LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4544, 4 March 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

While the volunteers were trenchdigging in Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon last the members of the Te Awamutu Tennis Club provided the men with afternoon tea.

When the Napier Post Office opened on Saturday morning £197 was required to fly the National Savings flag. In response to an appeal by the chairman of the National Savings Committee five citizens provided the money to permit the flag to be flown for the seventh consecutive week.

Two girl prefects and two boy prefects from Melrose House of the Te Awamutu District High School yesterday visited the local Cemetery and laid wreaths on the grave of the late George Baines Melrose, who in his life-time was regarded as “ the children’s friend ” by reason of his great activity in educational matters.

Autumn blooms are now at their best, many beautiful displays being seen in the gardens throughout the town. As a result there is keen competition among amateur gardeners, and the outcome should be splendid displays at St. John’s Garden Party and Flower Show to be held in the Vicarage grounds to-morrow afternoon.

“ I am an optimist as far as the war is concerned,” cheerily declared Mr J. Hill, of Auckland, when speaking at a bowlers’ social function in Te Awamutu yesterday afternoon. “ The Japs won’t get here,” he added, convincingly. Even if the remarks might be regarded as the nroduct of wishful thinking, they apparently expressed the sentiments of those present, judging by the applause which their utterance drew forth.

“Do we have to sign here?” inquired the Town Clerk when a legal document was before the Borough Council at Te Awamutu last Monday evening. He directed his enquiry directly to the legal practitioners who are members of the Council, and added “a little free advice is a thing to take advantage of and as lawyers are here for the benefit of the Borough, the Council can at least use their honorary services, even though the burgesses may not.” A titter was heard from other Councillors as the lawyers obliged.

At a meeting of the General Executive of the Otorohanga E.P.S. on Monday the chairman (Mr V. W. Simms) mentioned the report in the Press that the Minister of National Service was preparing regulations under which it would be possible to transfer members from the E.P.S. to the Home Guard and vice versa. This led Mr F. 0. R. Philliphs to observe that every able-bodied man should be in the Home Guard. As it was, he added, a lot of young fellows were hiding behind the E.P.S. The chairman; The E.P.S. is being used as a funk-hole !

When winter comes some of the childless married men drawn in the ballot will be the envy of many who donned khaki at an earlier date. A proportion of them already in camp, have been issued with the latest style of army greatcoat. It is a sty-lishly-cut garment, double-breasted, with flapped pockets cut on the slant, so that the whole thing gives the wearer a really swagger appearance. This coat resembles somewhat the British “warm” in which later drafts of returned soldiers in 1917 and 1918 came back from England, thinking themselves fine dandies. And some of the coats are branded 1942.

The Auckland District Council of Primary Production decided at iBs meeting on Monday to request the Government to declare the farming industry essential under the emergency regulations. A resolution stated that in the event of it not being found expedient to include the whole of the industry, certain branches should be listed as essential. Resolutions concerning the Women’s Land Army recommended that experienced girls be permitted to join but that the Government subsidy be payable only in respect of inexperienced workers, and that where in the placement officer’s opinion it was necessary, girls should be medically examined before being allowed to join the Land Army.

Speaking at a valedictory function yesterday afternoon, Mr Andrew Wallace, Patron of the Te Awamutu Bowling Club, said that New Zealand soldiers had got a reputation for being able to look after themselves. He recalled that during the South African War a farmer went to a commandant of a camp near Pretoria and complained that his sheep had been stolen. The commandant was puzzled and remarked to his informant: “Well, the New Zealanders haven’t been here for three months.” (Laughter.) Again some New Zealanders when in London were recounting their experiences. “Why,” declared one, “it is only a year ago since we were in Jerusalem.” A Scotsman thereupon remarked: “The shepherds would have to look after their flocks that night.” (Renewed laughter.)