LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

War Expenses Fund. Further iqterest-free loans and donations to the War Expenses Fund acknowledged by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, yesterday, bring the total up to £2,601,067. Medical Board Sittings. It is hoped to complete the examination next week of the bulk of the men drawn in the Wairarapa in the recent ballot for Territorial service. Sittings of the Medical Board will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of next week. So far about 60 out of about 200 men have been examined. Raid on Opium Den. “It was their national day and apparently they were celebrating it in a national manner,” remarked SeniorSergeant G. J. Paine when 14 Chinese were before Mr Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday on opium-smoking charges. The senior-sergeant said the men were found in an opium den in Haining Street which the police raided at 1.15 a.m. yesterday. The fines totalled £375. Musical Competition.

Mr A. W. Russell, of South Road, Masterton, who was an entrant in the musical competition conducted by Messrs H. Nimmo, Ltd., Wellington, for a march suitable for the Air Force, has received advice that none of the entries were considered suitable and no decision was reached by the judges. The fact that Mr Russell’s manuscript was numbered 40 was an indication of the number of entries and the interest taken in musical circles in the competition.

Sedgley Home. The matron of the Sedgley Home acknowledged with grateful thanks receipt of the following gifts:—Sheep and beef, Mr Hugh Morrison; sheep, Mr Norman Groves; buns. Mrs Styles and Clark’s Bakery; cakes, Mesdames P. Borthwick. Coom, G. Moore. Pavitt, W. Andrew, Harold Beetham. Misses E. Booth and Baird. Little Theatre Society, St. Matthew's Bible Class; mutton, Mrs Hugh Morrison; luncheon sausage, Barber Bros.; rhubarb, Mrs R. Latham; eggs, Mrs C. C. Latham; assistance in concrete work, Mr Raymond Lee; onion plants, Mr Hallam; entertainment at pictures, Mr H. Reid, Mrs Lilian McKenzie.

“Depression Juniors.” Consideration is being given by the Government to the position of those officers of the Post and Telegraph Department known as the “depression juniors.” This reply was given by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, to a question asked by Mr Bodkin (Opposition. Central Otago) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Asking if the Government intended to raise the salary of these officers, Mr Bodkin said that men who had 11 years’ service to their credit and had first-class reports and high qualifications were receiving only £230 a year, plus £l5 allowance. “The matter is being considered at the moment,” Mr Fraser said.

Mayor’s Charges. “The borough will get nowhere so long as you have the type of councillor now serving,” said the Mayor of Onehunga, Mr A. Garside, addressing a meeting of ratepayers at Onehunga on Thursday night. Mr Garside said he had called the meeting to make some disclosures about borough affairs, and to explain why some of the streets had been neglected. He said private meetings of councillors were held, and decisions made at' council meetings reversed as a result. Mr W. J. Moore, a member of the council, said he and the Mayor had even been threatened with physical violence. A group of the councillors had demanded that the Mavor should divide his honorarium with them. The speakers were accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Scottish Regiment. In accordance with the expansion of the Territorial force in New Zealand, it has been decided to form another battalion of the New Zealand Scottish. Regiment The existing battalion has detachments in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and these are in camp undergoing three months training. A Company (Wellington), being on Spriggens Park, Wanganui. Under the new organisation detachments in the North Island form the nucleus of the first battalion and those in the South Island the nucleus of the second battalion. Officers and N.C.O's. already in training with the Scottish Regiment are expected to be selected to fill vacancies in trained personnel required for new units, the rank and file of which will be found from balloted men. Prisoners of War. Persons desirous of communicating with prisoners of war interned abroad are advised to acquaint themselves with the conditions under which communication is permitted. The Post-master-General, Mr Webb, stated last evening that full information in this matter was available at principal post offices. “Communications must not exceed one sheet of notepaper, both sides of which may be used, and the name and the address of the sender must appear on the cover of the lettei or other article.” said the Ministei. “These are two important provisions that arc sometimes overlooked by correspondents. It should be remembered that in the main the restrictions are imposed by the country in which the prisoners- of war are detained, and offending letters may not be delivered by the country of destination.” Petrol Rations Petition. Placing a file nearly two feet thick 'on top of his desk, Mr Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North) presented a petition to the House of Representatives yesterday, from. Mr James Roberts. president of the New Zealand (Labour Party, and 31.467 others, asking f for an increase in the allocation of [ petrol for use by private owners. Speaking to a point of order, the Prime I Minister. Mr Fraser, pointed out two irregularities in connection with the petition, though he did not suggest that it should be prevented from proceeding. One of the irregularities was that the name of Mr Roberts, instead of the first name appearing on the petition, had been mentioned by Mr Holland. The other was that the petition bore no signature on the sheet on which it was written. Thus it might be said on prima facie evidence that the petitioners did not know what they were signing. Mr Speaker said the petition could be received and he would draw the attention of the committee concerned ' to the irregularity.