LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Meningitis Cases. Three more cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis in the Wellington health district have been reported to the Wellington office of the Health Department. Two are adult males, and the other a boy of four years. All are in hospital. Search for Missing Soldier. Though 200 men have been engaged in the search for Private Douglas Neil Henry, of Te Akau, Waikato, who has been missing from his home since September 24,' no further clue to his whereabouts has been discovered. A search of the Waikato River was made yesterday and on Tuesday. Entry to Professions. A request that the Prime Minister should introduce legislation to allow the sons and daughters of soldiers and civilians to be .'.rained for professions such as the medical, chemistry, architectural and engineering professions, was made in notice of a question by Mr Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn), in association with Mr Barnard (Democratic Labour, Napier) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Lee asked that the training should be allowed to the extent of a number necessitated by the requirements of the people and with such economic aid as was now given to trainees for the teaching profession so that, in the Prime Minister’s own words, the terms of the Atlantic Charter of Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill might be written into legislation. Busy Fur Season. One of the most remarkable fur seasons in the history of Otago is approaching its close. Up to the conclusion of the large sale held on Tuesday, approximately 15,000,000 rabbit skins had been sold for the season. Extremely high prices have been paid for high country full winter skins, ahd types suitable for the hatters’ industry have been eagerly competed for by Dunedin agents who represent furriers in London. New York and Canada. One of the main reasons for the extremely high prices obtained for clean winter skins has been the competition that has come from Canada. In the past Canada bought its requirements from New York dealers, but this year it operated through the primary market. Overseas business in the season just closing has been practically unprecedented and has [returned approximately £1,250,000 (New I Zealand money) up to the present

Dancing Examination. In the Royal Academy of Dancing examinations held in Wellington recently, Joan McLaren, of Flat Point, was successful in passing Grade 1. Joan McLaren is. 6 years old and is a pupil of Miss Beulah Hirst. Driver Absolved From Blame. Finding at the inquest at Wellington yesterday into the death of Eleanor Robina Adams, who was run over by a motor-truck in Allen Street, Wellington, on October 1, that the cause of death was crushing of the chest, the coroner, Mr W. G. L. Mellish, absolved the driver (William Charles Hearn) of the truck from blame. Announcing his verdict, the coroner said that from the evidence he believed that Mrs Adams was walking from Wakefield Street to Courtenay Place and that when the lorry was backing it was almost impossible for the driver to see her, specially if she had her head down, till she was struck. He did not think he could find any blame attach'able to the driver. Remarkable Situation. A remarkable situation developed al a regional conference of Returned Soldiers’ Association delegates held in Gisborne, when' delegates found themselves unable to discuss the constitution of the Home Guard because all but two or three were members of military units and thus amenable to military discipline. The president of the conference, Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Gambrill, said that under the regulations no member of a military unit, or anyone who had taken the oath of military service, could discuss such a topic in public. His own position as group director of the Home Guard made it necessary for him to state that he could not take part in any such discussion, or even preside over the discussion.

Money from Waste Material. During the first six months of the current financial year, which commenced on April 1, £3OOO was received by the National Council for the Reclamation of Waste Material from the sale of waste material. About half this sum is from sales of waste paper. In the previous financial period, nine months ended March 31, the council paid £5041 to the patriotic funds, which funds are the destiny of the proceeds of this activity. These figures are given in the latest bulletin issued by the council, which states that it is hoped that between £lO,OOO and £15,000 will be raised this year. The raising of money for the patriotic funds is secondary to the reclaiming of material for New Zealand industries.