LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Day of Prayer. The church worship committee of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand has been advised by the clerk that the Church will be called to unite in observance of the national day of prayer on October 1, and is engaged in preparing a special order of service for use on that day.

War Pay to be Augmented. All members of the Auckland Harbour Board’s staff of more than one ■year’s standing who perform military, naval, or air service are to have their pay augmented by an amount equal to any deficiency between their war service pay and what they would have received from the board in their normal occupations. Rhodes Scholars.

Following the recent discussion of the position of Rhodes Scholars in regard to military service, the University of New Zealand advises that definite cabled instruction has been received that the trustees will approve the suspension of any scholarship during the holder’s war service. The trustees, it added, will permit the resumption of the scholarship when that service is completed.

Radio Records Office. The reorganisation of the Masterton radio 'records office at the Post Office has been completed and it is hoped to establish the public office in its new permanent quarters within a week or so. Consequent' on the expansion of business the staff has had to be increased. Mr C. G. McMaster, of Palmerston North, has been transferred to the Masterton office, and Miss J. Riley, of Masterton, has also joined the radio branch.

Military Chaplains. Full support for Archbishop Averill in his plans regarding the provision of chaplains for the military forces was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland Clergy Association. Arrangements that would be necessary were reviewed by the Archbishop, who announced that provision would be made for ministration in the various parishes from which chaplains were drawn. Members of the association pledged themselves to support his proposals, and it was stated that full details of the Church’s plans would be announced soon. . Blind Institute Band.

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, held at Auckland it was decided .to continue with the arrangements made for the tour of New Zealand by the Blind Institute Band, and that Masterton be visited on October 17. The arrangements for the local visit are in the hands of the Women’s National Welfare League, and all information in connection therewith can be obtained from Mrs H. E. Pither, Lansdowne, who has taken a keen interest in the work of the Blind Institute for some years past. Hundredth Anniversary.

Today is the hundredth anniversary of the arrival at Port Nicholson of the sailing ship Tory; tomorrow that of the landing on Petone beach of the N ew Zealand Company’s officers to negotiate the purchase of the site of Wellington. The Tory, an eight-gun, 400-ton wooden sailing vessel, had left England a few months ahead of the first emigrant ships; she arrived off the New Zealand coast in August, 18.39, and called at the whaling station at Te Awaiti, then the most important European settlement in this part of New Zealand. Tory Channel was so named to commemorate her visit there. Gifts to Sedgley Home. The matron of Sedgley Home acknowledges with grateful thanks receipt of the following gifts:—Sheep, Mr Hearn Smith, Mr Groves, Bushgrove; honey, Mi’s J. Smith, Mr Groves, Bushgrove; cakes, Mrs T. Denbee, Mrs H. M. A. Major, Mrs Francis, Mrs F. A. Judd, Mrs C. W. Rutherford, League of Mothers; fish, a friend; fruit, Mr H. D. Reid; records, Mr Toogood, Langdale; clothing, Mrs C. J. Gray, Marton; rabbits, Mr Boddington; buns, Mr Wallis; boots, Mrs W. McKenzie; papers, Mrs E. J. Rich, Mrs Bennett; boxing gloves, Mrs Engstrom. United States and the War. The view that the United States of America would eventually join with Britain and her Allies in the fight for democracy was expressed by Dr. J. G. Inkster, 8.A., D.D., minister of Knox Church, Toronto, in an interview in Wellington yesterday. The sympathy of the United States was wholly proBritish, he said. The American people were essentially democratic, and realised that in the present war democracy, liberty and justice were at stake. No one, of course, could say definitely what stand the United States-' would take; he was basing his opinion on the experience of the last war. If American people were killed through ships being torpedoed or sunk, those responsible would be held to account. Libraries’ Association. The incorporation of the New Zealand Library Association is provided for in a Bill, which was introduced by Governor’General’s message in the House of Representatives yesterday. Any local authority that has established or has power to establish a library may become a member of the association and pay the necessary subscriptions and dues. The association is not to be wound up without the leave of the Governor-General in Council. During the introductory stages the Minister of Education, Mr Fraser, said the association had some valuable grants from the Carnegie endowment. The association had asked for incorporation in order to facilitate their administration. The Bill was put through all stages and passed.

Industrial Emergency Council. Emergency power has been taken by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, to appoint an Industrial Emergency Council to assist him in dealing with any labour questions that may arise as a result of measures taken to meet war conditions. This announcement was made last night by the Minister, who said the council wquld comprise the following persons: —Captain S. Holm, Messrs T. O. Bishop, H. J. Knight, W. Marshall, A. C. Mitchell. A. W. Nisbet, A. P. O’Shea, A. Rowlands, A. McLagan, J. Roberts, F. P. Walsh, F. Cornwell, F. G. Young, R. Eddy, R. Brooks, W. Clarke. “I have appointed the Industrial Emergency Council realising that the production of all commodities within New Zealand must not only be maintained at the present level, but must be increased as far as possible during the war,” Mr Webb said.