NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23759, 12 September 1940, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

THE ETERNAL PURPOSES Whether we or only our successors will build in peace, the City of God will rise, for its Divine Architect has created man a living soul, and no man or machines can deprive the soul of "lebensraum," writes Dr. L. F. Church in the Quarterly Review. The pessimist may say we have failed and we may admit that life is made up of failures. But it is not futile for man to look beyond the battle-smoke and dare to challenge time and space to his spirit into bonds! The human spirit is the creation of God, and in spite of all its pitiful abuse of freedom it is not given to man to hurl back and destroy the eternal purposes. THE BIBLE AS BUCKLER

The Bible is full of the theme of spiritual victory won, in spite of all that opposes itself to the man or nation or church called upon to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand, writes a. correspondent of the Times. It has much to say of hard journeying over rough ways, but nothing of any need to turn back. There are always ample resources for him who knows where to look for them. The Bible is 110 book for those who wish to find an excuse for the spirit of defeatism. None has known that better than sailors and soldiers who have given themselves to the utmost of sacrifice in the service of Britain. They are the men of whom it-is no paradox to say that even when victory lias been denied them they have remained undefeatable. The unconquerable spirit of Gordon at Khartoum speaks for them all.

3AVING GOODS AND SERVICES

The cost of war is outside the range of most people's comprehension, writes a correspondent to the Times. For that reason it is desirable that the prevention of waste should be considered, not in terms of money, but directly in terms of the things for which the money stands —namely, British man-power, and imported goods and services for which foreign currency has to bo provided. These are tho things which are scarce, not money. Tho taxpayer has the right to expect Government departments to bo lavish in expenditure of internal currency—and tho Treasury to condone such lavishness —when it results in the jobs being done more quickly and victory being made more certain. What cannot be condoned in Government departments and private spenders alike is any wastage of raw or manufactured materials, or the utilisation of available man-power on unnecessary tasks or by inefficient methods of working. These are the points to emphasise, and not just money'savings.

WAITING FOR ZERO HOUR "I wns visiting recently some of our defences in a sector which is held by the moil of the regiment in which I served in the last war. I was greatly encouraged by seeing the work which had been done and by the bearing of our men. They will not fail us," said Mr. C. It. Attlee, Lord Privy Seal and leader of the British Labour Party, in a recent address. " Naturally, my thoughts turned to the last war. I recalled how when one was about to go into action, one had a certain calm of mind, a dedication to the immediate task. In the waiting tinio beforo zer.o hour, ono's thoughts might turn to the kind of world one hoped to see after the war, but it was not worth while thinking much of ono's own part in it. To-day it is not the fighting men alone, but the whole nation, which is waiting for zero hour. Wo are engaged in total warfare against an enemy who will neglect no means of attaining his aim —an enemy who is utterly ruthless in his methods. Ho will fix tho zero hour to suit himself. I want us all to use the waiting time, be it long or short, to the best possible advantage to our cause. I stress the point that all of have to play our pari.' l

LOCAL AND GENERAL Sales of Electricity During tho period April 1 to July 31 the Central Waikato Electric-Power Board sold electricity to a total value of £31,683, compared with £'26,821 for the corresponding period last year. The increase for tho period of £4862 is equal to 18 pec cent. Another 34 consumers came oii to the hoard's supply during August, making the total now 7152.

Volunteer Badges The distribution of volunteer badges to men in the Auckland area who offered their services in the voluntary period, but were rejected or discharged for medical reasons, is proceeding as rapidly as the drill hall can summon men to collect the badges. The first 1000 badges were exhausted some time ago and now inroads are being jnade into an additional 1000 badges that have been obtained. Fewer Traffic Prosecutions Continuing tho trend of recent weeks, there were fewer than 50 prosecutions for offences against the traffic regulations in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Few of the charges wero of a serious nature, the majority concerning drivers who had failed to renew their warrants of fitness. Two motorists charged with not obeying the offside rule wero fined £2 and costs, but most fines ranged from 10s to £l.

