NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25393, 26 November 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

rpo assist the rehabilitation of ex--L servicemen, a property register, containing descriptions of farms which owners are prepared to sell, has been established by the State Advances Corporation. The object of the register is merely to have available information to guide the applicant in his search for a suitable property, and it does not follow that the department will approve of the applicant’s first choice or the price asked. The Act provides for the granting of a loan of £3OOO on land and £1250 on stock. In special cases the Rehabilitation Board may make an advance up to £SOOO, with a charge on the land and collateral security over the stock. This limit of £SOOO may, in respect of applications for the purchase of a sheep station, be increased to £6250 in appropriate cases.

Dominion Bowling Tournament The previous record of 1000 entries for the New Zealand Bowling Tournament which was held in Auckland in 1939 has already been exceeded by 213 for the tournament to be held in Dunedin in January, and as entries will be accepted until 5 o’clock on Monday a few more are to be expected. Of the 22 bowling centres -in New Zealand only one, the Gisborne-East Coast Centre, is not so far represented, but it is still hoped that by Monday entries will be received from that centre. The entries are made up of 522 singles. 461 pairs, and 230 fours. Sergeants’ Gift to Hospital

On the outbreak of war the North Canterbury Hospital Board arranged for a billiards table, which it kept m the rooms of the New Brighton Returned Services' Association, to be transferred to Burnham military camp for use in the C block sergeants’ mess The soldiers renewed the cover and cushions and the table is in improved order. The North Canterbury Hospital Board, at a meeting on Wednesday, received advice that the sergeants’ mess would be sending a cheque for £250 for children’s cots from the proceeds of the billiards played on the table. Army Labour from North Island

Some of the North Island men mobilised for service with the territorial force this summer will be called on to help with the harvest in the South Island. They will probably be sent to the Canterbury and Nelson districts. The disposition of men available is now being discussed by primary production councils and the army in conjunction with the National Service Department. There will be about 35 harvest camps in Canterbury, the personnel ranging in numbers from about a section to a full company. Most of the camps will be established in January and some of them will extend over a longer period than the 28 davs’ service of the first draft of men to use them. A Pianist’s Hands

The effect which a man-power direction was likely to have on the future of a professional pianist was explained to the Auckland Man-power (Industrial) Committee when Leonard Charles Hawkins (Mr Haigh) appealed against the man-power officer’s refusal to allow him to leave Messrs R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd. Mr Haigh said that Hawkins .was released from camp last November and went into the freezing industry. He found that the work he was doing affected his hands, and that was serious for a professional musician. He had obtained a full-time position as ai pianist in a cabaret, which catered for men of the armed forces. He was grade 3 for military purposes. The appeal was dismissed.

Chocolate for Troops A postal chocolate service to New Zealand service personnel overseas is to be inaugurated (states a Press Association message) by the National Patriotic Fund Board on January 17. Making this announcement before the conclusion of the Dominion patriotic conference at Wellington yesterday, Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the board, said that the board had been operating its postal tobacco scheme successfully for some time. The new service would cater for those who wished to send chocolate to members of the New Zealand forces overseas and now found a difficulty in buying readily from the retail shops sufficient chocolate for this purpose. Arrangements had been made for the manufacture of chocolate which would withstand tropical conditions. When the scheme was ready for operation special order forms would be available at post offices.

For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers. 59 Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt.