Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 205, 28 August 1940, Page 4

Local and General

Clematis Blooming: Confirming the extremely favourable spring so far experienced, clematis is in flower at Manawahe. Community Sing To-night. King Street Hall will again be the venue for the weekly community sing conducted .in aicl of patriotic funds. These sings are becoming increasingly popular and it is probable that reservations of seats will soon have to be undertaken. The singing will be interspersed with items by local artists and a collection will be made. Donated to Red Cross. Funds. Mr Griffiths of Ohope Beach has adided to the Red Cross Funds by donating for raffling, a coloured study of Maori Art painted by himself. The picture is in oils and is a genuine credit to the donor who desires that all the proceeds should go towards the local funds and that the committee should make the best financial advantage of his gesture. Expenditure Advising that local bodies now had power to spend moneys as organising expenses in connection with the formation of the Home Guard, the Hon. D. Wilson, at 'Saturday night's meeting, saitll that such expenses included the provision of stationary, : the use, perhaps, of a typewriter, and similar incidentals. The main expenditure, of course, would be borne by the Government. Special Constables The chairman of the County Coun cil, Mr J. L. Burnett, at Saturday night's meeting of local body representatives, said it was still tnoughi by the council that special constables should be sworn in for service in strategic locations. The associateMinister of National Service, the Hon. D. Wilson,' replied: "There is authority for such appointments, of course, but at the present time .I don't know of. any reason why appointments should! be made." No Maximum Age Mr J. T. Merry, Opotiki County Clerk, asked the Hon. D. Wilson at the meeting on Saturday evening whether there was a maximum age for-enlistment'in the Home Guard, the Minister, replying that there was no age limit» Mr Merry, in pursuing the point, raid he had read that a person unable to stand! up t'c rigid training would be asked to resign. Mr Wilson said that, naturally, members would be expected to be reasonably fit. But, he added, if the time ever came when the Home Guard had to get into serious business it would need every man.who could sit on a hill top with a rifle,-.