LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frosts in Masterton. A frost of 9.1 degrees was registered in Masterton yesterday morning, and 4.5 degrees this morning. A False Alarm.

In response to a call received from a street box at Kuripuni Street at 5.19 o’clock yesterday afternoon the Masterton Fire Brigade turned out for what proved to be a false alarm. Band Concert.

A varied programme was rendered by the Petone Salvation Army Ban'll in the Masterton Park yesterday afternoon and was appreciated by a large audience. Included in the programme were cornet solos, cornet duets, band selections, marches, etc.

Charge of Desertion. John Charles Turner, aged 40, a labourer,. of Tinui, appeared before Mr L. J. Taylor, J.P.. at a special Court sitting in Masterton on Saturday afternoon on a charge of deserting from the S.S. Fordsdale. Turner was remanded to appear at Wellington on October 8. Bible Class Dance.

There was a large attendance at a dance held by members of the St Matthew’s Senior Bible Class in the Parish Hall. Mr R .Ninnes was M.C. and the music was supplied by Mr Arnold Barnes. Supper was served by a joint committee. Stream of Appeals.

A steady stream of appeals against being called up by ballot for service with the territorial forces is being received by the Auckland Manpower Committee. When the committe’s offices closed on Saturday the number reached slightly more than 150, many of which were lodged on the ground of hardship. Bible as a Guide.

At the annual meeting of the Manawatu branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society at Palmerston North, the president, the Rev F. S. Ramson, stated that in such a time as the present, the Bible steeled their hearts, nerved their minds, and strengthened their bodies to carry through the work all had to do. He referred to the speeches of Mr Winston Churchill, pointing out that the British Prime Minister used quotations from the Scriptures, and said that his utterances were tinged by a knowledge of the Great Book. Beauties of Park.

No doubt attracted by the beautifully fine day and influenced perhaps by the application of petrol restrictions, some hundreds of people visited Masterton Park yesterday. The flowering shrubs, notably cherries, azaleas and rhododendrons are at their best at present and these were the centre of admiration. Many people were seen peering into the fernery, which was closed, and the opinion was expressed that it was a pity it could not be opened for at least an hour or two for the convenience of the public. Railway Returns.

Reviewing the - approximate returns ,of railway revenue and expenditure, the Minister of Railways, Mr Sullivan stated at Christchurch yesterday, that the position was satisfactory. “While the net result of all operations for the four-weekly period of last year was a deficit of £7814, operations for the relative period of this year have produced a surplus of £64,424, gross revenue being £773.698 against an expenditure of £709,274,” said the Minister. The approximate net receipts for the 24 weeks of the current year amounted to £588,919, against £169,568 for the first 24 weeks of 1939.” Mr Sullivan drew special attention to the fact that, while the revenue for the past four weeks showed an increase of £72,845, expenditure had increased by only £607. Shopping Hours.

Objection to the proposal to have weekend shopping hours reduced was expressed on Saturday by the chairman of the Napier Retailers' Association, Mr T. B. Ferguson, who said that the proposal to cut out Saturday work and to limit, the hours on Friday would denitely create hadship. The following telegram has been forwarded to Mr Barnard: “The present hours are necessary to meet the demands of the general public. Any reduction in the hours worked, particularly on Friday and Saturday, would create a hardship to the working class and deprive them of the right to make personal selections of the goods required. Many people engaged on Public-Works Department and other country work depend on the late night on Friday and the forenoon of Saturday to do their shopping.”