Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21819, 23 November 1940, Page 6

Local and General News

Show Essay Competition The essay competition conducted by the Timaru A. and P. Association in connection with its annual show resulted: Rosemary Pennycook 1, Norman McLeod 2, Rosemarie Callendar 3, Rona Cuthill 4. The judge was Mr A. G. Tait, rector of Timaru Boys’ High School. Interest Free Loans Interest free loans and donations acknowledged yesterday include £lOOO each from the Christchurch City Council and the Auckland Amalgamated Society of Shop Assistants’ Unions, states a Wellington Press Association message. Both are for the duration of the war and six months after. The total to date is £2,631,168. Cali to Ministry The need for placing the claims of the ministry in a definite way before suitable boys at the stage when they are leaving secondary schools was urged before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Palmerston North when presbyteries were asked to pursue the idea. It was stated that the majority of theological students had felt the call after school age, but now such men will be conscripted. School Swimming Instruction An amount equal to that available last financial year may be expended by education boards to cover the cost of teaching school children to swim, according to advice from the Education Department read at a meeting of the Wellington Education Board. The letter added that the department trusted that boards would give their continued assistance in the planning of lessons during the coming season. Nineteen Times to the Pictures The number of cinematograph theatres in the Dominion is 574. They seat between them 266,790 persons, and last year's paid admissions totalled 31,171,130. These paid admissions represent a revenue of £2,009,662. The average attendance per head of population during the year, according tb the “Abstract of Statistics,” was 19. The theatres gave employment to 2897 people, whose wages totalled £353,128. Pictures from Home One of the many signs that the people of Britain are not allowing themselves to be turned aside from their normal activities by the German onslaught is the receipt in New Zealand of the annual picture calendars. The only difference is that they are arriving somewhat earlier than usual. It is significant that a typical one, the Scotsman Calendar, now issued for the tenth year, confines its pictures entirely to scenes of beauty and contains not a hint of wartime activities and destruction. Effect of Petrol Restrictions The effect of the restrictions on the use of petrol on road traffic may be gauged by a comprison of particulars of quantities released from bond during the first nine months of 1939 and 1940, remarks the latest number of the “Abstract of Statistics,” the amount for 1940 being 17.7 per cent, less than that for 1939. At the end of September last there were 278,359 motor vehicles licensed, compared with 285,586 at the end of September, 1939. Private cars licensed numbered 196,229, compared with 203,543. Police and Army Service Appeals from the Director of National Service, Mr J. S. Hunter, affecting 19 Auckland policemen who had been drawn in the second territorial ballot were dealt with by the Auckland Area Man-power Committee during formal business at Papakura. The secretary of the committee, Mr L. N. Harris, produced a certificate from the director to show that the calling up of the men would be against the public interest. He pointed out, however, that the appeals were of a departmental nature and the men themselves wished it to be made clear that they were not appealing. Adjournments sine die were granted in each case. War and Waterfront Mr A. Hamilton, president of the Wellington Stock Exchange, drew a sharp comparison between the attitude of New Zealand soldiers in Egypt and workers on the wharves in Auckland. He told members at their annual meeting that “we learned in letters recently received from our troops in Egypt that the men there have all pooled one day’s pay to go towards the relief of distress in London, and this is done out of 3/6 in New Zealand currency and the niggardly allowance of some £l6 in sterling per annum. On the other hand, we have the waterside workers in Auckland being paid by the British Government some £l5OO sterling to work for eight hours on a Sunday, the only time worked being about one hour.” Successful Appeal There was a generous response by the public to the annual Rose Day Appeal made by the Timaru Branch of the Plunket Society yesterday, the sum raised exceeding £l9O. A shop which was conducted in the main street recorded splendid business in the sale of cakes, produce and work. The president expressed thanks to all whose cheerful and willing help did so much to make the day a success. Thanks are also due to the street collectors and to the organiser, Mrs J. H. Holdgate. Stall holders were: Flower stall, Mesdames D. B. Shand, W. Raymond, F. G. M. Raymond, C. S. Marshall, C. Hayter. Work stall, Mesdames L. M. Inglis, H. Brewer. Produce, Mrs W. Hall. Cake stall, Mesdames C. Hall, V. C. Meehan and G. Virtue. Southland Invasion To-night Timaru should be invaded by an army of Southlanders to-night, if expectations of the number of people likely to travel are realised. The excursion is the first from Invercargill to Timaru and a large crowd is expected to take advantage of the cheap excursion rates to spend a week-end in what is hoped to be “Sunny Timaru." A representative Southland tennis team will arrive, to play South Canterbury on Monday, and sporting clubs in Timaru have invited the visitors to make use of club facilities. When the train anives at 9.35 to-night the Southlanders will be welcomed at the station by the Timaru Highland Pipe Band and to-morrow the Timaru Municipal Band will give a concert on the Bay. The return train to Invercargill will leave Timaru on Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock.