NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Japanete Hospital Symbol Japanese symbols, meaning hospital, are being painted on the roote of some Sydney hospitals. The symbols are easily discernible from the air and are being used In preference to the conventional Red Cross sign. They are coloured scarlet and pointed on a white rectangle, about six feet long and four feet wide. Picture Tells the Story "It proves once more the old Chinese maxim that a picture is worth ten thousand words," wrote Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., to a meeting of the Waipawa County Council. He was referring to a graph that had been drawn up by the clerk and the engineer to illustrate the great rise In hospital taxation in recent' years. Office Girls Help Farmers How office girls have assisted farmers was reported to a meeting of the ManaWatU Council of Primary Production. They were employed in a certain commercial establishment In Palhierston North, and, clubbing together and taking some of the junior boys with them, they went to various farths weeding mangels and the like, and reports from the thankful farmers were that they did a good job of work. A Bluebell Woodland A further 1'2.000 narcissi, the gift of the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, were planted in the woodland near the Christchurch Public Hospital during Jurte, bringing the total of bulbs to 358,000, Mr. J. A. McPheraon, director of the Botanic Gardens, said in his report for June, made to the Christchurch Domains Board at a meeting. Mr. McPherson said that with the woodland area practically completed, attention could now be turned to the formation of a bluebell woodland in Little Hagley Park, where last season about 2000 bluebells were planted. Cider in Demand Cider comes into its own in Tasmania. The demand for this beverage has received a great impetus, according to a fruit trade journal, "due largely to the arrival of Americans in 'the garden State.'" The visitors, it was found, appreciated the cider, and they are accustomed to drinking fruit juices. Another point scored by cider was the restrictions placed On beer consumption. Cider presses •re- working full time and will be Crushing well into August. In addition to the fruit juices, a substitute for coffee is being manufactured and found to be "quite palatable." It is made from Wheat and malt and Is imported to be in heavy demand. farmers and FertHioer "At present farmers are the last Jh the pool for manure and much that is being frittered away on crops is unnecessary," declared a member at a meeting "of the Te Awamutu Farmers' Union. He added: "We are now setting 70 per cent of last year's allowance, but the time is approaching when we will get only 20 per cent." It was pointed out that wheat and flax growers ana market gardeners all had priority over sheep and dairy farmers. The .branch agreed to forward a remit to the next Waikato gub-ptovlncial conference urging that the Government make a definite statement regarding the fertilise* position and that liberal allowances be made available to . farmers.

Lack of Leadership "One of the reasons for the lack of leadership to-day is the spirit of crucifixion that animates the people," declared Mr. H. M. Rushworth, of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. 'No sooner does an apparent leader appear than the people treat him as a cockshy. We should not blame lack of leadership as lack of our own capacity to observe leadership." A Much-travelled Infant In a footnote to a letter read at the meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (South Canterbury) on Monday, Mr. J. J. Lamont, Director of Membership Service, National Safety Council, Chicago, U.S.A., claimed an early association with New Zealand. "As an infant," wrote Mr. Lamont, "I was wheeled in my perambulator on the streets of Dunedin, but made a return journey to Scotland at the age of 18 months." No Blame Attachable In divorce proceedings In the Supreme Court, Hamilton, this week, it was stated that the parties had entered into a legal separation agreement in which there was the clause, "no blame is attachable to either party," and on which an order was issued by a magistrate. Mr. Justice Smith said this was a somewhat unusual procedure, but he would Issue a decree, to be moved absolute after three months. Wellington's Fine Week "I have always said that we invariably get some of our best weather in the winter." said the Rev. D. C. Bates, formerly Government Meteorologist, on Thursday. This was apropos the soft, warm weather, with blue skies, and almost windless days, experienced this week in Wellington. But the public should not be misled. This spell of balmy weather is hardly consonant With the end of July, but rather more like the end of October. In the ordinary course of things there is likely to be some bitter weather before the end of August ushers in our altogether untrustworthy spring. Gas Masks on Hand In the remote possibility of a gas attack Wellington will be prepared. The decontamination centre, the establishment of which was made public some time ago, is ready for use. Expert opinion has been given that an enemy gas attack is unlikely, but the authorities are leaving nothing to chance. For instance, the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said this week that gas masks had already been made available to firefighting personnel and others in the E.P.S. organisation. He expected that about 20;000 masks would be distributed to Wellington householders living in the more congested areas before very long. Arbor Bay Observance Arbor Day will be observed this year in the Dominion on August 5, but local bodies are at liberty to observe any other day next month where climatic conditions are unsuitable on the decreed date. In view of Li. ~n a" °nai importance of tree Minister of Internal th» l^ioif r -. Pari T' has requested of sui table celebrating the event - At a recent thp Rnva? v executive council of New Zealand Institute of pikkl? President, Mr. Hope an that it was hoped that would mark the occasion and the value of tree life tn the community by planting all avai?able areas, not necessarily on Arbor