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Evening Star, Issue 24281, 24 August 1942, Page 2

Although the members of the Second Bnttulion, Otago Regiment, havo become experts in the handling of several varieties of modern war weapons, they apparently do not despise recourse to the old bow and arrow—as a means of relaxation, at any rate. In. a competition recently organised by the Battalion Archery Club considerable enthusiasm and not a little skill were revealed. The winner was V'. Laws, of Atkinson street, Dunedin.,

“ A lot of wild rumours and stupid reports arc circulated about aliens from time to time,” states tbo annual report of the Commissioner of Police (Mr D. J. Cummings). “ All these have to bo investigated and probed. Nothing is left to chance.” This is one of the many branches of new work the war has brought for the Police Force. In addition to the help given in supervising the guarding of vital points and important industrial plants, assistance is given by members of the force to the armed services and to the National Service Department; inquiries about military and national -sendee defaulters _ and into breaches of the censorship, lighting restrictions. and oil fuel regulations also take no mneli time.

The tragic effects of the war on the sale of new automobiles throughout the Commonwealth of Australia is shown by the sales figures tor the fiscal year ended June 30 last, says the ‘Dunlop Bulletin.’ The total number of new cars sold in Australia during the 12 months totalled only 4,450 units, as compared with 18,894 units in the preceding fiscal year, in pre-war years well over 50,000 new t ars were usually marketed in the Commonwealth, the sales return tor 1937-38 reaching 59,294 units.

A note of warning in regard to sales of farms was sounded by Mr W. Marchairman of directors, at the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company Ltd. in Hamilton. “ Inflationary movement, fear of inflation, and the fact that present prices arc above the average of recent years, has already raised sale values, and any further degree of inflation or any considerable activity by the State, either by financing or ‘direct purchase of land for settlement of returned soldiers, will accentuate this tendency,” said Mr Marshall. “ The possibilities are so ominous that measures to arrest the movement before it gathers momentum are in the interests of the nation. In their own interests farmers who intend to continue farming would bo wise to think carefully before accepting what may appear to be a tempting offer.” Spectators at the Army match at Rugby Park recently were alarmed when they saw one of the ball boys knocked over on the field of play and then carried off in a stretcher (says the ‘Southland Times’). The incident looked worse than it really was: the boy was unhurt, but he got an out-size in frights. Ho was fortunate because he appeared to get the knee of a 14-stonc forward going full tilt into his back as lie went to get the ball for the No. 2 game. Rugby Park is becoming notorious for its “unlisted” accidents. It is not so many years ago since Mr T. Finnerty, of Bluff, got tangled up with* a flag on the touch-Ime and was carried off with a broken leg. He was one of the touch judges in the game. Then two years ago Lieutenant Albon, who was associated with the Burnham Army team, slipped when acting as a touch judge and dislocated an arm.

A letter received by the Canterbury ■Education Board from the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) last week in connection with the censorship of films seen by children stated that the question of ensuring that children did not see films declared by the censor to bo more suitable for adults was partly one of parental responsibility. The matter was being considered. however, and it was hoped that something might be done to discourage children From seeing unsuitable films.

A suggestion that buckets containing water for emergency use should bo examined periodically has been made by the fire controller for New' Plymouth, Air L. Hartley. In a business house a thick film of sediment was found adhering to the sides and bottom of a bucket containing water. Air Hartley said ho the sediment was probably the result'of chemical action, and he urged regular examinations of buckets in case the substance interfered with the efficiency of a pump at a critical moment by blocking the valves. Australia’s industrial ambitions were given a severe blow by the American news commentator (Air G. T. Bolster) during the course of a speech to the British Empire Union in Sydney. Air Bolster said that America was not interested in taking over Australia. “ Americans are here,’ ’he said, “ because we arc on our way to Tokio and we are not going to waste any more time in getting there than is absolutely necessary.” Then he dealt with Australian industry by saying: “By endeavouring to manufacture everything here in Australia, oven against frightful odds, Australia is obviously trying to build up a closed circuit economy.” However, he dropped his biggest bombshell at the conclusion of his address when he said; “ Why don’t you Australians concentrate on taking care of your 120,000,000 sheep and let us take care of the 5,000 aeroplanes a week? ” A quartet of spring’s harbingers were seen disporting themselves in the warm sunshine in the Queen’s Gardens on Saturday afternoon, Alost portents of spring are welcome, tout not so this light-hearted group. For the quartet consisted, surprisingly, of white butterflies. Last night and early this morning the creatures must have questioned their wisdom in venturing into the wide, open spaces so soon in the season, and no doubt an extra blade of grass had to bo draw r n over their bodies to ensure survival against the cold and frost.

To cope with ever-increasing demands, further extensions to the sick and wounded offices at the Kensington Drill Hall have become necessary, and another room has had to be added to the suite taken over/a few months ago. This room has been divided into a public office’ and a waiting room the former reception office now being taken over for administration. The waiting room is typical of most waiting rooms associated with the medical angle in that hack numbers of ‘ Punch ’ arc provided for the entertainment of waiting men. At 4.27 on Saturday afternoon a fire in the kitchen of a small wooden house at 9 Carlyle street was extinguished by the Central Fire Brigade. Slight damage was done to the walls of the kitchen. A chimney fire in Nottingham street, Kew, called the brigade out at 10.5 a.m. yesterday. A decrcaso of 583 in the number of prosecutions for drunkenness during 1941 compared with 1940 is reported by the Commissioner of Police (Mr D. .T. Cummings) in his annual report on the Police Force of the Dominion. The total number charged in 1941 was 4,887 (4,752 males and 135 females) ; in 1940 the number was 5,470 (5,317 males and 153 females). In 1941, of those charged 1,418 males and ;i7 females had previous convictions recorded against them, and 4.04 per cent, of the males were not permanent residents of the Dominion. The records show that the number of arrests for drunkenness in 1941 was one of the lowest for any year since 1878, when the provinces ceased to have their separate forces and the Police Force became a centrally-governed department. The population in 1878 was 432,352, and the number of arrests for drunkenness was 6,668; in 1941 the population was 1,636,230, and the number of arrests only 4,887. Last year there was a decrease of 106 in the number of prosecutions against hotelkeepers and an increase of 106 in the number of prosecutions for gaming offences.,