LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

War Expenses Fund. Interest-free loans and donations for war purposes acknowledged yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, bring the total up to £2,461,997. Interruption of Power. On Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. (weather permitting) power will be off from The Knoll to Featherston, including the borough and the district south of the borough, in order to allow urgent repairs. Morere Oil Bore.

The New Zealand Petroleum Company reports that the Morere oil bore has reached 4108 feet. The formation is hard, green shale. At Midhirst drilling has been resumed and the depth is now 1210 feet in sandy shale. Trans-Pacific Air Service.

The inauguration of trans-Pacific passenger flying by Pan-American Airways from Auckland to the United States of America will take place on September 14. It has also been announced that an air freight service from Auckland would begin on August 31. Fire at Tuakau.

Losses estimated at more than £4500 were caused by a fire which last night destroyed Deeble’s Building in George Street, Tuakau (36 miles south of Auckland on the Waikato river). Three shops, which comprised the block, together with their fittings and contents were lost, and damage estimated at about £25 was caused to a nearby bank agency building, which was partially demolished in the provision of a fire break. Gaol for Subversive Statement.

Reserved judgment was given in the Auckland Magistrates’ Court yesterday by Mr Orr Walker, S.M.. in the case in which William Goss Dickenson was charged with publishing a subversive statement in a public speech. “After careful consideration of your speech,” said the magistrate. "I am satisfied you committed a breach of the Public Safety Emergency Regulations.” Accused was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, concurrent with the term of 10 weeks which he is at present serving.

Y.M.C.A. Card Party. The games hall at the local Y.M.C.A. was well filled last evening when a card party under the auspices of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Y.M.C.A. was held. Competition in the games was keen and made the gathering most enjoyable. Mrs Cotter and Mr Snowsill succeeded in winning the' prizes allotted for 500, and in the Bridge section, Mrs Coleman and Miss F. Hogg secured the honours. The next card party for which good prizes will be offered, will be held on Thursday, August 22, commencing at 7.45 p.m. sharp. Enrolment of Reserve.

A proclamation was issued yesterday directing the enrolment of the First Division of the General Reserve created under the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940. The effect, of the proclamation was explained by the Minister of National Service. Mr Semple, who said that this division of the reserve consisted entirely of unmarried men, aged 19 to 45 years (both inclusive), who were natural-born British subjects (other than Maoris). It was subdivided into the following three classes: —-Class A: Those aged 21 to 40 years , (both inclusive). Class B: Those aged 19 to 20 years. Class C: Those aged 41 to 45 years (both inclusive). The Minister said that Maoris of halfblood or over, were not included in the first division of the reservd.

Output of Woollen Mills. The increase in the output of woollen mills was referred to yesterday by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb. He said that military requirements were now being almost fully met, but that there were arrears in regard to civil supplies which must be made up. Furthermore, it was necessary to build up certain reserves of material. As a result of public appeals and personal contact by officers of the Labour Department with workers and employers the output had increased by approximately 30 per cent, and further improvements were being made each day. In practically all of the mills, shift work was now carried on, and untrained workers were being trained to fill the skilled positions. In one or twe of the mills shift work was not practicable, but overtime was being worked.

Regulation of Delivery. A procedure for regulating the delivery of basic foodstuffs and similar commodities, such as meat, bread, milk, coal, firewood and groceries, is set out in regulations gazetted last night. If an association or body of vendors submits a scheme to the Minister of Supply for regulating the delivery of any commodity in a district so as to eliminate unnecessary overlapping, the Minister may. if satisfied that all vendors concerned are parties to the scheme or have been given the opportunity to become parties to it, approve the scheme either onditionally or subject, to such conditions as he thinks fit. While any notice approving a scheme for a commodity is in force no person shall, except as provided in the scheme, whether as principal, agent, or otherwise, deliver that commodity in the district (otherwise than by sale over the .counter) unless he is a vendor who is a party to the scheme and his name and address are specified in that behalf in the notice approving the scheme.