LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

R.S.A. Street Collection. The street collection organised by the Wellington Returned Services Associaiton in aid of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Fund on Friday yielded approximately £BOO. There are still some boxes to come in. Patriotic Quota Passed.

A total of £75,000, or £l5OO in excess of the Dunedin quota for the patriotic appeal, was reached on Saturday night, when the queen carnival was concluded and was found to have provided £16,068. The carnival, which extended over nine weeks, was conducted by the Labour Party. Dunedin is the first of the main centres to reach its quota.

Earthquake Damage. There are still a number of the Wellington city engineer’s staff engaged in reporting on the condition of buildings believed to have suffered damage as the result of the earthquakes of June 24 and August 2. Their reports disclose an even more serious state of things than was imagined a fortnight ago, and the work required to put all the damaged buildings right will extend over months. Appeals by Soldiers.

The first group of appeals by soldiers who were prepared to continue service in New Zealand but who objected to overseas service have been heard by the Armed Forces Appeal Board, Wellington. There were 12 appellants, men who had been in camp since they ■ were mobilised for Territorial Force service only and were later included in the order covering general service within or beyond New Zealand. The appeals were based on the ground of undue hardship, in most cases to wives and families. Ten of the appeals were dismissed.

Increasing Demand for Horses. The increasing demand for horses in the Dominion as a result of restrictions imposed by the war was referred to on Saturday by the Minister of internal Affairs, Mr Parry. He that had not foresight been shown in bringing into operation the Remounts Act, which had for some years remained dead in the Statutes, the number of horses in the Dominion would have reached the lowest minimum recorded. Credit was due to the New Zealand Racing Conference for its action in linking up with the Internal Affairs and Agricultural Departments in the subsidising of owners of stallions for the breeding of foals.

No Ration Change. The rationing authorities have announced that no alteration in the system of rationing is contemplated. This announcement has been made to check a rumour that caused a rush of footwear buying in Wellington last week and also in Masterton. In the belief or fear that footwear was to be rationed at the rate of one pair a person a year, people, mostly women, have been making excessive purchases of footwear, and the rush was so great that some shops ceased the sale of boots and shoes. This is the second rush to buy a particular class of goods that has happened in Wellington in recent weeks, the previous one being a run on soap and cosmetics caused by a baseless rumour that they were to be rationed. Footwear being already rationed, those who have bought more than they need may regret what they have done if they find later that they could have made better use of their clothing coupons.