LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Reduced to the Ranks,

Sergeant Douglas William Charles Lange, 2nd N.Z.E.F., has been reduced to the ranks for using insubordinate language to a superior officer, an officer in the military police.

Infantile Paralysis. There are 30 infantile paralysis cases remaining in the Christchurch Public Hospital, according to the report of the hospital committee submitted to a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board on Wednesday. Since March 16, when there were 20 patients in hospital, 11 had been admitted and one had died. The majority of the patients are children and most of them will require a fairly long stay in hospital.

General Election Poll. The New Zealand Freedom Association, Auckland, is taking a poll of the community on the Gallup principle regarding the postponement of the general election. Voting papers are being issued to some thousands of Aucklanders, who are asked to vote on three questions: Whether the election should be held this year; whether it should be postponed till next year; or whether a National Government representing all parties should be formed. Mr R. M. Algie, the association director, in a circular letter accompanying the ballot papers, says the survey is being conducted as far as possible on scientific lines. “Can we expect public opinion to be vigorous and effective if the people generally have no means of saying just what they think on a major question?” he asks.

Potato Prices. By an amendment to the existing Price Order No. 127, the Price Tribunal has reduced the maximum retail price of potatoes by ’.d a lb during the months of May and June. The maximum prices in the main districts throughout New Zealand will therefore be as follows: —Canterbury and Otago, lid; - main port areas, I Jd; country district's, Ijjd. The amendment also provides for pro rata concessions for the maximum retail price which can be charged for lots of 141 b and over purchased at one sale. This amendment has been issued by the Tribunal as the result of a decision by the Government that the price of potatoes should be reduced by -Id a lb during May and June in order to assist in maintaining the prices of basic vegetables at reasonable levels in line with the requirements of the cost of living index associated with economic stabilisation. This reduction in retail prices will in no way affect the guaranteed price payable to producers and any adjustments necessary will be made with wholesalers and in collaboration with the Potato Marketing Advisory Committee.

Masterton County Statistics. The Masterton County Council issued two building permits for £lO6 during ■ April and eight drivers’ licenses, making a total of 1109 licences for the current licensing year.

Interhouse Dance Tonight. The Wairarapa Interhouse Association will hold , another dance in the Masonic Hall, Masterton ,tonight. The music will be supplied by Mrs Ashton’s orchestra, and novelty dances will be held. The Association’s dances are proving most popular with the public.

Housewives and Sugar. Housewives were already being given preference over breweries in the allocation of sugar, stated a report submitted to the Labour Party conference at Wellington yesterday dealing with a remit urging greater consideration for housewives in the matter. It was also stated that the supply of sugar to breweries had been cut by 5 per cent, and that the allocation to families was on a pre-war basis of consumption.

Rationing and Profiteering. A report submitted to the New Zealand Labour Party’s conference in Wellington. yesterday covered a large number of remits dealing with rationing, profiteering, the Price Tribunal, fostering of the production of synthetic rubber and motor fuels, and zoning of transport and foodstuffs, the various recommendations being adopted. Among the recommendations to be submitted to the Government are: Rationing of honey, matches, syrup, boot polish; boots and clothes to be supplied to manual workers at near cost price; more drastic measures to deal with profiteering, penalties for profiteering and black marketing to be similar to those in Australia; displaying of Price Tribunal orders in shops to be more strictly enforced; prices to be displayed on goods; heavier penalties for breaches of the price regulations; imprisonment with option of fine for all price order breaches.

Day of Prayer. Sunday next is to be a day of prayer for the Allied cause. The following joint statement by church leaders in New Zealand has been issued:—“On Sunday, May 2, the churches in New Zealand are being invited to join in prayer for the cause to which the Allied Nations are committed. It is clear that great actions, decisive of the issue of the war and in which all the Allied Nations will be involved, will take place during the coming months. »It is, therefore, hoped that on Sunday all the nations engaged in the momentous struggle will be remembered—Great Britain and her Dominions, the United States of America, Russia, China, and among the smaller nations, specially the suffering people of Poland who, on Monday, May 3, will be celebrating the 152nd anniversary of the Constitution of their country.’’ The Masterton Minister’s Association invites the people of Masterton to join in the observance at their respective churches.