ITEMS OF INTEREST

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32422, 24 April 1944, Page 2

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Meat Rationing In Canada There had been much misunderstanding about the temporary cessation of meat rationing in Canada, said Air W. Bankes Amery, leader of the British Food Mission, speaking in Christchurch. Shipping difficulties had not really been the cause; Canada had never been a big meat-producing country and did not have the refrigerated rolling stock and storage accommodation to support the export meat industry. Rationing had been introduced in Canada before similar steps had been taken in New Zealand and Australia.

Australian “Pub Crawls’’ A Christchurch business man who recently returned from Australia described the organised “pub crawl" in dulged in in Sydney. All the hotels opened and closed at a different time, he said, remaining open for only half an hour. When one closed, the next one down the road opened. The crowd piled out of one and on to the next. This appeared to go on for the greater part of the afternoons.

Drowning Of Deer Deer arc seldom caught unawares by flood walers, according to experienced deerstalkers. Usually the animals make a quick escape to higher country. but in spite of this there have been iwo instances in the last ’ few months of carcases being washed down the Hokitika River. On one occasion, three young hinds were washed up on the beach, and nt the time of the last flood, live were seen on the beach. A Strange Find A Christchurch businessman found, a complete upper set of false teeth in a sack of Stewart Island oysters. Recently he went into a shop in Christchurch to buy some oysters. The fish merchant was taking the oysters out of a sack when he came across a sf range-looking object which on investigation proved to be a set of false teeth. They were considerably encrusted with marine growth, but were otherwise in a good state of preservation. British Army Uses Plastic Plastic badges and: buttons are now in general use in the British Army. As a result, 2000 tons of brass will be made available every year for the manufacture of war materials. Music For Soldiers New Zealanders and Americans on the Treasury Islands appreciate lightclassical selections from tli,e 3rd New Zealand Divisional Band, now visiting this area, more than anything else on the band’s -repertoire. Playing to soldier audiences of up to 2000, the band caters for all tastes, and has found general appreciation of good music. May Save Lives At Sea The saving of many lives of men on torpedo ships as well as substantial fuel savings may result from the use of coal-in-oil fuels, one of the newest combustion developments since the war. Oil mixed with carbon does not remain on the water’s surface. Hundreds of lives, lost because men plunge from sinking ships into seas of burning oil, might have been saved through use of this fuel. Holiday In Prison Camp Holidays in prison camps do not amount to much, but they do break the monotony. Therefore, when Australians in a camp in Germany were refused holidays on German national days, they told the guards that they were always given a holiday at home on the King of Australia’s day. “The King of Australia?” asked the Nazis, suspiciously. “Yes—Ned Kelly,” said the Australians. The faces of the Nazis brightened. They had heard of Ned Kelly, and. they granted a holiday 1 U.S.A. Souvenir-Hunting Souvenir-hunters are busy in Washington. The White House housekeeper, Mrs Henrietta Nesbitt, told a reporter that souvenir-hunters have taken from the White House all the fringe from the new curtians in the east room and the tassels from the tie-backs. Among other articles lost from the President’s home, she said, were three pairs of sugar tongs, which disappeared during a recent, tea party, spoons, towels and table napkins. Other items that could not be nailed down also vanished, she said. A Special Request Book A special request book, which handles any reasonable request a member of the forces cares to make is one of the popular services provided by the Anzac Club in New Yoik. Lieutenant Ivan Curd, of Auckland, who has returned home after three years’ service in the Navy, said that one serviceman from “Down Under” wanted to meet an anthropologist, .while others wanted to visit an orch'd farm, a bottling factory and the New York fire department.