LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 July 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gaol for Sly Grog Seller. For having sold a bottle of brandy wine to a service man for £1 without having a licence to sell liquor, John Joseph McLaren, motor-driver, aged 41, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment by Mr W. F. Stilwell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, yesterday. Eaby Found in Car. As a result of investigations made by a detective in connection with a baby boy found abandoned in a motorcar in Devonport, Auckland, on Wednesday night, a 19-year-old single woman appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, Auckland, charged that having custody of a male child born on July 15, she did abandon it in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering. She was remanded, and her name was suppressed. Two Eclipses Next Month. Two eclipses, one of the sun and then i one of the moon, will lake place early next month. Both will be visible in I Masterton, weathei' permitting. Both' will be only partial eclipses, though that of the moon will be very nearly total. Just before sunset tomorrow evening the first of these two eclipses is scheduled to take place. This will be an annular eclipse of the sun, but visible in New Zealand only as a partial eclipse. The moon will first interpose herself between the earth and the sun a few second before 4.47 p.m. In ) the early morning of Monday, August i 16, the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon will be reversed and, instead of the moon coming between the earth and the ’sun, thereby eclipsing the latter ,the earth will be in a line between the sun and the moon, and the latter will be eclipsed by the earth’s shadow. The eclipse of the moon will begin at 5.58 a.m.

Free Rail Travel Extended. Service men who immediately return to their ordinary vocations on discharge from the forces are to have an extended period in which to make use of the 28 clays’ free rail travel in the Dominion, stated the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in the House of Representatives yesterday, when replying to a question by Mr Atmore (Independent, Nelson). He had asked whether returned men with two years’ overseas service would have proportionate to such service the right or privilege to free railway transport as was now granted to those with longer service. The House should understand that every man discharged from the forces received 28 days’ free travel throughout the country, said the Prime Minister. One of the most, satisfactory and encouraging aspects had been the very early return of men to their ordinary vocations. In such cases it was not possible for the men to make use of their travel privileges within the customary period of 12 months, and it was only common sense to extend that where necessary.

Social Security Mileage. “The Government has in mind the complete abolition or at least the raising of the 20-mile limit under which mileage fees are allowed in respect of doctors giving service under Social Security,” said the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, when replying to Opposition members during discussion on the Social Security Department estimates in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister added that the amendment would probably come into force in the near future. When the 20mile limit was first imposed, continued Mr Nordmeyer, the Government had no intention of making it final. It was imposed to ensure that the doctors were not required to undertake unduly long, time-consuming journeys likely if the limit had been 30 or 40 miles. While it was true that a patient living more than 20 miles from a doctor had to pay the difference between 20 miles and the distance where he or she lived, the other side of the story was that the patient received assistance for part of the way and unobtainable before social security.

County Statistics. The Masterton County Council issued two building permits in July for an estimated value of £95. The council issued 375 drivers’ licences, making the total issued to date for the licensing year 961. Wool Council. Nominations are invited for the election of two wool growers’ representatives on the New Zealand Wool Council. The only persons eligible to make nominations are wool growers. Nominations will close with the returning officer, Mr H. Gerard, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, on August 16. Government Land Purchases. Though it had been approved by the special committee set up to discuss group of remits in which it was included. a proposal that in any purchase of land by the Government, the value should be assessed on the basis of the productive value, was not carried by the New Zealand Counties Association conference in Wellington after a brief discussion. Woman Thief Sent to Gaol. Describing her as a greedy, covetous woman whose circumstances showed she had no necessity to steal, Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court at Dunedin sentenced Helen Shave, 30, married, of Gore, to-four months’ reformative detention on eight charges of breaking, entering and theft. Shave also awaits sentence on nine charges of shoplifting. Petrol Ration for August.

The Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr Sullivan, announced last night that it had been decided by the War Cabinet that the petrol ration for private motorists for the month of August would continue at the half-cou-pon rate. Accordingly Coupon No. 2in the new series would be available during August at half its face value.

Regulation Breakers Fined. As a result of complaints the Railways Department recently decided that passengers will not be allowed to smoke in non-smoking carriages. For having failed to obey this order, Edwin Thomas Bowden and Heinrich Diedrich Meyer were each fined 10s, with 16s costs by Mr W. F. Stilwell, S.M., in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, yesterday.

Invitation to American Bowlers. The council of the New Zealand Bowling Association decided yesterday to write to the American Lawn Bowling Association indicating that' it would like a team to visit New Zealand after the war. Several members spoke of the gratitude New Zealanders felt to America for their part in the war, and of the desire for closer friendship between the countries.

Borough Building Permits. In July the Masterton Borough Council issued nine building permits of an estimated value of £4995, as compared with one permit for £l7 last July, when building restrictions were easing off after a total prohibition of private building in the previous three months. The Bank of New Zealand building and the St. Patrick’s School, both under reconstruction, account for the major portion of this month’s figures, and, with other works, had to have the approval of the Building Controller.

Air Training Corps. The weekly routine orders for No. 21 Squadron, Air Training Corps, Masterton, states, inter alia: —Parades: A and B flights: Monday, August 2 and Thursday, August 5, at 6.50 p.m., at the Wairarapa College, Masterton. C flight: Tuesday, August 3 and Thursday, August 5, at 6.50 p.m., at the King’s Theatre, Carterton. Syllabus: Monday, A flight, Mathematics, Science and Navigation; B flight, Mathematics and Science. Tuesday: C flight, Mathematics, Science and Navigation. Thursday: A flight, Drill, Signals and P.T.; B flight, Drill, Basic Fitting and P.T.; C flight, Drill, P.T., Signals and Gas. Cadet E. F. O’Keefe has been enrolled. Cadet E. F. O’Keefe is posted as aircrew. Cadet R. A. Benge has been transferred from aircrew to ground staff.