NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24613, 22 May 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

rPHE wording of the oath of allegiance which members of the Home Guard are required to take has caused considerable concern to some men who regard it as being either too vague in its terms or too wide in its §pope if strictly interpreted. The oath requires a member of the Home Guard “ to be faithful and to bear true allegiance to the King, and faithfully serve in the Home Guard according to the rules and orders of the Home Guard or in the defence forces of New Zealand if the unit of the guard with which he is serving should be embodied therein, until he is lawfully discharged.” Concern has been caused because is nothing in the oath restricting service with the guard to service within New Zealand, but it has been authoritatively stated that it is not the intention of the oath to bind a man to serve in any other capacity than as a member of the defence forces to guard New Zealand itself. Women and the Blitz

Two reported sayings of London women in regard to the war were detailed by Dr L. H. Hcugh, the American theologian, in an address at a luncheon in Auckland. A good example of British aplomb, said Dr Hough, was the woman who. when asked how she got on in an air raid, replied, “I reads my Bible, I says my prayers, and then I says, ‘ To 'ell with ’itler.’ and goes to sleep,” The fine art cf understatement, he added, was displayed by another woman in mentioning the satisfaction she got out of her little radio set: “ I like to listen to Mr Winston, because he seems so interested in the war." Mr Hughes on Greece

The Australian Minister for the Navy, Mr W. M. Hughes, said recently that the successful resistance of the Anzacs at Tobruk showed that, properly equipped, they could undoubtedly have held the lines allotted them in Greece. Mr Hughes said that by equipment he meant all things that went to make the efficient army in modern war —aeroplanes, tanks, and the rest. In Greece our aeroplanes had been outnumbered by 10 and 20 to 1. The lines stretching from Mount Olympus and, later, from Thermopylae, Mr Hughes said, were easier to defend than those at Tobruk. At Tobruk our troops were well equipped. Asked whether he thought that the British Government should have provided more aeroplanes in Greece, Mr Hughes said that the machines required could not be flown to Greece, and ships could not get them there in time.

Civil Aviation

Civil aviation statistics for the period ended March 31 last show that the various New Zealapd services carried 10,055 passengers, 49,6071 b of freight, and 34.2451 bof mail. Six services were operated and 173,240 miles were flown in 1330 hours. The greatest number of passengers (6383) was handled on the Nelson-Blenheim-Wellington service. Flying licences numbered 150, including 115 “A” pilots. Certificates of registration were issued to 39 aircraft. Sales Tax

Sales tax receipts for the month of March amounted to £583,086 (ordinary revenue purposes, £291,443; war purposes, £291,643). The £291,443 collected in March for ordinary revenue purposes compares with receipts of £259,246 in the corresponding month of 1940, as the war expenses portion of this tax did not commence to operate until June 28, 1940. Sales tax collections (for ordinary revenue purposes) for the financial year 1940-41 totalled £3.515,617, compared with £3.520,703 in 1939-40 and £3.572.110 in 1938-39.

Shortage of Building Material When his report was being discussed at the Otago Education Board's monthly meeting yesterday, the architect (Mr C. Muir) remarked that the difficulty with regard to building operations, now being undertaken, was not so much the shortage of men as of material. The iron, for instance, was almost unprocurable, and corrugated iron was completely off the market. The result was that a problem would arise when the question of providing country schools with water from the roof was being considered.

Municipal Organ Recital The city organist, Dr V. E. Galway, has arranged a programme of interesting organ music for his next recital in the Town Hall on Sunday evening. Two of the items, “ Civibat Eos” (Titcomb) and “ Before the Image of a Saint ” (Karg-Elert) are being played for the first time at these recitals. Special mention may be made of Bach’s Passacaglia in C Minor and Adagietto (Bizet), a request item. Other pieces of interest are “ Festival Prelude ” (Dunhill), “Evening Song” (Bairstow), Scherzo in C Minor (Guilmant), and “Marche Solonelle ” (Mailly). The assisting vocalist will be Miss Florence Pacey, who will sing “ Love's Lament ” (Michael Head) and “ The Poet’s Life ” (Elgar). There will be no charge for admission.

Old World Village “The village itself is like an illustration frem a story book,” states the official war correspondent with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force describing the old w’orld appearance of a Greek village in which the New Zealanders were billeted. “ Chickens in the tvdsting lanes, whitewashed cottage walls, moss-grown tiled roofs, a pretty school teacher, the endless drawing of water from the communal wells—it has them all. There is a low ceilinged shop crammed carelessly with everything from pottery to salted fish, with an old-fashioned stove in the middle of the floor and an open cask cf olives into which one may dip while the storekeeper rummages in his dusty shelves.”

Hospital Congestion The opinion that industrial legislation more than the Social Security benefits had brought about the increase in hospital board levies, was expressed by the chairman (Mr E. Macdonald) at a meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board. The subject was introduced when the report of the medical superintendent (Dr J. C. Mackenzie) was read, stating that the hospital accommodation was greatly taxed, stretchers having to be used. Accommodation for nurses was again a serious problem. “ I cannot help thinking that the Social Security benefits were brought in before the hospitals had time to make due preparations,” the chairman said. “ Patients as a result are not getting the attention they should, and the staff is also suffering because of the extra demands made on them.” The board was not in a position to know what extensions might have to be made. He did not know how the position would develop, and the situation might well become very serious. It might be relieved, however, if the outside practitioner scheme came into operation

“ Rotten ” History Books Old prejudices fostered by the history bcoks of Britain and the United States were disappearing as the people of the two countries became better acquainted, Commodore W. E. Parry, Chief of the Naval Staff, told members of the English-speaking Union at the first luncheon of the union held in Wellington. The last war had brought the sailors of the two countries closer together, he said, and he would welcome the opportunity of working with American naval men again. The navy had, of course, opportunities to meet other people, Commodore Parry said, but he felt that New Zealanders knew the Americans better than the British did. In England there were, unfortunately, many who had prejudices about Americans. He had found, however, that when the English met Americans they soon became friends. It appeared that prejudices were started by “ rotten ” history books. The average schoolboy was taught about British victories and practically nothing about American victories. The Britisn Navy had learned a lot from the American Navy, and the same would apply to the people; Britons could learn a let from Americans. On the other side of the picture the American history books had stressed the British mistakes and omitted the fact that the majority of Britons were in sympathy with American ideals.

A parade of the transport section will be held as usual in Crawford street on Sunday morning. W. Strachan, watchmaker, jeweller, 197 George street. Highest price for old jewellery, gold and silver watches. Advt. , Coffee for breakfast. Order from your grocer a tin of “ Bourbon,” the coffee of quality. Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie’s, coffee specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin.— Advt.