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Evening Star, Issue 23372, 15 September 1939, Page 8

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that official notification that summer time will commence at 2 a.m. on Sunday, September 24, and continue until 2 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, 1940, is contained in the ‘ Gazette.’ The time will therefore be advanced 30 minutes as from 2 a.m. on September 24. Public notification is given in the ‘ Gazette ’ of the institution of the Royal New Zealand Air Force ensign. This will comprise the ensign of the Royal Air Force defaced by the addition of the letters “N.Z.” superimposed in white upon the red roundel. The Education Board has received advice that Cabinet has approved of grants for the erection of an additional classroom at the Outran! School and of a manual training building at the Roxburgh District High Schpo). A subsidy has also been approved on money raised locally for an assembly hall at Roxburgh.

Mrs T. H. Lowry, Dominion vice-pre-sident of the New Zealand lied Cross Society, has made a donation of £SOO to the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society.— Dannevirke Press Association.

The clause in the Meat Bill which proposed to restrict the retail selling of. meat at freezingworks has disappeared from' the measure. When it was under consideration in the House, the lion; W. Leo Martin (Minister of Agriculture) explained that it had been deleted by the Agricultural and Pastoral Committee. In some respects, said the Minister, he was sorry, because he thought there was room for improvement in the methods which had been adopted during the past few years in connection with the retailing of meat from freezing works. He recognised that the companies had to get rid of the rejects, but the proportions to which this trade had grown warranted some further regulation by his department. It should also be mentioned that the representations of the master butchers did not meet with the approval of the committee, and they did not get all they wanted in connection with the Bill. He commended the measure as one which would greatly improve the facilities for the inspection of meat slaughtered for human consumption. The Bill was eventually put through all stages, and will operate from April 1 next.—Parliamentary reporter. Discussing the Hire Purchase Agreements Bill in committee of the House last night, Mr Dickie asked who had requested the legislation. The Attor-ney-General said it had resulted from complaints from time to time of unfair dealings, and in a certain percentage of these cases he had no doubt that that was so. He thought the provisions of the Bill were perfectly fair, and there had been general agreement on them. As he saw it, there would be no interference with legitimate trading. Mr Schramm said the representatives of the motor car and furniture industries, banks, and Chambers of Commerce, generally speaking, approved of the principles of the Bill. The measure passed the committee stages unamended, was given its third reading, and passed.—-Press Association.

In referring to the war and the effect which it may have upon cricket during the coming season, Mr J. Hobson, at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Cricket Club last night, remarked that although a number of players might possibly have to go to camp, or even abroad, a groat many would remain, and it behoved those to keep the game, and sport generally, going, for in doing so they would not only keep fit in a physical sense, but their activities would tend to minimise the anxiety and worry which naturally attacked everybody at such a time as this. And in keeping the game alive, said Mr Robson, they would be doing a service to the nation, as it was such games as cricket which had helped to mould the character of Britons. At tho monthly meeting of the St. Clair School Committee Mr M. A. Robson occupied the chair. Mr Colquhoun (head master) presented his report. Tho football A team played Musselburgh for the A ship, in which Musselburgh proved the victors by 8-G. Basketball has had to be abandoned for the season. Arbor Day was observed and was marked by an address by Mr D. C. Cameron and by the planting of six poplars at the St. Clair children’s playground. The inspector’s report was received and reflected credit on the head master and his staff.

There was something of a “"boxer raid ” on the railway station this morning, when amateur boxers who had been representing the northern provinces at tho Dominion tournament at Invercargill poured from the two carriages which they had occupied on the express train. This band of young athletes were of all sizes and weights; they varied, too, in costume, also in facial contour, but each looked hardy and fit. For neatness in sartorial outfit however, the Auckland contingent in their light blue blazers took the palm.

Even though there are comparatively few motor vehicles on the roads now, it is evident that a certain proportion of those few are still content to take risks in disobeying regulations concerning the crossing of intersections and turning of corners when they are sure there are no traffic inspectors in the vicinity. This is noticeable at the Stuart-Cumberland streets intersection, where, to this type of driver, green or red lights mean nothing if no official eye is upon them. Worse still are the riders of “ push-hikes,” these “ young men and women in a hurry ” whizzing past pedestrians who are legitimately on their crossings without any regard to tlie lattcrs’ nerves or physical welfare. Things are quite different, however, when an inspector’s uniform is observed; then both motorists and cyclists are most exemplary in observing the by-laws.

AH roads in the Otago district arc now clear for motorists, but the Automobile Association (Otago) issues warnings that care needs to be exercised in certain areas. Reconstruction work is proceeding between Gorge Creek and Alexandra, and there are at present varying levels on this section. Night drivers in particular must bo on the alert. In the Kawarau Gorge all the slips caused by the rain and snow- during the week have not yet been removed, and there are minor subsidences which also demand care. Reconstruction work in the Manuka Gorge is now almost completed, but some work is still progressing in the vicinity of Roundhill and ForSyth.

