LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23699, 4 July 1940, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Communication with France It is announced by- the PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. P. C. Webb, that in the meantime postal communication with France has been suspended. It is stated in Auckland that any mail in transit will bo returned through the dead letter office if it had not been delivered at the time when the suspension became operative. Motorists' Loyal Response "The appeal of the Automobile Association (Auckland) for its members to place their cars at the disposal of one of the committees appointed tinder the emergency precautions organisation in the event of emergency arising has met with a very ready response," said Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the association, last night. With the exception of a few outlying areas, sufficient volunteers had enrolled in all districts, he said. Communist Doctrines A communication from tho Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. B. Mason, stating that ho would discuss with members the recent resolution of the Auckland Education Board expressing concern at the spread of Communistic activities in New Zealand, on his next visit to Auckland, was received at a meeting of tho board yesterday. The Minister will meet the board on Wednesday, July 17, and will consider all facts placed before him. Subsidy on Sugar

A protest against the subsidy granted recently by tho Government on the price of sugar was made in a resolution carried at a meeting of members of the New Zealand Women's Food Value League. It was complained that the "essential protective foods" were high in price, while sugar, which was not only non-essential, but also harmful when eaten to excess, as in New Zealand, received a Government subsidy. Tho Government was urged to place a tax on sugar and use the revenue to subsidise "protective foods."

Influenza Among Soldiers The number of soldier influenza patients in civilian hospitals is now smaller than at any previous stage of the outbreak at the Papakura mobilisation camji. Yesterday the emergency hospital at Ellerslie had oG patients, tho Auckland Hospital had 17, and the camp hospital accommodated eight, a total of 81. During the day, 19 soldiers were sent back to camp as fit to resume duty, and more are to be evacuated today. No fresh cases were admitted, and it is expected that in a few days the outbreak will have passed. Suspicious Statements Some of the statements by returned soldiers as ,to their ages were highly suspicious, said Major A. H. Wright in an address at a luncheon of the Napier Rotary Club. He instanced one man who gave his age as 37, but when the speaker recalled that the "recruit" had been on active service in the last war he was blandly told that he had been at Gallipoli when 14 years of age. On checking up another man's credentials it was found that he had apparently seen service when seven years of age and been discharged when he was 12.

Policeman's Teeth in Estimates Amid the grim records in the Estimates of the millions of pounds spent last year and the millions taxpayers will have to lind this year are lighter touches, which show that, after all, the people who compile these accounts arc human. One of the most comforting in tho latest Estimates is an item in last year's Police Department, expenditure of £2 los for repairs to an officer's denture damaged 011 duty. Whatever the affair, it will no doubt bo a reward to the officer that his devotion to duty is suitably recorded in his country's archives.

Huntly Tragedy Arising out of the finding of the body of nn Indian, Rama Khushal, close to his lonely shack at the'edge of a swamp near Huntly on May 18. a charge of murder against a Maori labourer. John Kite, aged 2:1. will be heard to-day in the Huntly Police Court. The hearing is expected to occupy two full days, evidence having to be taken from 25 witnesses, including four police officers and three experts. The case for tho police will be conducted by the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, and counsel for the accused will bo Mr. G. Skelton. The magistrate will bo Mr. \V. H. Freeman, of Hamilton.

Coast Road Closed The road between Seatoun and Lyall Bay, via Breaker Bay, Wellington, has been closed by the military authorities. The road is part of the marine drive, which is a popular short.run for Wellington motorists that has become even more popular since petrol rationing has discouraged longer trips. It is tho only part of the marine drive that has been closed since the outbreak of war.. During the Great War another part of the drive, that round Point Halswell, between Shelly Bay and Scorching Bay, was closed for military reasons. The Seatoun-Lyall Bay section has been constructed since the Great War.

New Brighton and Dunkirk New Brighton had little to worry about in the event of an attack from the air, said Mr. W. E. S. Fiirbv, at a meeting of the New Brighton Borough Council. The council was discussing the proposal to issue to householders in Christchurch a booklet outlining the precautionary measures which could be adopted "in the event of a major disaster." Mr. Furbv said it was difficult to say whether any military menace was envisaged in the proposal, which referred specifically to earthquakes. "But New Brighton is surrounded by sandhills, similar to Dunkirk, and bombs dropping in the sand are not very effective."

Mail for Soldiers To clear up any doubts which may still exist as to the correct way of addressing mail to troops of the Expeditionary Force, the Chief Post Office yesterday gave tho following as an example of how to address letters: Rank, name, regimental number, company and unit, echelon to which the individual belongs. There is no need to address letters care of the General Post Office, Wellington, but if tho sender chooses he may follow the address with tlie word "Overseas" or the, additional description, "New Zealand Expeditionary Force." In tho case of cablegrams, all those addressed to members of tho first echelon should be marked "Egypt," and all those to tho second echelon "England." Cablegrams should also contain rank, name, regimental number. The full military address of company, unit and echelon should also be included, but will not be charged for by the Post Office. -i