LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 70, Issue 6057, 2 March 1945, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Further Swimming Success At the swimming carnival at Cambridge on Monday night Miss Betty Hastie, of Te Awamutu, won the first heat of the ladies’ fifty yards event in 35 4-5 seconds, and won the final in 35 3-5 seconds.

Housing Shortage That it was not shortage of timber but shortage of other building materials that was responsible for the present acute shortage of houses was the opinion of a competent member of the local branch of the*Returned Services' Association on Wednesday night.

Phosphatic Fertiliser Farmers are notified by advertisement in this issue that orders for phosphatic fertiliser for crops and unexpended top-dressing rations to be used by Ist July, 1945, must be placed with distributors before 15th ’March, 1945. This applies only to fertiliser intended for use before Ist July, 1945. Second World War Members

Mr G. E. Clark (secretary of the local Returned Services’ Association) stated on Wednesday night that there were 270 Second N.Z.E.F. members in the local Association. They were in a majority as compared with members of the first World War. Three Inquests Inquests concerning the deaths of three men who died as a result of injuries received in motor accidents were held in Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon. A sergeant of police who was in attendance remarked later that such was fortunately a rare occurrence in Hamilton. Example for Te Awamutu By an almost unanimous decision made at the meeting of the Otorohanga Parents’ Association, held on Friday, it was decided to inaugurate and support a movement to erect full size swimming baths together with a learners’ bath in close proximity to the school as a memorial to local boys who had lost their lives at the war. Order Not Executed In 1937 Te Awamutu branch of the Returned Services’ Association lodged an order at headquarters in Wellington for a portrait of the late Earl Jellicoe. Advice was before Wednesday night’s meeting of the local Association that owing to the war the order could not be executed. The sum of 12s 6d, paid in 1937, was placed to the credit of the local branch. Deaf Aids Installed A further addition to the improvement of the Empire Theatre has now been made by the installation of the most modern equipment known as deaf aids. At the present time only three sets of this equipment are available, but the innovation will be of benefit to some local theatre patrons. As permits allow, and as materials become available, a comprehensive plan of re-modelling and improving the Empire Theatre is to be put in hand. Poppy Day

Mr G. E. Clark, secretary of Te Awamutu Returned Services’ Association, advised members at Wednesday evening’s meeting that he had ordered 3700 poppies for Poppy Day. Last year 4000 were ordered, but all were not sold. It was decided to fix the 20th of April as Poppy Day and the sale of poppies was left, as is the custom, in the hands of the women’s section of the Returned Services’ Association. Proposed Picnic At • its Wednesday night’s meeting the local branch of the Returned Services’ Association decided to make a donation of £5 toward a picnic to be held under the auspices of the -women’s section of the Association. The function is to be for children of servicemen, and is to be held in Albert Park on 10th March. In a letter before the meeting members of the ladies’ section stated that they hoped to make the function an annual fixture. Back-pay Day Yesterday was “ back-pay day ” for railway employees, when the “ valentine cards ” sent out by the Railways Tribunal on 14th February were honoured. Substantial amounts were received by the majority of railway employees, who normally are paid every fortnight, but a week ago they received their usual pay at the old rates. Yesterday the employees received the back pay due consequent on the Tribunal’s decision, and next Thursday normal pay will again be paid at the increased rates. R.S.A. Membership Twenty new members have joined Te Awamutu branch of the Returned Services’ Association since the last meeting. The membership now stands at 457, with the Ohaupo sub-branch membership at 50, making a total of 507 members. That information was given to members at Wednesday evening’s meeeting of the Association by the secretary (Mr G. E. Clark). The president (Mr B. Malone) stated that that membership entitled the branch to send two delegates to the Wellington conference.

Alleged Discrimination It was alleged at Wednesday evening’s meeting of the local Returned Services’ Association that land agents discriminated against returned soldiers in regard to the purchase of dwellings because of the delay in vendors receiving the purchase money. The president (Mr B. Malone) said that in Auckland returned men had been advised to take off their badges when seeking a house. Another member said that one did not have to go to Auckland to find that unfair discrimination used; he alleged that such happened in Te Awamutu. *