NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

More Men for Trentham. Additions to the Taranaki draft for Trentham for the main body of the 4th Reinforcements are: — Infantry Training Unit No, 1: H. J. Welham (New Ply- ' mouth), C. B. Topless (Urenui). Soldiers Rcturn to Duty. A number of members of the Expedi- , tionary Force and members of the Royal Air Force, from Hobsonville, Ohakea and Blenheim, who had been spending a few days leave in the district, left Taranaki yesterday on their return to duty. Loss of Popularity. Formerly the most popular carriage on the Taranaki mail train, the old type first class coupe carriage, with its two se pa rate compartments, has been practically deserted since the inclusion on the train of the modern all-steel carriages similar to the main trunk cars. Clean Bill of Health. The Inglewood county had a clean bill of health during August, for at least the second month in succession, the health inspector's report congratulating the council on the fact that again no cases of infectious disease had been notified during the month. Primary Production Executive. An executive committee consisting of Messrs. H. E. Blyde. J. M. Hopkins, L. A. Alexander and H. M. Besley with Mr. D. Le C. Morgan as secretary was set up at last night's meeting of the North Taranaki Council of Primary Production to deal with matters of urgency. Reduced to Small Figures. A New Plymouth man with a mathematic turn of mind calculated what the toll would have been on a proportional basis if New Plymouth and not London had been the object of Saturday night's raid by the Germans. He worked it out that the casualties on the ratio of population would -have been one killed and four injured. Audit Fees Reduced. "There are no tags on the balancesheet and the cost of the audit has been reduced by £5, which is a further tribute to the efficiency of the treasurer, Mr. T. A. Jones," remarked the chairman, Cr. F. Lawrence, at a special meeting of the Inglewood County Council held yesterday for the purpose of adopting the balance-sheet. The audit fees had been reduced by £10 in the past two.years, it was stated, due to less time being required for the audit. Motor-cars and Bicycles. Travellers on the New Plymouth-Te Kuiti road during the week-end com- ' mented on the marked diminution in the amount of motor traffic encountered, due to the petrol restrictions compelling people to limit their travelling to occasions on which they had somewhere definite to go. On the other hand they were surprised at the number oLcyclists met with, a very considerable proportion comprising young girls. The petrol restriction is bringing the modest bicycle back into its own again. Motor Spced Reduced. "The speed of motor vehicles has been reduced on all roads, apparently due to the rationing of benzine and in consequence the standard of driving had improved," stated Mr. C. E. Varcoe. traffic inspector. in reporting to the Inglewood County Council on a general patrol on the county ronds. No accidents or cases of neglisc'nt driving had come under his notice.. but several motorists had been warned for failing to dip lights for approaching traffic. An intimation was given that unless there were an improvement action would be taken. No Better Pilot. ,New Plymouth people were conceited enough to think that their port was the best artiflcial harbour in the Dominion and he had beep told at Wellington that in Captain O. F. Mclntyre the board had the best pilot in New Zealand, commented Mr. C. E. Bellringer, chairman of the harbour board, at a reception yesterday. Several merchant captains present agreed that New Plymouth had done .well in making the port and Captain A. Mclntosh added of Captain Mclntyre that there was no better pilot in New Zealand. Home Guard Movement. The opinion that a unit of the Home Guard of 30 members could be formed at Inglewood was expressed by, Councillor W. R. Marr at the meeting of the Inglewood County Council yesterday, when it was decided to co-operate with the borough council in calling a meeting to discuss Home Guard matters. It was considered that units might be formed at some other county centres, the opinion being expressed that it shouid be possible to arrange for the necessary military training at those centres, as it would be difficult for men engaged in rural pursuits to travel to a centre for training at week-ends. Production Propaganda. "It is all very well for us to sit round a table and say what shouid be done, but it is the farmers who have to do the doing," said Mr. L. A. Alexander at last night's meeting of the North Taranaki Council of Primary Production in stressing the need for continued propaganda on production. He felt that the council shouid keep in clcser touch with its local committees who were the main organisation of the production effort. The council, he. said. had to be alive, but, further than that, it had to show the farmers that it was alive. It was subsequently decided to circulate copies of the minutes of each council meeting to the local committees and also to send out pcriodic circulars covering certain special measures such as the financial provisions for farmers. Men for Farm Scheme. "When a farmer is asked to pay 50 per cent. of the wages cost, my council feels that it must supply fit and *experienced men; this is where the difficulty arises and where a stumbling block exists," wrote the Inglewood County Council in advising the North Taranaki Council of Primary Production last night that it had recently received advice fi-om the placement offic^r that several men registered at Inglewood were available for farm schemes. On looking into the matter, however, the council ascertained that in only one or two cases were those men suitable for the lype of work the council wished to undertake. The council had now decided to ask the Minister of Labour to support his recent statement that men wei'e available for the local work suggested. Inglewood Scrap Melal. "Getting more like a second-hand shop every day," remarked a councillor on entering the Inglewood county chambers for the monthly meeting yesterday. Packing cases and bags full of clothes, a sewing machine and an iron that graced three corners of the room testifying to the good work done by the local branch of the Lndy Galway guild, which u.ses tiro room once a weck for its activities. The fourth corner was occupied by a miscellaneous collection of scrap nonferrous metal comprising aluminium rnugs, old saucepans, kcttles, Ihermos flasks, old lead head nails. old lead pip- , ing. old brass rivets, metal from electric !: light bulbs. tin and lead foil etc. All this ■ had been dropped in a box at the office ; door by children going to school or their ; parents going to town, and each day it had been transferred to the county ! chamber. The box has been up only a few days, but it is doing good work.