General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 4

General News

Brownout Time. The time for the drawing of blinds in Wanganui to-day is 7 p.m. Rowing Season. It was decided at last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Rowing Association to open the season on Saturday, October 31. The ceremony will take place at the Union Boat Club.

Blackout Trial. A further complete blackout trial in the Wanganui city and suburban area would be staged in the near future, said the E.P.S. organiser, Mr. 1. Manley, yesterday. The trial would be held some time during a given period, but the actual hour would not be disclosed.

Weather Change. The fine weather which began two weeks age was broken yesterday, rain bringing some relief to gardens and pastures, which were beginning to show the effects of the dry spell. The fall, however, was too brief to have a marked beneficial effect on the countryside. Women’s Land Service. Since the improved conditions for the payment, housing, and outfitting of recruits for the Women’s Land Service were announced on September 2, recruiting has come to a standstill. Since that date no volunteers have enrolled through the Wanganui W.W.S.A., although the demand for female labour is growing daily. Vocational Guidance A study in vocational guidance, hobbies and other subjects for the interest of boys is being arranged by the Y.M.C.A. secretary in Wanganui, Mr. R. March. Mr. March and Mr. M. B. Anderson have conferred with Mr. K. H. O’Halloran on the subject and lie is to address the secondary boys’ physical class on Friday night. Recent Ballot Appeals. A start with the hearing of appeals lodged on behalf of married men called up in the most recent ballot for general military service will be made this week by the No. 2 (Wanganui) Armed Forces Appeal Board. The board will sit in Wanganui to-day and again on Thursday. Most of the appeals for reservists called up in previous ballots have been dealt with, but about 480 appeals from the September call-up have been lodged. Crippled Children Society. Sponsored by the Wanganui branch of th," Crippled Children Society an English pantomime will be staged in the Wanganui Opera House some time in December. This was announced at the Wanganui Rotary Club luncheon yesterday, when it was staled that eleven Wanganui citizens nad offered to guarantee the products.■. Womens organisations in Wanganui are also into; esting themselves in ti e effort for the crippled children. Liberty Loan Campaign. Plans for the campaign being launched in Wanganui to stimulate public interest and enthusiasm in the Second Liberty Loan will he discussed when a meeting of the Liberty Loan Committee (Wanganui District) is held in the City Council Chambers tomorrow morning. It was stated yesterday that organisations selected to appoint representatives on the committee should do so immediately and thus ensure a full attendance. Scouts’ Social. About 150 members of the Wanganui East Boy Scout Troop, their parents, and Girl Guides participated in a successful social gathering in the Wanganui East Town Hall on Saturday night. The whole programme was arranged and presented by the Scouts, musical items being given between the dances and games. Music was supplied by Mr. Johnston. Supper was served in the Scout Hail. Rotary Club. Presided over by Mr. B. R. Dobbs, the Wanganui Rotary Club luncheon was held in the Savage Club Hall yesterday. The speaker was Mr. Henri Penn, examiner in music for Trinity College, London. In the course of his remarks Mr. Penn expressed the opinion that, despite the war, music in New Zealand was more than holding its own and was being taken up by children and adults as a counter to the distractions of war. The vote of thanks was moved by Dr. G. H. Robertson. Membership Drive. It was stated by Mr. F. I-I, Bethwaite at the Wanganui Rotary Club luncheon yesterday that the Rotary Club had enrolled 330 members for the Wanganui branch of the Crippled Children Society. This left 170 members to be obtained to fill the promised quota of 500. The subcommittee dealing with the matter had promised to get 70 members. If Rotarians guaranteed to enrol the remaining 100. Mr. Bethwaite made a plea for an intensive drive and make good Rotary’s promise by the end of the month. Evacuation Cards. A further batch of 1150 evacuation cards, advising people where they would be accommodated should it be necessary to evacuate Wanganui, was sent out from E.P.S. headquarters yesterday. This means that provision in the evacuation scheme has been completed for another 4000 people, but the E.P.S. organiser, Mr. I. Manley, emphasised yesterday that this was only the first and most important stage of the plan. The question of transport had yet to be arranged, and in this scheme people who were aged, ill or infirm would be given preference.

Blow to Small Shopkeepers. While it is unlikely that the average householder will be seriously affected by the reduction in the sugar ration, many small shopkeepers, especially the proprietors of dairies and sweets stalls, * with their stocks reduced to 375 per cent, of their sales before rationing came into force, are faced with the question whether they will be able to carry on. Shortage of supplies of sweets, it was stated by several retailers, will mean that they will simply have to close their shops, while dairies, which rely largely on their turnover from soft drinks, ice cream, and sweets for their profit, will also be affected to the point of actual hardship. With summer coming on, the proprietors of refreshment Spirits in Short Supply. Whisky and other spirits (when obtainable” at all) are how served over the bar in homeopathic doses and with all the exactitude of the dulyqualified druggist. Circumstances over which the licensed trade has no control are responsible for this system. Very little in the way of potable spirits is available and rationing has become compulsory. As for the system of a. bottle on the counter and help yourself, that now belongs to the remote past, but there are still living those who recall it and will ever regret its passing. The position as to supplies of spirits to the general public continue to be acute. Practically all imports covering the sixth licensing period .that is. the year 1941. have either reached New Zealand or are on the way. These qualities—whatever they may be—will have to last the trade until February or March next by which time it is hoped, the seventh period supplies will be available. Under the system of rationing which is now generally adopted by distributors, it would appear that supplies will be at least as difficult to procure during the next six months as they have been throughout the period January to September.