LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Rush for Footwear. Rumours entirely unfounded are in circulation in Auckland which are causing people to rush the buying of footwear, using up M coupons which they may be sorry later on to have parted with so unnecessarily, states a telegram from Auckland. False notions behind this buying rush appear to be that any unused balance of M coupons in the present books . will shortly cease to be redeemable, and that people are to be restricted to two pairs of footwear a year. There is no truth in either, but these are the same species of damaging rumours as were spread in Wellington some weeks ago and caused serious disorganisation in the retail footwear trade there.

Sick and Wounded Draft. Reluctant to discuss their experiences, another large draft of sick and wounded men has arrived back in New Zealand from the Middle East, where many of them had seen nearly three years of campaigning. They included an officer of a parachute unit, and a soldier who made an escape from enemy hands and crossed the Mediterranean in a submarine. Several nurses returned with the draft after service in the Middle East. Cordial welcomes were extended to the men by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr Hislop, and others. Wool Prices and Inflation.

In the House of Representatives on Saturday Mr W. J. Polson (Opposition, Stratford), said the 15 per cent added by the British Government to wool prices was not the Government’s money. The wool grower was marked out because he had no friends on the Government side of the House. The Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) said that unless a ceiling could be put on, the lid would be taken off completely and the dangerous economic situation now facing the country would be intensified. The extra wool payment was being held to prevent inflation problems being intensified. The aggregate private income of the country had increased from 186 millions in 1939 Lo 230 millions in 1942, and the value of consumable goods available had decreased in that time from 135 millions to 85 millions. Men’s Hockey Association Dance. A very enjoyable and successful dance was held in the Masonic Hall on Saturday night by the Wairarapa Men’s Hockey Association. Mr Barnes s Rhythm Boys supplied music and Ben Seddon was a capable M.C. Ihe Monte Carlo dance was won by Miss Broadwick and Pvt. Martin and extras were played by Gnr. Percy and Miss Corlett. A good supper was'provided and dispensed by lady hockey supporters and willing" soldier helpers under the supervision of Miss' Watt. The association wish to thank those who assisted in making the series of three dances so successful. At the request of many soldier hockey players and supporters an endeavour is being made to hold another dance in the near future.

Makogai Leper Asylum. “The Leper Asylum at Makogai, in the Fijian Islands, is a model institution which has transformed the lives of men, women and children afflicted with this dread disease, from utter discouragement and sadness to lives oi happiness surrounded by care, intelligent medical treatment, love and hope,” said her Excellency, Lady Newall, who opened the garden party held in the convent grounds at Heretaunga on Saturday afternoon, in aid of the Leper Nursing Sisters. Those who worked there were truly sisters of mercy and gave Christian service m one of its noblest forms. The Rt. Rev. Monsignor Connolly, in introducing Lady Newall, referred to the splendid work of the Missionary Sisters of Mary throughout the Pacific Islands, and the recent losses sustained by the sisters in the Solomon Islands fighting.