General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 201, 26 August 1943, Page 4

General News

Earth Tremor. A sharp earthquake jolt was experienced in Wanganui at 6.45 p.m. yesterday. Patriotic Funds Benefit As the result of the past year’s operations of the Wellington Racing Club, patriotic activities in New Zealand will benefit to the extent of £5OOO. Commerce Exams. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce has received advice that entries for the annual Chamber of Commerce examinations close on October 8. As in previous years Wanganui will be an examination centre.

Primary School Rugby. For the second round of the Primary Schools’ annual quadrangular Rugby tournament, played at Palmerston North yesterday, playing conditions were good. In a fair game Wanganui beat Rangitikei by 5 points to 3, and Manawatu beat Taranaki by 6 points to 3. Farmers’ Union Finances.

The Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union had a credit balance of £563, reported the chairman of the Finance Committee, Mr. C. Smith (Brunswick), at the monthly meeting of t'ae executive yesterday. He add'd that of this amount £4OO was invested in war savings.

Demobilisation Figures The information that 22,606 men and women of the fighting services had been demobilised up to June 30 last was given by Mr. S. W. Gaspar, a member of the Rehabilitation Board. More than 9000 of the total given, according to Mr. Gasnar, were from overseas and 13,338 irom the New Zealand forces.

Transport (accusing. Advice that a sitting of the No. 2 Transport Licensing Authority would be held in Wanganui on the afternoon of August 31 was received by the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at its monthly meeting yesterday. It was stated that taxi service and goods service licences would be included in the business dealt witr*.

Electric Light Bulbs. There are only two factories for the manufacture of electric light bulbs in New Zealand. The first was established in Auckland in 1938, and the other was set up in Wellington two years later. Between them, these two factories make over three million bulbs a year, and they expect to be producing six million, annually by the end of the Avar, it is stated. Ministerial Visits. Two Cabinet Ministers will visit Wanganui next month to deliver public addresses in support of the Labour Party. On Saturday, September 4, the Minister of Health, Mr. A. H. Nordmeyer, will speak at 8 p.m. in the Harmony Hall, and on the night of Saturday, September 18, the Minister of .Railways, Hon. R. Semple, will speak in the Wanganui East Town Hall. There is a possibility of Mr. Semple's address being broadcast.

No Hardship in New Zealand. “Compared with the people overseas, New Zealanders are suffering no hardship at. all,” said Sergeant-Major E. Chadwick, a member of a Middle East furlough party, at. a reunion oi. members of the South Taranaki traffic control corps at Hawera. “People sent us fruit cake, while in England the people have not seen a fruit cake lor years. Some of our boys when they found a fruit cake in their parcels just wrapped it up again and sent it to friends in England.”

Westerly Abates. The westerly gale experienced in Wanganui on*Tuesday abated early yesterday morning, when the wind changed to a southerly direction. Yesterday was fine and sunny in the morning, but overcast in the afternoon. Temperatures were low. There was a moderate swell at Castleclift, but the Patea bar was still unworkable. The coastal motor-ship Inaha,

which arrived at Castlecliff for shelter on Tuesday, is expected to resume her passage from Wellington to Patea to-day.

Schoolboy’s Patriotic Effort. After assisting with the “Miss United Nations” patriotic bottle drive last Saturday an Aramoho schoolboy was of the opinion that plenty of bottles were still to be had for the asking in the Aramoho suburb. Starting on Monday morning he instituted a solo effort, with the result that by yesterday afternoon he had collected over 1200 bottles. The collection comprised 650 beer bottles, 250 wine bottles, 250 lemonade (large and small). 100 sauce bottles, and the rest miscellaneous.

Traffic Still Heavy. Passenger traffic in the Wanganui railway district is still heavy, though not to* be compared with the abnormal levels reached at the weekend, when trains were crowded and extra expresses were arranged to cope with the rush. The heavier traffic is due mainly to schools and colleges closing for the vacation, and the fact that many parents have taken the opportunity of travelling during the holidays. Advance bookings-for the principal express trains are heavy, particularly during the coming weekend. Extreme Prices for Flowers.

Probably never before have cut flowers, chiefly from the North Island, realised such high prices in Dunedin as those obtaining last week, and florists bid eageriy in the wholesale marts to secure supplies, which are not nearly sufficient to meet the demand. At the week-end boronias were sold wholesale at 16s to 25s per dozen bunches, freesias from 15s to 18s a dozen bunches, Soleil d’Or 20s to 30s. violets 5s to Bs, creme narcissi 5s to Bs, trumpet daffodils 12s to 30s, anemones 24s to 30s per dozen bunches. Flowers for wreaths are in constant demand, and this is an important factor in their sale.

Meat Board Election. Satisfaction with the result of the postal ballot for members of the Electoral College of the New Zealand Meat Producers* Board was expressed at the monthly meeting yesterday ot the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The ballot was conducted recently and in the West Coast (North Island) district all Farmers’ Union nominees were elected. It was stated that a similar position obtained elsewhere. Members of the Electoral College meet in Wellington this month to receive the annual report of the Meat Board and elect three producers’ representatives.

Is Churchill a “Grafter?” An amusing instance of a misunderstanding arising over the meanings of words concerns a young American nurse, now stationed in New Zealand with the United States forces. Although fundamentally New Zealanders and Americans speak the same language, some of the words have changed their meanings through the years. The Americal girl accepted an invitation to a private dinner party, and the conversation turned upon hard workers. A young New Zealand officer expressed the opinion that even Mr. Churchill, for a'l his brilliance. would not have become so great had he not been “a real grafter.” “But surely you do not mean that?” chimed in th a young lady on a rising inflection. “Winnie a grafter? Why, he isn’t a racketeer!” Mutual explanation followed.