LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 January 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

An All Night Ride. Master Warren Dohnt left Masterton on his bicycle on Saturday night for Napier, arriving in time for lunch next day. He rode throughout the night, tile distance being 171 miles.

New Zealand Enlistments. To the end of last week 1 1.937 men had been posted to camp for service with the Second New Zealand Division. There had been 24.155 enlistments, of whom 16,134 were classed fit. 2542 temporarily unfit, 2657 permanently unfit, reserved occupations 1532, and the balance available for posting to camp 2354. Attendance at Exhibition.

A return to bright sunshine saw the Centennial Exhibition attendance fig tires rise yesterday by approximately 7000 compared with Monday's total. The crowds included many country visitors and large numbers of children, enjoying the exhibits and the Playland devices before the school holidays end. The attendance yesterday was 23,301 making the total to date, 1.277,802. The daily average attendance is 17.737. State Fire Office, The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the additions to be made to the State Fire Insurance Office at the corner of Lambton Quay and Stout Street. Wellington, was performed yesterday by the Minister in charge of the office, Mr Nash. It was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, managers of private insurance companies, heads of State departments, and representative citizens. Tile Conscription Issue.

A statement by the mayor of Stratford. Mr W. Thompson, that he had been informed by the Deputy-Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, that conscription would not be introduced without a referendum of the people, was referred to by Mr Fraser. "I did speculate in a private conversation with Mr Thompson as to the possibilities of the future,” said Mr Fraser, “but I made no statement that would indicate that the Government contemplated anything but a voluntary system.” Reservists Parade.

Over one hundred men attended the first parade in Masterton of Class 2 of the National Military Reserve, held in the Drill Hall last night. The parade which was for organisation purposes, was a splendid indication of the interterest being taken by the reservists in defence work, and augurs well for the success of parades to be held in the future. Considerable enthusiasm was shown by those present, and a strong, active organisation is expected to be built up.

Quick Work. Those mechanics are determined to keep in the news, states the “Ford Exhibition News.” We thought, that the record of 5 minutes 16 seconds referred to in our last issue was just about the irreducible minimum of time in which two men could dismantable a V 8 engine. Far from it, for Messrs Stephens and Reid have cut the tijne down by nearly a minute. On Saturday, January 13, they got away to a flying start and clocked 4 minutes 22 seconds. We are putting a brake on the boys from now on as the lecturers are unable to keep pace.

State Finance. Details of the national accounts for the first nine months of the current financial year were announced last night by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash. Revenue for the period amounted to £22,309.000. which is an increase of £1,038.000 over that for the corresponding period of last financial year. Expenditure totalled £25,665,000, compared with £23.235,000. The Minister said that the position generally was satisfactory, revenue adhering in total very closely to Budget estimates. It was too early yet to attempt any forecast as to the position at the end of the financial year.

Flood at Ohura. The exceptionally heavy rainfall on Monday caused a slip on the New Plymouth-Taumarunui line between Heao and Tangarakau. The express from New Plymouth was held up and diverted to the Main Trunk. The township of Ohura was severely flooded, water covering the floor of the Roman Catholic Church, county council chambers, and some business premises. Slips occurred at several places and roads were blocked. The Wanganui River at Taumarunui almost broke its banks, and early yesterday morning residents in the low-lying levels were awakened and warned to be ready to leave their homes. Fortunately the banks held and the river has now subsided.

Price of Spirits Increased. In consequence of wholesale increases Auckland hotels have advanced the prices of whisky and certain brands of gin by 6d a bottle. There was a rise of Is a bottle in December because of higher duties, so that prices are up by Is 6d in two months. There does not appear to be any intention by hotelkeepers to increase the price of nips sold over the bar counter, but several mentioned that there might be a tendency in some hotels to reduce the size of lhe measured drink. The rise on whisky by wholesalers is 6s 9d a case. For several brands of gin it is 5s 3d a case, and 4s 3d for others. These increases were authorised by (ho Price Tribunal because of higher landed costs. There have also been increases on schnapps, brandy, rum and vermouth of 6d a bottle.

Sacks for Air Raid Defence. Twelve thousand cement sacks used in the construction of the new Post Office building in Worcester Street will be bought by the Christchurch City Council, on the understanding that they might be useful in any air raid precautions work there. It was reported to the council that lhe Williamson Construction Company had informed the city engineer that it had some 12.000 of these sacks for disposal, and that most of them appeared to be in good condition. The price asked was ltd a sack, but an offer was submitted with the chairman's authority of Id a sack, the sound ones only beingpaid for. The Williamson Construction Company had accepted the offer of £5O. subject to those conditions and, in addition the proviso for their own convenience that the council should remove the whole of lhe sacks, whether in good condition or not. To this there was no objection.