LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Plunket Society Appeal. The Masterton Plunket Society will make a house-to-house appeal in Masterton for funds, beginning on Monday, February 9. Workman Electrocuted. Frank Keen, aged 30, married, of the Tripp Settlement, and employed by the Public Works Department at Surrey Hills, Ashburton was electrocuted on Tuesday afternoon when a gantry he was working came in contact with electric wires carrying 6600 volts. Entertainment of Soldiers. At a meeting of the Soldiers’ Entertainment Committee, Mr J. T. Jameson presided. Delegates from twelve organisations willing to assist in entertaining soldiers were present and further arrangements were made. Concerts are to be given on Saturday nights and soldiers entertained in other directions. Arrangements are being made to hold a, swimming carnival. It was reported that an Interhouse Association dance will be held on Saturday night. A basketball competition is to be arranged. Wheat and Petrol. “Wheat farmers need have no fear that they will be unable to satisfy their oil fuel requirements for the sowing or harvesting of their crops,” said the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, yesterday. “To safeguard our wheat supplies,” said the Minister, “it is essential that farmers should not reduce their sowings. Some farmers, I understand, have been afraid that oil fuel might not be available to meet their future requirements. They need have no fear in this direction. Where arable interests are not represented on petrol advisory committees, a representative of such interests will be coopted for advisory purposes.”

Experiment in Education. An interesting educational experiment to cater for more than 3000 primary school children without classrooms as the result of military occupation of schools in Palmerston North and Feilding has been announced by the Minister of Education, Mr Mason. Instead of school buildings, various centres of activity will be used, to which the children will report from time to time. These activities include music, manual instruction, handwork, physical education, libraries and reading, gardening, and educational pictures. Organised visits will also be made to places of special -interest. Community service activities will include making many articles required by soldiers and it is also,hoped to supply many articles to the Red Cross Society.

Women’s Land Army. Several women are awaiting engagement in Masterton under the Women’s War Service Auxiliary land army scheme. Some have had farm experience. So far no requests have been received from farmers locally for labour of this type. Silk Stockings. The possibility that a coupon system may be introduced in the sale of silk stockings is mentioned in a letter forwarded to the Dominion Federation of New Zealand Women’s Institutes, Auckland, by the secretary to the Department of Industries and Commerce. The representations made to the Minister concerning a proposal to ration stockings were prompted by a remit forwarded by the Tauranga Federation of Women’s Institutes toward the end of last year through the federation’s headquarters. Alterations in Bus Service. Alterations have been made in connection with the Royal Blue bus service between Masterton and Greytown. On and after Monday next the 12.30 p.m. bus will not run between Masterton and Greytown from Monday till Friday, and on Saturdays will depart for Grey town at 12.30 p.m. From Monday till Friday the 1.30 p.m. bus from Greytown to Masterton will not run, commencing on Monday next, but on Saturday will leave Greytown at 1.30 p.m. for Masterton. The Sunday timetable will be discontinued. Application for Wage Increase.

A further application for a general order increasing wages has been filed with the clerk of awards, Wellington, by the New Zealand Engine Drivers and Firemen’s Industrial Union of Workers. No information is available about the fixing of a date for the hearing by the Court of Arbitration. The application is made under the Rates of Wages Emergency Regulations, 1940, and the order, if granted, would affect all awards, industrial agreements and apprenticeship orders.

Damages Awarded to Farmer. General damages of £950, with funeral expenses and costs, were awarded at the Palmerston North Supreme Court yesterday to John Powell, farmer, Matawai, for the loss of his wife’s services as the result of a motor accident on the Foxton-Shannon highway on July 2. She died from injuries received. Defendants were William Frank Osborne and Mervyn Henry Davis, farmers,- Te Aroha, judgment being given against Osborne alone at the request of plaintiff’s counsel.