LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4543, 2 March 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Again to-day the flag of accomplishment has been hoisted to the masthead at the Te Awamutu Post Office. It is the National Savings pennant, and its position at the mast-head indicates that the district quota of war savings was attained last week.

At the Te Awamutu Court this morning, two statutory first offenders were charged with having been found in an intoxicated condition last Saturday afternoon. In explanation of the various charges, Sergeant Clist said that these men had behaved in a boisterous manner while in restaurants. Fines of 10s in each case were imposed.

Several car loads of voluntary workers from Hairini, Orakau, Kihikihi and Puahue districts journeyed to Te Awamutu this morning where, at the Teasdale Street School, trenches are being dug for the preparatory safety of the scholars in the event of any emergency. It is understood that other helpers to-morrow will include volunteers from Te Mawhai, Te Kawa Cross Roads and Te Rahu.

The quarterly meeting of the Waikato Licensing Bench was held at Te Awamutu this morning, there being on the Bench Messrs L. G. Armstrong, W. Jeffery, Mervyn Wells, and J. T r Young. Mr Wells was acting chairman in the absence of Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M. An application for the transfer of the license of the Waihou Hotel from Stella A. Smith to Robert T. Hill was granted- Mr Preston appeared for the applicant.

Visitors to the baths are commenting freely on the great improvement noticeable in local swimming. Young pupils of the High School are coming to the fore all the time and are developing wonderfully. The standard of swimming is being raised in all classes. With the systematic teaching now being done at the Primary School, and the encouragement and inducements being offered by the Swimming Club, prospects of swim- . ming in this district are very bright. J

Two particularly audacious thefts were committed in the main streets of Te Awamutu the other night. Two motorists parked their cars in a properly assigned place and, on returning some time later, it was found that the tanks had been drained of their petrol. The incident is regarded as emphasising the opportunities offered those possessed of irresponsible or criminally inclined minds and should act as a warning to residents to take the necessary steps to safeguard their property.

A Waikato farmer has written to the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board withdrawing the appeal he lodged on behalf of his son, who had volunteered and been accepted for the Air Force. The writer said he was incapacitated. He had one son serving in the Middle East and found it difficult to handle his large herd without the service of the second son. Japan’s entry into the war, however, had changed the whole position. His daughter was willing to undertake the milking.

“We were dumbfounded at the enthusiastic welcome given us by the Greeks,” said Captain H. O. Jefcoate, speaking to members of the Canterbury (N.Z.) Travel Club on Friday. He was describing his arrival at .Athens with the British troops from Egypt last year. “They showered us with kindness, without any thought of reward or payment, and that attitude of kindliness and generosity continued until we withdrew from Greece. I hope that when victory is won, we will remember the hospitality of the Greeks and of the people of Crete with more than lip-service.”

When the Te Awamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was, at its monthly meeting on Friday night, considering reports dealing with rural mails and telephones, the Vice-President (Mr Alan Bryant) said that after hearing complaints at Hamilton, the people in Te Awamutu were getting better service than there. The secretary (Mr C. J. Flay) endorsed that remark, but added that in Te Awamutu they had a very sympathetic Postmaster in Mr A. H. Laybourn, who met them as far as the limitation of instructions from Wellington would permit.

“We are living in an age to-day when these young people are growing up in a reckless manner; they seem to think they can take the law in their own hands and in fact be a law in their own way. It is time the Courts took a serious view and disciplined them to the belief that other people had some rights and that other freedoms must be respected instead of submission to reckless, riotous and irresponsible youth.” In these words Sergeant Clist addressed the Police Court at Te Awamutu this morning. “Really there is a problem ahead unless irresponsible youth learns a better sense of decency and responsibility,” he added.