NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

Art Union Drawing

The drawing of “Give it a Go” Art Uuiou is to take place at the board room, second floor, Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Association Building, Customhouse Quay, Wellington, this morning, commencing at 9.30. riienomenal Rainfall.

During three days of last week there was a phenomenal rainfall at Otira, in the South Island, the total recorded being 23.46 in.

Old Colonists’ Centennial. The New Zealand Old Colonists’ Association held a thanksgiving service in Auckland on Sunday to mark their centennial. The founders of the association arrived in the first immigrant ships to reach Auckland, the Duchess of Argyle and Jane Gifford, in October, 1542. Women’s War Committee.

Her Excellency Lady Newall will be present at the annual meeting of the Order of St. John Women’s War Committee this afternoon, when Captain Keaney, United -States Naval Medical Corps, will give an address. No Wharf Pennit.

Imprisonment for 14 days was imposed on Henry Bryant Maunder, soldier, aged 28, in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, on a charge of being ou a wharf without a permit. Mr. Harley, S.M., was' on the Bench. Otago Stock Losses.

Stock losses from Central Otago’s weekend snowstorms are ' likely to be fairly heavy. Ou the Maniototo Plain, from which the snow has now disappeared, the losses are between 30 and 40 per cent., ami in the districts still snowhound they will be heavier. Wooden Combs.

A Christchurch firm is manufacturing wooden combs of the pocket variety. “I have sold 12 gross of these combs in under a month,” said a Wellington chemist yesterday. “If you had told me that any one-shop chemist, could have sold that many combs in a lifetime I would not have believed you, but’ there you are.” Ration Book Issue.

Though the issue to the same area last May was about 125,000, only 74,906 new period ration books have so far been claimed in the Wellington suburban area. It is stated that the distributing offices will remain open at night up to and including Friday. Yesterday 8178 books were issued, 4697 of them from the temporary office established in Mercer Street. Shortage Of Shearers.

“This year we are 40 per cent, short of shearers in South ■ Canterbury,” said Mr. J. G. Leckie, secretary of the Shearers’ Union, when giving evidence before the Manpower Industrial Committeee in Tiniaru. “More shearers have been sent away for military service, pro rata, than any other section of the community, because fitness is essential for their work. We are going to be in a serious position as regards seasonal workers.”

Precious Crockery. When the provision of crockery for the Combined Services hostels and other institutions working patriotically in Wellington was under consideration at yesterday’s meeting of the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, a member said that such was the shortage of crockery that in some places it had been found that women took away cups in their bags. It was stated by another member that the A.N.A. Club had lost 75 knives in a period of three weeks. Hours in Timber Mills.

A decision to continue working extended hours in all mills was taken at a meeting of timber interests in Rotorua at the end of last week, said Mr. A. Seed, secretary of the New Zealand Sawmillers’ Federation, on his return to Wellington yesterday. The chief subject discussed was the shortage of labour. Where timber mills are engaged on orders for defence construction, 48 hours a week are being worked at ordinary rates of pay.

Patriotic Knitters. From the outset of the war a group of earnest women have worked continuously, week in and out, knitting for the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. In yesterday’s report it was stated that these women of the “wool room” had knitted in September _ (metropolitan area), 241 scarves, 19 pairs of socks, 915 balaclavas, 533 pairs of mittens, 13 skull caps, and had made 636 hussifs. It was decided, on the motion of the chairman, Mr. Hislop, that a letter expressive of the committee’s appreciation should be sent to the knitters. Servicemen’s “Playland.”

An application has been made to the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee by a person who wishes to institute a “Playland" recreation attraction for- servicemen somewhere near the centre of Wellington. The applicant, who sought the aid of the committee to secure a site, said lie could secure devices for such a place, as well as provide an open-air dancing floor, the balance over and above expenses (which included the salary of the applicant), to be available to the committee. It was said that such an attraction. if properly placed, might be the means of making a substantial contribution to the committee’s funds. The committe agreed there might be something in the proposal, but that a police report might be advisable before any definite steps were taken.