LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Autumnal Equinox. For the past three months the sun's altitude in our skies has been steadily declining, with a consequential shortening of the hours of daylight and fall in temperatures. Yesterday, as the sun crossed the celestial equator from the southern to the northern hemisphere, the autumnal equinox occurred, an .event which officially used to mark the first day of autumn, though in a meteorological sense autumn has already begun in this country. Building Restrictions. “Contractors for the building . of State houses will be affected in the same way as everyone else,’’ said the Minister of Housing, Mr Armstrong, when asked in an interview last, evening if the embargo on the issue of building permits without the consent of the Building Controller applied to the State housing scheme. The Minister added that other works, including State housing, would be considered only when cement became available after defence and, hospital requirements had been met.

New Zealand Hemp Required. A cabled inquiry as to the possibility of New Zealand supplying phormium hemp required urgently for war purposes has been received by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, from the British Government through the High Commissioner and from the Empire Advisory Committee on Raw Materials, Washington. Mr Sullivan said last night that the reason for this urgent inquiry was that supplies of hard fibre previously obtained in large quantities from the Philippines and Dutch East Indies were now unobtainable.

Earth Moving Machines Required. An appeal to owners of all types of earth-moving machines to make them available to the Government to carry out its aerodrome building and extension scheme, was made at Christchurch yesterday by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, who has been coopted with the Minister of Public Works, Mr Armstrong. Emphasising that' owners would lose nothing, Mr Semple said that the purchase or hire of plant could be arranged, and owners would be helping to save their country. “The work which the Public Works Department has in hand for the building of aerodromes is urgent,” said Mr Semple. “Most of the department’s earth-moving plant is out of the Dominion, and we are short of earthmoving machinery such as heavy and light tractors. I have contacted many persons who have these plants and, without a single argument, they have gracefully handed them over.”

An Important Discovery. The discovery of extensive mica deposits in South Westland was confirmed by the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, in an interview at Christchurch yesterday. He said a preliminary examination by geologists had indicated that they were of sufficient importance to warrant a detailed survey. Pegmatites, in which mica occurs, were known to exist over an area of 89 square miles situated on the crest of the Mataketake Range at elevations ranging from 4000 to 5000 feet, said Mr Webb. The area is rugged, with precipitous slopes to the westward, and in parts heavily bush-clad. “Samples of mica received from the area are good,” said the Minister. “Mica is an "essential factor in the construction of various classes of electrical equipment, and is specially needed in making washers for spark plugs in aeroplane engines. It is therefore a highly important strategic war mineral, which is unfortunately in short supply at present.”

Help Appreciated. The conductor of the Masterton Municipal Band, Mr G. W. Hutchinson, wishes to express the band’s appreciation to members of the Salvation Army Band for the assistance given at yesterday's parade. The Municipal Band, which has been depleted owing to war conditions, was strengthened yesterday by the inclusion of members of the Salvation Army Band.

Fewer University Students. With fewer than 700 students taking lectures at Victoria University College, Wellington, enrolments are the lowest for many years, said the registrar, Mr G. G. S. Robison, yesterday. Usually there are 1000 or 1100 on the roll. A few students are still likely to begin courses and a few more taking some science courses may yet be released by the army. Mr Robison was unable to say how many senior students in approved courses had been released by the manpower committees. Except for women, most of the students were taking first-year lectures. Pacific War Council.

The opinion that the Pacific War Council would be established in Washington at a very early date w’as expressed yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when asked if he had any comment to make on the statement by Dr Evatt, the Australian envoy, who is now in the United States. Mr Fraser added that President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill and their respective Governments were all in favour of the establishment of the council. He said he regarded Dr Evatt’s remarks in ■Washington as a fair representation of the position and of the attitude taken up by the New Zealand Government as well as by the Australian Government. Patriotic Shop. At last night's meeting of the Masterton Women’s Patriotic Association a vote of thanks was passed to the Master Builders’ Association for its donation of the work of erecting the patriotic shop outside the Midland Hotel. A vote of thanks was also passed to the donors of the timber used. It was decided to open the shop tomorrow at 10 a.m. when the committee would be in charge. After the opening day it was arranged that the various organisations would in turn take charge of the shop. Cn the opening day a bring and buy stall will be held. The shop, which is still in need of a name, is much roomier than the dugout which proved so successful in last year’s appeal.

Registration of Girls. No consideration has yet been given by the National Service Department to the question of requiring women in other age groups than that of 20-21, which affects between 24,000 and 26,000 girls, to register, and it is regarded as unlikely that the authorities will go into this matter till the present registrations, for which tomorrow is the final day, have been dealt with. A rush is now expected. There have been reports that girls are leaving their jobs to try to enter the Government service to avoid being called up for essential war work. But employment in the Government service, unless they are doing essential work connected with the war, will not shelter them. Every case is to be considered on its merits, and no girls of these ages are exempt from registration. “Girls will not be taken away from their present jobs if they are doing useful work, whether they are in the Government or out of it,” it is stated officially. Morning mood should be ol joy, Health and peace without alloy, Smiles for children, wife and guest After hours of soothing rest. Morning mood is always thus. Free of languor, frowns and fuss, When for colds we ease assure With Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 18