LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Request for More Petrol. It was decided by the annual meeting of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last night to represent to the Government that the time had arrived when motorists, after four years of drastic petrol rationing, should, because of the much improved South Pacific war situation, combined with the considerably reduced military petrol requirements in New Zealand, be now granted at least their full coupon value of petrol.

Badges for Workers. The Auckland Transport Board decided yesterday that it will issue workers’ badges for all workers using trams, if authority for this action is given by the Government. The proposal includes the levying of a penal fare of 3d on all travellers who do not possess badges and who use the trams in peak hours. The badge will be in the form of a button to be worn on the lapel. Theft by New Zealand Soldiers.

Before justices of the peace in Pahiatua, two New Zealand soldiers, whose names were suppressed, were convicted and admitted to two years’ probation for the theft of Colt pistols and over 300 rounds of ammunition from United States marines. The marines were on a hunting trip, and after drinking with the New Zealanders found that the pistols and ammunition were missing. The police later recovered the missing property.

Tea, Sugar and Clothing Coupons. A statement that the present system of registration of consumers for sugar was to be continued was made yesterday by the Food and Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas. “Wnen the new book is received,” he said, “the name and address of the holder and number of the book are to be entered on the ‘S’ counterfoil on sheet 2 and the book taken to a licensed sugar retailer. The retailer will cut out the counterfoil, write his name in the space on the inside of the front cover, and enter the consumer on his sugar register. No one | is obliged to enter with the same retailer as before, as the new registration provides the periodic opportunity for a change, but it is desirable that all the books of the family should be registered at the same shop. “Tea and sugar coupons in the new book will become available on November 1, and clothing coupons on December 1. Further announcements will be made on the availability of all coupons before those dates.”

Unruly Elements in Wellington. Scenes of rowdyism and considerable disruption to the taxi service occuned in Wellington last night, telephones in private boxes in the city area used by the local taxi companies being put out of action. The demand for taxis was insistent from an early hour in the evening. When this could not be satisfied, the callers, gave vent to their annoyance by wrecking telephones, two an Cambridge Terrace and one in Dixon Street being rendered useless through the receivers being ripped oil. At one stage military police were called in and broke up the disturbance, but the unruly elements resumed their activities later. Two taxis were also taken without authority from their stands. In one case the driver had the keys in his pocket, and some mystery attaches to just how those responsible were enabled to drive the car. Last night was not the first occasion during approximately the past 18 months that this has occurred. The extent of the dislocation last night, however, was greater than usual.

Large Sum of Money Stolen. A sum exceeding £lOOO in notes and small denominations was stolen from a dwelling in George Street, Dunedin, between 3 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, during the absence of the occupants. The money was in a steel safe, the handle of which had been broken.

Novelty Dance Tonight. A novelty dance, the “Wolverine’s Night to Howl,” will be held at the American Red Cross Service Club tonight. It is the night for the girls to show what they can do. With the scarcity of men available, competition is keen. The club will be appropriately decorated for the occasion. A. regular dance will be held on Friday night.

Control of Pedestrian Crossings. Some attention should be given by the authorities to the control of main pedestrian crossings at busy periods, said the president, Sir Alexander Roberts, at the annual meeting last night of the Automobile Association (Wellington). He considered that not more than 50 per cent of motor vehicle drivers respected pedestrian crossings. He was a pedestrian for 360 days a year, and liked his rights as such to be protected; sometimes he had to jump for his rights.

College Experiment. “As an exneriment this year,” reported Mr F. J. Gair (Acting Principal) at last night’s meeting of the College Board, “we are trying to restrict all our remaining holidays and interruptions to one week—October 25 to October 29— Labour Day (25th), Wairarapa P. and A. Show (28th), and Sports Day (29th). In addition, there will be various Air Training Corps activities. Though there is a general invitation to attend our annual sports on October 29, board members are, of course, specially welcome.”

Agreement to Work Overtime. Following the decision of the Conciliation Commissioner. Mr Hunter, to convene a meeting of the parties concerned, the chamber-hands engaged in the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company’s cool stores at King’s Wharf have agreed to continue working overtime as usual. The men have been refusing to work on the shift between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. till their request for a higher hourly rate of pay is satisfactorily settled. Though the dispute has not yet been settled, the men worked the shift between six and 10 last night. The cool store workers have not refused overtime on Sundays or between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.. when double rates are paid. Their present ordinary rale is about 3s an hour and they receive time and a half between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Activities of a Suspect.

An interesting story concerns the activities of a suspect who escaped from a police station in Dunedin on Friday night just before being charged with the theft of a large sum of money from a local accountant’s office and who was recaptured at Evansdale on Saturday. Following the theft he went to Invercargill, where he purchased gramophone records and side-drums from music firms on the pretext that he was interested in a band. The drums were paid for by a stolen cheque, payment on which had been stopped. Returning to Dunedin immediately, he actually sold the drums to the same firm from whose Invercargill branch he had purchased them. After his escape from custody, he was located near Evansdale, but decamped into a swamp from which the police, hearing his cries for aid, rescued him immersed in mud to the hips. The man was an escapee originally from an institution to which he will be returned.