LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Women Taxi Drivers. The Wellington city traffic office states that there is a rigid rule that no woman may drive a taxi between sunset and sunrise, following inquiries since the death of a woman taxi driver near Ashburton. Both driver and their employers have been warned that any breach will be followed by immediate suspension. There are now about 12 women taxi drivers in Wellington and this rule has been in force since they first started driving. Invalided Person Badge. The institution of a badge for issue to personnel invalided from the naval, military and air forces and the .Merchant Navy through wounds or disablement attributable to service in the present world war, has been approved by His Majesty the King. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in his capacity as Acting Minister of Defence, said yesterday that the badge would be known as the Invalided Person Badge. It consisted of the Royal and Imperial Cypher surmounted by a crown and surrounded by a circular band bearing the inscription, “For Loyal Service.” The badge is one inch in diameter, made of white metal, and fitted with a buttonhole attachment for men and a brooch attachment for women. Air Training Corps. The weekly routine orders for No. 21 Squadron, Air Training Corps, Masterton, state, inter alia: Parades: A and B flights, Saturday, March 20, at 1.30 p.m., visit air observation centre; Monday, March 22 and Thursday, March 25, at 6.50 p.m., Wairarapa College, Masterton. C Flight, Tuesday. March 23, and Thursday, March 25, at 6.50 p.m. at Carterton District High School. Syllabus: March 22, A. Flight, mathematics and navigation; B Flight, mathematics and science. March 23: C Flight, mathematics, navigation and science. Thursday, March 25: A and B flights, drill, signals, basic fitting and P.T.; C .Flight, .drill, P.T., signals and A.C.R. Corporal A. L. Tauwhare is promoted to the rank of sergeant. Cadet L. M. Coley is promoted to the rank of corporal. Return to Woolgrower. In his address at the protest meeting convened by the Hutt-Makara branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr Roberts, M.P., stated that compared with the average price received by the grower during the last year before the war, the present price represented a net increase of over 50 per cent. This statement gave rise to an interjection, “Why not compare it with the average received by the woolgrower over the past 12 years?” “I have questioned the Minister of Marketing on this point,” stated Mr Roberts on Wednesday, “and it will interest. the public to know that the average net price received by the grower for the 12-year period from 1927-28 to 1938-39 was 9.32 d per lb. The present net price is 13.96 d per lb, and thus the increase is 49.78 per cent, or nearly 50 per cent. It would appear that whatever way it is taken the plain fact remains that the woolgrower is receiving exceptionally generous treatment from the prices now being paid to him by the Government.” I

Interhouse Dance. The Wairarapa Interhouse Association will, hold another dance in the Masonic Hall, Masterton, tonight, when a special feature will be the serving of coffee made in American fashion. The music will be supplied by Mrs Ashton’s dance band and an item will be given by a pupil trained by Miss B. Hirst. Novelty dances will be held and it is anticipated that there will be a large attendance. Manpower and Baking Industry. Following a discussion at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Master Bakers and Pastrycooks’ Association in Wellington yesterday, in which the difficult manpower position which has been reached in the industry was stressed by delegates, a decision was taken to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Minister of Manpower the earliest time convenient to him to press for an early clarification of the position. House Adjourns till May. An adjournment to Wednesday, May 19, was taken by the House of Representatives yesterday at the conclusion of the debate on the Dominion’s manpower requirements for the armed foi-ces and industry. The adjournment was subject to the usual stipulation that Parliament could be called together sooner should any unforeseen developments make this necessary. The House rose at 5.22 p.m. after the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, had replied to the manpower debate, to which three other speakers also contributed yesterday. Interhouse Affairs. At a recent meeting of the Wairarapa Interhouse Association’s executive committee it was decided that the nominations of teams for the indoor basketball competition would close on Monday, March 29. Arrangements were completed with the Masterton Patriotic Committee for a special exhibition at the Solway Showgrounds at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, by the three teams that competed at the Wanganui marching championships. It was stated that the type of marching, etc., would be quite new to Masterton and would be different to the display put on in Masterton at the interhouse display. Other interhouse teams would take part n a parade. Price of Petrol and Oil. An inquiry whether the price of petrol and lubricating oil was likely to be increased substantially at an early date was made by Mr W. Sullivan (Opposition, Bay of Plenty) in an urgent question to the Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister replied that an application for an increase had been received from the oil companies, which had submitted data in connection with higher costs. No decision had been made. Mr Sullivan: “Is it a large increase?” The Minister: “No larger than any individual increase during the last year oi' so.” Replying to a further inquiry by Mr Sullivan whether in view of the Government’s desire for stabilisation the Minister would see that the prices of petrol and oil were not increased, the Minister said that was something he would have to have a good look at.