LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 March 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fire Brigades in Dominion. The number of brigades affiliated with the United Fire Brigades' Association of New Zealand is 156, an increase of seven on last year. New brigades are: Coromandel, Ngongotaha, Plimmerton, Ravensbourne, Runanga, Whakatu Freezing Works and Waitemata Brewery.

Daylight Saving. Daylight saving is to be continued in New Zealand throughout the winter months. This is provided for in the Daylight Saving Emergency Regulations, 1942, which were gazetted last night. Therefore, on April 26, the usual day on which summertime reverts to standard time, it will not be necessary to alter - the clocks as in past years.

Fishing Prospects. In a forecast of fishing prospects for the weekend the secretary of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society states that rivers in the Manawatu, Rangitikei and Pahiatua districts are very full; the smaller streams in the districts should be fishable by tomorrow. Rivers in the Wairarapa district are in flood and unfishable; the smaller streams in this area also should be in good order by tomorrow. Petrol Retailers.

Petrol retailers who in the meantime have been compelled to suspend business because of the petrol restrictions, are to be exempt from the payment of the retailers’ licence fee payable on April 1. Provision for this is made in an amendment to the Industrial Efficiency Motor Spirits (Retailers) Regulations gazetted last night. The obligation to pay the fee is waived till such time as the retailers concerned resume business. Extra Cheese Money. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Barclay, in an address to farmers at Invercargill yesterday refused to give an assurance that the Government would pass on to dairy-farmers any extra price received from the British Government for cheese. He explained that the British Government had agreed to pay an additional 5s 9d per cwt. for this season's cheese to pay for the costs of changing over to cheese production so that a higher export could be made. The extra money was paid for that purpose only, and was spent in that direction. He could not. therefore, agree that it should be passed on to suppliers or promise that any future grant by the British Government would be passed on. “Sheltered” Industries.

An indication that in future the Government might have to give more consideration to the desirability of reserving certain industries from calls for military service was given by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, addressing the United Fire Brigades Association of New Zealand at its 63rd annual conference in Wellington yesterday. In the early days of the war, he said, there had been strong opposition to the creation of any “sheltered ’ industries. As a result many highlytrained men in specialised occupations, including fire, brigadesmen, had gone overseas. Today they were needed here. At the time he had felt, and he still felt, that it was easier to train men to become soldiers than to train them to become efficient fire brigadesmen.

Power To Be Cut Off. Electric power will be cut off in the central, western and eastern portions of Masterton on Sunday from 1 p.m. till 3.30 p.m. to allow of essential work being carried out. School Sports Postponed. On account of the unfavourable weather, the Masterton primary schools' combined sports have again been postponed. A postponement was necessary last Friday on account of wet weather and today it was again considered that the conditions were unsuitable. Meeting at Waingawa. It is rumoured that a meeting of a section of the employees of the Waingawa Freezing Works was held yesterday. Matters in connection with the recent strike at Auckland were alleged to have been discussed. As far as can be learnt, no resolutions were passed. The proceedings were said to be strictly confidential. Feed Supplies. Useful information about the steps taken by the Dominion Food Controller in establishing and controlling stores of essential food was given by Mr Bridges, of Wellington, district food controller, when he addressed a meeting of the Supply Committee of the Masterton E.P.S. Particular reference was made by Mr Bridges to the district’s requirements, with a view to ensuring supplies in case of emergency. Lodging of Appeals. Men drawn in the recent ballot arc reminded of the necessity of lodging appeals within ten days of their names appearing in the ballot. This course is necessary in order to expedite the hearing of appeals and to allow men to proceed to camp as soon as possible. The Man Power Committee will not consider appeals lodged after the tenday perid unless very good reasons are produced to account for the delay. Home Guard Inquiry.

The appointment of a committee of inquiry to investigate the organisation, equipment, training and employment of the Home Guard is urged by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, in a telegram sent yesterday to the Primo Minister, Mr Fraser. The Prime Minister, in a reply dispatched last evening, stated he was requesting the Minister of Defence to place Mr Holland's telegram before the Defence and Military Affairs Committee of the War Council for that committee to make the suggested inquiry.