NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Foundation Stone Laying Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, is to bo asked to lay the foundation stone of the new Palmerston North City Council Chambers now in course of erection. Modern Robin Hoods The Palmerston North City Council has granted the Palmerston North Archery Club the use of a piece of ground adjacent the Centennial Drive, on which to practice with bow and arrows. Esplanade * ‘ Hide-outs’ ’ Conduct which was described as “disgusting in the extreme/ ’ was taking place at the Palmerston North Figplanade not only at night but also during the dly time, Cr. F. G. Opie reported to the City Council last night, it was decided to get a report on the allegations. Easter Dates Good Friday falls on April 7 this year. This will be the fourth consecutive year in which Easter has occurred in April. Last year Easter Day fell on the latest day possible—April 23. The last time Easter came in March was in 1940, and it will not occur in March again until 1948. Children Away From Home A number of children whose homes are on the West Coast are attending schools and colleges in other parts of the Dominion and in view of travel restrictions inquiries have been made as to the likelihood of their being permitted to travel home for the vacation. Lt was ascertained that permits will not be made available to school, college and university students for such purposes. Bus Patronage The public patronage of the Palmerston North municipal buses continues to grow. During February 103,2U5 passengers were carried, an increase of 1541 over February 1943. The revenue was £1276 3s 3d, an increase of £56 0s 9d. The total revenue for tho 10 months of tho current financial year amounts to £15,851, 18s, an increase of £1722 0s 3d over the same period of last year. House-locket; Lands

In various parts of the city there are areas of house-locked land, and Cr. F. G. Opio placed before the City Council last night a suggestion that a report might be obtained as to the suitability of some of these areas for sports activities. He feared that the land might be used for the erection of factories and such like structures which would not be congenial in residential areas. A note was taken of the suggestion. Hospital Parking Area At the meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday, Mr. W. M. Williamson mentioned that it was not right to ask people to park cars in the area set aside for that purpose. The reason he gave was that the parking area was carpeted with nails. Tho managing - secretary (Mr. A. J. Phillipps) said that the truck had been over the ground and that the harvest had been over a hundredweight of nails. Mr. Williamson estimated that over a ton of nails was still to bo harvested. Coal for Gas Making The problem of coal for gas making was mentioned by the manager of the Palmerston North gasworks (Mr. J. Learmonth) at last night’s meeting of the City Council. “At present we are just getting enough coal to carry on with, ’* he said. “The quality is not tho best and sulphur contents are high. We have been using coke along with Westport coal in the retorts in place of Point Elizabeth, lienee the decrease in the make per ton of coal carbonised. I will require to get a much better quality of coal during tho winter months to supply the demand as all the 16 vertical retorts are In use.” Australia and the War The part Australia was playing in the present conflict was mentioned yesterday by Hon. T. D’Alton, High Commissioner for Australia in New Zealand in the course of an address to the Pal merston North Rotary Club. Of a total of 7,500,000 Australians, 860,000 were in the Armed Forces. However, although there was a shortage of labour, vegetable production lied doubled itself and most other industries had shown ail agreeable rise. Australia’s munition contracts were tremendous. “When it comes to food rationing/’ said the speaker, “that word has a real meaning to the Australian.’’ Sensitive Tire Alarms The sensitivity of electric fire alarms installed in many buildings was referred to at the last meeting of the Wellington Fire Board, when it was stated that one had been set off simply by the banging of a chair on the floor. Many times every month the brigade has to turn out to answer these false alarms, which arc tabulatod in tho return as ‘justifiable” as opposed to the fewer “malicious” false alarms, causing much inconvenience and unnecessary cost. The board decided to refer the matter to the New Zealand Underwriters’ Association with a view to having private fire alarm systems overhauled by electrical experts in order to minimiso the number of false alarms.

Feast by Plane A practical example of wartime cooperation applied to civilian use was given when Wairoa was completely isolated by both road and rail from Napier and Gisborne. Word was received early in the afternoon by*tlie rationing controller that Wairoa was out of yeast for bread making, and unless supplies could be got through no bread would be baked. Immediate contact was made with the Air Department, which cooperated in arranging for air transport. As there w'as no landing ground at Wairoa the yeast had to be packed in special containers, which could bo dropped from the air. The yeast was made up into three packages and delivered to the airport for immediate dispatch from Auckland. Within an hour of the receipt of tho original message the yeast was on its way to Wairoa by plane. National War Savings Fourteen towns secured their quota last week, comprising Apiti, Ashhurst, Bulls, Dannevirke, Feilding, Kimbolton, Levin, Pahiatua, Pongaroa, Rongotea, Shannon, Tokomaru, Weber and Woodvillc. Of these, Feilding returned to the fold with a serviceable £725, and should now see the series for this year to a successful conclusion. Rangiwahia, which has done remarkably well for a long time, was obliged to drop out, but may restore the position next week. Rongotea and Tokomaru will have to work hard in order to maintain their quota record. Five country towns reached three-figure totals last week, which must be considered quite good. The city of Palmerston North has a serious test in front of it to reach the annual quota goal, but the officials are making every post a winning post in order to aehievo it. This can only be done by March 31 with the generous cooperation of all depositors. “£3OOO has to be obtained in two weeks, so rally around/’ says the organiser. Tho figures for National War savings for the city on Monday, March 20, 1944, were £76 9s.