LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

False Pretences Charges. In the Supreme Court at Now Plymouth yesterday. Arthur Douglas Wylie, found guilty of four charges of false pretences and one charge of attempted false pretences, was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention. Building Permits. In February, the Masterton Borough Council issued five building permits for an estimated value of £1405, as compared with 10 permits for the value of £1572 in the corresponding month last year. Coal Mines Dispute.

The coalminers’ dispute commission, consisting of Messrs. T. O. Bishop, A. McLaglan and C. Strongman, visited the Millerton mine yesterday and discussed the matter in dispute with the parties concerned. A decision was reached, but it is not yet available for publication. Disturbance at Horne Guard Parade. During the drilling of the Home Guard Battalion in Dannevirke this week, a disturbance was created by an onlooker who repeated commands issued on the parade ground. The prompt action of the commander in dispatching a section of men to deal with the offender restored order, The police later investigated the matter. Womens Standby

Fined for Taking Photograph. A taxi-driver, Eric Charles Vickery, whose hobby is photography, admitted taking a photograph of “A vessel engaged upon the service of His Majesty.” The police stated that this was the first prosecution of its kind in Auckland. Vickery was a man of good character and took the pictures quite openly. In imposing a fine of £l, with costs, the magistrate, Mr. Morling, said the prosecution would act as a warning to others.

Women for Air Force. Seventeen hundred New Zealand women have applied for enrolment in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Of these, 180 will begin duty at Rongotai about April 1, releasing men for overseas training or for service in other armed forces. Women will be taken on at other Air Force stations as opportunity offers. Ages of applicants range from 18 to 50 years, with an average of about 30 years.

Very Wise Warden. In an Auckland suburban residential district, which otherwise was complying with instructions in the trial blackout, the wardens were surprised to see one house so brilliantly illuminated that it stood out as a beacon. The officials visited the offending house, to find it was a new one in which painters were working overtime to complete the contract. The problem of what action should be taken was solved by one understanding warden with the remark: “Heaven forbid that we should stop any man from working more than 41) hours a week.”

Use of Vehicles for Army. f Arrangements, now being made to classify, examine and value privatelyowned motor-vehicles which may be required in the event of a major crisis were announced last night by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. The stage -had now been reached, he said, when it became essential to draw upon the transport resources of the country. Army manoeuvres Were shortly to take place and these would require the use of large numbers of vehicles. “The Government has endeavoured to ensure that the prices to be paid for vehicles acquired for defence purposes shall be settled with the fullest measure of fairness to all concerned,” said the Minister.

Home Defence. The intention of the Government to build up the strength of the Territorial Force from men who are not eligible for overseas service or who will not become liable for such service for some considerable time, was announced yesterday by the Minister of National Service, Mr. Semple. He also stated that all single men not eligible for overseas service who had not yet been drawn in the ballot were to be gazetted as called up for service. He added that the men would not be required for service before April 1, but would be put into training as soon after that as was practicable. He appealed to the men and their employers to make every effort not to delay training, as there was urgent need for a well-trained home defence force.

Fires in Wainui Hill. Hundreds of acres of gorse and scrub on the side of the Wainui hill burned throughout Thursday and part of the area was still smouldering yesterday. Three separate patches of hillside were involved, both above and below the Wainui hill road. The fires started on Thursday morning, and throughout the day burnt uphill well away from any buildings. Toward nightfall, as the wind dropped, the flames spread downward toward Gracefield Road, and about 7 o’clock the Lower Hutt Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a row of about a dozen houses in Gracefield Road. Dry gorse extended right down to the back fences of these places, and in some cases was close to outbuildings. By playing water around the fences and buildings the fire brigade prevented any further damage.