DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21687, 25 March 1942, Page 3

DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA

CO-OPERATION OF PILOTS (United Press Assn.—dec. Tel. copyright) SYDNEY, March 24 Batches of Australian pilots are attached to the various American air squadrons operating in the Australian theatre of war, said the Minister of Air, Mr A. S. Drakeford, today. After serving for a certain period with the Americans, the Australians will be transferred ’pack to Australian squadrons. The object, said the Minister, was to familiarise the Australians with the faster American aeroplanes. Australians were also serving with Americans at battle stations. All locality signs deemed to be visible from low-flying aircraft are being removed from railway stations within the metropolitan area of Sydney. All signs are being removed from stations outside the metropolitan area up to a radius of 100 miles from Sydney. In future guards on trains will call the names of all stations. Hotel Hours Reduced Hotel trading hours in New South Wales will be changed tomorrow. Instead of being from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. they will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Announcing this, the Premier, Mr W. J. McKell, said a reduction in trading hours was rendered imperative by the critical times and the dangers facing the country. The Government’s duty, he added, was to aid in every way possible the nation’s war effort and to remove all obstructions to discipline both civil and military. He had been informed that the consumption of liquor, particularly bottled liquor, had been tremendously reduced as a result of rationing hotel supplies, and the suppression of unlicensed clubs and sly-grog dens. Some leading city hotels closed today when supplies of cask beer were exhausted. They affixed notice* to their premises saying they would reopen when fresh supplies were available.