LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Tramway Uniforms With the warmer weather of the past week or two, many tramwaymen have discarded their heavy uniforms for the lighter summer uniforms first issued a few years ago. The summer garb consists of a light flannef opennecked tunic, worn with the ordinary uniform trousers. The men, particularly the conductors, appreciate the summer uniform, which allows them much greater freedom of movement. Building in the City The value of private buildings erected in the city during November, as indicated by the permits issued by the City Council, was slightly above the average for this year. The total of £36,182 brought the expenditure for the year to £381,516, compared with £323,150 for the 11 months of last year. Included in the November permits were seven for private dwellings, making 92 for the year, as against 71 at this time lastyear. School's Fine Record "Old boys known to be overseas total well over 700, • and with those mobilised in New. Zealand the number in the armed forces is well over 1000," said Mr. W. Fraser, principal of the Hamilton Technical High School, in his annual report. Nearly 50 old boys had lost their lives, several were missing, and others were prisoners of war. Thirty old boys had returned on furlough, while many had gained distinctions on active service. Oranges and Bananas on Sale Quantities of imported oranges and bananas are now making an appearance in city shops. Fruit from a shipment of about 3000 cases of bananas which arrived on Friday and 2700 cases of Australian Valencia oranges is now on the counters. Smaller consignments of both were sent to provincial centres. An officer of the Internal Marketing Division said yesterday that reasonable quantities of Australian oranges would be obtainable by the public during Christmas week. New Zealanders Praised An Australian tribute to the New Zealand" forces in the south-west Pacific is passed on in a letter received by Mrs. C. L. Anthony, of Cornwall Park Avenue, Epsom, from her husband. Captain Anthony, of the A-I-F. in New Guinea. "An Australian officer," he writes, "has told me that a certain job the New Zealanders have done was a masterpiece. I have never heard an Australian who has been near them or with them in action speak of the New Zealanders in anything but terms of the highest praise." War Paintings Exhibition In the eight days since it was opened, the-exhibition of New Zealand war paintings by Captain Peter McIntyre has had 4064 visitors and nearly £lO5 has been contributed to the patriotic funds in donations and catalogue sales. Many servicemen, both New Zealanders and Americans, have been to see the pictures, a large proportion being men of the Eighth Army on furlough or invalided back from the Middle East. The exhibition, which is in the Art Gallery, will' be open for the last time on Sunday, afternoon. Soldiers' Songs '

The Archives Section of Army Headquarters is engaged in making as complete a collection. as possible of Navy, Army and Air Force songs and war music associated with the Second N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East and the Pacific. Flight-Sergeant T. J. Kirk Burnnand, musician and conductor, who served with the Second N.Z.E.F.. in the .Middle.-. d visiting Auckland in connection with this collection, and is seeking the co-operation of all returned men who are in a position to help. Destruction by Rats "Wellington citizens have not cooperated fully in the present campaign against rats," said Mr. P. Proctor, city council rat-catcher. "Many people do. not seem to realise that the rat population to-day is at least 25 per cent above normal. They do not seem to realise the damage that rats can do if they are not kept under control. It is not so much what they eat but what they destroy. Probably 10 rats eat and destroy as much food as is required by one person. On the average there is one rat to. every 10 persons, in a city the size of Wellington. _ That means we are feeding something like 20,000 rat ;." '