NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24773, 25 November 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

the season just closed the receipts from the community sings at the Strand Theatre totalled £906. Last year the record amount of over £3OOO Wus gathered. Restrictions on broadcasting because of the war limited the appeals this year. Out of the balance in hand it was decided at a meeting ox the committee yesterday to make the following allocations:—SiJohn's Ambulance, £SO; Parcels for Soldiers, £BS; Otago Patriotic Committee, £77.. It was mentioned with gratification that of the promises received by telephone not one was defaulted.

A " Washing-up " Ballot Another " washing-up" ballot of single men for the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force will be published in a special Gazette on December 2. It is understood the call-up will be smaller than in previous ballots, the total for the Dominion being probably about 5000. A majority of the men will be those who have become 21 years of age since the last ballot, and in addition there will be some who were not called in previous ballots.

R.S.A. Membership Already 898 members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. are members of returned soldiers' organisations through New Zealand. Seven, were added iast night to the membership of the Dunedin R.S.A., and it was stated that two more were awaiting nomination by members of the association, as stipulated by the rules. Five members of the Ist N.Z.E.F. were also accepted. The membership of the 93 associations throughout New Zealand now numbers 34,645, there being 11,790 in the 20 South Island bodies and 22,855 in the 73 organisations located in the North Island.

Only a Rumour "Is there any truth in the story that the Works Committee is considering the extension of Cannington road to link up with Balmacewen road?" asked Cr D. C. Jolly when Cr J. Wilson was moving the adoption of the committee's report to the fortnightly meeting of the councill last night. Cr Wilson's reply was that although a rumour to that effect had been in circulation the truth was that the question had never come before the committee. "The city engineer is already considering means of providing work after the war," he said, "but the committee has not considered any such proposal."

Memorial Plates The Dunedin R.S.A., at a meeting last night, decided to request ■ the City Council to transfer the Memorial plates affixed to seats in the Botanic Gardens to- new seats which are soon to be placed in Queen's Gardens. The plates were provided by the association to commemorate the deeds of Dunedin soldiers in the last war, but in view of the proposed scrapping of the seats in the Botanic Gardens, it is considered fitting that as the Ceriotaph is located in Queen's Gardens the plates should be transferred there. It was also decided to ask the council to consider painting the seats a colour which will not detract from the prominence of the plates.

Change of Name / Some of the factors which must receive attention in the changing of the name of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers' Association to the "Dunedin Returned Services' Association" were mentioned £t a meeting of the association last night. First, the word "soldiers" will require to be changed wherever the name of the association appears in the constitution, but provision will have! be made to protect the original name against its adoption by any organisation which may be formed in future. The terms of the association's lease and bank accounts will also have to be adjusted. The new name, which has been approved, will be adopted at a special meeting to be held to-morrow night. A " Golden Egg "

While preparing a duck for the table. Mrs L. Dennis, of Whangarei, found a small nugget of gold in the bird. The nugget was noticed by Mrs Dennis shining among the small pebbles in the gizzard. The duck had been fed by her for some months, but had come originally from the Poroti district. Some years ago gold was found in a duck at Waimamaku, 100 miles north of Whangarei, and on an investigation being made surface gold was found where the bird had been feeding. This led to considerable prospecting in the area, but, although small quantities of gold were recovered, no large find was made, and prospecting was discontinued.

Men Leaving Mine* A number of West Coast coal miners have left their employment in the last few weeks to take up seasonal and more congenial outdoor work. Others have joined the armed forces. The majority of those who have left are truckers and shift men, whose earnings are governed by smooth working time, whereas miners can make up lost time because their incomes for coal hewing are based *on contract rates. Because of difficulty in replacing men leaving the mines, it may be found necessary in order to keep up production to take miners off coal and put them on trucking and on shift work. The State mines at Rewanui and Nine Mile are the most affected so far. A New Home

The Otago Acclimatisation Society met for the first time in its new rooms last night. When Mr R. Hannirig resigned from the position of secretary, after 27 years in that office, it was necessary for the society not only to obtain the services of a new secretary, but also to secure new headquarters. With the appointment as secretary of Mr Leonard Miller, the society has transferred to his offices in Rattray street, which were formerly occupied by the Department of Agriculture. The numerous mounted birds, fish and other game, which have always been a prominent feature of the Acclimitisation Society's rooms, are well displayed in the new quarters, and were the subject of favourable comment by members at last night's meeting.

G»if and Vegetables "There are six or seven golf links in the Hutt Valley, and I've never heard them mentioned yet," declared a witness at a sitting of the Price Tribunal in Wellington when the question of replacing market garden land in Hutt Valley for housing was discussed. "I don't say they would be suitable for vegetable growing, but I do say they would be suitable for housing." The chairman (Mr Justice Hunter) said that golf links were very desirable and very necessary to enable people to get exercise. Witness: They could get golf links further up the valley. His Honor: They play a very important part in promoting the welfare of the community. Witness: I don't deny that, but I do say that the housing of the community should be given preference to the needs of golfers. His Honor: I think I can agree with that—and also even where vegetable production is necessary.

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.