Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 19, 20 February 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Manpower Committee A sitting of the Manpower Committee is to be held at the Whakatane Courthouse to-day. Colds Prevalent Colds and mild influenza are prevalent in Wliakatane at present and those who have been afflicted complain that such visitations are out of seasont Choice of Service A. large number of reservists who nre called up for military service are not 'aware that a choice of service awaits them. For overseas service the units are: Infantry, Artillery, N.Z.M.C Machine Gun, Divisional Signalling, Divisional Cavalry, Engineer and Anti-tank Units, and N.Z.A.S.C. No mounted rifles are required for overseas service. Those called up for Territorial service may choose between Infantry. Mounted Rifles and Field Ambulance for the Mounted Brigade. Businessmen's Affairs A general meeting of the Wliakatane Chamber of Commerce has been called for next Mojulay night and some interesting subjects are included on the agenda. Members of the Retailers' Sub-Committeee are to be elected and other matters for discussion arc: Bus Service for "Wliakatane; Rubbish on Foreshore and Garbage Collection; To receive suggestions for the manner in which the Borough Jubilee can best be commemorated in existing circumstances. Tell Mussolini Italian prisoners'of war now working on the land in this country are investing their savings in British War Savings Certificates, states James Laver, the playwright and art critic, addressing a war savings meeting at Leicester. "We should send a special 1 message to Mussolini," said Mr Laver. "This is the greatest compliment that cou'.d be paid to this country. The prisoners have faith enough in our chances in tftis ! war to invest their money in Brit- | (sh securities." —Empire News.

Unilty of Chinese The unity c.f the Chinese the world over in the attempt to defeat Japan and the financial assistance being given in New Zealand with this in view, were referred to by Mr Charlie Meng Yee at a meeting of the Gisborne Rotary Club. Mr Meng Yee said all overseas Chinese. were organising and working together to help by sending money home. There were about 3000 Chinese in New Zealand, and they taxed their employees' incomes toi the extent of 2s in the £1 and the employers paid 10s a week. By this means they had sent £100,000 to China. Strict Measures Even your simple gardening activities may lead you into trouble. A New Plymouth woman now in England wrote in a letter to her mother recently that they were all awakened one night by the sound of men's voices coming up from the garden. Her husband went down to see what was the matter and found the. house surrounded by A.R.Pwardens. They wanted to know what he meant by putting such a heavy dressing of lime on the newly-dug ground. The white powder seemed to glow in the moonlight. I.'t took some time to convince them that he was not signalling toi the enemy. The letter also mentioned that it is no longer permissible to leave washing on the line over night. Bank Officers Serving "Cuff and collar" workers (if they are to include employees of banks) are taking their full share in the war. Melancholy interest attaches to a list in the "New Zealand Banker," the official organ of bank officers. showing that up to the time of compilation 32 bank officials had fallen in battle, 19 were wounded, 23 were* prisoners of war, and 22 were missing. They ranked from private to major, serving in the Army, Air Force and Navy. Two men who had previously wrestled with ledgers or counted cash, decorations have been awarded and mention made of- them in dispatches. All six banks operating in

New Zealand contributed men. It was stated at a meeting of officers held recently in Wellington that "over half of the pre-war bank staffs is now on military service and it is anticipated that additional men will be called up."