LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Soldiers on Leave.

Soldiers on leave in the Wairarapa from Papakura and Ngaruawahia camps will return to camp next Monday by the 6 p.m. rail-car from Masterton and not by the 11.15 a.m. mail train, as was announced yesterday. Teachers and Military Service.

Any teacher who is known to object to performing service under the National Service Regulations will be dismissed by the Taranaki Education Board. A motion to that effect was carried by the board yesterday, when the item on the order paper which brought about the decision was discussed in committee.

Teachnicai College Representative. Notice of intention to move at the next meeting that the resolution appointing Mr T. K. Moody as a representative of the board on the Wellington Technical College Board be rescinded was given by Mr J. J. Clark at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Education 'Board.

Food For War Prisoners.

The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, said yesterday that a message had been received from Colonel Waite, Patriotic Fund Commissioner in the Middle East, by the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, .advising that 30 tons of bulk foodstuffs had been dispatched for prisoners of war in Greece. One Day Licences.

One-day fishing licences, at a cost of ss, will be procurable in the Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s district during the coming season. A decision to this effect was reached by the society at last night’s meeting, after it was pointed out that visitors to the district often desired to have a day’s fishing with their hosts, but were prevented from doing so because they did not hold licences. The one-day licence scheme will be reviewed before being put into effect during the season after next. Coal Production. An increase of 7.4 per cent in New Zealand’s coal production for the year ended December 31, 1940, compared with the previous 12 months, is disclosed in the Mines Statement presented in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb. The tonnage increase was 173,460, the total production 2,516,099 tons, and the output per miner was seven tons higher at 668 tons. Similarly, production for each man on the payroll in 1940 was 499 tons, an increase of seven tons a man over the 1939 figure.

Sun Spots. About the middle of last month there was a short period when the sun was absolutely free from spots, such a phenomenon last being recorded on July 26, 1935. But toward the end of July the spot activity was almost equal to that of maximum years. A big group was then crossing the sun’s disc, and this group was followed by several more. Then came another period of little or no activity, but just at present there is a return of the big group of .spots seen at the end of last month, though activity has materially diminished. The present big group is large enough to be seen by the naked eye through smoked or tinted glass.

New Zealand Torpedo Bomber. A New Zealand torpedo bomber squadron has now been established in addition to the New Zealand bomber and fighter squadrons operating in the United Kingdom. Announcing this yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, said that the new unit was formed on August 12, under the Empire Air Training Scheme agreement. It will be equipped with aircraft of a modern type —a type which has already been proved in numerous successful actions. "To date, 118 officers and airmen from this country have won awards for courage, outstanding service, and devotion to duty, and this record is by no means the end of the story,” said the Minister.