LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 December 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Hot Day. Sunday last was the hottest day in Masterton this summer, 84.5 degrees being registered in the shade. Attendance at Exhibition. There was an attendance of 24,410 persons at the Centennial Exhibition yesterday, bringing the total up to 577,990, the daily average being 14.449. Call to Fire. As. the result of the burning of rubbish in an incinerator at the back of business premises in Queen Street yesterday morning the fire brigade received a call, but their services were not required as the fire was under propel control Cricket Club Dance. The Red Star Cricket Club held a most successful and enjoyable dance in the Arcade Hall on Saturday night. There was a large attendance. The music was supplied by Frank Pool’s Blue River Orchestra. The M.C. was Mr S. L. Hatch. Supper was served by the ladies’ committee. Daylight Robbery. A number of articles. including jewellery, a suit of clothes, a Christmas cake, and a child’s moneybox, were stolen by an intruder who broke into a house in Mangateretere, Hawke's Bay, in broad daylight on Sunday while the occupants were away at a picnic. When the owner, Mr Dickson, returned home at about 3 o’clock, he noticed that the gauze fireproof covering over one of the windows had been cut, and a search revealed the loss of articles which the intruder had apparently bundled into a tablecloth before decamping. The money box contained a small sum saved up by children to spend on a proposed visit to the Centennial Exhibition. Major-General Freyberg. “After 18 years it is a very wonderful thing to be back,” said Major-Gen-eral B. C. Freyberg, V.C., General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Special Force, in an interview after his arrival from England via Australia yesterday. He was very happy to have been appointed to.command the New Zealand troops, he said, and to be associated with the people he knew. General Freyberg said that he could not give details of what his movements would be, but a very full itinerary had been planned. His stay in New Zealand would be short and every moment of his time would be occupied. He would be paying visits to the camps and would see all the troops. Jewish Problem. The view that there could be no solution of the Jewish problem except through the concentration of the majority of the Jews in Palestine, was expressed by Dr Chaim Ward!, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in an interview on his arrival at Auckland by the Monterey. He added that the establishment of a strong Jewish population in Palestine would prove of considerable value to the British Empire, as it would dispense with the necessity of sending troops to Cairo and Suez. Dr Wardi is visiting the Dominion at the instance of the Board of Governors of the University of Jerusalem, his object being 1o establish relations with scientific institutions here, and to interest Jewish circles in the development of the university. Prospective British Subjects. Yugo-Slavs predominate in the latest list of those desiring to acquire the rights of naturalised subjects of New Zealand —there are 20 of them. Next come Italians, with half that number, with live Swiss, five Swedes, two from Denmark and two from West Samoa. There is a Japanese physical culture instructor, a Latvian, a Russian, a Syrian, a Palestine storeman, a Belgian, a Frenchman, a Lebanese, a Pole, a Finn—and strange to relate, an English commercial traveller. Vocations as usual cover a wide range, from an Italian professor of languages to a wicker worker from Switzerland. Thirty-four married women have expressed their desire to become naturalised New Zealanders, while 23 other women desire to retain while in this country the rights of a British subject.

New Zealand's Effort Appreciated. In an interview in London with the Minister of Education and Health, Mr Fraser, the King expressed his very warm appreciation of New Zealand's share in the war, said Mr Fraser yesterday on his return Io Wellington. He said that during an interview which he had with His Majesty at Buckingham Palace just before leaving for New Zealand, His Majesty spoke of the part New Zealand was taking in the war efforts of the British Commonwealth. He mentioned with gratification the fine achievement of the Maori people in raising their own battalion, an action in keeping with the history and traditions of their noble race. New Zealand’s war effort was highly appreciated by everyone he met in Great Britain, particularly by the responsible authorities. The formation of the Maori Battalion had a special appeal and significance as being a contribution of a brave, gallant and loyal race, anxious to show their appreciation of the benefits of partnership in the British Commonwealth. and to assume their share of responsibility for maintaining democracy and fair dealing between. the races of mankind.

Desire for Closer Co-operation. In spite of the war, the trans-Tasman air service may be begun shortly, stated the Minister of Education and Health, Mr Fraser, on his return to Wellington yesterday from the conference of British and Dominion Ministers in London. He said he thought the establishment of the service had been brought appreciably nearer by his conversations in London and Australia. "While in Sydney and Melbourne last week 1 had several interviews will) the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, Mr Menzies, and other Ministers," he said. "A general desire was expressed by him for even eloser co-operation in the war efforts of both countries, as well as in economic anti trade relationships generally. "I assured them that New Zealand would cordially reciprocate any suggestions or proposals on the lines indicated, and that wo wore prepared to co-oper-ate wholeheartedly in the war efforts of lhe two countries as well as in ordinary trade matters. After our conversations. 1 I'eel convinced that there is a sincere desire on lhe part of the Common wealth Government to work in closer co»o£.eration with New Zealand ”