In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 6

In the News

Territorial Camp A decision to make inquiries with a view to pressing for the establishment of a territorial camp in Southland was made by the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce at its meeting yesterday. It was stated that with nearly 800 Southlanders leaving for Forbury Park, Dunedin, next week, the exodus would mean a serious loss of business to Invercargill firms. Petrol Allowances

As a result of representations to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) to have the petrol restrictions relaxed, the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce yesterday received a telegram from Mr Fraser stating that he would be pleased to give careful consideration to the chamber’s representations. Mr W. Grieve said that' the motor trade had been supported by the whole business community of the Dominion in its request to have the restrictions relaxed. “In spite of this we have got nothing definite yet—only a promise,” said Mr Grieve.

Soldier’s Autograph To write his name in a visitors’ book underneath the autograph of his father who had inserted his name in the book 25 years before was the experience of Private W. T. Adam, son of Mr A. Adam, of Invercargill. Private Adam, who is in Egypt, visited St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church at Cairo where he was asked to sign the visitors’ book. After looking through the pages, he saw his father’s name which had been written during the last war. Private Adam’s name was then appropriately placed underneath. At the annual meeting of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church last night it was decided to send a letter of appreciation to the members of St. Andrew’s Church at Cairo, thanking them for their care of the New Zealand soldiers. Middle School Patriotism

The enthusiasm of the pupils of the Invercargill Middle School in their efforts to assist the Patriotic Fund reached a new standard this week. Invited by the head master (Mr G. F. Griffiths) to save odd cuttings from chrysanthemum plants in their home gardens, the pupils responded well and at the end of the season for these blooms no fewer than 160 cuttings were collected. The plants were nursed in a suitable spot during the winter and yesterday they were potted ready for a market. That market will be available today at the Invercargill Horticultural Society’s show in the Victoria Concert Chamber. The contributions of the children were gratefully accepted by the Central Patriotic Executive and they will be sold at the show today. Many choice varieties of chrysanthemums are among the contributions.

“A Sacred Calling” “We do well to recognize the importance of the teacher in the community, but it is far more important for the teachers to recognize their own importance,” said the Minister for Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, in an address at the St. Albans School on Tuesday. “I feel that unless teachers do recognize that, they cannot have the full measure of that essential zeal and enthusiasm for the very fine service they must perform. Teachers must recognize the sacredness of their calling.” Turned To Good Account

How a small boy in an English school turned to good account a piece of fabric from a wrecked German aeroplane is related in a letter received by an Auckland resident. The fabric was sent to the boy as a raid souvenir from his parents. He replied with a letter of thanks and a statement that the sum of about four shillings had been raised by letting school mates spit on it at one penny a time. Rule Only In Abeyance

That the Order-in-Council which prevented the sale of dairy cows in cheese districts had only been held in abeyance and not annulled was stressed by Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., in an address to Matamata farmers. Mr Doidge said a Southland farmer, aged 60, whose son was in hospital with rheumatic fever and whose daughter was married, had decided to sell his herd owing to these facts and his inability to get labour. The sale was duly advertised, but a representative of the Department of Agriculture called upon the auctioneers and asked if they had a permit for the sale. They had replied that they did not know a permit was necessary. The Order-in-Coun-cil was then shown and the "sale was stopped. With other members, Mr Doidge said he had made strong representations to the Minister, with the result that the Order-in-Council was now being held in abeyance. As it had not been annulled, however, the position would have to be watched very carefully. A Young Passenger

A 19 days old child from Hong Kong, Lyndal Ruth Abbott, who arrived recently in Sydney by flying-boat in a dress basket, is the youngest passenger carried on the flying-boat service, and has a certificate to prove that she has crossed the equator. With her mother, Mrs Terence Abbott, Lyndal travelled the entire journey from Hong Kong by aeroplane, changing to the flying-boat service at Bangkok. Mrs Abbott, the former Miss Pat Littlejohn, was the first woman graduate in veterinary science at Sydney University and is the wife of Dr Abbott, a Government medical officer in Hong Kong. Mrs Abbott, who was one of several women to be evacuated by aeroplane from Hong Kong, said that Hong Kong was unexcited about the change of affairs in the East. School Boy’s Opinion

“Who said London was in ruins?” defiantly asked a Jewish school boy who has arrived at Auckland from England. “A few bombs in the East End, a little damage to the Palace and the docks, and a ‘dud’ near St. Paul’s, but what’s that?” The boy treasures a few pieces of shrapnel which fell near his school in London. Accompanied by his mother and sister, he will live in New Plymouth. New Zealanders In London

“Your boys were having a wonderful time at Home when I left,” said an Englishwoman who has arrived at Auckland after an exciting voyage from England. The New Zealand uniform was evident in most parts of London, she said, but the Strand was simply thronged with men of the 2nd Echelon. “I don’t know whether they are having such a good time now,” she said a little wistfully, adding that she had spoken to every New Zealand soldier she saw. London seemed gay, and in the beautifully fine weather Londoners were having a last fling before settling down seriously.

“We Are Winning”

The splendid spirit of the people of England, and particularly those of London, in the face of the continued air raids, is once again shown in a cablegram received by Mr SeadGowing, of Auckland. He had cabled to his attorney who practises in Hanover Square, in the heart of the bombed area, seeking information about various members of his family in England. The attorney, who is one of London’s air raid wardens, replied promptly: “All well and in fine fettle. We are winning.”