LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Successful Card Party. The Wairarapa Maori Women’s War Services Auxiliary held a most successful euchre party in the Blue Bird restaurant’s dining rooms, Queen Street, Masterton last night. There was a large attendance. The Auxiliary intends holding further gathering each week. Civilian Morale in Fiji. The improvement in the South Pacific war situation since last year had had a marked effect on civilian morale in Fiji, according to Mr and Mrs A. B. Herrold, Nadroga, who recently arrived in Auckland on holiday. Mr Herrold was formerly in practice as an architect in Auckland, but went to Fiji over 20 years ago for health reasons. “The civilian population is much less nervous than it was, say, a year ago, when we had one or two alarms,” Mr Herrold said. “In fact at present the biggest worries we have to face are the high cost of living and wartime shortages of various commodities. The immediate threat of war has moved into the background.” Electric Power Position. Dry weather is making its effects felt in parts of the North Island, but the position regarding the supply of hydro-electric power is stated by Mr F. T. M. Kissel, chief electrical engineer for the Public Works Department, to be quite normal for this period of the year. The Mangahao lake, which fills'quickly and falls quickly, is stated to be low, but the other lakes are at the same level as was the case this time last year. “Really, the position is good,” added Mr Kissel. Lake Taupo was full at the control level. During the past week or two there had been very little running of the steam plants at King’s Wharf, Auckland, and Evans Bay, Wellington, except for an hour or two at the peak demand on one or two days. The South Island position was very satisfactory. There had been a lot of rain, and lakes were at a high level. Wool Price Increase, If the Government accepts the recommendation of the Stabilisation Committee, New Zealand sheepfarmers will receive 84 per cent of the 15 per cent increase in the price for wool granted by the United Kingdom, 54 per cent will go into a special reserve fund to be used for stabilising production costs, and the. remaining 1 per cent will be used to maintain the domestic price for wool, stated the Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay, at Oamaru. Mr Barclay said that the question of handling the increase of 15 per cent had been referred to the Stabilisation Committee, which in turn had consulted the Sheepowners’ Federation. It was obvious, of course, that the sheepfarmers could not receive the whole 15 per cent, particularly because of the Government’s stabilisation policy. “There has been a lot of humbug and propaganda in the Press about this 15 per cent increase,” said the Minister. “There has been contortion and misrepresentation, and some statements that are quite untrue; but we have not replied, as the question has been, and still is, under negotiation with the Sheepowners’ Federation.”