NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25276, 13 July 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

“ rPHE last-minute rush of applicants for inclusion in the main electoral rolls has been unprecedented in. my experience, which extends over the past 18 years,” said the local registrar of electors (Mr G. A. Hislop) last night. The main rolls closed yesterday, and from 10 a.m. onwards there was a steady stream of applicants. More than 500 applications for enrolment were dealt with at the registrar’s office, and a large number were also dealt with at various post offices. The supplementary rolls will open to-day. Juvenile Vandals

Three small boys, ranging in age from 10 years downwards, caused damage to the extent of nearly £9O when they broke into the Otago Hospital Board’s store at the corner of Castle and Hanover streets recently. Goods were thrown about and broken, but the major portion of the damage was done by smashing £77 worth of electric light shades, a serious feature of this piece of vandalism being that such shades are at present (most unprocurable. Return to Hard- Frosts

Central Otago has experienced a return to hard frosts following the general thaw. While the snow has cleared in some areas, frozen snow still covers the ground in places that have not experienced the full benefit of the sunny days, which have been followed on several occasions by night frosts of more than 20 degrees. Skating is being enjoyed in most districts. With the improvement in conditions generally, most of the schools will reopen to-day. Premises Entered

During the week-end the factory of the Newjo.y Ice Cream Company in Cumberland street was entered by thieves who forced a rear door off its hinges. They ransacked the office, but nothing was stolen. Intruders also broke into the Tilbury Forwarding Company’s depot, which is almost next door to the Newjoy Company’s premises. Entry was effected through a window opening on to a right-of-way at the side of the building, and the thieves, after a search of the office, opened the safe with a key which they found, and extracted a substantial sum of money.

A Watersider’s Savings Nearly £IOOO has been invested in National Savings by an Auckland waterside worker in less than three years. Opening his account in November. 1940, he has been a regular subscriber ever since. Individual contributions have ranged from £2 10s to £l5O, the latter amount having been paid in last week. “Although for some time my objective has been £1000,” he said. “ I will continue to subscribe after this amount has been reached in the near future until the money is no longer required.” He has an adult family and has been a member of the Waterside Workers’ Union for 30 years. “ Island ” at Bridgman Street A suggestion that the “ island ” which has been placed at the intersection of Anderson's Bay road and Bridgman street to direct traffic into two lanes should be provided with sloping edges instead of a perpendicular kerbing as at present was made by the president (Mr P. W. Breen) at a meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Otago) yesterday afternoon. ■ Mr Breen said that if a motorist hit the island the wheel of his car would be jerked from his hands, and a serious accident might follow. He also thought that the posts at the corners of the island should not be made of concrete, but of something that would “give” if they were hit. Patriotic Council’s Investment

The explanation that the £IO,OOO invested by the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council in the Liberty Loan was part of a sum of £25.000 included in the 1943, All Purposes Patriotic Appeal for the after-care of returned men was made by the chairman (Mr A. C. Cameron) at a meeting of the Dunedin-St. Kilda Sub-zone Committee yesterday. He added that this money would probably be badly needed in the years to come. Members expressed the hope that this explanation would be given full publicity, as they had heard criticism of the investment of patriotic funds, which, it had been suggested, should be expended overseas. Four V.C.’s Meet The presence on the stage of three other holders of the Victoria Cross was a feature of the reception to General Freyberg, V.C., by the Auckland Returned Services Association in the Auckland Town Hall on Friday. Reference to this, made by the chairman, Mr A. P. Postlewaite, was greeted with applause. Besides the guest of honour, the other holders of the Empire’s highest award for valour were Lieutenantcolonel C. R. G. Bassett, V.C., Captain R. S. Judson, V.C., D.C.M., M.M.. and Lieutenant J. G. Grant, V.C. Including General Freyberg, all won their crosses in the last war, Lieutenant-colonel Bassett on Gallipoli and the others on the Western Front. Absence overseas prevented Private James Crichton, V.C.. a member of the Auckland R.S.A.. from attending. Miniature Bottles of Liquor Some spirited bidding was provoked in a Wellington auction mart when a collection of 776 miniature bottles of liqueurs, brandies, whiskies, gins, cocktails, and wines, together with six wall cabinets for their display, was put up for sale. Every sample in the collection was different. Bidding opened *at £IOO and rose steadily to £195, equal to a fraction of one penny less than 5s a bottle, at which figure the lot was sold to the licensee of a well-known Wellington hotel. These miniatures used to come into the Dominion once or twice a year in case lots as samples, but of late years were imported as a selling line. The purchaser of the collection, a few minutes after the lot had been knocked down to him, refused an offer of £250 for it from a Palmerston North resident who had arrived too late for the sale. The Mufti Allowance The increase in the mufti allowance for returned servicemen, announced on June 9 by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, is not yet being paid, no official notification of the increase having been received by army pay offices. An official of Base Records, Wellington, said that there had been "more than enough ” applicants for the allowance, but no definite information had been received as to when the payments could be made. The Prime Minister in his announcement said that the War Cabinet. had decided to increase the mufti allowance for men discharged after overseas service to £25, instead of the previous sum of £l2 10s. The decision was to be retrospective in its application. In the case of men whose service overseas had been of short duration. and those who had served in Ne w Zealand only, a proportionate adjustment would be made.

Sardine Canning Interesting details ot a new and valuable industry, sardine canning, were given before the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Wellington by Mr H. McK. Geddes, who appeared on behalf of Messrs Pawley and Sons, appealing for the retention from military service of two members of their trawling crew. Mr Geddes said the industry was first established in the Hauraki Gulf, prior to the outbreak of the war.’ but the sinking of the Niagara and H.M.S. Puriri by enemy mines made these waters impossible for its continuance there. The Marine Department'had indicated the supply of sardines in the Marlborough Sounds, and a new cannery was established there. The Food Controller had first call on the output for military needs Since the inception of the new cannery 15 months ago 330 tons of fish had been delivered to the cannery. The sardines had been preserved and sent to the Food Controller, and various military, naval, and air force units and patriotic bodies. They made a total of 8109 cases, or 389,332 tins, 22 fish to the tin.