LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Returned Service Men. The number of men formerly of the Second N.Z.E.F. who have joined the New Zealand Returned Services Association is 2363. Of 2811 members which the association acquired in a recent period, 1342 were men who had returned from the present war.

Religion in Schools. It was reported to the Wellington Education Board yesterday that, following inquiries made by circular concerning religious instruction in schools in its district, 115 schools had notified that they were using the Nelson system, 19 that they were using other systems, and 80 that they were conducting devotional exercises.

Heavy Railway Bookings. Both the 3 p.m. and the Limited expresses from Wellington to Auckland are practically fully booked from now right up to Christmas, it is reported by the Railways Department. Approximately 3000 passengers will be travelling north in these trains. Bookings southward from Auckland are equally heavy.

Carterton District High School. Authority has been granted by the Education Department for the Wellington Education Board to proceed with work to ensure the stability of the brick building at the Carterton District High School, the cost to be charged against the grant for earthquake damage.

Sex Education. The Wellington Education Board, after receiving at its meeting yesterday a report from the Wanganui board on the subject of sex education, to request the Government to set up a special committee to investigate the matter. The opinion was advanced that it would be the duty of the board to take some, action if the Government did not move in the matter.

Fine New Hospital Ward. When inspecting the new emergency ward which has been completed recently at the Masterton Hospital members of the Wairarapa Hospital Board yesterday afternoon were loud in their praise of the good job which had been made of the building. The ward embodies the latest in modern hospital technique and is regarded as a valuable addition to the present excellent facilities at the Masterton Hospital.

Supplies of Biscuits. “No greater quantity of domestic biscuits will be available before Christmas or till well into January than has been the case for some months past,” said Mr D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the New Zealand Biscuit and Confectionery Manufacturers’ Association, yesterday. “Certain war contracts must still take precedence, as I am sure the public will realise. As soon as the position is clarified, retail and wholesale distributors will be advised by the manufacturers, and the general public will also be acquainted of the position.”

Disappointed Hopes. Returned soldiers, graded 3, who are on leave without pay but are now to be discharged from the Army, have been' hoping that the one shilling a day, deferred pay, recently announced, might be ■ available to them for Christmas. Their hopes will be disappointed. The Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Association has been advised by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in response to an inquiry, that the money will not be paid till the soldier is finally discharged. So far as the association is aware none in grade 3, leave without pay category, has yet been issued with a discharge.