LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost in Masterton, Masterton experienced a frost of 13.7 degrees this morning. An Enemy Country. A supplementary Gazette was issued last night declaring Finland to be an enemy country for the purposes of the Enemy Property Emergency Regulations, 1939, and the Enemy Trading Emergency Regulations, 1939, thus bringing New Zealand into line with other Empire countries in this respect. Conscientious Objectors.

“Cabinet is considering the question of alternative service for conscientious objectors,” said the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, last night. Mr Nash said that the question was one that would in due course come before the War Cabinet, but detailed plans had not yet been completed, and therefore could not be released at this stage.

Representation at Washington. “The appointment of a New Zealand representative in Washington is essential,” said Mr Coates, M.P., a member of the War Cabinet, in an interview last evening on his return to Wellington after his mission to the United States. Mr Coates expressed his personal opinion that the appointment was a question of urgency, and added that he had made representations to Mr Fraser and Mr Nash giving his views.

Mr Coates's Mission. It is not likely that a secret session of the House of Representatives will be held at present to discuss the outcome of the recent visit to the United States of a member of the War Cabinet, Mr J. G. Coates. The ActingPrime Minister, Mr Nash, when asked last night if a secret session l was planned for this purpose, said he did not think one would be held at the moment. Mr Coates returned to Wellington yesterday. A Report Discredited.

A rumour current in Auckland to the effect that the New Zealand Government was advertising in English newspapers for doctors to operate its medical service scheme was discounted by inquiries in Auckland. A city doctor said he had received a copy of a London paper with an advertisement inviting applications for appointments in the Health Department. A similar advertisement, had appeared in New Zealand papers. Applicants had to hold the Diploma of Public Health, usually obtained in Britain, and it had been the practice to insert such advertisements in English papers. The appearance of the advertisement soon after the arrival of the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in England, had given colour to the story that steps were being taken to import 1 doctors. There was nothing in the rumour, he added. Taxi Driver Robbed.

A Wellington taxi-driver, Mr William Magee,, was held up at the point of a revolver on Saturday night and robbed by a man whom he had driven from the city to Lyall Bay. Mr Magee was approached on his stand about 7.30 p.m. by a man wearing blue glasses, who asked to be taken to Roseneath. On arrival there the man told Mr Magee to drive him down through Kilbirnie. After following a roundabout route, the man told the driver to stop in a darkened part of Queen’s Drive, Lyall Bay. Alighting from the taxi, the man suddenly produced a nickel-plated revolver which he levelled at the driver. He also had a bludgeon. The taxi-driver was forced to hand over his money, amounting to 15s in silver. It is understood that the driver also had some notes in his possession, but before the thief could get these, some men approached with the intention of hailing the taxi and the man made off.

Film for E.P.S. and Home Guard. The date for the screening of films to E.P.S. and Home Guard units in Masterton towards the end of this month has again been changed. The screening will now take place on Tuesday, August 26. Various phases of Home Guard and E.P.S. training are to be shown in the films.

Speechmaking Competition. Attention is drawn in another column to the Cocker Debating and Speechmaking Competition shortly to be held. This competition is conducted under a Trust created by the late Rev James Cocker, who is well remembered in Masterton and throughout' the Dominion for his enthusiastic and effective work in the Temperance cause. The forthcoming competition should provide young speakers with excellent experience in public speaking and at the same time assist in furthering the cause of Temperance.

Red Cross Society Benefits. Woollen stockings are at the moment, as every woman should know, in short supply, but apparently there is one local lady who, not aware of the shortage, recently purchased a pair on successive occasions from a local firm. The latter has now received from the lady in question a letter stating that she had now realised the position, and had returned the stockings with the request that the amount she paid for them be handed to the Red Cross Society’s funds. The firm has decided to accede to the request, and the Society will benefit to the extent of the amount involved.

Fishplates Placed on Line. The discovery that several iron fishplates of the type which are used to hold the ends of railway tracks together had been placed across the Main South Line between Balclutha and Kapapuaka on Sunday, made additional precautions necessary for the safe passage of the expresses using the line. Patrols were on duty between Clinton and Stirling, and the trains travelled at a slow rate so that they could pull up quickly if necessary. It is reported that the Dunedin to Invercargill express took half an hour to travel the three miles between Stirling and Balclutha.

Dominion Electoral Laws. No major amendments to the electoral laws are proposed by the Government this session, it is learned. If an election is held, the only amendments likely to be introduced will provide machinery for voting by members of the armed forces serving overseas. After the 1938 general election, anticipations were that the Government would abolish the country quota, which adds 28 per cent to rural populations so that the number of rural electorates in proportion to their population is higher than the number of urban electorates. It is now known that the Government has no intention of interfering with the country quota. No steps have been taken, either, to alter the system of election from “first past the post” to proportional representation or preferential voting. Conference of Master Butchers.

A conference described as “large and fully representative” of master butchers from all parts of the Dominion was held in Wellington yesterday. A representative of the Price Tribunal attended, and explained the meat price order. The conference, which was held in committee, continued till late last evening, and will be continued today to prepare a case for presentation to the Price Tribunal. Arrangements have also been made for a deputation to wait on the tribunal at 11 a.m. tomorrow. It is understood that the master butchers are not at all satisfied with the price order, and many of the difficulties that the order presents will be gone into today, and will be placed before the Price Tribunal by the deputation.