In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24889, 31 October 1942, Page 4

In the News

Gone With the Wind Two £1 notes went east with the wind yesterday. But they are not a dead loss. The owner of the notes has half a ton of coal to show for them; the coalman has the memory of a boisterous day. The householder was handing the coalman the notes when a gust whirled them away and out of sight, over the top of the house. An amicable settlement was quickly reached, both parties losing on the deal. The gale, which seemed refreshed and full of vigour yesterday morning, continued throughout the day, but had lost most of its dash last night. Late Potatoes A suggestion for growing late potatoes is made by a correspondent, who recommends it to householders with limited space for growing vegetables. He says that if seed potatoes are placed in a shallow box now, kept in a light place until they have sprouted and planted early in January as other plots are cleared of vegetables, they should produce new tubers during the autumn. War-Time Marriages The inevitable crop of romances since the arrival of forces in New Zealand has brought into some prominence the question of marriage conditions. No ban is imposed by the United States authorities, but any serviceman wanting to marry is first required to seek the permission of the highest ranking officer in his area. The officer may grant permission at his own discretion. When it comes to entry to the United States the wife is admitted free of the quota system, but is subject to all' the other provisions of the immigration laws relating to health, character and so on. Marriage does not automatically confer citizenship on a wife, but after five years’ residence she may take steps to become naturalized. This involves some preparation and the passing of certain tests. —P.A. Grocery Deliveries A general scheme for the zoning of grocery deliveries throughout the country has been approved by the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple. It provides that in a built-up area no grocer shall deliver more than once a week and in addition must not deliver small parcels, the smallest to be 81b or over three cubic feet. In rural areas special arrangements are being made to prevent overlapping.—P.A. Green Peas The achievement of an Invercargill resident in having green peas already | in pod has been eclipsed by an amateur gardener at Gore, who states that he has already used one row of green peas. The peas were sown in the autumn in a sheltered spot in the garden, and they were ready for use more than two weeks ago. The Gore man states that he has another row .almost ready for use. Lottery Not Favoured A State lottery to augment patriotic funds as suggested by the Wellington Labour Representation Committee is not favoured by the Government, according to advice received by the committee from the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs. The Minister said lie did not think that at the very outside a sum of more than £lO,OOO or £15,000 would be obtained by such a national art union. This split among all the provincial councils would only be a fragment of what they themselves were already securing by way of their own art unions and raffles. The only way to secure a larger sum than £lO,OOO or £15,000 would be to have a very big prize list, which was undesirable. —P.A. Check on Registration An announcement that steps would be taken shortly to carry out a widespread check-up on the registration of persons liable to register for work of national importance was made by the Minister of Industrial Man-Power, the Hon. A. McLagan, yesterday. He said the check-up would be taken with a view to, taking action against defaulters, and employers should see that all persons in their employ eligible to register- for such work were able to produce their official slips acknowledging their registration. —P.A. Gift for Ex-Servicemen The Rehabilitation Minister, the Hon. R. Semple, announced yesterday that one of tire outstanding gifts for the benefit of ex-servicemen made in recent months was by Mr Joseph Udy, of Carterton, who had forwarded the proceeds of investments amounting to £4750. The pnly stipulation was that it should be used for the benefit of exservicemen of the present war. P.A. Life Sacrificed A statement that their son, SergeantPilot Warwick A. Clouston, who was reported killed last June, deliberately crashed his machine in the sea to avoid hitting some children playing on an English beach, is contained in a letter received by Mr and Mrs D. C. Clouston, of Auckland, from a Royal Air Force padre, the Rev. A. G. Macintyre, who conducted Sergeant-Pilot Clouston’s funeral service. “I found a man who had been standing on the cliff and who saw it all,” said Mr Macintyre. “This man said '•that Sergeant-Pilot Clouston might have made a landing on the beach, and he had begun to come down, as if he would. Then he must have noticed the kiddies playmg on the sand and decided not to risk hitting them, so he turned out to sea and crashed there. Although I never knew your son,” added Mr Macintyre, “from what I have heard of his character, that is just what he would do. Many pilots lose their lives in action against the enemy, in trying to destroy them, and we rightly regard them as noble. But your son gave his life to save the lives of those little kiddies on the beach, and I think that is nobler still.” New Zealand’s War Effort “It was interesting to find a wholesome respect for the job New Zealand is doing,” said Mr V. C. Matthews, a Christchurch business man, on his return from a tour of Australian cities. “In all quarters and from all sections of society I heard nothing but praise for the way in which the Dominion is co-operating in the all-important task of crushing the Axis. This war has evolved a community of interest that augurs well for our future relations with Australia.” . British Children in N.Z. A statement that the British children evacuated early in the war to New Zealand are still progressing favourably in their new surroundings is contained in the annual report of the superintendent of child welfare, Mr J. R McClune. The report is dated August 11 last and states that the number was 203. It adds that the children’s health had been very good on the whole and reports on them indicated that they were progressing very favourably in the various classes. In addition, they showed continued interest in their lessons and all school activities. Mr McClune states that the number of British children attending the various types of schools on March 31 last were: _Kindergarten, 1; primary, 96; post-primary, 86; university college, 1. Nineteen of the children had left school and been placed in various approved positions. They were doing well. “I am pleased to be able to state from firsthand knowledge, as well as from reports received,” says Mr McClune, “that these children are a healthy, happy and contented group, and a credit to any community.