LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timber Mill Destroyed by Fire. Yesterday, Kilkelly Bros.’ mill, 17 miles from Tuatapere, Southland, was totally destroyed by fire. It was one of the biggest box factories in Southland and had an annual output of ever 500,000 feet. It employed 23 hands. The Home Guard. It is probable that the Home Guard will shortly be equipped with a distinguishing badge, and a tab imprinted “Home Guard.” The latter will be similar to that bearing the title “New Zealand” which will have been noticed on the upper sleeves of uniforms of members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. now in New Zealand after returning from service overseas. The design of the badge will probably incorporate the initial letters of the force, H.G., on an appropriate background. Complaints of Soldiers’ Conduct. Complaints have reached the mayor of Wellington, Mr Hislop, concerning the behaviour of some soldiers in the city. He has written to the' Superintendent of Police, Wellington, on the matter, also to the Officer Commanding the Central Military District, and to the Fortress Area Commander, Wellington, emphasising that the complaints refer only to a small proportion of the troops, but adds that this minor element brings .disrepute on the whole body of excellent men. Wool Appraisals. The wool-growers of the Auckland province have received over £1,000,000 for the clip this season, the amount for the last four apprisals being £1,008,929, compared with £1,182.292 for five apprisals at this time last season. The hales handled to date total 58,683, compared with 67.293 in the corresponding period last season. The figures for the fourth appraisement, January, show that 20,724 bales were appraised. The net weight was 7,323,5421 b, and the total value £362,960; average price a bale, £l7 10s 3d; average price per lb., 11.89 d. Transfer of Men. “Transfer of men from the National Military Reserve to the Hoihe Guard will be done by the Army authorities in conjunction with the manpower committees.” said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in an interview last night. That method, he said, was held to be likely to give most satisfactory results. “The transfer will be a gradual process,” said Mr Jones. “The first men to return to civil life from the National Military Reserve will be those urgently required and essential for industry and for commerce. The 1 manpower committees are considered to be the best judges of a man’s place in civil life and his military obligations. and the Army will be able to place its point of view on each man before these independent tribunals.”

Company Manager Sent to Gaol. William Harold Hindle, company manager, and a private in the National Military Reserve, was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, for failing to attend parade. Captain H. R. Biss, who appeared for the military authorities, said that Hindle enlisted in the National Military Reserve in 1940, was passed fit for service in any part of the world, and was attested. He did service till at a night parade on December 9 last his company was warned to prepare for general mobilisation the following day. Hindle drew equipment for this mobilisation, but failed to answer his name on December 10. His appeal to the Manpower Committee against being called for collective training, lodged on December 15, was dismissed, and when telephoned -by his regimental sergeant-major Hindle stated that he was not able to come and was not going to come.