AIRMEN KILLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25054, 18 November 1944, Page 6

AIRMEN KILLED

INSTRUCTOR AND PUPIL ' CRASH ON TRAINING FLIGHT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday ( A Royal New Zealand Air Force Harvard aircraft from Wigram crashed at Springbanks, near Oust, yesterday afternoon while on a dual-flying training flight and the two. occupants were ' killed. They were Pilot-Officer J. V. H. Rofeinson, the pilot, of Lake Timara, Blenheim. Leading-Aircraftman L. J. Cunningham, a pupil under training, of Balclutha. Pilot-Officer Robinson, who was 21, was born at Christchurch and was educated at the Wailii Preparatory School and Christ's College. He was a member of the college first Rugby fifteen in 1940 and a champion swimmer, as well as taking a prominent part in other sports. He worked on his father's farm at Lake Timara before entering the R.N.Z.A.F. at the beginning of last year to train as a pilot. On completion of his training he was commissioned and retained in New Zealand as an instructor. Leading - Aircraftman Cunningham, who was 19, was educated at the South Otago High School and was a porter before he graduated to the R.N.Z.A.I*. from the Air Training Corps in August. 1943. VIEWS ON DANCING METHODIST DISCUSSION USE OF CHURCH PROPERTY (P.A.) INVERCAEGILL, Friday Permission to hold "acts of dancing" on church property was granted by the Ota go-South] and Methodist Synod yesterday. There was a keen discussion on the moral aspects of dancing and the outlook of the chinch. "We plav moral tiddluywinks," said the Rev. \Y. H. Greenslade (Invercargill), who moved the resolution, "and our attitude is one of gospel negations. Our laymen feel we are out of touch with life. We have gone wrong in. having lopped from us the arms which bring people into the church." Once, he said, the church administered all charities, and, like the Roman Catholic Church, contacted life at all points and in all spheres of interest. Today it opened its doors twice on Sundays. "My quarterly board wants us to centre all life around Christ," Mr Greenslade said. "We only ask youto give permission to have acts of dancing at a social programme—not whole night dancing." "We cannot dictate to our church members, but when it comes to throwing our church premises open to dancing, that is another matter altogether," said the Rev. A. E. Jefferson (Invercarcill). "It was said to me last year that if our conference gave its sanction to dancing the ministers themselves would have to come forward and control it. I am perfectly sure that young people would not be satisfied with one or two dances on a programme. You are going to have straight-out dances before long. I cannot see that we are going to improve the spiritual tone of the life of the church by permitting dances on church property." Mr H. C. Vince (Dunedin). as custodian of the Dunedin Town Hall, firmly opposed the motion. "I could tell you things about dances that would raise your hat." he said. "I am opposed to it from the bottom of my heart, and I live in the midd'.o of it from day to day." The resolution was carried. NEW FIRE STATION OPENING ON MONDAY The Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board's new buildings in Pitt Street will be officially opened on Monday afternoon by the .Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry. The function will commence at 2.30" and the speakers will be the chairman of the board, Mr B. Brigham, who will preside, Mr Parry, and the Mayor. Mr J. A. C. Allum Special provision has been made for about 50 official guests, including the mayors of boroughs within the board's district, as well as the general public, and the Papakura Camp Band will be present. At the conclusion of the ceremony the fire station will be opened to the public. Work on the new premises was commenced early in 1942 and the transfer of the brigade from the old quarters took place in April of this year. There are four floors in the main building and quarters for the staff are provided in the main block and adjoining buildings. The cost of the premises to date, including the land, is £162,000. The superintendent's house and a concrete retaining wall remain to be erected hefore the project is completed. HOSTEL MOVEMENT THE HOUSING OF WORKERS Industrial development in the community had outpaced social development, particularly in housing requirements, stated an interim report on the hostel movement presented to a special meeting of the Auckland Vocational Guidance Advisory Council last night by Mr N. G. Gribble, vocational guidance officer. It appeared that the hostel movement favoured by the council for young workers would be a move to attack at least a minor part of the difficulty. Representatives ot industry had expressed their willingness to play their part, but had emphasised that the workers themselves should assume some responsibility. Certain employers had already established their own health clinics with beneficial results. In one case absenteeism had been reduced to 1 per cent, and it was considered that the hostel movement could achieve remarkable results. It was believed the health aspect would justify the appointment of a representative of the medical profession to the executive and the reaction of the Health Department was favourable. It was suggested that liaison should be established with interested organisations and that a committee should be set up to investigate further. The council agreed to authorise Mr Gribble to act in the meantime. POLISH GRATITUDE SHELTER FOR CHILDREN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The following cablegram has been received by the Primp ~ aster. Mr Fraser, from the Prime Minister of Poland, Mr Stanislaw Mikolajezyk: "I am sincerely grateful to you for having so generously complied with our request, which I had the opportunity to present to you personally during your stay in London, to give shelter to the Polish children who recently landed on the hospitable soil of New Zealand. I wish to thank you most cordially, not only in my own name and that of the Polish Government, but also in the name of the whole Polish nation, who are particularly anxious about the fate of their children." STRIPPING MOTOR-CARS COURT'S STERN ATTITUDE On four charges of theft of motorcar parts and one of unlawful car conversion, Joseph Ratcliffe, aged 36 (Mr Noble), was yesterday sentenced by Mr Justice Callan to terms amounting in all to two years and six months' imprisonment with hard labour. Mr Cleal represented the Crown. Mr Noble submitted that the prisoner had not been the leader in this stripping of cars. His Honor said it must be made clear that the Court was disposed .to be severe on this crime of stripping motorcars in order to supply the black market with wheels and tyres. "Persons caught in this kind of thing must expect no mercy here at all," he said.