LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

St. Patrick’s Day. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, usually observed as a bank holiday, but there will be no holiday for the banks this time. It is the first saint’s day to be affected by the recent regulations suspending the banks’ observance of a holiday on saints’ days and other specified days. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and many miraculous stories are related concerning him, including his reputed extermination of serpents in the island. He carried out a Christian mission, extending over about 40 years, among the Irish, with great success. In 441 he was consecrated a bishop. He died in 463, and was buried at Down Patrick. Meeting of Parliament.

No legislation is to be brought down at the session of Parliament which opened today. The session, which has been called in order that members may hear and discuss the latest developments of the war situation, is not expected to last for more than a few days.. A secret sitting is to be held as well as a debate in the open, but the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was unable yesterday to indicate which would be taken first. He said he would consult the House and meet its wishes as to the procedure that should be followed. It was also for the House to decide whether or not the open debate should be broadcast, but his own opinion was that it should be off the air.

Gifts to Sedgley Home. The matron of Sedgley Home acknowledges with thanks the following gifts:—Clothing, Mrs J. Game Bidwill (Featherston); fruit, Mesdames E. Horne, L. Moore, A. Beetham, Barrel’, W. S. Cameron (Martinborough), Murdoch, W. A. Burling, King, C. E. Rogers, G. C. Williams, Hallam. Messrs W. G. Groves, French, Hewitt, N. W. Groves, E. A. J. Bell, anonymous, Miss Wallis; jam, Mesdames Hallam, J. Dove, C. Malmo, W. A. Burling, W. F. Stent, Mr E. Clark; cakes, Mesdames W. Dalziell and Moser; preserves, Mrs Barrer; pikelets, Mrs Styles; vegetables, Messrs N. Groves, W. G. Groves, Gordon Lee, Mrs I. McGregor; boots, Mrs J. G. Miller; harvest produce, Eketahuna parish, Alfredton parish, Featherston parish. Women Smokers.

When giving evidence in the Court of Arbitration in Wellington yesterday for the workers on an application for a new award for theatre employees, two women witnesses admitted that they smoked. One said the habit cost her 6s a week, and the other said she spent. 9s a week on cigarettes. “Do you see'we three men up here?” said Mr Justice Tyndall to the witness, indicating the members of the Court; “it costs us exactly nothing a week for smoking.” Mr W. J. Mountjoy said that he and two managers of picture corporations, who were watching proceedings on behalf of the employers, did not smoke either. “So that makes six of us,” he said. The witnesses, however, maintained that smoking was a necessity and not a luxury. Pigeon Racing. . The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club held a two-point race from Napier, a distance of 125 miles, and from Dannevirke, a distance of 52 miles. The following were the placings (N represent Napier and D Dannevirke): Stewart and Son's Old Stock (N) and Grizzlecock (D), time shrs 51mins Isec, 1; J. Mayes’s Big Chief (N) and Missing Pied (D), time, shrs 52mins 50secs, 2; L. Wickens’s Ramona (N) and Lord Monarch (D), time, 6hrs smins 19sec. 3; A. Pinkney’s Blue Bell (N) and Airline (D), time, 7hrs 31mins 55secs, 4; W. Miller’s Air Spy (N) and Spy Exchange (D), time, Bhrs 53mins 3secs, 5; W. Steer’s Baldy (N) and Golden Sheila (D), time, 9hrs 6mins 54secs, 6. The following are the first three for the points prize: J. Mayes 38 points; Stewart and Sons 37 points and L. Wickens 30 points.