Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 20, 2 November 1943, Page 4

Local and General

Fire Victims Fund The only donation received 1 since last issue to the subscription list opened by this* paper in the interests of the victims of the Commerce Street fire, comes from the Citizens Band', which organisation has handed list the sum of £2 10s. This addition makes the total received to date £23 10s .The list closes definitely next Fridtay. County Staff Reorganisation Consequent upon the release of the County Engineer, Capt. C. 11. Biebner from the Armed Forces about the end of November the Whakatane County Council decided at its last meeting to appoint a committee of the Chairman and Crs Hunter and McGougan to report on possible staff reorganisation with a view to the transfer to the engineer's department the dircct clerical work of .such department and overcoming iG possible the necessity of replacing the assistant county clerk, Mr W. Ward, who has intimated, his resignation owing to health reasons.

Report Held Over Owing to pressure 011 our spacc we have been unable to include the full report submitted, by Commissioner F. N. Christian regarding scouting activities, in the Bay of Plenty. The report wi ll appear in Friday's issue. Day of Remembrance It lis proposed that Sunday, November 7, shall be observed as a day of remembrance and dedication, with special services in places of [worship, says a message from Lonjdon. The King has decided that the usual Armistice Day service at the [cenotaph in London shall not be ! iield this year. No More Beef in Napier The Napier butchers have unanimously decided that, owing to the Dominion shortage, and high cost of beef, and having to comply with the tribunal retail prices, no further cattle would be purchased. Indications are that the present stock in hand will be. exhausted this week, after which 110 beef will be avail-, able to the public until further notice.

N< Meeting- in December The \Vhakat;me. County Council will not meet in December, but will hold its November meeting on the last day of that month. The January meeting wi!-l take place 011 the same day as usual. Gymkhana Planned With a view to making early plans anil preparations the Whaka(ane branch of the R.S.A. has deelded to hold a gymkhana in this town 011 a dale to be selected next April. R.S.A. Burial Plots The Whakatane branch' of the U.S.A. has written the. Minister of internal Affairs seeking fiis authority to the P.W.D. for the curbing oil of that section of the new Hi lucres t cemetery which is reserved for military interments only. Women's Land Service Applications for membership of the New Zealand Women's Land Service since the campaign for recruits was started 011 October 5 now total 35 : 0, according to official advice. Of this number 03 have come from Wellington. The total number now placed on farms, is about 1000. This compares favourably with the. Australian figures. There arc GO,OOO land girls in England, where such a scheme has been opcrating since; the beginning of the Avar. Consideration is being given, it is- understood, to the granting of service stripes to New Zealand land girls 011 a similar basis to the scheme in England. More Petrol Requested The Canterbury District Trades Council has decided to support requests for an increase in the petrol ration for private motorists by giving coupons the full face 1 value. A report to this effect- was confirmed by the president of the council;, Mr John Roberts.