ITEMS OF INTEREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 58, 20 March 1945, Page 3

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Exchange of Stamps

The censorship restrictions on the export of stamps have been relaxed icj the extent that bath used and unused staijips may now be sent to British Empire destinations, with the exception of Eire, and to the United States of America, according to an announcement by the General Post Office, Wellington.

Story Without Words Among the most arresting oil paintings in the exhibition of art in the Pacific war zone now on dis,i play at the Auckland Art Gallery is one entitled "Soldier With Beer." The soldier lias. a half-full bottle of beer in one hand and it is evident 1 — that he has. just sampled the con-» tents. The look on the soldier's face is, one of pained surprise. Evidently tlie alcoholic strength of the beer lias fallen a long way short, of his anticipations. tJnhappy Marriages How divorce, in New Zealand has expanded over the last 10 years is strikingly reve-alejd in preliminary statistics for 1944 which have been made available by the Government Statistician. Of 1992 petitions, filed last year for dissolution or nullity of 1163 were husbands' petitions and 829 were petitions by wives. Corresponding figures for 1934 Avere only 387 and 452 respect

tively. In IG4I petitions were filed. The. principal grounds for divorce cited last year were: Adultery 495 ? desertion 244 ; non-compliance with restitution orders 368,, separation, 84G.

Births in Dominion The number of births recorded in = the Dominion last j r ear was 33,588, the sccond highest total in the his_ tory of New Zealand, according to preliminary figures published in the Abstract of Statistics. The highest total of births was reached in 1941 after a period of six jears of increases. Fairly sharp declines were experienced during the next two years but the total for 1944 increased by 327? or 108 per cent, over that for 1943. The number of illegitimate births last year wa.s 2019 compared with 14.">(> the previous year. Last year the number was equivalent to G.Ol per cent, of total and in the previous year it was 4.84 per cent. In 1939 the total was 1133. Calls for Chaplains Calls are still being made for chaplains, for the Navy and Air Force says Archbishop WestWatson Primate of New Zealand in Church News. "Ihe nominators are facing a difficult time ahead," he adds "and 1 hope that parishes 5 will realise that, with a limited sup- | ply of clergy, they cannot do more than their best. It is part of the cost of the war." The Archbishop expresses appreciation of the services of senior clergy who have worked devotedlj r in order to keep parishes going during the absence of so many vicars on service with the. forces. They have helped magnificently to bridge the gap/' lie says.