LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Swans in Flight. Some 17 swans, in a V formation, flew over Masterton last night. E.P.S. and First Aid Class. All E.P.S. members and first aid class are asked to attend the usual parade with the Home Guard unit at 7 o’clock tonight. Earthquake Shock. A slight earthquake shock was felt in Masterton last night just before midnight. The earthquake was also felt in Wellington. Wellington Blackout. Wellington’s second black-out test, held last night, was, according to official statements, a big improvement on the first one about six weeks ago. Though by no means perfect, the general effect revealed that the public had in the interim seriously set about the duty of co-operating with the authorities by endeavouring to make the blackout what it should be in a state of emergency.

Railage of Wool. Railway wagons are in such' heavy demand for military and other requirements of national importance that the Railways Department states that it is unable to accept wool for transport to the various wool stores. As far as he knew, wool appraisals would continue in the ordinary way, said the chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Woolbrokers’ As--sociation, Mr L. C. Rolls, commenting at Hastings yesterday on the Government’s decision. “There is no question of congestion at the stores,” said Mr Rolls. “When the Government restrictions are lifted, wool will be acepted by brokers as usual.”

Digging of Slit Trenches. Consequent upon the failure of the men of Wellington to show a due appreciation of the need for digging slit trenches as shelters for air raids, publicspirited women in the city have found it incumbent upon themselves to give a lead. The mayoress, Mrs Hislop, has recruited a band of women to start work in the morning, and it is thought that perhaps their example may inspire men to do likewise. There has been hardly any response so far from men. The Mayor said yesterday that he considered the digging of slit trenches was a matter everyone should attend to immediately. Men would be better employed at doing this essential protection work than hitting balls about, or watching other people do it, on Saturdays and after work. Teachers and the War. A suggestion that teachers should apply to the nearest centre of the Emergency Precautions Scheme or Women’s War Service Auxiliary for full-time war work during the school holidays has been made by the teachers’ organisations. This suggestion was commended to the teachers by the Minister of Education, Mr Mason, during an address in Wellington yesterday to the boys and girls of the primary schools, which close today for the holidays. The Minister said the help of every teacher would be appreciated and was needed. He did not, of course, intend to exclude the judgment of teachers in those instances in which it seemed to them that their own particular circumstances made some other work a more useful contribution to the war effort.

A special large rubbish collection will be made in the Masterton borough tomorrow.