There was an extraordinary rush at the Auckland Chief Post Office to-day in connection with the issue of petrol coupons for private motor cars and motor cycles. Big queues formed throughout the day, and with an augmented staff applications were dealt with at the rate of approximately 600 an hour.—Press Association.

A breach of the regulations designed to ensure the future supply of crayfish in territorial waters resulted in the appearance of Santo Safiotti before the magistrate, Mr Hewitt, in the Wellington Court. _ The defendant pleaded guilty to having in his possession a female crayfish from which the external eggs or berries had been removed by artificial means. Mr A. C. Kaherry. for the department, in answer to the magistrate, said the regulations were designed so that crayfish would multiply. The defendant admitted that ho knew he had acted wrongly. He was fined £2 and costs.—Press Association. A cable received from the New Zealand High Commissioner states that there is still no news of the Athenia’s passengers, Miss Fletcher and Sarah Harper, who is believed to be Mrs Harper, of Willowholme Drive. Belfast. Mrs A. Oliphant is another New Zealander who was saved from'the Athenia. She has relatives at St. Clair, Dunedin. —Wellington Press Association.

Following tho big snowstorm of July, many talcs are told of the hardships endured by outback country rimholders who had to fight their way through the drifts to succour hungry stock. We have learned, too, of how relief expeditions took food to people living in outlying districts. These efforts were all accomplished by sledge or pack, hut a Maungatua runholder, who was away from his property at the time, went one better in providing relief for his men. Ho chartered an aeroplane and flew over the homestead to drop bacon, bullybeef, and other foodstuffs for those marooned in tho snow. Tt was an unenviable journey, he told a 1 Star 1 reporter, owing to adverse weather conditions, and on the first attempt the plane had to turn back.

Private car owners who* have been unable to use their vehicles owing to the petrol restrictions are in a happier frame of mind to-day. Those who turned up at- the parcel office at the C.P.O. in Water street this morning had lost their worried look, for they were busy getting coupons which permitted them to purchase 10 gallons of fuel a month. _ With no time limit fixed for the issuing of the coupons, there was not the same rush or bustle as when the permits were issued. Nevertheless, a steady stream of applicants—both car owners and motor cycle riders—arrived during tho morning, and they kept the half-dozen clerks appointed to the task comfortably busy. Colds are very prevalent in the city at the present time, but, generally speaking, they are not serious. The district medical officer of health (Dr T. M'Kibbin) remarked this morning that they were undoubtedly the result of the very changeable weather which had prevailed for so long. • He added that in a few cases the colds appeared to be giving sufferers a little throat trouble, but there do not appear to be any complications of a more serious nature. Notifications of infectious diseases for the week ended 9 a.m. to-day comprise a fairly heavy list. Tuberculosis cases were five for Otago and three for Southland. Scarlet fever occurred five times in Otago and twice in Southland. Of the Otago cases, three were in one household. Otago also reported a case of erysipelas. The new social room and the various extensions to the former kitchen and sanitary arrangements at the ' motor camp at Tahuna Park are well on the way to completion. The work has been carried out expeditiously, and it is now apparent that when completed the innovations will prove a very great boon to the many campers who use this -ground. Some slight delay is being experienced in the installation of tho necessary plumbing, but it is confidently hoped that the undertaking will be finished by the end of this month.

To celebrate the birthday and pearl wedding of Mr J. F. Himburg, the weekly community sing was to-day placed in his charge, and another capacity house in the Strand Theatre responded to his leadership. Miss Mary Pratt was the soloist, selecting for her items ‘ There’s a Land ’ and ‘ Land of Hope and Glory,’ the audience joining in the chorus of the latter item. Miss’Pratt was in excellent form, and as a token of appreciation, some of those present donated her a cake. Two Pomeranians were sold for £1 15s and 12s Gd, which brought the day’s takings to £lO. This week’s new number was * Ever So Quiet,’ and old favourites rounded off an entertaining session. To introduce the “ cheer germ ” Dunedin's community sings were inaugurated just after the start of the last war, and not only did they give valuable service in raising moneys for patriotic organisations, but they helped people to. forgot. Sir Harry Lauder was ono of the first artists to appear on the boards at these sessions, and he is still carrying on'that tradition, as was evidenced by Ids spontaneous entertainment before Athenia survivors in England the other day. A reflection of the present tension is to bo found in recent sings in the sharp drop in daily takings, but members of the Dunedin Sing Committee believe that if and when a call is made for funds for patriotic purposes those regular offenders and listorers-in will respond as willingly as did their 1914-18 predecessors.