NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Newsprint Stocks Newspapers in New Zealand have been living upon their stocks of newsprint since last September, no new shipments having arrived since that date. For two years before imports had been very severely rationed, and stocks throughout the Dominion had been steadily reduced. There is still no indication of space becoming available for newsprint, and in order to conserve the meagre existing stocks all newspapers are compelled further to reduce their size. The Auckland Star will from this week be reduced from 56 to 48 pages per week. The Star will continue to give the complete news coverage which it has given in the past, though necessarily there will be condensation, both in the news, and, to a "greater extent, in the advertising section of the paper. Clergy Volunteered "All the clergy in the Waikato Diocese have volunteered for army service to the country that they may he called upon to undertake, and already many of us have been so called upon, said Bishop C. A. Cherrington, in the Diocesan Magazine. "J hope that we may not oe asked for any more to go as chaplains just yet, as we are only hanging on to the work of the diocese 'by our eyelashes,' so to speak. But, of course, if the Benior chaplain, Archdeacon Hawkins, asks us for more, we shall do all we can to satisfy his demands. It is upon these lines that we have proceeded since the war began, and we shall continue to do so." Clogs tor Workers The manufacture of clogs for Workers in heavy industries is being considered by several new Zealand boot and shoe manufacturers, stated the manager of a Wellington firm yesterday in reference to the cabled report from Australia that the Federal Directing Authority on leather had suggested their use. Samples had already been made, but there were at present no plans for beginning manufacture. The clogs would be more serviceable than boots in industries where workers were treading constantly on iron fittings or standing on wet floors. However, the shaping of the wooden soles and the necessity for heavy leather for the uppers would make them slightly dearer than boots. It was pointed out that clogs were worn by many English workers who found them comfortable and long wearing. The unprecedented demand for leather made by the army in Australia has caused the suggestion to be considered there, and it is understood that the same factor is operating in New, Zealand. A Camp Newspaper The third issue of the Arawa Gazette, a well printed eight-page monthly issued at one of the New Zealand camps, has come to hand. It is brightly written and has many items of interest to members of the armed forces. It is edited by Private Leo White, a well-known Press photographer. That this miniature newspaper is growing in popularity is evidenced by the announcement in bold type — "Circulation was enormous, now colossal!' In this issue a full page is devoted to the air force. An interview with Captain H. P. Leeves, chief instructor of physical and recreational training, who was formerly physical instructor on the staff ot the Memorial Technical College, : headed, "Use of Wall Bars." Another feature is a biographical sketch of Major T. P. Laffey, who after the World War became one of a group of well-known sergeant-majors at. the Rutland Street drill hall. Since then he has had much experience. Including duty in the Middle East during the present war. An appreciation by the . Minister of National Service, Mr. b. nip'e, says: "This excellent publication i effects the enthusiasm of members and is itself most informative and entertaining." He sent good wishes.

Auckland Trams In order to cope with the large amount of passenger traffic which is now dealt with the Auckland Transport Board has, at peak periods, its whole fleet of 225 trams in operation. Of tnese 190 of the trams are of the double platform type, 15 of the single platform sort, 15 are open combination, and others are converted double-deckers. The total carrying capacity is 20,250 passengers. A Bad Risk "It is a serious matter for an unlicensed driver to drive a motor vehicle because if there is an accident and someone else is hurt the insurance company will not pay damages," said Mr. R. C. Abernethy, S.M., in dealing with a case of this sort at a sitting of the Invercargill Magistrate's Court recently. "A lot of people don't seem to know this or else deliberately take the risk. It is a pretty bad risk. No matter what the difficulties are at the present time, no one should drive on the reads without a driver's license." Supply of Blankets A suggestion that the Government should be asked to give priority of supply of blankets to charitable institutions after Army requirements had been met was made by Mr. A. P. O'Shea at a meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board. The suggestion was adopted by the board. The chairman of the Social Welfare Committee, Mr. G. Petherick, said the committee had come across several distressing cases among the poor people. In one case two children were sleeping on a wire mattress with only a bit of blanket and a acarf to cover them. A Sack of Oysters How many dozen oysters are in a sack? The question was raised at a meeting of the executive of the Southland Soldiers' Aid Committee, Christchurch, asking the executive to provide three sacks of oysters for a soldiers' tea, to be held at the Welcome Club, Christchurch, on July 19. None of the members of the executive was certain of the correct answer to the question, though one who said 72 dozen was practically correct, since a telephone Inquiry to a fish merchant elicited the information that the quantity ranged from 60 to 70 dozen. Mrs. J. Hargest said that at one tea provided by the Southland Soldiers Aid Committee 500 dozen oysters were used. It was decided to arrange for the three ■ sacks of oysters to be forwarded as | requested. The Fyjama Lady A pink dressing wrapper, pyjamas •and bedroom slippers! Thus clad a [young lady hurried on to the Newmarket railway station on Saturday morning carrying a suitcase and several parcels, She only just caught the train for the North, but did not travel by it. Therein lies a story. A nurse who had booked a seat for the winterless north ordered a taxi the previous evening to take her to the station and became perturbed when it did not make its appearance at the appointed time. After wasting some minutes telephoning for a conveyance, without success, as a last resort she appealed to a friend who was in bed when the 'phone rang. The Good Samaritan promptly came to the rescue. She hurriedly got her car out of a garage and hastened to her friend's flat in the attire already mentioned. Unheeding traffic regulations she was able to reach the railway station with about half a minute to spare. The luggage entrained was the greatest difficulty, as there was sufficient for the nurse to make a long stay in the district to which she has been assigned. A feature of the incident was the unconcerned way the girl in pyjamas made her way through the crowd on the platform. She showed not the slightest embarrassment to the staring onlookers. She had done her good deed for the day—"stout fellow. She, too, was a nurse, and no dcubt a moat capable one.