LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Stop Press News The stop press news in today’s Waikato Times appears on Page 4. In Spite of Politicians A Wanganui resident has just received a letter from a friend in the United States, who wrote: “We want New Zealand to know that we are trying to hurry, in spite of politicians!” Penetrating Fog Conditions in Hamilton this morning were unpleasant with a penetrating fog which left a thick layer of moisture on grass and buildings. For a time it seemed that the mist would turn to light rain, but the sun struggled through. The weather, however, remained raw until late in the morning. Sterling Exchange The fact that the sterling exchange held by the Reserve Bank has fallen by over £1,000,000 for two successive weeks, together with a similar move- j ment in deposits of the trading banks, is attributed by banking circles in Auckland to periodic adjustments made between the Reserve Bank and the trading banks. There are no overseas loans due for repayment at this time of the year. Not Superstitious The members of the Ruakura Farm Advisory Committee cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called superstitious. Yesterday at their quarterly meeting, which as Friday the 13th would have been shunned by any dyed-in-the-wool superstitious individual, they had no qualms about selecting Friday, December 13, as the date of their next meeting. Pukemiro Collieries For the year ended August 31 Pukemiro Collieries, Limited, earned a net profit of £6OOO, compared with £4956 in the previous year and £7153 in 1938. The directors recommend a final dividend of 3£ per cent, making 6 per cent for the year, against 5 per cent in the previous year. The sum of £9786 was absorbed in taxation this year and there is £8678 to be carried forward. University Examinations The annual terms examinations of Auckland University College will be held from Monday, October 7, until Friday, October 18, inclusive. Local candidates will sit in the Baptist Sunday School Hall. The various degree examinations proper held by the University of New Zealand will take place between Monday, October 28, and Friday, November 15, inclusive. The venue for these latter examinations will be, as in previous years, the Alexandra Hall.

V.A.D. or V.N.A.? “I don’t like the term V.A.D.,” said Dr. C. A. Taylor, medical superintendent of the New Plymouth Hospital, at a presentation of certificates. “It means voluntary aid detachment and there is nothing individual about it.” One designation suggested, he added, was voluntary nursing aide and the Registered Nurses’ Association had proposed the name Auxiliary Nursing Service. Dr. Taylor said perhaps they might decide to call themselves voluntary nursing aides.

First Battle of Somme Tomorrow is the 24th anniversary of New Zealand’s entry into the first Battle of the Somme, in which the First Expeditionary Force engaged the best and most seasoned of the German troops for 23 desperate days and fought them to a standstill. These operations instilled a confidence in the Allies which was never lost, the morale of the division always being high after this battle. It was in this engagement that Sergeant D. F. Brown, of the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment, who was later killed, won the Victoria Cross, the first major award of the division in France.

New Training Aerodrome Shortly the Whenuapai aerodrome, near Auckland, will become available as an elementary flying training centre for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, according to an announcement by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. Training will be similar to that at New Plymouth. About 80 pupils will be trained at a time and about 50 trainer machines of the Tiger Moth type will be available. At the completion of the elementary training at Whenuapai many of the pilots will proceed to Canada for advanced training, but some will still complete their training at Blenheim before being sent direct to the United Kingdom. At present Whenuapai is being used as a base for Royal New Zealand Air Force daily reconnaissance patrols.