NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF

National Savings

Lasc week ISX> towns attained their quotas of National War Savings. All tee principal centres were successful, and in each of the 18 postal districts the full quota wr.s obtained. Though less than two months of the. present financial year have gone by already several towns in the Dominion are within measurable distance of attaining their full quotas for 1944-45. At Te Mata (a small township in the Hamilton district) the full year’s objective has already been reached. Meat Pooh A resolution urging that further payments into the meat pool should cease was carried at a meeting of the Waira; rapa provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. It was stated that the meat pool had grown to about £3,500,000, and it was contended that there should not be any further levies. Nursing Staff Praised. In paying a tribute to the Wellington Hospital Board’s nursing staff, the chairman, Mr. F. Castle, said at yesterday’s meting that they had risen splendidly to Ihe heavy demands on them during the difficult period existing. In spite of all the difficulties there had been fewer complaints, and the board was most appreciative of the manner in which the nursing staff carried out its duties. False Pretences. William Trevor Whitfield, married, aged 60, was admitted to probation for two years yesterday after pleading guilty in New Plymouth to three charges ot false pretences by failing to disclose his earnings to the Social Security Departmeat while in receipt of a war pensioner’s allowance. An order was made for restoration of £l3B/0/4, the amount drawn under false pretences. —I .A. Children Scalded. - f «. During the last week four infant children were admitted to the Christchurch Hospital with scalds received through pulling over electric kettles or jugs of boiling water by the flex. One of the children died. The hospital authorities and the Plunket Society have joined in issuing an appeal to parents to exercise all care in keeping such sources ot danger beyond the reach of young children. — -P.A. Animals And Rationing. . , When the extension of meat rationing was announced recently, the Society tor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Christchurch telegraphed to the. Minister of Supply and to the Rationing Controller, saying “if immediate destruction of all dogs and cats is intended, please wire arrangements. If not, grant imtnethate rations.” In reply to this the Rationing Controller telegraphed. No an tention that cats and dogs should be destroyed. Announcement will be maue shortly.” Phosphates from Africa. There are good prospects of four car goes of about 8000 tons each of No £ African phosphates arriving in \-W Zea land during next s y m “ er A “ Whan-arei information received by the Whan ß arei Harbour Board in a letter from an Auckland firm. Quoting from a communication received from England-, the lette stated that previously nbt only the shipping position but the condition of tne ,port of shipment in North Africa pie_ vented shipments of phosphate to New Zealand. Now the position had improved. E Empire D.iy will be celebrated, in Wellington today with a number of ceremonies, beginning at 11.30 a.m. with the laying of wreaths at the statue of Queen Victoria in Kent Terrace. This ceremony will be under the joint auspices of • the Royal Empire Society and the Victoria League. The Royal Empire Society will hold a luncheon at the EnglishSpeaking Union rooms at 1 p.m., at which the address will be given by Mr. G. G. G. Watson. In the evening there will he a gathering ofr the Royal Society ot St. George, also in the E.S.U. rooms,, and an address will be given by Mr. KFHay on. “England’s Place in the British Empire.” One Coupon. . There is always a right answer io everything, but most of us always recall the right answer nt the wrong moment, when it is too late. A waitress in a well-knowi* Wellington restaurant, however, appears to have the knack of thinking of the right answer at the right moment. A customer sat himself down and ordered a plate of soup. He told the waitress what he thought of it. . It •was pretty poor stuff, in his estimation. jle ordered a plate of tongue and salad. This, too, did not come up to expectations. The waitress said nothing in quite a pleasant manner. The customer topped off with a glass of malted milk. Halfway through he felt some foreign body in his mouth, and eventually producsd a very dead fly. “I’ve got a complaint.” he said. ‘There’s a fly in my milk shake.” "That will be one coupon, please,” said ” the waitress. Troop Ship Raffles. Captain F. A. Macindoe yesterday handed into the National Patriotic Fund Board a cheque for £ll6/16/1, received from Colonel J. Whyte, officer in charge of a troopship, being the New Zealand share of the profits on raffles held on board during a recent voyage. This money is ear-marked for the seamen's comforts fund. As there were English as well as New Zealand sailors on the vessel, the money was divided equally between the Home and New Zealand comforts funds, so the total money realized by these raffles amounted to £233/12/2. During the voyage the O.C. learned that the men were raffling, at first £1 notes and then £lO notes among themselves. He considered it best to put a stop to it. and formed a committee to promote raffles, so - that 1 the seamen —officers and men—on whose efforts their lives largely depended, could in some way benefit. The idea caught on, with the above result.