NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20660, 10 January 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Coal and Fii'ewood Deliveries As a result of the petrol restrictions and staff depletion, Gisborne coal merchants have notified their customers that deliveries henceforth will be made only on Mondays, Wednesdays. and Fridays.

No Loss of Sleep! “Well, sir, there is a certain amount of worry, but little loss of sleep,” declared an appellant, when asked by the chairman of the No. 7 Area ManPower Committee, Mr G. A. Maddison, in Wairoa yesterday if his financial position disturbed him at all. “But,” asked the chairman,, “are you a good or a bad sleeper?” “Not bad, not bad at all!” answered the appellant with a smile. —Special.

Wedge Forever Removed “Whatever wedge existed in the past to separate the two races in this country has now been removed for ever by the way in which the two races are standing together and helping each other during this war,” said Lieutenant R. Tapper, in an appeal for Maori recruits, at a recruiting rally held in Hastings. “The Maori soldiers won a great'reputation in the last war, and I know they deserved it, for I was with them in some very tight corners, and that reputation has been enhanced by their fine actions in the present war,” he added.

Ergot Collections

Keen interest has been aroused in Gisborne in the possibilities of collecting ergot, a fungoid disease attacking grass seed-heads, and although plentiful supplies are not reported there appears to be more in the district than was expected earlier. Mr E. M. Ojala, agricultural instructor in Gisborne, is endeavouring to locate suitable areas for collection, and already has found some useful areas. Arrangements have been made with the Girl Guides to organise a pai'ty next week to collect ergot, and because it is required for medicinal purposes to make good supplies cut off by the war the effort will be a very useful one. Merchants have undertaken to purchase supplies on behalf of the Government, and some small parcels have been received already.

Emergency Camps

After touring the sites chosen for emergency camps in part of the Northern Military District, Brigadier P. H. Bell, D. 5.0., officer commanding the district, has expressed keen appreciation of the manner in which public bodies and private citizens have co-operated in the provision of accommodation -and services for the troops. As much use as possible was being made of buildings, though some of the camps were of the bivouac type; and owners of halls and large structures had met the army in a ro-oporative spirit, said Brigadier Bell, In one instance the lady owner of a beautiful country home had undertaken to live in a two-roomed cottage to make her residence available as a,headquarters for one mobilised unit. She considered that she could thus make her bqst contribution to the war effort.