Young Otaki Patriots.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 6

Young Otaki Patriots.

Two Otaki boys, Peter Royal and John Eaton, have interested themselves in Red Cross work, and by selling small bundles of kindling wood at threepence each have raised over £1 towards the fund. This has been handed to the Mayor (Mr Atmore). Dog, As Collector. A sum of 26s was collected last night in an hour for the Red Cross Appeal by a three-year-old mastiff, Kingi, owned by Mr M. H. Boyce. The mastiff was on duty in the Square again this morning, with a collecting box on his back, and in the charge of Mr Boyce’s young son, who is just a little taller than the dog, Men On Public Works. Speaking in the House of Representatives, yesterday afternoon, Hon. R. Semple stated that there were 19,809 men employed on public works on September T, and the total on May 10 this year' was 16,202, a reduction of 3607 since war began. The normal number of men engaged was from 13,000 to 15,000, and this had also been the.case under previous Administrations. Leave For Troops. A suggestion that leave should be given to as many troops as possible after their day’s work in the military camps was made in the House, yesterday, by Mr E. P. Meachen (Government' Marlborough), who is a staff sergeant in the engineers’ company in/ Trentham Camp. He said that as a further incentive to voluntary enlistment for overseas service there sljould be as little restriction on troops as possible. Grand Lodge’s Generosity. The first instalment of the substantial contribution to the national patriotic funds made by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of New Zealand has been received by the' National Patriotic Fund . Board. It amounts to £1250, and is' for general purposes. A cheque for a similar amount has been sent to the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund. These two sums of £1250 each represent half of the Grand Lodge’s total donation. News of Airmen.

Miss Joyce Phillips, to whom FlyingOfficer E. J. Kain, the famous New Zealand airman with the Royal Air Force is to be married, has cabled his father, Mr R. G. Kain, AVellington, as follows: “Eddie is well and working wonders. Keep smiling.” Australian newspapers have, printed cables in which C. E. Malfroy, the New Zealander and Davis Cup tennis player, is mentioned as one of those who distinguished themselves in a recent R.A.F. raid which resulted in seven German ’planes being shot down before breakfast.

Fighting For The Flag. “Those who seek and engage the protection of the Union Jack, and are not prepared to fight for it should be Omade to do so,” said Mr Justice Ostler, speaking to members of the .Wellington R.S.A. “I meet you, to-day as friendsj” he said, “because I feel we are united in a common love of Empire and of home, and we are united also in a common belief that those who are living under the Union Jack and are not willing to fight should be made to do so. I hold the "belief strongly also that we older people who are unable to go and offer our lives for our country should give our property, and 1 for one am anxious and willing to see that democratic principle put into operation.”