LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Heavy Frost in Masterton. The heaviest frost this year, 12.6 degrees, was recorded in Masterton this morning. Parade Cancelled. The ceremonial parade of territorials arranged for Monday has been cancelled. Abattoir Butchers’ Wages. Conciliation Council proceedings in Wellington today are engaged in hearing an application by abattoir butchers for an increase in wages to £8 per week of five days. An Elderly Voter. A lady resident of Masterton, 91 years of age, who has not missed a Trust Lands Trust election for several years, again recorded her vote yesterday. War Expenses Fund.

The interest-free loans and donations to the War Expenses Account acknowledged yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, bring the total to £1,990,041. Loan to Government.

The loan of £5, for the duration of the war and six months after, made to the Government by the Wairarapa Badminton Association, has been acknowledged by the Hon Walter Nash.

Sheep Dog Trials. The result of the New Zealand sheep dog trial championship, long head, at Cambridge yesterday was: J. H. Wilsher, Hurunui (Roy), 95 J points, 1; Fraser Smith, Awakino (Highland King II), 94, 2; M. A. Matherson, Middlemarch (Don), 88, 3; Gordon Thomson, Masterton (Speed), 86, 4; S. F. Herbert, Pongaroa (Sky Pilot), 85?, 5; Fraser Smith, Awakino (Highland King III), 84L 6.

Chest Hospital at Auckland. The erection of a chest hospital, containing 200 beds, on a site at the Auckland Infirmary, Epsom, is to be carried out immediately by the Auckland Hospital Board. This unit, which is designed to meet the demands of soldiers returning from active service as well as civilian needs, is in addition to the chronic hospital block shortly to be constructed.

Shortage of Knitting Wool. The enormous increase in knitting due to the war has resulted in a temporary shortage of some of the more popular grades of wool in Wellington, while the keen demand coupled with restrictions of importations has caused a similar dearth of certain calibres and types of knitting needles. Since the war began the demand for knitting wool, always considerable in Wellington, has soared, and there is an unprecedented rush on the wool shops. Bookmaker Fined.

Charged in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, with having carried on the business of a bookmaker, George Prime, who pleaded guilty, was fined £lO by Mr Stout, S.M. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said accused had a room in a private hotel. When a constable interviewed him accused admitted quite frankly that he had been operating in a small way for the past six months. His commission was very small and amounted to about 15s a week. Newspaper Suppressed.

A party of police yesterday afternoon visited the premises of "The People's Voice” in Auckland and took immediate steps to remove the plant and printing material in lorries to the assembly yard at Central Police Station. The police acted under a warrant received from the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason, in terms of the amendment of the Censorship and Publicity Regulations, 1939, to suppress subversion in the form of the printed word. Everything removed will be stored in a garage at the police station till the Crown determines what shall be done with it.

Y.M.C.A. Card Party. There was the usual good attendance at the card party held'by the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Y.M.C.A. last night. The president, Mrs H. E. Pither, welcomed the guests, and in announcing that the next party would be held on June 13, stated that play would commence at 7.45 o’clock. The winners of the Bridge were Mrs M. Rue and Mr lan Coleman, and of the 500 Mrs Deegan and Mr A. G. Swinn. The 64 players present enjoyed the comfortably heated hall which proved a pleasant contrast to the chilly air outside. Considerable interest is being shown in the charts recording the weekly points of the players in the aggregate prize, which will be awarded after two more nights’ play. N.Z. Railways Finance. An increase in the' net revenue for the four-weekly period ended April 27 compared with the same period last year is shown in the latest return of railways revenue and expenditure. The total revenue for the period was £901,663 compared with £777,590. The total expenditure was £709,073, compared with £671,537. The net revenue was £192,590, compared with £106,053. The revenue for the North Island main line and branches showed an increase of £105,980, .compared with the same period last year, the expenditure increase being £38,681. Factors responsible for the revenue increase were an increase of 133,585 on the number of passengers travelling and an increase of 100,234 tons in goods carried. Road services carried more passengers during the period compared with last year, but there was a decrease in revenue from goods. The Will to Victory. “The Allies will win this war, and it is out of situations such as those existing in Belgium and France today that some of the most glorious pages in British history have been written,” said Mr Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North) during the second reading debate on the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives last night. “Even if we lose this battle,” said Mr Holland, “we will fight on till the victory is won.” Mr Holland said the courage, determination and the willingness of the New Zealand people was magnificent, but that courage, determination and willingness should be organised. Except for the army the organisation of the country’s resources had been conspicuous by its absence. The Government expected the people to sink all selfish interests, and the public were entitled to expect the Government and the Parliament of the country to do the same.