NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 3

NEWS IN BRIEF

Fine Shearing Tallies

In two consecutive days OJ3 stationclass Romney ewes and lambs were shorn at the Government farm, I’oro-o-ta-rao, Te Kuiti, by Mr. A. I’ittams, of IVaiinihu. < hi the first day his total was 308, and on the second day 305, the working time. in each instance being 8 hours and -10 minutes. This performance runs close to that of Mr. A. I’ratt, Cambridge, who in nine hours sheared 321 ewes on the Gleutui Estate, Te Miro, about a month ago. A fair average day’s work for a competent shearer is 220 sheep. Motion Pictures of Harvest.

A moving picture film depicting work of youths on farms, and the assistance given in the harvesting of crops in Canterbury by soldiers working as Army units, is being prepared by the New Zealand National Film Unit of the Government Publicity Department. Absent Without. Leave.

For absenting himself without leave from his ship at Wellington on. Saturday last, Edmond Thomas Sliirteliffe, who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to seven davs' imprisonment by -Mr. .Stout, 8.51.. in‘the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, yesterday, Sliirteliffe to be put aboard Ins ship if it sails before his sentence expires. Costly Joy Ride.

On December 23 last, three young soldiers took a jeep motor-car and rode, m it to the Wellington railway station..'.! wo of them were lined £lO each by Mr. btout, S.M., in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, on Monday, and the third, John Alan Watkins, gas meter maker and soldier, who pleaded guilty, was lined a like amount yesterday.

Airmen's Addresses. Ollieial advice has been received by Air Department, Wellington, that correspondence to members ot the Royal New Zealand Air Force serving iu India should now be addressed to care Royal Air Force Base Post Office, Bombay, and not to Air Headquarters. Simla, as in the past. Xhe new address lor New Zealand airmen in Canada is care New Zealand Air .Mission, Lisgar Buildings, Ottawa. Radio Voices.

The reason for the predominance of male voices in the broadcasts of the 8.8. C. was explained by a 8.8. C. officer, Mr N C. Trittou, who has been visiting New Zealand. There were large and small communities, both within and without the British Commonwealth, he said, where there were strong objections of custom or religion to women taking any .part m public life. One had only to think of certain Asian communities. News or commentaries given iu a feminine voice would be objectionable to those communities, but a male voice was acceptable everywhere. Erosion at Hokitika.

Erosion on the southern bank of . the Hokitika River is becoming a serious menace. The locality was recently inspected by officers of the Public Works Department. To those who know the river the position is looked upon as serious. They say that unless protective measures are taken, laud and the southern end of the railway bridge may later be menaced. The Westland County Council is deeply concerned and intends to call a conference of local authorities nitere'ed. aud also to ask the M.l . for the d*'triet, Mr. O'Brien, to have the matter investigated.

Short letters Recommended. The Japanese Prisoners of War Bureau recommends that all letters for prisoners of war and civilians interned in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories be typewritten or written in block letters and that the letters be kept to the. shortest possible length. The Postmaster-General, Mr Webb, said that the recommendation, which had been received through the International Red Cross Committee, Geneva, was made in order to facilitate examination by the. Japanese authorities and early transmission ol the letters to the addressees. De urged writers, in their own interests, to comply with the request. Health Stamps.

"'J'be health stamp sales fur the first three months of the present health stamp campaign show a considerable increase ever those made during the corresponding period last year.” says the Postmaster(lenaral, .Mr. Webb. "Jbe Dominion sales for December alone amounted to £1309. as against DlOOl for December, 1941, and the total increase over last year's figures for the three months the. stamps have been, on sale is £1968. Timaru Ims done particularly well lor a small district in disposing ot no loss than £126 worth of health stamps in December, h’or the whole ut the Dominion. Dunedin has the sales for the month with £-I.j, followed by Wellington £242 Auckland £l6l, Ghristehurch £ lul. and 1 aluicrstoii North c l 12.”