LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1944, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Meat Grading. “No decision, has been made as to when meat grading will be extended beyond Wellington,” said the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, when referring last night to reports from Auckland and elsewhere that meat grading was to come into force in other parts of the Dominion on January 24. The Minister said that a thorough examination of the whole question was being made. There was a strong consumer demand for the extension of the scheme, but no action would be taken till an examination had been made and consideration was completed. Officer Cuortmartialled.

Charged with the theft of a pair of American polarised day glasses and case from another member of the R.N.Z.A.F., and alternatively with being found improperly in possession of these articles, Flying Officer Oswald Ralph Smart was court-martial led at a New .‘Plymouth air station. Evidence was given by Flight-Sergeant M. Crampton that he placed the glasses on a table in the crew-room., and when he returned about an hour later they were missing. Smart said lie had not seen them. Constable V. Woodward explained how he recovered them from Smart’s home. Smart, in evidence, said he saw the glasses on the table and out them in his locker with the intention of handing them to the flight commander. Later he considered they might be his own, and did not send them to the flight commander. The court found Smart not guilty on the second charge. The decision on the theft charge will be announced later.

Anniversary Day HolidayMany people in Wellington are wondering whether the Anniversary Day of Wellington Province (January 22) will be observed on Saturday or on the following Monday. The matter was referred to Mr V/. J. Mountjoy. secretary of the Wellington Employers’ Association, who advised that undPr the Retail Shop Assistants’ award all dropers, mercers, boot resellers, hardware, crockery, cycle, electrical, fancy goods, florists, .furniture, jewellery, leather and book shops are required to be closed for the whole of Saturday. The provision for Saturday closing in this instance also applies to butchers, grocers and women’s hairdressing establishments. The law does not allow for the Mondayising of Anniversary Day, and it will bo celebrated generally on Saturday. The only businesses allowed to open on Saturday are fruit and vegetable shops, confectionery shops, tea-rooms, restaurants, milk bars, and cake shops.

Boy Killed Instantly.. When he was endeavouring to get on a tractor, the clothing of William Fairley, aged 3 years, became entangled in a revolving shaft and he was killed instantaneously at Olrig Station, Hastings, on Saturday.

A Novel Steed. A little boy at Ealing, Canterbury, has a novel steed on which he herds his father’s cows. Last week he was seen taking cows along the road comfortably straddling a sheep which was suitably bridled. The sheep was as unconcerned as the boy. A Large Trout.

An official report received by the Minister in charge of the Tourist and Publicity Department. Mr Parry, yesterday, referred to the catching at Lake Waikaremoana of a brown trout weighing IL’lb. The fish, which was caught by Mr W. Cook, is stated to be a record in size and weight for the waters of Waikaremoana. Grass Fire at Solway.

An extensive grass fire occurred yesterday afternoon at about 4 o’clock in the vicinity of the Solway School. The Mastertori Fire Brigade was called out and two engines proceeded to the scene. The fire, which was adjacent to the railway line, swept into the Solway School grounds and across the property of Mr R. W. Ferris, on the opposite side of the road. A number of fence posts and trees were burnt before the fire was brought under control, though no damage of a serious nature was done.

Bush and Scrub Fires. “One of the saddest sights for the eyes of the New Zealand tree-lover is a firescarred area of native bush,” stated the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mi' Parry, last night. Apart from the recent bush and scrub fires which had seriously damaged the beautiful landscape of Taupo, Wairakei arid the vegetation of part of the eastern slopes of Wellington Harbour, there was in official reports, he said, evidence in plenty that . the prompt action of public-spirited citizens had saved, from fire des "ruction many wayside areas of native bush. It had been conjectured that tie live cigarette butt or pipe dottie had played its part in one or two of the incipient fires that had occurred. The dry, hot weather of past weeks has made very inflammable scrub and grass growth along the highways, and the need for care with live cigarette butts particularly, was great. “The people of. New Zealand,” Mr Parry added, “want to keep intact the scenic beauty of their highways and the native bush near them. They have the ' safeguards in their own hands.”