General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 117, 21 May 1942, Page 4

General News

Blackout Time. The time for the drawing of blinds in Wanganui to-day is 5.45 p.m. Sin 1 Helmets. Members ol the Wanganui Emergency Fire Service Corps received their issue of steel helmets when they paraded on Tuesday night at the Central r’ire Station. Automobile Membership. It was reported at last night's meeting of th Q Automooile Association (Wanganui) that the membership totalled 4577. The secretary. Mr. F. J. Hill, said the membership was keeping up remarkably well, despite the present conditions. Juvenile Purchasers. Proudly flourishing £1 notes, a girl and a boy aged seven and nine respectively were the first people in Auckland to purchase Liberty Bonds on Monday. Their contribution to the v/ar effect was made at the Chiei Post Office, and was soon followed by many others. Business Premises to Close. At the request of the Mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers. M.L.C., all business people in the Wanganui City area arc invited to close their premises between 2 and 3 p.m. to-morrow, on the occasion of a special military parade in Victoria Avenue in support of the Liberty Loan campaign. Reduction in Fees. On the motion of Mr. K. M. Little (Feilding) the Automobile Association (Wanganui), at its meeting last night, decided to recommend to the North Island Motor Union that thcr. be a 50 per cent, reduction in reg;stration fees and a 50 per cent, cut on the third-party risk because of the shortage of tyres and petrol. Motoring; Affairs. Ordinary routine business was transacted at last night's meeting of the Automobile Association (Wanganui). Those present were Messrs. P. D. England (president), G. W. Sampson. S. G. Whitl.aU, E. Cole. K. M. Little (Feilding). T. R. Dix. D. G. O'Toole. W. S. N. Rennie. R. G. Tilboys, and Dr. E. E. Porritt. Food and Supply Personnel. The headquarters of the Gonville food and supply section, at the Gonville School, was visited this week i.»y Mr. I. Manley, E.P.S. organiser in Wanganui. To the personnel, who ’paraded under Mr. D. Hartnett, he expressed appreciation of the work being carried out. This section has made provision for the storing of a supply of food for use in time of emergency. E. At Imlay E.P.S. units employed at the New Zealand Refrigerating Company's freezing works at. Imlay, were visited this week by Mr. I. Manley. Wanganui E.P.S. organiser, who inspected arrangements made for an emergency, and reported that he was well satisfied with the precautions taken. Superintendent N. M. Ross, of the Wanganui Fire Brigade, will visit Imlay on Saturday, when practice in the handling of hoses will be given. Care of Bicycles. The need for looking after bicycle lyres was stressed by Mr. S. G. Whittall at the monthly meeting of the Automobile Association (Wanganui) last night. He cited the large number of cycles at, the Intermediate School which had no protection from the weather because of lack of accommodation. Patrol Gray said he had been informed by the headmaster that the school committee was making efforts to obtain the necessary shelter. Rugby Anniversary. Ii is 12 years to-day since the 1930 British team opened its New Zealand tour in Wanganui. The match was played on Cook's Gardens in the presence of more than 12,000 people and was won by Britain by 19 points to 3. Ot the 21 matches played in the Doni inion the visitors won 15 and lost six. Four test matches were played, N‘-w Zealand winning three and Britain one. The manager of the team, Mr. J. Baxter, died in England some time 1 railing Banks’ Offer. An opportunity for the suburban storekeeper and business people to support the Liberty Loan is provided by the announcement that subscriptions may be made by means of an overdraft*. Advice has boon received by the Post Office authorities from national savings headquarters, Wellington, that the trading banks will advance money on overdraft for the purchase of Liberty Loan stock on the „asi< ol 10 per cent, deposit, the balance to be paid in monthly instalments over six months. Maoris and Home Guard From inquiries made in Wanganui yesterday, it was ascertained that Maoris within the meaning of the Native Land Act are not required to enrol in the Home Guard under the regulations requiring compulsory service. Under this Act a native is defined as a Maori when he is more than a hall-caste, but if he is less than a half-caste he must, register. A Maori who is actually a half-caste has the choice of being a Maori or pakeha, and may please himself as lo whether he enrols. A. ami F. Conference. Because of the war Ihe Western District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand decided at its annual meeting yesterday to recommend that the annual conference of A. and P. Associations should not be held this year. It. was stated that many bodies would not be able to arrange fixtures and that there would be little business lor the conference which is held annually in Wellington. The meeting recommended also that associations unable to hold their shows should do so as soon as possible after the war, and that in the meantime they should remain as active as possible. German Flying Suits. To stimulate the Liberty Loan campaign being conducted in Wanganui this week, window displays are being prepared by a number of business firms. Of interest to all is the display of flying suits, worn by German airmen shot down over England, in the Avenue window of McGruer’s, Ltd. A suit, which was worn by an airman killed by machine-gun bullets, has three holes in it. Two are in the shoulder and another in the back, while, according to the holes in another of the suits, the airman, who was wounded and eventually died, was hit by bullets in the leg and shoulder. It is estimated that the suits are worth between £6O and £7O each. There are more than a dozen zip fasteners on each suit, almost every one revealing a pocket. Pictorial Publicity. The omission of pictorial publicity of Wanganui in a film produced by the New Zealand Government Publicity Department concerning the campaign for “Bomber Bonds,” in spite of the fact that Wanganui topped the poll, formed the subject of two letters which came before 4 he City Council meeting on Tuesday. One letter was from the Chamber of Commerce and the other from the Retailers’ Association. The letters suggested that the council should protest to the Government. It was reported that the film had been withdrawn from circulation, but it was decided that representations be made through the Tourist Publicity* anl Development Committee protesting against th? omission and asking why applications were not made to the City Council for views of Wanganui, if not of the actual parades held during the campaign, to include in the film.