvenience to the work of his department. "That is a very general statement," said His Honor. "Everybody's absence would no doubt cause some inconvenience." After deciding that the applicant would be exempted on this occasion His Honor added that members of the civil service had to take their part in serving on the jury the same as anyone else, and the fact that some inconvenience was caused was not a ground for exemption. If they could not be replaced, of course, they would be exempted.

Birds' Strange Tastes , , New. Zealand's native birds do not as a rule show a liking for a diet of stones, pieces of metal and the other indigestible objects which are popularly supposed to form part of the daily menu of the the ostrich, but conclusive evidence that one species of native bird Ims this curious taste was produced by a Dunedin sportsman. This consisted of n largo tablespoonful of assorted pebbles, the largest being approximately the size of a small pea, and no fewer than 21 small carpet tacks, -all of which were found in the gizzard of a pulceko he iiad shot on the Taieri. Another unusual exhibit was a small collection of pieces of shotty gold taken from the gizzard of a wild duck, which had apparently been feeding in one of the Otago streams and unconsciously doing some "prospecting."

Railway Crossing Danger A warning to motorists about crossing railway lines when trains were approaching was issued in the Magistrate's Court at Palmerston North by Mr. 11. P. Lawry, S.M.' Ho said there appeared to be an air of indifference regarding this class of offence, "which was becoming altogether too frequent. Statistics showed that 22 people were killed in the 12 months 1929-30, and since then the number had varied. In the last few years a large amount of money had been spent in erecting ramps, but notwithstanding that and increased facilities for crossing railway lines, the number killed last year, 19, was the largest number for eight years. There were 70 people injured, more than in any one year during the last 10 years. Hardly a Court day wont by without ono of these offenders before him. Ho had increased the fines from £5 to £7, but if it did not stop he- would make the penalty heavier. Offenders jvere liable to a fine up to £SO.