LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4527, 23 January 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Hamilton Fire Board, at a special meeting, decided to comply with a request from the Emergency Precautions Service executive to conduct the operations of the brigade without the use of either the alarm siren or the sirens on the engines. It was also decided to increase the strength of the permanent brigade from eight members to 14.

A serious accident happened to Mr James Parish while engaged in haymaking operations at Parawera. By some means or the other, a peg holding the iron stacker gave way, causing the arm to fall a distance of 26 feet on to Mr Parish, who was struck on the head and buried in a quantity of loose hay. He was removed to his home and received immediate medical attention for head injuries and extensive bruising and abrasions. Although confined to his bed, Mr Parish’s condition is to-day regarded as satisfactory.

Two members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force were reported missing on Wednesday when an aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was reported overdue during a training flight. The missing airmen are:—Leading-Air-craftman Donald Hugh McKenzie, son of Mr J. R. McKenzie, 483 Yaldhurst Road, Christchurch, and Leading-Air-craftman Jack Trevor Villers, son of Mr W. J. Villers, care of Newton King, Limited, Stratford. An intensive search is being maintained. Mr Villers (senior) is well-known throughout the Te Awamutu district.

“One national organisation is wanted in which men and women will be classified according to their abilities. It is no good having a qualified plumber who can repair damaged sewers in the Home Guard and a fit unskilled man in the Emergency Precautions Services. There will be no more pleading with men to join the essential services. Where the required number is not forthcoming they will be compelled to join up,” said the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of National Service, in an address to members of i the executive of the Temuka Emergency Precautions Services. “Conscription is to be applied to the E.P.S. and subsequently must come for the Home Guard and the Women’s War Service Auxiliary,” he said.

Little support was given the chairman of the Piako County Council at Monday’s meeting when he suggested that as horse-drawn vehicles were again making their appearance on the roads, the Council might perhaps assist by clearing and levelling a clay track for them at the side of the sealed road. He instanced one particular district where there was a continual passage of horses and cattle. Other Councillors, however, were dubious about whether drivers of horsedrawn vehicles would use it. They considered that they would stay on the smooth bitumen and take the risk of the horse coming down. “If I were riding or driving I’d be on the soft, anyway,” Cr. Kennedy said emphatically.

“Eighteen months before the war I told New Zealand what I thought of Hitler, the most bloodthirsty villain the world has ever heard of, and I had to apologise to him, or rather to his narrow-chinned representative in New Zealand,” said the Minister of National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) in speaking at Kaiapoi on the international situation. “I remember the day when I was called down to see the representative. But I was right, and everyone in New Zealand knew it. All I did was speak out of my turn. I called him a mad dog and a yellowhearted monster.” Mr Semple said that as for Mussolini, he said, “Hanging is far too good for this cur. Well, I am not going to apologise now or put a bridle on my tongue. I’ll tell the world what I think of these monsters.” Mr Semple later capped these descriptions by referring to the Japanese ambassadors carrying on the semblance of the negotiations with the United States at the time of the attack on Hawaii as “little slit-eyed yellow dogs.”

As was only to be expected, war conditions and the absence of Australian competition affected the sixteenth national sale of yearlings which began at Trentham yesterday. There were no four-figure lots this year, but, taking all the circumstances into consideration, the sale was very satisfactory, with a good demand for the best lots. Auckland buyers were active, and they purchased no fewer than thirty lots, including the highestpriced. Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P. for Waikato, was an active buyer, taking four lots, including the colt by Foxbridge—Astarth, which topped the list at 900 guineas. Mr Goosman also paid 660 guineas for the filly by Foxbridge—Eager Rose (bred by Mr W. Alexander, Te Rahu Road), 480 gineas for a full brother to Salutation by Theo from Queen’s Salute, and 370 guineas for a colt by Lang Bian—Romarin. The colt by Mr Standfast—Gala Night, purchased by Wright, Stephenson, and Company Ltd., as agent, for 370 guineas, was secured for Mr H. Gray on behalf of Mr J. Meade, of Frankton. Mr J. Chadwick, of Te Awamutu, paid 90 guineas for a bay filly by Bulandshar—Thais, and Mr A. M. Rennie gave 65 guineas for a chestnut filly by Solicitor-General— Miss Inchmahone.