LOCAL AND GENERAL

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVI, Issue 1351, 13 October 1949, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Construction was started on nearly 500,000 new homes in the United States during the first half of 1949. Members of the Putaruru Women’s Institute have been assisting with the selling of health stamps in the current campaign. October seems to be the month for Putaruru’s large fires, as it was remarked that the Putaruru Primary School was burned on October 8, 1945. Though increased import licenses have been granted this year for the importation of dates, merchants are having difficulty in obtaining full deliveries, owing to shortages at the point of supply. Dates imported into New Zealand are the product of Basra and are distributed through a pool in London. Instead of the expected 50 per cent, increase on last year’s quota, indications are that the extra quantity will fall short of that, and at a time when dates are in short supply. A shipment is due to leave direct for New Zealand some time next month and is expected here in February.

During their first six weeks in camp regular force cadets’ time is divided as follows: Trade or specialist training, three and a half days a week; group discussions and current affairs’ lectures, two hours weekly; physical and recreational training, hobby work and basic military training, the remainder of the week. After the first six weeks the emphasis shifts from military training to school work and specialist training, that programme continuing for one or two years, according to the cadet’s age on enlisting. When a cadet reaches the age of 18 and has completed 12 months’ training he progresses to the specialist wings or the workshops, and further education is encouraged by the provision of correspondence courses and lectures. In special cases arrangements are made for a cadet to attend university.

Less than one-fourth of the 35,500,000 married women in the United States work outside the home, even though the proportion of working wives is greater than ever before.

The establishment of a hill country research station on the East Coast of the North Island was being considered by the Government with other proposals contained in the report of the sheep commission, said the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. E. Cullen, replying to a letter from the general secretary of Federated Farmers, Mr. A. P. O’Shea, in which Mr. O’Shea submitted a resolution passed by the Dominion meat and wool section of the federation, asking for such an establishment. Mr. O’Shea explained that in the past research into pasture and stock management had been confined mainly to better-class land and that it would be advantageous to extend the research into pasture and stock management to North Island hill country. The council of the meat and wool section considered that if the Government intended to act on this suggestion it should consult farmers from Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa so that the best site for a station might be decided. This would receive consideration, said Mr. Cullen.