In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 6

In the News

Summer Time Begins Tomorrow Summer time comes into operation officially at 2 a.m. tomorrow, but most householders will advance their clocks half an hour before they retire this, evening. Summer time will continue in operation until the last Sunday in April.

Gift For Army A prismatic compass has been handed ; j The Southland Times by Mr D. A. Mac Gibbon, Blackmount, R.D., Otautau, as a gift to the Army Department.

Dredge To Leave For Overhaul The Bluff Harbour Board’s dredge Murihiku will leave for Port Chalmers on Monday morning, under tow of the tug Awarua, for annual overhaul. The tug will return immediately and the dredge will be away about a month. Flower Show Concludes

The Invercargill Horticultural Society’s spring flower show, which opened on Thursday, concluded last night. The show, which was notable for the many beautiful blooms on display, attracted large attendances. The potted chrysanthemum plants sent in by the pupils of the Middle school were on sale and were in great demand. The display of blooms provided by the Reserves Department of the City Council presented an admirable background to the show, which concluded with an auction sale of many of the blooms.

Farm Work By School Boys Authority was sought at Thursday’s meeting of the High Schools Board by the rector of Otago Boys’ High School (Mr H. P. Kidson) for the sending of boys, if the necessity arose, for turnip thinning in country districts. Should it be necessary for boys to be released from school during term time, it was suggested that part of the wages should go to the Patriotic Fund, but the work would have to be of national importance. The secretary (Mr C. R. McLean) explained that the rector thought that with so many men away it might be a help if the boys could be released to do turnip-thinning and such work towards the end of the year. It was proposed that they should go out in groups. The board decided to grant general permission for the proposal to be carried out, subject to approval being given by a sub-committee when the necessity arose.

Infectious Diseases Several cases of notifiable diseases in Otago and Southland have been reported to the district health officer (Dr T. McKibbin) during the week ended yesterday. These comprised three cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and one case of scarlet fever in Otago and two cases of diphtheria, two cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, and one case of erysipelas in Southland. The diphtheria cases were located in the Hedgehope district. So far as can be ascertained, the Otago district is practically free from German measles (which is not a notifiable disease), no cases having been reported in the schools. Lepers Discharged As Cured

A medical board has just completed an examination of the leper patients at Makogai station with the result that 43 of the patients are now free to return to their homes, according to a statement received from Mr P. J. Twomey, honorary collector of the Makogai leper fund. “We may imagine the joy of the mothers who are to be reunited with their children, some of whom may not even recognize them,” states Mr Twomey. “The kindness of many New Zealand friends has kept the patients in a cheerful and hopeful frame of mind. This has considerably helped in the cure. Dr C. J. Austin, the medical superintendent, is loud in his praise of New Zealand’s assistance in bringing about this splendid result.” Food Rationing In Britain

Food rationing in Britain is not regarded as much of a hardship by the civil population, according to a letter received by a Rangiora resident from one of her relations in Glasgow. The letter was written by a woman with a family of eight. She says that, in spite of the constant threat of air raids, the spirit of the people is very high. Referring to the food supplies, she states: “There is plenty of everything. The only things that are rationed are sugar, butter, meat, and ham. We get half a pound of sugar a head each week, and when it is finished we find it no hardship to go without. I do not use all my bacon and butter rations. The prices have gone up, but so have wages, and we don’t have to stand in queues as we did in the last war to get our half-pound of sugar. We are certainly not starving, in spite of the German propaganda.” The letter adds that “there is a hot reception waiting for any parachutist who has the misfortune to land in Scotland.