LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost and Rain. A frost of 11.4 degrees was registered in Masterton this morning, and 13 points of rain for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. today. Saturday Half-Holiday. Following the formation of a retailers’ association in Wairoa, a decision has been made to observe the weekly half-holiday in future on Saturday. Saturday closing is reported to be favoured by 95 per cent of the retailers, and the new arrangement will operate on October 7. Example to Citizens. Setting an excellent example to fellow citizens, a well-known Masterton resident has joined up with the East Coast Mounted Rifles as a trooper. The officer commanding the unit is an employee of the trooper mentioned, who is the principal of a large firm having its headquarters in Masterton. Golf Fixtures Cancelled. Because of tne war, the Australian and New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Unions have decided to abandon the annual match for the Tasman.Cup, which was to be played at Christchurch on October 11. The New Zealand council has also decided to cancel the New Zealand championship tournament, which was to have been held in Christchurch from October 5 to 13. Named After Masterton Resident. It was mentioned at the Rotary Club meeting yesterday that a wealthy and prominent Chinese in French IndoChina was named after a Masterton resident as were two daughters of the same family, one of whom now resides in Hong Kong. All the children were born in Masterton but left foi China many years ago. Restaurants Busy. Restaurants in Wellington at midday and in the evening yesterday were patronised more freely than usual, apparent as a result of the restrictions on the sale of petrol. Many business persons who usually travel home by motorcar for the midday meal stayed in town. Some of the restaurants which had not anticipated the extra number of patrons soon announced that some of the more popular dishes were off. Waitresses were kept extremely busy, and at several places there were persons waiting for tables. Women’s Conference Abandoned. The honorary Dominion secretary of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, Miss Frances L. Cooper announced this evening that, because of the war the biennial conference of the National Council of Women, which was to have been held in Christchurch from September 25 to 30, will not now be held. This decision had been made by the Dominion president, Miss Mildred Trent, and the honorary Dominion secretary, after consultation with the Dominion vicepresidents throughout New Zealand. Benzine Confiscated. “Already we have had to confiscate benzine which has been stored away, said Mr A. JVt. Olliver, Inspector of Explosives to the Napier Borough Council yesterday. When people heard that petrol was likely to be restricted quite a number bought drums of petrol and hid them away- without realising the heavy penalties to which they subjected themselves, he said. If they were discovered, under the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act, the offenders were liable to penalties of up to £lOO, and petrol could be confiscated by an Inspector of Explosives. Resources Offered. At a meeting of the emergency committee of the Wellington council of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, the Dominion president, Mr E. W. Barnett, said he had telegraphed the Minister of Agriculture placing the whole of the resouices of the Young Farmers’ Club organisation at the disposal of the Government in the event of the .necessity arising during the present crisis. The Minister had replied thanking him and adding that they certainly would avail themselves of the offer should the occasion arise. Fair Rents Act. The Municipal Association executive decided at a meeting held in Wellington yesterday to write to the Government asking, if it was intended to proceed with any amendment of the Fair Rents Act with a view to making, its provisions apply to business premises as well as to dwellings, that the Association should have the opportunity to make representations, as the matter was one of some importance to many local bodies in New Zealand. It was decided to hold the next Municipal Conference in Wellington on March 5, 1940. Meat Supplies to be Released. Certain supplies of meat awaiting shipment to the United Kingdom are to be released to the local market, with a view to assisting families with their meat budget, according to a statement made last night by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan. “Fat stock —beef and mutton, both prime wether and prime ewe —for local consumption is in short supply as is not the Minister. “With normal supplies short, it is unprofitable for butchers unusual at this time of the year,” said to sell at existing retail prices. To meet the shortage it has been decided to release some supplies al present awaiting shipment to the United Kingdom, and. with this addition, the price of meat should remain at normal and reasonable levels.” Accent of Kent. New Zealand children speak with the accent of Kent, England, Dr Frederik Staton. Sheffield, told the Wellington Optimists’ Club yesterday. “It is a cockney accent.” he said, “but perhaps not the cockney that is generally known on the music-hall stage. Thei.e are cockneys and cockneys. Still, is it a hybrid cockney all the same. In the course of my examinations here I have asked students if they would care to play the F major or F minor scale first, and have been slightly confused sometimes at the answer. The ' student might reply ‘F mijer,’ which I might mistake for ‘F miner.’ Perhaps it may not be so broad as that, but it is there. “I have visited every Dominion except Australia, and have adjudicated many times at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, and I can say that your children's voices are definitely as good as those of the children in an}, place I have visited, probably better.”

The Man at the Door: “Madam. I'm the piano tuner.” The Woman: I didn’t send for a piano tuner.” The Man: “I know it. lady: the neighmours did."