NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24733, 9 October 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

A MEMBER of a territorial unit stationed in Dunedin, who was sent by the army authorities yesterday to Hanmer Springs for convalesence after an illness, was accompanied by a nurse attached to the Voluntary Aid Detachment in Dunedin. Although young women of this unit have been engaged during the past fortnight as nurses accompanying soldier patients to and from hospital in the military, ambulance, they have not previously been assigned to travel any great distance with convalescent cases. In future, however, this will be the normal practice, as V.A.D.'s are to be used in order to release for more essential work soldiers who were previously engaged as medical aids. ■*

Tribute to Former Leader Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, and a short commemorative ceremony was held at his grave in the Bolton street cemetery in Wellington. The Prime Minister (says our parliamentary reporter) paid a tribute to a great leader who. he said, had not lived to reap the fruits of victory. Wreaths from headquarters and branches of the party were laid on the tomb.

Patriotic Sports Gala As a result of the recent carnival held at Carisbrook by the Otago Provincial Council of Sport in aid of patriotic funds, the- sum of at least £235 was raised. This was stated at a meeting of the Otago Provinical Council of Sport last night, over which Mr W. A. Jenkins presided. The gross takings were over £2BO and expenses were kept down to less than £SO. Appreciation was expressed of the cooperation and help given by the various sports bodies and other workers.

Social Security Preferred A statement that a Maori for whom he could find fairly regular employment would not come to work at times because he preferred to draw social security payments was made by a witness at a sitting of the Gisborne District Man-power Committee. He added that many Maoris in his locality had a stronger leaning towards social security than towards earning wages. Members of the committee raised the question how Maoris were able to get social security allowances if work was available. The witness was unable to inform the committee on this point, but stated that he could not employ a man if he did not turn up for work. Women and Current Event* "I am often concerned with the lack of interest in current events shown by young women students," said Mr A. J. Campbell, lecturer in history at the Christchurch Training College, during a talk in Christchurch on the significance of historical studies. The explanation of this attitude, which was often given quite seriously, he continued, was that in their homes many young women were discouraged from discussing these questions. "In the modern world we cannot afford to refuse women the right to take an intelligent interest in the affairs of the country or the world at large, and the development of this outlook should be stimulated by parents as much as possible," he concluded. Two Masked Boy*

The discovery of Maori and European boys aged 14 and 13 wearing masks, and one dressed in a black cape in an East Coast motor garage at night was described to Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., in the Children's Court at Gisborne. The boys admitted that they were imitating a character in a serial, film. The proprietor of the garage, surprised the boys at 11 p.m. and took them to the police station. Papers on his office desk had been disturbed and the table telephone overturned. The boys were placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for two years on a charge of breaking and entering the garage and .the theft of a bunch of keys valued at ss. A Woman Debtor

"It is not the practice of this court to imprison married women for debt," said Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Hamilton Court when dealing with a judgment debtor case. When counsel pointed out that the State recognised no distinction and .that women did many things nowadays that men did, the magistrate agreed, and added that they even wore men's clothes. After counsel had pointed out that the debtor had ignored notices sent to her and had been given every opportunity to settle the matter, the magistrate said that if it gave any satisfaction to the creditor to have a married women imprisoned he would make an order. The debtor was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended so long as the debt was paid by instalments of £1 a week.

The Common Fly Two flies are capable of producing, in one year, as many as 335,293,200,000,000 flies, said Cr A. E. S. Hanan at a recent meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, urging the council to take precautionary measures against the spreading of disease by flies. A fly's egg, he said, was the size of a pin's head. In 10 days this egg became an adult, which in seven days began laying eggs at the rate of 100 every 10 days. Cr Hanan said that flies were capable of spreading 30 wellknown diseases and one fly would carry on its body no fewer than 5.000,000 germs—enough to infect a whole household. The public accepted the oorr.mon fly, he said, without realising its harm ful potentialities. Municipal Organ Recital The city organist, Dr V. E. Galway, will give an after-church recital in the Town Hall on Sunday evening, for which an interesting programme of organ music has been arranged. Special mention may be made of Merkel's brilliant "Introduction and Fugue in E,"' "Allegro Cantabile " and the " Toccata." both from Widor's Fifth Symphony. "The Prize Song' and the "Overture" to the Mastersingers (Wagner). Other pieces of interest to be performed are: Gavotte in D major (Bach) and "Prayer and Cradle Song," by special request (Guilmant). Dr Galway will be assisted by the Cecilia Choir, under the conductorship of Miss Meda Paine. Of special interest will be the presentation by the choir of the "Ode. to the Pioneer Women " composed by Miss Mary Martin, the words by Mr C. R. Allen. The choir will also sing " Stabat Mater," "O. Quam Tristis". and "Fac ut Ai'deat" (Pergolesi). There will be no charge for admission. .

Coffee for breakfast. Order from your grocer a tin of "Bourbon," the coffee of ouality Instructions in every tin. Prepared' by Durie's, coffee specialists 32 Octagon, Dunedin.—Advt.