In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24759, 2 June 1942, Page 4

In the News

A Messerschmitt 109 Forced down by the R.A.F. over England, a Messerschmitt 109 is on display in Wellington as part of the Liberty Bond selling campaign. This particular model of the famous German fighter monoplane is in excellent condition, and, though practically complete, bears obvious evidence of the accuracy ot the machine-gun fire which put its engine out of action and brought it down. It is the first time that any German plane has been shown publicly in New Zealand. Caterpillar Havoc A visitation with disastrous consequences has occurred on a farm at the Whangarei Heads, North Auckland, where a plague of caterpillars has eaten clean 200 acres of first-class pasture and deprived the whole of the stock of sustenance. The owner of the farm, who is engaged in military duties, visited his property and found that he had no alternative but to sell his stock at a sacrifice price. Starting on a frontage of about a chain on the beach which bounds one side of the property, the caterpillars spread out fanwise and consumed all the grass, leaving the ground absolutely bare. Such visitations of caterpillars are not common in the north, but when they occur it is usually on land which has been subject to flood. This case, however, is most unusual, as the property is not liable to flood and the caterpillars started as if they had come in from the sea. The plague is not spreading and has practically finished. All the damage was confined to the one farm and to a paddock of lucerne on a neighbouring property.

Closed Game Season “Stupid”

“In my opinion it was a most stupid thing to do,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) when referring to the decision of the Government to observe a close season for game shooting this year. Mr Parry was addressing a deputation in Hamilton on the importance of maintaining reasonable recreation for the people during war time. The Minister added that no good purpose could be served by depriving 15,000 people of their sport for a fortnight, and the effect was to antagonize these people.

Fast Marching Proof that intensive training has fitted them to face the hardships demanded of on active service has been supplied by 120 men of the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, who have just completed a march of 32 miles in eight hours 45 minutes actual marching time. Counting rest periods, 11 hours were spent on the way.

Highest Income Group Five persons in the Dominion had a total assessable income of £20,000 or over during the tax year 1940-41, according to the Abstract of Statistics. The amount, excluding proprietary income, was £138,432, and the total returnable income £146,830. The taxable balance of the five amounted to £136,681 and the tax assessed to £77,407. With the average assessable income at approximately £27,686, each of the five was assessed for an average of £15,481, or considerably more than half the income. Used Razor Blades

An unexpected use for old safety razor blades was recently found in an Auckland rubber factory. It has a contract to supply 10,000 rubber rings a day to the packers of ration chocolate for troops abroad. The cutting knives wore out and, through an ingenious idea, a machine was adapted to use razor blades as the cutting medium. However, about 75 were required every day, and new ones could not be obtained in that quantity. Through the good offices of the Commercial Travellers’ Club, some thousands of . used blades were quickly produced, and these are now doing valuable work in the factory.

Sons and Cows “Aren’t you certain about your sons’ ages?” asked Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., chairman of the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board, in Hamilton, when addressing a farmer appellant. “No, sir, I am not,” replied the appellant, but if you asked me the age of any of my cows I could tell you.”

Tons of Cake and Pies The cup of tea and piece of cake which the soldier has at the camp canteen seems a modest service in itself, but when one considers the thousands of soldiers receiving this friendly gesture, the small quantities add up to something very substantial. In one week, for example, the Y.M.C.A. camp buffets throughout New Zealand use 12 tons of small cakes, one ton of block cake, two tons of pies and a ton and ahalf of biscuits. In addition, the men consume 22,000 ice creams, 37,476 soft drinks, 37,632 sandwiches and 148,204 cups of tea. In making these facts known to a meeting in Wellington, Mr J. An-nand-Smith said that the Y.M.C.A. was only one of several service organizations which catered for the comfort of the men, and through which the muchneeded patriotic moneys would be spent.

Revelry in Raid Shelters Complaint that raid shelters in Wellington were being put to improper use, and were the scenes of revelry by night, was made by Mr C. H. Nicholls at the meeting of the Wellington Education. Board last week. He referred to one school where beer bottles had on several occasions been found in the shelters. Supervision by the police or control by the E.P.S. will be sought by the board.

Clogs for Workers The manufacture of clogs for workers in heavy industries is being considered by several New Zealand boot and shoe manufacturers, stated the manager of a Wellington firm when referring to a report from Australia that the Federal Directing Authority on leather had suggested their use. The clogs would be more serviceable than boots in industries where workers were treading constantly on iron filings or standing on wet floors. However, the shaping of the wooden soles and the necessity for heavy leather for the uppers would make them slightly dearer than boots. It was pointed out that clogs were wom by many English workers who found them comfortable and long wearing. Novel Lighter A novel cigarette lighter left burning in an Auckland'barber’s shop has saved many customers from using their few matches. The lighter is made of a cigarette tin with a cotton wick and holds a considerable volume of spirits. Lucky Escape A young man employed on the reconstruction of the Arahura river bridge, West Coast, last week survived a shock from an electric power line carrying 11,000 volts. He was rendered unconscious, but fortunately recovered, and was able to return to his home, showing no ill effects.

Vicious Magpies “The magpie is still causing trouble among our native birds, and no sportsman has a good word to say for it, but until the farmers agree, the Minister of Internal Affairs will not remove it from the protected list,” said Mr D. J. Gibbs, at the annual meeting of the Wellington Acclimatization Society. Mr Gibbs said one farmer had told him that starlings dealt with the grubs as well as do magpies. Other speakers expressed themselves in favour of the protection being lifted from the magpie. “One is sorry to lose the old magpie, but there is the fact that they are doing the damage. They are very vicious, and destroy the lives of small L birds.” said Mr W. H. Field.