NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Exempt from Stamp Duty,

In terms of regulations issued last night, receipts by members of the armed forces for allowances made to them and their dependants are exempt [from stamp duty. River Control Bill. Representatives of local bodies interested in what has come to be known as the ! River Control Bill, met in Palmerston North yesterday to arrange for representations to be made on behalf of this district to the committee which is to take evidence on the matter, states "The Post's" correspondent. The opinion was given that the Bill was a measure to give departmental control, and unless the proposals were modified the Drainage and River Boards might just as well go out of existence. 36,000 Miles By Air. When Colonel J. G. Foley, of Nigeria, now in Auckland on a brief visit, reaches West Africa he will have travelled about 36,000 miles by air. He left Lagos, capital of Nigeria, by aeroplane, flew across the Belgian Congo to Cairo, thence across Irak to India, Thailand, Malaya, and Darwin, down to Sydney, and across the Tasman to Auckland, in 97 hours actual flying time. He will be a passenger on the Pacific Clipper this week, fly across the United States, where he has business to transact, catch the Atlantic Clipper to Lisbon, and thence fly to his headquarters at Lagos. Members Stick to Club. j All New Zealand aero clubs, which are more or less "in recess" for flying activities, have disappeared or are reduced to almost nothing, but the aero club movement carries on. The annual report of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club, for instance, remarks that though it has not been possible to provide any flying facilities in the past year members generally have continued their support and their subscriptions, though the year ended with a loss of £1."H) odd. The membership totals 239. The main activities were those of Air Force Relations, the Master ton Model Aero Club, and patriotic work. Thirty-two members of the club I joined up with the Air Force and of those four have made the supreme sacrifice and three are reported missing on active service. One lady member has joined the Women's Auxiliary Air Force and thirteen members joined other branches of the Defence Forces. Building of Ships. Representations by shipbuilding contractors regarding difficulties in obtaining material from Australia were made in a conference with the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) during his visit to shipbuilding yards at Auckland, states a Press Association message. Their contracts were being delayed by the shortage. Mr. Sullivan replied that the same trouble had been experienced in other cases where it was necessary to obtain material from overseas. The utmost effort was being made to overcome all difficulties and the end of the trouble was in sight. He had given instructions to his officers on certain lines which, he thought, would produce good results in a few days. It gave great satisfaction to know it. was possible to build ships in New Zealand for civil and defence purposes. If the materials required could be obtained the Government, could extend its building programme. Woman's Place. Despite the assurance that those Young Farmers' Clubs which had admitted young women to their meetings had received what one delegate described as a "terrific" boost, the Wellington District, Council yesterday, by 8 votes to 6, turned down a recommendation that the constitution be amended to admit land girls to membership, states "The Post's" Palmerston North correspondent. Mr. H. de O. Chamberlain said that, New Zealand was the only country ivhich did not admit women. Where the girls were included the clubs were far more efficient. There had been less "cackle" and more "do." The opposition argued that, woman's place was in the home. They feared that the men might be organised out of the clubs, and favoured separate clubs for the girls. Mr. P. Thevenard, in reply, said that the opposition's thoughts ran along lines of knitting circles.