LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Heavy Losses of Lambs. Heavy losses of lambs were reported in the Te Wharau district, following the severe southerly storm experienced during the week-end. Mr Foreman recorded 8.2 inches of rain in the period from 5 p.m. on Friday to 7 a.m. on Monday. Democratic Labour Party. Aircraftman D. A. Thompson, Democratic Labour Party candidate for the Masterton seat, addressed electors at Mauriceville West last night. He was given an attentive hearing. Mr A. Forsberg presided. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. National Party Meetings. Two political meetings were addressed yesterday by Mr G. H. Mackley, National Party candidate for the Masterton seat. In the afternoon, Mr Mackley spoke at Belvedere, where Mr W. G. Thomas presided. On the motion of Mr A. D. Reid, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. Last evening Mr Mackley spoke at Clareville. Mr H. J. McKenzie occupied the chair and on the motion of Mr Eric Rayner, Mr Mackley was thanked for his address. Labour Government Promises. The Labour Government had broken many of its promises, but there was one recently made by the Prime Minister which was certain to be kept, said Captain Justin Power, Independent candidate for Masterton, when speaking at Kopuaranga last night. That was the Prime Minister’s promise that if Labour were returned to power, Mr Nash would immediately proceed to the United States to take up his “Washington Post,” because Mr Nash would make sure that that promise was kept. (Laughter). Value of Home Guard.

An announcement that the Home Guard was not going to be disbanded, as there were many ways in which it could assist the war effort, was made by Major-General P. H. Bell, D. 5.0., Officer Commanding the Northern Military District, at a review of Home Guard units at Whangarei on Saturday. General Bell said he hoped the Home Guard would retain its enthusiasm. The Government decision to reduce the number of parades to four a year had been a result of complaints and criticism, many coming from the Home Guard itself. Apart from the assistance the Home Guard had given in defending New Zealand, it had improved the morale of the Dominion. Soldiers to Assist at Harvesting.

“By direction of the War Cabinet arrangements are being made for the Army to assist in harvesting operations throughout the Dominion again this season,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, at Dunedin yesterday. The home defence mobilised army had now been drastically reduced in size, but next season whatever men on full-time service were available from the armed services, together with territorial force personnel who were undergoing training in camp at the time, would assist in the harvesting to the fullest possible extent. “The primary producers of this country are doing wonderfully in producing foodstuffs which are so urgently required,” Mr Jones added, “and the Army authorities will give every possible assistance to see that the harvests are gathered.”