National Register.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 114, 12 April 1940, Page 6

National Register.

It is expected that a million forms will l>e returned to the Government in connection with the survey of manpower. Long Repair Job. There is still no indication as to when the Btratford-Ohahukura line, which was blocked by slips on February 25, will be reopened. Wild Game Plentiful. Pukeko are plentiful at present in South Otago. In a half-flooded paddocknear Ilenhar a flock of almost 200 ol these birds were to be seen feeding close to the railway line. Mock Attack. The rattle of machine-guns and the crackle of. rifle fire was heard in Wellington, yesterday, when a party of special reservists carried out mock street fighting. The demonstration was given to stimulate interest in recruiting. Fighting Service Appeal. Donations to the Fighting Services Appeal Fund in Palmerston North now total £3301 10s 3d, The latest acknowledgments are: Mr and Mrs .1. A. Cameron, £5 ss; Anonymous, £2 2s; Economic Laundry, £2 4s (Id; E. P. and J. S. Williams, £1 (monthly donation). Voluntary Contributions. An announcement that officers of the Post and Telegraph Department were making voluntary subscriptions totalling between £SOOO and £6OOO annually to the National and Provincial Patriotic Funds was made yesterday by the Po tmaster-General (Hon. F. Jones), who commented that it was a magnificent gesture. Rejected Recruits’ Badge. The issue of badges to eligible men who had enlisted, but who had been rejected because of medical unfitness or whose acceptance might be postponed because of the nature of their occupations, was referred to by the Prime Minister in his review of manpower organisation to the National Recruiting Council. Mr Fraser said that a good deal of action had been taken by the Government and responsible officers in designing a suitable badge and formulating sale conditions under which it should be issued.

Automobile Association Membership. The Otago Automobile Association lias a membership of 0256. Winter Comfort. Men being trained for overseas service will be accommodated in hutments at the various camps during the winter. Big Block of Flats. Another large flat-building project in Wellington is to be undertaken by the Government. The new block. ,to be erected in Dixon Street, will be the biggest in the Dominion. Single Men Recruits. The Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) stated yesterday that of the 15.395 men who had gone into camp, 11,938 were single. In addition there were single officers and the proportion of single men all told was approximately 75 per cent. Funds for Norway. The sum of £(300 sterling has been cabled to London for the Norwegian Red Cross Society on behalf of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, which are the national collectors for the National Patriotic Fund Board for the provision of comforts for sick and wounded. Orange Shortage. There is a distinct shortage _of oranges in Palmerston North, it being impossible to purchase more than small quantities in some shops, while others have no stocks. It is stated that a shipment reached Auckland over a week ago, but was immediately transferred to the cool stores. Oranges are unobtainable in Hawke’s Bay al present. Generous Bequests. Out of an estate valued for probate at less than £7BOO, legacies totalling over £3OOO have been left under the will of the late Mrs Cecilia Annie Smith, of Remuera, to various religious and public bodies. Largest of these is an amount of £2500 to be paid to the Auckland Young Women’s Association for the benefit of indigent gentlewomen. Drive Against Waste. An appeal for the elimination of waste in industry and in the home was made by the Minister of Supply (Hon D. G. Sullivan) when speaking to the National Recruiting Council yesterday. Mr Sullivan said that it was now necessary for factory proprietors, workers, and all in industry and production, as well as householders, to eliminate waste. Campaign for Recruits. A framework for the organisation of the recruiting effort in New Zealand was decided upon by tile National Recruiting Council yesterday. An executive committee of the council is to be set up, representative of the whole of the Dominion, which will meet in Wellington. In addition there will be the district committees, and under them sul>-committees to a total of more than 100. Troop Registrations. A return of registrations for service with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas, showing the medical classification and disposal of recruits up to April 6 was presented to the National Recruiting Council by the Minister of Defence yesterday. There have been 32,792 registrations, 23.553 of those examined have been certified fit for service in any part of the world, 2432 classed temporarily unfit and 4170 permanently unfit. The disposal of fit personnel has been: Dispatched to camp, 15 395; balance available for posting. 5582; reserved occupations held back, 1896; registrations withdrawn or cancelled, 079. Patriotic Funds. The opinion that organised weekly or monthly appeals for funds for patriolic purposes should be held instead of the existing sporadic campaigns was expressed by Captain J. It. Middleton (Foxton). at a meeting of the" Patriotic Fund (Zone D) Committee in Palmerston North yesterday. Captain Middleton suggested that cards should he issued by which people could subscribe regular sums of money. By this means more would he obtained than by appeals for larger sums, many ot which could not he responded to. On Captain Middleton’s recommendation it was decided to ask the Provincial Patriotic Council for suitable matter to enable such a campaign to be carried out. Duty on Soldiers’ Gifts. Representations had been made to the Egyptian Government, to secure free postage for New Zealand soldiers and a reduction of duty on gifts sent to them, but so far no reply had been received, said the Postmaster-General (Hon. F. Jones) at yesterday’s meeting of the National Recruiting Council. If tobacco was sent in bulk for the benefit of troops generally, or through the Patriotic Board, there was no duty, but there was on parcels sent to individuals. It was hoped that the Egyptian Government would meet the New Zealand Government m the matters raised.. A member of the council said that a soldier in Egypt had to pay 4s duty on a pair of socks sent him. —Press Association. House Destroyed By Fire. When an old eight-roomed house on Rangitikei Line, between Boundary Road and the Mangaono Stream bridge, was destroyed by fire last night, several sleeping children had to he roused and hurried from the burning building. After the children had been removed to safety, there was only time lor the occupants to save a few personal belongings before the flames gained too strong a hold. The citv fire brigade answered the call about 9.30, hut could do nothing to assist as there was no water supply available. The house was owned byMr A. Pierard, of Waikanae, and occupied hv Airs Henderson, a widow, with her four children, and Air G. Pearson, a brick-kiln worker, his wife and two children. Mr Pearson discovered the fire and immediately aroused the children from bed and saw that all left the house safely.