LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

P. & T. Dance. There was a large attendance at the Masonic Hall last night, when a dance was held by the Masterton P. and T. Social Club. Mr H. Pratt was M.C. and Barnes’s Orchestra supplied the music, Miss L. Hopkins playing an extra. The winners of novelty dances were: Miss Wilton and Private McKenna; Miss Madden and Private Macarthy.

Absence From Work.

“There is evidence of far too much absenteeism on the part of those engaged in industry, and this will have to be dealt with,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, in an interview last night . He added that people who abstained from going to work without sufficient reason were letting their mates and the country down. There was no excuse for staying away from work unless one’s physical condition or I other very strong reasons made it necessary. A Good Game Season. The excellence of the past breeding season for imported game was commented on by several members of the council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society last night. One said that in the Manawatu the Maoris considered it was the best season for duck for 20 years. A Wairarapa member said' that two clutches of young birds, particularly swan, had been common. The society had liberated 1000 pheasant in the past season, according to a report to the council. Rationing of Liquor Urged.

The women of the Manawatu. are supporting Hamilton women in their request to the Government to enforce the liquor laws of the country. They further suggest that there should be a rationing of liquor. At a meeting of the Manawatu branch of the National Council of Women, the president, Mrs J. Harris, Turakina, spoke strongly on the situation'arising through excessive drinking, particularly as it affected the youth of the Dominion. Women everywhere must take a hand in demanding that some action be taken. Shelter Trenches. “What is the distance that school shelter trenches should be placed apart?” asked Mr A. Donald at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board. The board’s building supervisor, Mr G. Drummond, said that nothing closer than 25 feet would be allowed. In the Paekakariki school, said Mr Donald, the trenches were huddled together not more than six feet apart. The secretary, Mr W. I. Deavoll, said that a circular was being sent to school committees. The board decided to ask the Education Department to make copies of the raid shelter specifications available to school committees. A Special Registration. A special registration of engineering and building workers irrespective of age, in addition to the general registration of men and women in age classes, was announced last night by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple. “The object of these registrations,” said Mr Semple, “is to place every worker who has the type of skill required to meet the present emergency at the disposal of the nation’s war machine. Every man from 18 to 70 years of age, who has at any time during the last 15 years been employed for an aggregate period of 12 months or more in any engineering, building, or constructional occupation, must re- 1 gi’ster immediately for direction as required into work of national importance.”

Shooting Season. An appeal for a longer shooting season than the fortnight suggested by the Minister of Internal Affairs will be made by a deputation from, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society to Mr Parry, following a decision of the council last night. The season proposed by the Minister is from May 2 to Maj’ 17 for imported game. “People have been pressing for liquor control, for the cancellation of race meetings, for further restrictions on soldiers, and now they wish to stop sportsmen enjoying their shooting. If it was a step toward winning the war we would take it and feel it was a privilege, but its effect would be infinitesimal,” said Mr C. E. Aldridge. Sportsmen already had their ammunition and if they could not shoot imported game, they would shoot rabbits.