LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1944, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

No Publication on Monday. Subscribers and advertisers are asked to note that the “Times-Age” will not be published on Monday next (Easter Monday). The decision not to publish on that holiday has been taken by a number of provincial newspapers in the conditions established by recent legislation.

War Anniversaries.

Yesterday, April 7, was the fifth anniversary of the seizure of Albania by Italy. Tomorrow, April 9, is the fourth anniversary of the Nazi attack on Denmark and Norway, which broke the period of “phoney” war which had lasted since September, 1939.

Sports Club Dance. There was an attendance of 200 people at the dance held by Hansell’s Sports Club in the Masonic Hall, Masterton, on Thursday night. The music was supplied by Barnes’s orchestra and extras were played by Misses K. Marsh and B. Hawke. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Mrs J. Jenkin and Mr R. Jenkin. A statue dance was won by Miss M. Patete and Mr D. Honore. Mr J. W. Henderson was a capable M.C. Supper was served by a ladies’ committee.

Night Time Sport.

According to a farmer, petty thieving has become a night time sport on some of the farms only a few miles from Wellington city. He said that thieves had despoiled his pear trees, just when the fruit was ready for picking for preserving. The same thing happened to the blackberries on his property. He and his wife had made preparation to make jam and jelly from a bounteous crop, only to find that when just ripe the whole crop had been picked. Thieves even stripped the tires off his trailer —the unkindes't cut of all., in view of the manifold uses it served on the farm.

Exports 1 and Imports. A decrease in exports and an increase in imports are shown in the overseas trade figures for February, released on Thursday by the Customs Department. For the eight months of the production year, which opens on July 1, exports are at the highest level for many years. Exports during February totalled £4,495,000, compared with £6,422,000 in February, 1943, a decrease of £1,927.000. Imnorts for the month were £5,452,000, against £3,037,000 in February, 1943, an increase of £2,415,000. leaving an unfavourable trade balance for the month of £957,000, compared with a favourable balance of £3,385,000 in February, 1943.

R.S.A. Badge.

Several prosecutions which have lately been made by the police for the illegal wearing of the R.S.A. badge have brought forward the question of the right to wear the badge by unauthorised persons. The R.S.A. badge is protected by statute under the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act, 1918. The R.S.A. badge is issued to all financial members of the association but the badge remains the property of the association and its return may be demanded at any time should the person to whom it was issued cease to be a member. The badge for the current financial year, i.e„ commencing April 1, 1944, bears a black attachment with the numerals 44/45, and should only be worn on the right hand lapel of the coat in such a manner that the bar of the badge is parallel to the ground.

High Priced Chrysanthemums. Half a dozen bunches of lovely white chrysanthemums, sold at auction in Wellington on Thursday morning, realised £2. It is understood they were purchased for altar decoration at Easter. Interhouse Dance, The Wairarapa Interhouse Association will hold a dance in the Masonic Hall, Masterton, tonight, when the music will be supplied by Mr J. Barnes’s full orchestra. Supper will be served and novelty dances will be held. Cyclist injured. A collision occurred on the roadway in the Masterton Hospital grounds on Wednesday afternoon between a bicycle, ridden by Miss V. McKenzie and a lorry. Miss McKenzie, who is on the hospital staff, received an injury to one of her feet, which necessitated her admittance to the hospital as a patient.

Action Urged. A resolution was unanimously adopted by the Oroua County Council on Thursday asking the Farmers’ Union to request the provincial councils and all branches to organise for direct action to prevent the enforcement of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act. The chairman, Cr. A. B. Shannon, asked how it could be enforced if the farmers refused to nay rates.

Supply of Blankets. The difficulty that has arisen in connection with the replenishing of a pool from which the Rationing Controller had drawn blankets for urgent priorities, was discussed at a recent meeting of the advisory board of the New Zealand Federation of Drapers and Allied Retailers. It was stated that in the past it had been possible to establish a pool out of which such essential deliveries were made through normal retail channels. The pool was now depleted, and it had not been possible to obtain replacements. Following a discussion with the Factory Controller, arrangements have now been made whereby a pool is to be created for a short period, out of which retail traders will be able to obtain supplies for essential and necessitous cases throughout the coming winter.

Air Training Corps.

The weekly routine orders for No. 21 Squadron, Air Training Corps, Masterton, states, inter alia: —Parades: Masterton, Thursday, April 13, at 6.50 p.m., Wairarapa College, Masterton; Eketahuna, Tuesday, April 11, 7.30 p.m., and Wednesday, April 12, 7.30 p.m., District High School, Eketahuna. Programme: Masterton, Thursday, Drill, Armaments and P.T.; Eketahuna, Tuesday, Drill and Armaments; Wednesday, Mathematics, Science and Navigation. A broadcast programme entitled “The Training of a Fighter Pilot,’ commencing as under, will continue at each station for five consecutive Sundays, all at 9 p.m.: —Auckland, IZB, March 26; Wellington, 2ZB, April 2; Christchurch, 3ZB, April 9; Dunedin, 4ZB, April 16; Palmerston North, 2ZA, April 23. The programme includes actual recordings at R.N.Z.A.F. training stations, «and presents personal impressions of pupils. Cadets are requested to inform their parents regarding this programme. Cadet I. J. Gilliland has been promoted to be acting corporal.