LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Golf Clubs in New Zealand. There are 328 clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Golf Association, an increase of thirteen on last year. Masterton Tennis Club. A final reminder is given of the annual meeting of the Masterton Tennis Club, to be held in the Leecroft Chambers, Lincoln Road, tonight at 7.30 o’clock. Harrier Activities.

The closing of the harrier season in the Wairarapa will be marked by a combined Masterton-Kiatere Harrier Club dance in the Masonic Hall on Saturday night. Trophies won during the season will be presented at the gathering.

New Zealand’s Grand Example.

“I am very proud of the grand example set by New Zealand’s united patriotic effort in this time of peril.” This is the text of a cablegram which the Prime Minister. Mr Savage, has received from Lord Bledisloe, former Governor-General of New Zealand. In acknowledgment, Mr Savage has cabled the following reply: —“I am most grateful for your cablegram, which will be a great encouragement to the Government and people of this Dominion.” Petrol to be Dearer. The probability of a further increase in the price of petrol in the near future was mentioned by No 2 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr J. P. O. Skoglund) at a sitting in Hastings yesterday afternoon. The rise in price would not be the result of taxation, he said, but freights had been increased recently and in addition, he understood that the price of petrol had already advanced by several cents in America. If that were so, the effect would De felt in New Zealand.

Fire at Military Camp. While army troops were asleep in 77 bedrooms, as well as recreation and social rooms, fire occurred in a twostory wooden barracks building at Narrow Neck military camp early yesterday morning. The outbreak was suppressed before more than £5O worth of damage was done. The seat of the fire was in a single-story attachment at the far end of the building, housing a supply of coal and a feeder engine serving the boiler for the hot' water service. Interest-Free Loan.

A suggestion that the public should be given an opportunity to subscribe to an interest-free loan for war purposes was made by Dr McMillan (Government, Dunedin West) during the second reading debate on the War Expenses Bill in the House of Representatives last night. “We have a large number of wealthy people,” said Dr McMillan, “and I am satisfied that they would welcome the opportunity to show their patriotism by subscribing to an interest-free loan. lam satisfied that the Minister of Finance would get several millions of pounds if he were to adopt this suggestion.” War Scare Stories.

Sydney was full of scare stories and rumours, said Mr Byron Brown, Wellington, on his return. He said it was freely reported that a submarine had been seen off Bondi —but homebound travellers were not put off braving the Tasman crossing. There was some slight alarm, however, when the vessel on which he travelled engaged in rocket practice. The first detonation brought many passengers on deck. However, they had been given confidence by the sight of naval vessels in Port Jackson. In spite of the war, the gaiety of Sydney life was maintained. Uniformed men were everywhere. Desire to be of Service

A commentary on the widespread desire to be of service in the present si. nation is contained in the fact that nearly 300 new members have been enrolled with the Napier brigade of the St John Ambulance. So great has been the response to the appeal for volunteers that it has been found necessary to start new classes. At present there are as many as four classes being held daily, and instructors have been kept exceptionally busy coping with the demand for instruction. An additional women’s class was started last week, and a further class will begin in a few days.

Wairarapa Wrestler. At the New Zealand amateur wrestling championships concluded in Christchurch last night, J. Dryden, of the Featherston Club, won the heavyweight title. His three bouts against the provincial champions from Auckland, Canterbury and Otago occupied only 12 minutes’ actual wrestling time as he completed' each bout by securing the necessary falls in 3mins., 5 mins., and 4mins. respectively. Dryden, who represented Wellington at the New Zealand championships, has a remarkable record and has not yet been beaten in New Zealand nor has he had a fall scored against him in the Dominion. His only defeats were in the Empire Games in Sydney. Historic Maori Canoe. Of particular interest during the centennial, a 100-year-old Maori canoe has been placed on exhibition at the Dominion Museum, Wellington. It is of considerable historical importance, for it played an essential part in the early colonisation of Wellington. This is the mail canoe used in 1841 by the Hon W. B. D. Mantoll, first postmaster at Wellington. It was used by him in the early days for going out to meet, the sailing ships on arrival, and taking ashore whatever mails they brought. It was also probably used tor carrying mails between Wellington and Petone, before the Hutt Road was completed. The vessel is about 30 feet long, hewn from a single totara trunk. It has been presented to the Museum by Mrs W. Mantoll, Wellington, and is on view in the main Maori hall. Work For the State. A proposal that every man should work at least half a day a week for the State, as a means of increasing production, was made by Mr Holland ! (Opposition, Christchurch North) during the second reading debate on the Wai- Expenses Bill in the House of Representatives last night. “The 40-hour week must not be allowed to stand in the way of greater production,” Mr Holland said, after explaining that in normal times he favoured the short working week. “I suggest that every man should work at least half a day for the State, and I believe that the | people would gladly do so.” The Minister of Lands, Mr Langstone: “Why not be like Hitler and say six months?” Mr Holland: “The Minister is just back from Germany and we don’t want any of Ills Hitler stuff here.”