LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Masterton West School. At a meeting of the Masterton West Home and School Association it was decided to hold a dance in the Masterton West School on Saturday commencing at 8 p.m., at which Mr Filer’s Orchestra will provide the music. The proceeds from the dance are to . be devoted to the school improvement fund; American Legation (Staff. Formerly attached to the United States consular staff in Sourabaya, Mr Thomas’ S. Horn, who has been appointed a consul at the legation in Wellington, has reached Auckland on his way to take up his new appointment. With Mr Horn’s arrival, the United States consular staff in Wellington will consist of the consul-general, two consuls and one vice-consul.

Blanket Society, The following subscriptions are acknowledged by the local branch of the Plunket Society:—Mesdames W. Fleming and A. C. Gawith, 10s 6d each; Mrs W. Andrews, 10s; Mesdames J. G. McKay, C. J. Bennett, G. R. Garrett, A. F. Stewart, B. S. Dean, J. McKenzie, Kebblewhite, A. M. Sutherland, P. Wilton, H. C. Stewart, J. Wakelin, Sinclair, McKay, Hearn Smith, J. E. O’Brien, R. E. Brewster, N. W. Harcombe, J. McFarlane Laing, and J. R. Eaton, 5s each. Theft of Postal Packets.

On a series of indictable charges of stealing postal packets, Leslie Thomas Henderson, aged 25, soldier in camp near Auckland, and his wife, aged 23, pleaded guilty at Auckland and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The police gave evidence that Mrs Henderson mafle a statement admiting 26 joint offences. The police found in their flat 110 unposfmarked stamps, 105 letters, and a pair of cutters used to cut postbox locks. The husband, in a statement, expressed sorrow for the offences, and said: “Sickness and pressure of debts drove me to it. If given a chance I will make every effort to go straight.” Loss of E.P.S. Personnel. ■ Concern at the possible loss of trained E.P.S. personnel to the Home Guard at a time when the calling up of married men with children for territorial service was already making inroads into the rayks was expressed at Christchurch yesterday by the mayor and chief warden, Mr Andrews. Even if other men could be found to take the vacant places they would have to be trained and in the meantime the efficiency of the organisation would suffer, Mr Andrews said. Exemption of key men wpuld not solve the problems of the E.P.S. for trained leaders had to have trained subordinates. Labour Party and Armed Forces. Appreciation of the work of the men and women in the Fighting Services and a pledge of unqualified support was given by the delegates to the annual conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Labour Party at the conclusion of the conference yesterday afternoon. That all members of the armed forces from their entry into camp till lawful discharge should be eligible for war pensions for injuries received was recommended. It was also proposed that returned soldiers of the last war should come within the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act. These remits were referred to the Goveminent Tor favourable consideration.

Labour and Education

No action regarding corporal punishment in schools was considered necessary by the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party which yesterday considered a remit for its abolition. The educational committee reported that this punishment was little resorted io. Recommendations concerning education included the election of education boards on the same basis as local bodies, an increase in the grants to school committees, the establishment of a school for deaf and dumb children in the North Island, the teaching of first aid in schools, and the provision of bursaries and increased boarding allowances for pupils at district hig't schools.