Better Prices at Westfleld Short entries came forward in every section at the Westfield fat stock market yesterday, and prices generally were higher than those ruling over the last two weeks. Beef, which had dropped Id per lb. in the preceding fortnight, recovered some of tho ground lost," and other sections showed similar improvements. Over all, the entries were the lightest for some time and tho bidding was brisk even for the poorer quality offerings.

Bequest to Golf Club A bequest of £IOO to the Auckland Golf Club to provide a prize or prizes is made by the will of Mr. A. W. Gillies, sharebroker, whoso death occurred on August 26. According to further provision in the will the gift of the painting "Herring Fishing" by Chalmers will eventually come to the Auckland Art Gallery and a gift of "Wedgwood china to the Auckland Institute. The estate has been valued for probate at under £II,OOO. Accident Victims' Condition

The condition of Mr. George Walter Cullen, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital on Saturday night with a severe wound in the lung, suffered when a rifle discharged at East Tamaki, was reported last night to bo improved. Mr. Maxwell Arthur Bonnett, who was crushed between two tramcars at the Gaunt Street depot on Tuesday morning, and had to have one of his legs amputated, was reported last night to be still in a very serious condition. Football Excursion Train Bookings have been extremely heavy for the week-end excursion train which will enable Aneklanders to visit Wellington for the annual representative Rugby match between Auckland and Wellington. Up to yesterday 570 reservations had been made for the train, which will consist of 11 carriages with total accommodation for 620 passengers. The train will leave Auckland at 6.10 p.m. to-morrow/ returning early on Monday morning.

Wind Damages Orchards The high wind yesterday did a certain amount of damage to orchards exposed to the west, and ground around peach trees was covered thickly with pink blossoms. In the case of some fruits, such as plums, the trees have been in bloom too long for the wind to do any damage, while several other varieties are not yet in flower. Strong winds at this time of the year are generally associated with the equinox, which is still more than a week away. Walkaremoana Road Slip Provided further heavy rain does not complicate matters, the Public Works Department expects the slip between Ruatahuna and the Hoparahine Saddle on the Waikarcmoana Road will be cleared in a few days. Two factors have contributed to the difficulties involved in clearing this slip, which lias inconvenienced traffic for the past month. The rubble hillside has continued to slip and has partially dammed a small stream which was forded at this point.

Renewing Water Mains Since the work of cleaning and relining with cement old cast iron water mains in the city area was commenced about seven years ago, the city waterworks department has reconditioned over 30 miles of mains. Some of the older mains in the Remuera district are now receiving attention. Mains which have been in use for 50 years or more and have had their capacity reduced by half as a result of encrustation are by this treatment given a further life of at least another half century. It has been found that the terminal or dead-end portions of mains become encrusted to a very much larger extent than sections nearer the reservoirs and this is attributed largely to the lower velocity of the water. Pea Seed for Britain Field and garden peas for the production of seed are to be grown this season on 500 acres of the Heretaunga Plains, Hastings, and the crop will be exported to Britain. Every means has been used to see that the high standard demanded by the British market is attained, an authority on soil types best suited to the various varieties having visited the district and selected suitable areas for the crops. Twelve varieties aro to bo grown, mainly garden peas, but including a few field peas. It is stated that the average crop of peas should provide a gross return of £lB an aero for the grower, and it is expected that at least 5000 sacks of pea seed will be provided from Hawke's Bay. In addition to pea seed, mangold seed is also being grown for the New Zealand market.

Medals for Rugby Team Members of the Now Zealand Army team which defeated the Combined Services team in tho final of the Services' Rugby tournament in Egypt last Easter Monday each received a silver medal in commemoration of the event. Corporal T. K. Thomson, a well-known Rugby player of Waiuku, was in the New Zealand team in this match and has forwarded his medal to his father, Mr. John Thomson, of Maioro, for safe keeping. Tho medal is almost two inches in diameter and lias a broad flanged edgQ. On one side the word "Egypt" with tho date beneath is ringed by a laurel wroath and on the other the names of tho competing teams are inscribed. The match was played in a temperature of nearly 80 degrees and was watched by one of the largest crowds ever seen at a Rugby , match in Egypt,,