LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Political Activity After a long absence of political activity of any kind, Levin is to have a visit to-morrow evening . from Mr. R. M. Algie, member for Remuera, who will address a pubiic meeting in the Century Hall at 8 p.m. Mr. Algie is one of the most outstanding speakers in the National Party, and his visit will be , of wide interest. To Close on Saturdays Up to the present the application of the forty-hour five-day week has not been extended to post ofhces, but it has now been decided that in future the rationing and oil fuel counter at the Levin Post O.ffice will close on Saturday mornings. The money order and stamp "counters will remain open until noon as usual. Younger J-Force Officers Wanted The military authorities in Auckrland report that the position concerning officers for J-Force is still causing concern. Some, whose ages exceed the top limit, have had their applications deferred pending information as to'whether younger men are available. Renewed eft'orts are being made to obtain the ser- ! vices of those within the 20-40 age • group. I Over An Inch of Rain" J The intermittent showers of ihea.vy rain which :f ell throughout !the week-end culminated • in -a j deluge from 4 to 6? p.m. yesterday. ! The rain was accompanied ' by a 1 strong westerly wind, and candi- . tions were very unpleasant for shoppers and working people returning to their homes. ' Up to 9 a.m .to-day 1.3 inches of rain had been recorded by Mr. H.. Harvey. Accident With Rifle Flight-Lieut. Maurice Fifleld, aged 25 years, died on Sfiturday evening as the result of a bullet wound in i the forehead, says a telegram from Timaru. With his wife he had attended a carnival in Geraldine during the day, and then returned to the home of his father-in-law, Mr. W. R. Warne, of Te Moana. Before tea Flight-Lieut. Fifield decided to do a little rabbit shooting and was climbing over a gate when his wife heard a shot, and found him lying dead on the other side of the gate. Timber Mill Destroyed Fire destroyed the mill of Wilson Timber Mills, Ltd., at Te Whaiti, [ near Rotorua, early on Sunfiay morning. The fire, which starred in the boiler room, was discovered at 3 o'clock by a night watchman, who sounded the mill whistle. Mill employees, who live over a mile away, quickly responded and a trailer pump to draw water from ■ the Whirinaki River was brought into operation, but ihe utmost that could be accomplished wa's the saving of a planer shed and garage. : The mill was one of the l&rgest in the North Island. Mallard Duck A consignment of 40 purebred mallard duck which are to replace the inbred 'mallards at present in stock at the State game farm at Ngongotaha has been despatched by rail by Mr. John Digby, game breeder, of Waimauku. Those at present held at the farm are to be liberated for the shooting season which commences on May 4 and ■from the new birds it is expeeted to rear a- further 1500 for liberation around Rotorua and Taupo. Owing to the scarcity of food Mr. Digby was not able to keep his purebred birds penned, and he had great ■ difficulty in catching them again for consignment to Ngongotaha. Sixty of them proved too wary and have scattered about the Waimauku district, where, as they are again included in .shooting licenses, many will probably be accounted for in the coming season. Pubiic Administration "I am not very sure about the wisdom of including the subject of pubiic administration," said Mr. F. B. Stephens, of the Department of Internal Affairs, in an address to the Town Clerks' conference, in which he discussed a possible examination standard for local body officers. "Practically all the text books and the instruction which is given at the present time are based upon American experience, and give one the impression of unreality and an attempt to construct a theory from 'something which is basically not , susceptible to such 'itreatment. There is an outstanding need for somebody to analyse the British, and, particularly, the New Zealand set-up, and to provide some satisfactory text book in these fields. Whether that is possible or not, ' I do not know. It would be largely descriptive, and I do not think could pretend to produce a theory."