NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24716, 19 September 1941, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

'THE Mayoress (Mrs A, H. Allen) has received a notification from the Women’s Volunteer Services in England that gifts of clothing such as have already been sent by the New Zealand Lady Galway Patriotic Guild will again be acceptable. The message expresses appreciation of the gifts already sent. Mrs Allen, therefore, appeals again to Dunedin citizens to give further articles of clothing, which may be left at the rooms of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council in Municipal lane. The garments most particularly desired arc boys’ shorts and underclothing, women's underclothing, and clothes for children aged from two to five years. Good woollen clothing of all descriptions will also be welcomed. Men Unfit for Army A proposal that the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, should consider issuing a badge or a certificate to men called in the ballot and classed medically unfit was contained in a question of which Mr J'. A. Roy (Opposition, Clutha) gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday. “ Some men who have been classed as unfit have been accused of being shirkers, and this would be a protection for them,” Mr Roy added. Houses for Soldiers’ Wives

A request that the Minister of Housing, Mr H. T. Armstrong, in the future allocation of State rental houses, should give preference to the wives of soldiers serving in the fighting forces, especially those serving overseas, was made by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition. Waitomo) in a question of which he gave notice in the House of Representatives yesterday. He added that soldiers’ wives, especially those with children, were finding it more and more difficult to rent homes.

Some New “Ashes ” “We hear about the Englishmen and Australians playing cricket for ‘the ashes,’ ” said Mr H. J. Duncan at the annual meeting of the Albion-Y.M.C.A. Cricket Club last night, “but it is not often that a club has the ashes of its own pavilion.” Mr Duncan then handed to the president of the club a packet containing ashes from the Logan Park pavilion, which was destroyed by fire on Sunday. The president ((Mr F. N. Binney) said that when the club found a now home he was sure it would find an appropriate use for “ the ashes.”

A Handsome Donation The Albion-Y.M.C.A. Cricket Club has received valued assistance in the way of monetary gifts towards replacing its loss in the Logan Park fire; but the most unusual and probably the most generous donation was one received by the president of the club (Mr F. N. Binney) yesterday. While discussing the loss with a business man Mr Binney • was astounded when he was handed a “ greenback "—for no less than 100 American dollars. This bill is worth £29 14s 4d in New Zealand currency, and it can well be realised how much the generous gift was appreciated. Auxiliary Traffic Inspectors A squad of twelve auxiliary traffic inspectors under the Emergency Precautions Scheme will be given the opportunity this evening of gaining some practical experience of their duties. Assisted by the staff of the City Traffic Department, they will take charge of the busier intersections in the city, and pedestrians and motorists are requested by the department to co-oper-ate with them by obeying their signals promptly and giving them as little trouble as possible. Another squad of auxiliaries will be on duty to-morrow morning, and to-morrow week it is probable that the full section will control the traffic at Carisbrook on the occasion of-the Patriotic Sports Gala Encouraging Children’s Swimming

A record number of swimming cerliflicates were issued to Otago schools by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association in the past year. The total of 2814 included 867 beginners’ certificates, 1030 learners. 642 proficiency, and 274 for merit. One special award was made and 284 special 10 yards’ certificates were also issued. It was reported that the children concerned voluntarily entered for the certificate tests and that they represented all ages, from the smallest pupils of the lowest grades. A tribute to the work being done by the Otago Centre and clubs for swimming in the schools was paid at a meeting of the Otago Education Board yesterday. It was stated that the number of beginners and learners was definitely encouraging.

A Refractory Heater A loud hissing noise and a miniature geyser of steam created an unexpected diversion from the serious business of the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand last night. The secretary had almost completed reading the minutes when the Interruption occurred, and all eyes were turned towards a member who was almost enveloped in a cloud of steam which was escaping from a healer. An effort was made to turn off the recalcitrant heater, but the only result was a muttered ejaculation and a narrow escape from a scalded hand on the part of the land agent. It was not until the whole heating system had been turned off that peace was restored and the meeting again settled down to business. Cricket Prospects

“ With so many players being called up for active service, the committee recognises it will have serious difficulties to face in the coming year, but it trusts that all will give every support to enable the game to be kept going until the war is brought to a victorious conclusion.” states the annual report of the Otago Cricket Association, to be presented at the annual meeting on September 30. Thg action of the City Council in agreeing to reduce ground rents during the coming season was greatly appreciated, the report added, and would prove most helpful to the association and the clubs in the anxious year to be faced. It was pleasing that clubs in spite of their depleted membership, had maintained their contributions to the endowment fund, which would be of advantage to the future of Otago cricket.

Issue of Dog Collars May Cease The shortage of metal fittings and buckles for dog collars has caused several local bodies, faced with the impossibility of securing supplies of collars this } car. to ask the Government for an amendment to the law which will obviate the necessity for issuing a new collar on the registration of each dog. The town clerk of Christchurch. Mr H. S. Feast, said on Wednesday that the regulations required the local authority to keep on hand a supply of dog collars and to issue them on the registration of each dog, for which there was a fee of 10s. Alternatives were being considered by the Christchurch City Council, including the issue of a small metal disc, to be attached to the old collar, in lieu of a new collar. Representations had been made to the Department of Internal Affairs, and the department had replied that it was going into the matter.