LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5597, 26 March 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Man’s Place in the Home An ex-Wellington tramway employee now on active service in Africa, who had been told in letters from friends that girls were now employed on the Wellington trams, wrote in reply that “we may find after the war that man’s place is in the home.” Cold Made Hair Brittle Tn an address by Major M. Morris, of Wellington, at the Palmerston North Rotary Club, mention was made that the winter of 1939-40 had been so cold in England that hair protruding from under the steel helmets of the soldiers, could be snapped off. Mobile Cranes for Wharves The Auckland Harbour Board has decided to purchase immediately four 2S-ton mobile cranes to cope with increased work on the waterfront. The cranes are to be supplied by an English firm at a cost of £1045 each, f.o.b. at a British port. Dairy Industry and Stabilisation Mr A. J. Sinclair, secretary-man-ager of the Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company Limited, will be the guest-speaker at the Auckland Creditmen’s Club luncheon on 21st April. Mr Sinclair will give an address entitled “ The Dairy Industry’s Reaction to Economic Stabilisation.”

Hamilton Law Society The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Hamilton District Law Society:—President, Mr H. M. Hammond; vice-presi-dent, Mr G. G. Bell; council, Messrs F. A. Swarbrick, J F. Strang, H. J. McMullin, W. C. Tanner, C. B. Wake. D. J. Lundon, and S. S. Preston. Souvenir of Solomons*

The macabre humour of an American serviceman who had been invited to a Wellington resident’s house was shown by the souvenir of his sojourn in the Solomon Islands, which he brought out to show his host. The serviceman arrived with a bulky package under his arm. On opening it the host was dismayed to find a human skull, which the American proudly claimed to be that of a Japanese killed in action in the Solomons. Farmers’ Protest Protesting against the action of the New Zealand Government in retaining portion of the increased wool price and paying a percentage in non-trans-ferable stock, a public meeting of farmers from Wanganui, Waitotara and Waimarino counties agreed that if the increase granted by the British Government was not paid in full the Sheepowners’ Federation and the Farmers’ Union should take legal action to obtain payment. A resolution on these lines was carried unanimous-

Pig Production and Prices “I have been asked by several producers to make clear that the industry has repeatedly urged that to make pig production profitable, and to induce it to be undertaken on an adequate scale, better prices than those announced by the Minister are necessary,” said Mr A. P. O’Shea, Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in a statement during the week. “In these circumstances, the Minister’s reference to ’‘a satisfactory price’ which should have encouraged producers ‘to maintain and increase production’ will be seen to be not altogether in line with producers’ views.”

Memorial to Maori Soldiers The establishment of a chair of studies in Maori learning and culture at Canterbury University College, as a memorial to Maori soldiers who died in the Great War and in the present war, was suggested by SergeantMajor A. L. Emerson at a meeting of the executive committee of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association on Monday. Sergeant-Major Emerson said the establishment of such a chair would be a fitting memorial to the gallantry of men of a fine race. The committee decided to ask Dominion headquarters of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association to investigate the proposal.

Household Linen Coupons The practice regarding coupons for household linen required by servicemen’s wives was explained at the Auckland rationing office on Wednesday. following a complaint by a soldier’s bride that she had been refused such coupons because her husband was in the army. It was stated that coupons were issued only when the linen was required for immediate use because the applicant was about to set up a home. If the husband was due to go overseas on service the issue was deferred. An official said that in all probability the complainant’s husband was in this category. Prisoner-of-War Parcels

Letter cards received in Wellington from prisoners of war in Germany serve as an indication of the time parcels now take to reach their destination. One card dated November 14 stated that within the hour the writer had received a parcel from relatives in Wellington posted early in April last year. This does not mean that all parcels take such a long time in transit. Much depends on circumstances, such as steamer connections, and conditions governing dispatch when they reach Europe, but, generally speaking, the time taken nowadays for a New Zealand parcel to reach a prisoner of war in Germany is approximately six months, whereas letters frequently reach their destination in half that time.

Gumboots for Farm Use With the approach of winter the gumboot problem is likely to become acute on many farms, not only for workers and their wives, but also for children. Although he admitted that there was no complete solution, a man in the footwear industry has suggested measures that most people should be able to take. Gumboots, he said, should be repaired as soon as possible after they showed signs of wear and in any case should not be used unless it w r as really necessary. Under moderately damp conditions the fullest use should be made of stout leather boots, thoroughly and constantly treated with grease and other dressings to keep out water and carefully dried after use, preferably by having at least two pairs and using them alternately.