NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

CORRESPONDENCE sent to the National Patriotic Fund Board raises the question (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) whether or not amenities are to be extended from the patriotic funds to defaulters in detention camps. The answer is “No ” and that the matter is outside the scope of the board. Poppy Day Receipts The total receipts in New Zealand from Poppy Day sales last year amounted to £24,478. The largest district totals were; Dunedin, £3222; Auckland. £2742; Christchurch, £2702; Wellington. £2206. This information was received by the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association from Dominion headquarters at a recent meeting.

Horse Transport Twelve horses have been purchased by the Christchurch City Council. It was reported by the Water Supply and Works Committee at the last meeting that, “ like all other users, the council’s petrol allowance had been cut considerably, and some of the work will now have to be carried out with horse transport.” It was reported that the horses had been purchased at prices between £25 and £3O. The action of the committee was confirmed.

Military Reserve A further draft of 16 volunteers for service with the National Military Reserve will start training at a Dunedin camp on Friday. They will train under the same conditions as the men who started last week and others who are to begin training to-day. They will attend daily parades at the headquarters camp of the 4th (Dunedin) Battalion of the National Military Reserve, and return home at night. In addition to the list of recruits already published, A. Pearson has been posted for service as from to-day. Teacher Objector* The Taranaki Education Board has decided to forward notice of dismissal to two teachers, whose names were in a list received from the Education Department containing the names of teachers who had lodged appeals against military service on the grounds of conscientious objection. Included in the list was the name of one teacher now in uniform serving overseas. It was considered most unfair to him that his name should have appeared in the list, and the board decided to take the matter up with the department. •

Wrongly Included in Ballot Men called in last week's ballot were included in the age group 18 to 45 years, but one of the reservists who appeared before the first medical boards for married men in Dunedin last night was a man 56 years of age. He was a tall, hale, and hearty specimen, and he was extremely proud of being passed fit and included in the top grade. His was an unusual case, as he was erroneously included in the ballot, but his record will probably be kept handy for the day when a suitable vacancy occurs for just such a soldier. An Indian’s Scruples

An Indian appellant, Abdul Hay Sulaman, gave the inability of the army to provide food that would not clash with his Mohammedan beliefs as the main reason for his appeal to _ the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Wairoa Declaring that he had never eaten food cooked by a European, except bread, Sulaman said he did his own cooking. After cross-examination, the chairman, Mr H. B. Lusk, said that the appellant had admitted that he had cooked food. There was no reason why he should not do some cooking for Europeans. The appeal was dismissed, with a recommendation that Sulaman be employed in the army as a cook.

Message from Danish Sailor Thirty-five years ago a Danish sailor who visited Dunedin on board a Danish ship, enjoyed the hospitality provided at the Sailors’ Rest. Thereafter he corresponded regularly with a friend in the Rest until Hitler’s invasion of Denmark in 1940. As long ago as April of last year his friend sent him a 25-word message on an International Red Cross form provided for the purpose and last week a reply came back that the sailor and his family were well. The message reached him in September after a long journey through neutral countries to Geneva, from where it was taken by a German plane to Denmark. The reply was sent to the Red Cross at Geneva and found its way back to Dunedin after four months.

Postal Tobacco Service The National Patriotic Fund Board’s postal tobacco service for members of the New Zealand forces overseas other than in the Middle East has been in operation just over a week. Orders taken by tobacconists and other stores in various parts of the country (states a Press Association message from Wellington) are beginning to come in. Twelve members of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary were engaged yesterday at the board’s store in Wellington fulfilling these orders. Orders have so far been received from people from Auckland to Invercargill. Many of them are for New Zealanders serving in the Far East and a number of others are for New Zealanders serving in the United Kingdom. Aid for Soldier Farmers

A suggestion that the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union should appoint small sub-com-mittees to supervise the care of properties of absentee farmers during the war was made by the provincial president, Mr N. R. Jamieson, at a meeting of the executive in Hastings. Mr Jamieson suggested that farms should be cared for, and, if requested, supervised by members of the union regardless of whether or not the farmer soldier was a member of the union. Branch members could get together to see that a property of an absentee farmer was kept in reasonable order, and that productivity was maintained as well as possible. Mr W. Harris said he considered that the idea had a lot of merit, but he did not think it would be necessary for branches to takeover the management of properties. In most instances someone was left in charge. Working bees would be appreciated in overcoming seasonal labour requirements. It was decided to write to branch secretaries asking them to take the necessary steps to give effect to the proposed scheme.

The drawing of the “Happy New Year” Art Union is to take place at the Masonic Hall. The Terrace, Wellington, this morning, commencing at 9.30. 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. For rings, watches and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers, 5!) Princes street, Dunedin. —Advt.