LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24132, 26 November 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sitting of Special Tribunal The first sitting in Auckland of the special tribunal to deal with the financial position and employment of conscientious objectors whose appeals have been allowed or have been dismissed subject to non-combatant service, will be held in Auckland to-day. Proceedings will be in camera at the offices of the National Service Department. About 10 cases will be heard today by the tribunal member, Mr. A. H. Johnstone, K.C. Sharks in Both Harbours When fishing in the Manukau Harbour near Puketu'tu Island two Onehunga' residents caught a groundshark 6ft. in length, after playing it for about 15 minutes on a schnapper line. Sharks are rarely found in the Manukau before January, but it is thought large schools of mullet may have attracted them. A large shark was seen yesterday afternoon in the Waitemata Harbour by a man fishing from the end of the Ponsonby Wharf. The shark swam around the wharf for several minutes. Cauliflowers Cheaper A sharp drop in prices for cauliflowers occurred at the City Markets yesterday. Although other vegetable values still rule very high, cauliflowers are now selling at from 5s to 9s a sack, compared with 8s to 14s 6d on Friday. It was stated yesterday that with hotter weather the general demand for cauliflowers immediately falls off. In addition, the warmer conditions of the past few days had developed crops more rapidly, necessitating immediate marketing. In the retail shops small cauliflowers could be obtained for as cheap as 6d each, but best quality were selling up to Is 3d. Territorial Training A fairly large body of Auckland area Territorial Force recruits will enter various camps next, Monday for three months' intensive training. They include 230 University and Training College students and a number of other Territorials. The latter will go to two camps, half to the 3rd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, at Rotorua, and half to the 22nd Field Company, New Zealand Engineers, at Avondale. Another draft of men will enter camp on January 5. some going to the 15th Battery. New Zealand Artillery; others to the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment; and the remainder to the Ist Provost Company. All these men will receive their recruit training at Whangarei. Rowboats lor Guards The rowing boat in which Captain R. S. Judson, V.C., and two soldiers rescued four artillerymen from a swamped skiff in the harbour on November 18 was one presented to a guard point by the Metropolitan Patriotic Executive for recreation purposes, according to a statement made at the executive's meeting last night. The matter came up when the camp amenities sub-committee suggested that a boat for another waterfront guard point should be provided at a cost of £25, ! including oars. The sub-committee sug- j gested that there could be no more appropriate gift, and added that it would undoubtedly be used to good account in an emergency. The recommendation was adopted. Rail Fares for Troops The opinion that individual soldiers going on leave from Waiouru Camp should be allowed the same railway fare concessions as when leave was granted to large numbers was expressed by members of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Executive last night, when a letter was received from the district railway traffic manager stating that on occasions of general leave and when sufficient notice was given to the department the second-class return fare to Auckland was 17s lOd, and to Wellington, 13s sd. Travel might be by special or ordinary express trains, as arranged. Individual soldiers going on leave were required to pay the ordinary single fare, less 20 per cent for single journeys and plus approximately *2O per cent for return journeys. The executive decided to reply that it could not see the reason for the distinction and to ask whether the lower rate could not be made applicable to all men.