In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24107, 22 April 1940, Page 6

In the News

Youngest Veteran

Believed to be New Zealand’s youngest Great War veteran, Mr R. V. R. (Dick) Hovell, of Coromandel, has enlisted again for service overseas. During the Great War Hovell enlisted at 13 years of age, was posted to the Specialists Company, and trained as i machine gunner. He sailed with the 28th Reinforcement, and in France became a Lewis gun section commander in the 6th Hauraki Regiment. He was grounded in action and invalided home after almost three years’ service. He has just celebrated his thirty-nirrtih birthday. 1 Close Call The dustman was making the regular ound of the city streets and at one point stopped to gather up a cardboard box that was lying on the edge of the pavement. The cart then rumbled down the street, carrying with it a cardboard box that had been dumped unceremoniously among the rest of the refuse. A few minutes later a poppy seller turned round to collect a box that she had placed on the pavement while she transacted some business. This box contained about £lO worth of poppies and naturally she was dumbfounded when she found that the box was nowhere to be seen. It was traced to the dustman. An official of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association was informed and immediately jumped on his bicycle to intercept the dustman before he deposited all his rubbish in the tip. This he was successful in doing and the poppies were returned none the worse for wear.

Enlistment Of Farm Workers A statement was received by the Dunedin Council of Primary Production at its meeting last week from the National Council, advising that the problem of farm labour during war time was being considered from every angle. It was reported that a remit from the Dunedin Council suggesting that small district tribunals should be set up to give advice on the question of the enlistment of farm workers had been referred to the Man Power Committee. Mr T. A. White explained the attitude of the Labour Department, stating that where a farmer applied to have a man declined for military service and could give good grounds for the retention of his services on the farm, the department did its utmost to have the man stay on the farm.

Subversive Activity Among Maoris Concern at the operation of subversive influences and the distribution of seditious literature, especially among Maoris, was expressed at a meeting of the Wairoa Harbour Board, which decided to draw the attention of the Government to the position, with a request that it take immediate steps to remedy it. Mr P. J. O’Kane said a number of subversive forces were showing their hand in this country, and it would be nothing short of criminal for public men to sit back and do nothing about it. Those responsible for subversive influences never missed an opportunity. Pie referred to some of his own experiences, stating that men were going about the country distributing pamphlets and books which were definitely subversive. They were against the British Government, the Government of this country, and against Christianity.

Misled By A Rumour When the “news” that one of the world’s largest liners had arrived in Wellington was received, at least three carloads of people left Waipawa, Hawke’s Bay, last Sunday for Wellington to satisfy their curiosity. The visitors included Waipawa business men and a well-known Central Hawke’s Bay doctor, but beyond a detailed tour of inspection of the waterfront, the result of their trip was a great disappointment.

Are They Good? The following paragraph in The Egyptian Gazette of March 4, in a column “Passing By,” by Spencer Brooke, gives some indication of the impression created by the New Zealand army footballers:—Things we want to know: Why did the New Zealanders have to arrive just at the end of the rugger season? And can it be arranged to prolong the said season for a month or so? We know we don’t have to do the playing (or probably we wouldn’t make such a stupid suggestion) but, boy, are they good or are they?

Leave For Teachers Advice was received from the Education Department at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board that leave with salary would be granted to teachers desiring to farewell relations leaving the country on military service, states The New Zealand Herald. One day’s leave on full pay would be available, in addition to travelling time up to two days where this was necessary.

Cyclist Suffers Pedestrians who do not observe the regulation requiring them to use the crossings at intersections often place traffic in a more dangerous position than themselves, says The Evening Star, Dunedin. A victim of negligence on the part of a pedestrian on Friday afternoon was a cyclist, who in stopping suddenly to avoid colliding with a “jay walker” at the Bank of New Zealand corner, was hurled over the handle bars of his machine and received painful injuries besides irreparably damaging his suit of clothes.

Land Clearing By Machinery A party of Owaka settlers had been so impressed by the work done by the Public Works Department’s machinery in clearing land at Tuatapere recently that a canvass was being made of the district to see how much land could be similarly dealt with in the Catlins, reported Mr A. F. Greenall, of Balclutha, to a meeting of the Dunedin Council of Primary Production. There were, he said, promises of a large acreage being available if advances could be arranged for the settlers who could not finance the work themselves. It was resolved that the chairman (Mr J. W. Woodcock) should write to the National Council and inquire whether there were any facilities whereby those who could not make the necessary cash payments could be financed by Government lending departments. Referring to the granting of a subsidy for the clearing of scrub by machinery, a letter received from the Director of Primary Production stated that the heavy machinery of the Public Works Department was not suitable for scrub clearing, and it was solely used for stumping.

A Penumbra! Eclipse What is known as a penumbra! eclipse of the moon is due to take place today. Such a phenomenon is not usually regarded as a true eclipse, for the naked eye will be unable to detect any trace of a shadow on the surface of the moon. Close telescopic examination of the moon, however, may reveal a slight darkening of lunar features. The moon will be passing through what is called he penumbra of the earth’s shadow, not through the shadow proper. As the eclipse beings a considerable time before the moon rises, and will, in fact, be nearly over by the time of moonrise, there is an added reason why, to all intents and purposes, it will be an invisible eclipse.