LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

E.P.S. Drill Unit. The E.P.S. Drill Unit (B Company) will parade in the Municipal Hall promptly at 7 p.m. on Monday. Opportunity will be given members to attend Miss Van Staveren-’s address on air raid precautions in the Social Hall, commencing at 7.45 p.m. Young Farmers’ Clubs. According to the latest figures, there are now 148 Young Farmers' clubs functioning throughout New Zealand with a total membership of approximately 4500. At the beginning of the war there were 207 clubs with approximately 6000 members. Fifteen of these disbanded and 30 have gone into recess for the duration of the war, while six new clubs have been formed. The memberships have been seriously affected by the war and the severity of the petrol restrictions. Mothers’ Day Observance at Y.M.C.A. The public is invited to attend a brief and bright service to be conducted by the Y.M.C.A. and addressed by Mrs Major Dick, of the Salvation Army Whatman Home, after church tomorrow evening commencing at 8.15 o’clock. Mr Miller Hope has kindly consented to act as pianist for the community sing. On Monday night the annual Mother and Son Tea conducted by the Ladies’ Auxiliary, will be held, commencing at 5.45 o'clock, when the speaker will be Miss Rui Van Staveren, of Wellington. Blackout Requirements. “When we have a lack of that cooperation essential in any community in time of danger—indeed, at all times, but particularly now—and that lack of co-operation is wilfully committed, the courts have to impose heavy penalties,’’ said Mr Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, during the hearing of a charge against Ernest Annear, Tavistock Road. Lyall Bay, an employee of the Wellington Gas Company, of failing to comply with the lighting restrictions. Annear pleaded guilty. Indeed, the courts might have to consider imprisonment without the option of a line, the magistrate added. The magistrate said that had Annear been in a position to pay the proper fine, which could not have been less than £lO. the court would have imposed that fine. The fine of £2 with costs 16s which would be imposed because of Annear's circumstances appeared much too small for the gravity of the offence.

Fall From Train. Mr Moss, aged 52, Dannevirke, fell from the Limited express near Ongarue about 4.30 o’clock yesterday morning, and broke his arm in three places. Mr Moss opened the wrong door when returning to a carriage from a lavatory, and landed in a ditch containing a foot of water. He had a miraculous escape from death. He spent two hours wandering about in the dark, and eventually found a farm house, the owner of which, Mr R. F. Caulton. brought him to Taumarunui. Failure to Reinstate Employees. The comment that the regulations might well be amended to include a proviso that the employee give to his employers, in writing, reasonable notice of the fact that he was due lo be called up for service on a ceriain date was made by Mr Stout. S.M.. in the Magistrates’ Court yesterday when Burns, Philp, Ltd., pleaded guilty to two charges of failing lo reinstate employees after the conclusion of military service. The firm was convicted and fined £2O and costs on one charge, and ordered to pay £4 19s wages, and convicted and fined £lO and costs on the other, and ordered to pay £1 9s wages. Linen Flax Industry. A further expansion of the linen flax industry in response to a request from Britain for increased sowings was envisaged by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, who opened a new linen flax factory in Blenheim yesterday afternoon. Arrangements for extension of the area of the crop to at least 25.000 acres were under way. he said in an interview. This means the erection of six new factories and additions to five of the existing plants. The 10 existing factories, said the Minister., already provided employment for 600 men. and it. was estimated that no fewer than 1000 men would find employment when all 16 factories contemplated were working. Labour Envoy.

Mr William Holmes, envoy of British Labour to the Dominion, accompanied by the Minister of Labour. Mr Webb, visited the Hillside Railway Workshops and addressed a large meeting of workers. The following motion was later carried:—"That we. the workers of the Hillside Workshops, tender our sincere thanks to Mr Holmes and Mr Webb for their addresses today and express our admiration of our fellow-workers in Great Britain in their fight against dictatorships in all forms, and pledge ourselves wholeheartedly to co-operate with them, not only in the present struggle but also in their endeavour to establish a new order as promised to workers by the leaders of the British Commonwealth of Nations ”