LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Sergeant Killed. Sergeant Reginald Wilfred Hewetson, aged 22, of Te Kopuru (Whangarei), was killed and Sergeant Eric Petchell, aged 26, injured, when an army truck skidded and capsized in loose metal near Hikurangi on Friday evening. Hewetson was pinned under the truck and was not extricated for 20 minutes. Patriotic Fund Quota increased. Owing to the increased number of New Zealanders held as prisoners of war following on the recent Libyan campaign, the National Patriotic Fund Board has had to increase its budget for this year from £752,000 to £1,000,000. This means that the Wairarapa quota will now be about £26,000 instead of the £20,800 originally announced. That sum does not make any provision for returning men, which is one of the most important of patriotic activities. Supplies from Australia. 1 Arrangements made with Australia for supplies of important commodities, including components for various war requirements and wheat, during the recent mission there by Mr Coates. Minister in the War Cabinet, and himself, were referred to by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Mr Sullivan, in an address last night. He said that once more the spirit of Anzac found expression in common agreement on the most vital matter that had ever engaged the attention of the two peoples. One result would be the recognition of New Zealand as a base for the Allied nations from which the forces of freedom and democracy might advance in a great offensive movement toward the final victory of their united cause.

Price of Apples. “Full supplies of apples will be made available to the public as they come to hand at prices which will ensure their immediate consumption,” said the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay, at Auckland on Saturday. “Though it is just over two months since the apple season commenced the Internal Marketing Division is already selling the fruit at prices below cost because, in addition to the average purchase price of 5s 3d a case to the grower, the division has Incurred further costs of transportation and handling in placing the fruit in the main centres. Heavy supplies are reported in Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and Auckland. Throughout the Auckland Province fruiterers and grocers are selling at as low as 51b. for Is for cooking varieties and 5s 6d for the 401 b. case of Cox’s Orange and other dessert varieties.”