LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Petty Cash Stolen. The shop of Mr F. Keen, hairdresser and tobacconist, Queen Street, was broken into last night and petty cash stolen. Entry was gained by breaking a panel 'in a door . As far as can be ascertained no goods were stolen. Home Guard Conference. Officers and n.c.o.’s of the Masterton Battalion of the Home Guard, both town and country units, are reminded of an important conference to be held in the Municipal Social Hall tomorrow evening at 7.30 o’clock. It is most important that all' officers and n.c.o.’s should attend. Issue of Ration Books. The issue of ration coupon books began throughout New Zealand yesterday. Arrangements have been made to issue 120,000 books in the Wellington postal district (which extends as far as Eketahuna on one side of the ranges and Otaki on the other) and over 1,500,000 throughout New Zealand, in which there are 960 issuing offices. E.P.S. Supply Committee. An indication of the functions of the Supply Committee of the E.P.S. organisation was given to yesterday’s meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union by Mr J. H. Cunningham, deputy controller of the committee. Mr Cunningham’s address followed those given recently to the Masterton Rotary Club and the Law and Order Section of the E.P.S. Mr Cunningham was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. Petrol Supplies. Farmers whose requirements, of benzine are subject to seasonable fluctuations are in future to be permitted to draw their supplies on a three-month-ly basis instead of monthly as at present. Advice to this effect was received at a meeting of the Auckland District Council' of Primary Production. •• It was also reported that vehicle owners in remote localities would be permitted to obtain motor spirits in containers to obviate vehicles making special trips to refill their tanks. Instructions had also been given to all fuel controllers that members of councils would be entitled to licences for benzine to attend meetings or travel on special business for the council. Emergency Lighting. A possible conflict between the Emergency Lighting Regulations and the traffic regulations regarding parking lights on cars was commented upon by the magistrate, Mr J. H. Luxford, at Auckland yesterday, when dealing with a motorist charged with parking without proper lights. Asking what was going to happen in an emergency, the magistrate said that if a motorist left the parking' lights on the car would be in danger in the event of an air raid, and if he left them off he was liable to prosecution under the traffic regulations. Even if he had parking lights only, a motorist taking proper care should be able to see a parked car. The magistrate convicted the ’ motorist before the Court and fined him Is without costs. Later, Mr Luxford referred to lights on cars at night, remarking that the black-out was being made farcical as a result, specially on the sea front. This was the third time he had drawn attention to this. Apparently the authorities were satisfied.