LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21835, 16 September 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Band Instruments For Forces t The United States War Production j Board has ordered manufacturers, wholesalers and jobbers to sell all; c stocks of band instruments directly j 1 to the Army and Navy. New Civic Chambers In Palmerston ] Having received assurances from ( the Minister of Internal Affairs, the c Hon. W. E. Parry, that he would not oppose a loan without a poll, the Palmerston North City Council has decided to erect three-storey civic chambers, costing £35,000, to replace the present earthquake-damaged building. Conserving Fertilisers The United States War Production Board has ordered the conservation , of all chemical fertilisers in 33 ! States, says a message from Washing- , ton. It has reduced the consumption - of nitrogen by 20 per cent and j banned the use of nitrogen fertilisers ■ on golf courses, cemeteries, lawns . and other non-commercial plantings, j No Coal Shortage in Gisborne There does not appear to be any ; coal shortage for domestic use in! 1 Gisborne. One of the leading coal} 1 merchants stated that Gisborne did not rely on the Waikato mines, and - even if the supply should cease for! : an indefinite period he thought that | 1 there would be sufficient for Gis- j - borne’s needs for some time. j < Power Board Loan Arrangements for the raising of;, £12,500 for electrical extensions i within the board’s area were com- i pleted by the Central Waikato Electric ; Power Board today. The loan is i at the rate of 30 per cent and is to i be repaid in half-yearly instalments i! over a period of 20 years. Services Appreciated Appreciation of the valuable ser- - vices of Miss M. E. Olsen was expressed at the Central Waikato Electric Power Board meeting today, when Miss Olsen’s resignation from the board’s service after 16 years,! was received. The board decided to 1 make tangible recognition. National Savings Quotas Last week 88 towns, including ! eight of the main provincial centres, ! attained their National Savings quotas. A considerable number of places which for some weeks past ■ have failed to reach their quotas, . sometimes by comparatively small margins, were successful on this occasion. Electricity Consumers The Central Waikato Electric Power Board now has 7873 consumers, according to a report by the 1 engineer-manager, Mr J. R. Ellis, i tabled at the monthly meeting today. Mr Ellis also said that water-heaters numbered 3740, ranges 2085, milkingmachiiip motors 2078, separator motors 1130, pump motors 2000, industrial motors 893, and domestic motors 248. The most striking increase for the month was in separa- I tor motors, the increase being 64. Leave Without Transport That soldiers were recently given leave without transport, being denied access to trains and road services, was stated at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. Members - stated that men had recently had to travel by “hitch-hiking” methods, and had not been allowed to board even race trains. Unanimous approval was given a motion to communicate with the acting-Prime Minister and ask for an explanation of the position. Soldiers’ Rail Privileges The curtailed rail services announced yesterday did not make the position quite clear in respect of servicemen and returned soldiers. The stationmaster at Hamilton states that only holders of returned soldiers’ four-weekly free passes can obtain permission to take their wives or families with them by rail during their leave periods. Permission to I travel with their wives and families •is not expressly given to all servicemen and returned soldiers.