LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Knox Ladies’ Guild. A meeting of Knox Church ladies’ social guild was held at the residence of Mrs Gaskin, Colombo Road, Masterton, Mrs G. W. Mdrice presiding. Arrangements were -made for the provision of supper at the conclusion of the induction of Mr Storkey next Wednesday. A bring and buy stall did good business. The afternoon tea hostesses were Mesdames Malmo and Gaskin.

A Request Refused. Many of the Auckland members of the police force who sought' permission of the Commissioner of Police to work as labourers in sheds and stores during their spare time have received answers to their requests. In no case has permission been granted for the men to work even on their days off or during leave. Recently gazetted regulations prohibited members of the police force from engaging in any outside remunerative employment unless the permission of the commissioner was given. About 100 men, ranging in rank from constables to detective sergeants' and senior sergeants, had previously been working at night and on free days in Auckland stores. Christmas Money for Forces. “To enable members of the armed forces serving overseas to receive remittances for the Christmas and New Year periods, bank receipts must be in the hands of Base Records, Air Headquarters or the Navy Office, as the case may be,’not later than Wednesday, November 24,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, last night. The Minister emphasised that the maximum amount allowable, for transmission overseas for the current remittance year is now £4O in New Zealand currency, which amount makes provision for the special Christmas remittance which it was permitted to remit in previous years. As far as the Second N.Z.E.F. was concerned, he added, the remittance year for the first and second echelons commenced on June 1, and for subsequent reinforcements as from the date of the soldier’s embarkation.

Women and Industry. The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps personnel in the Taranaki area is being substantially reduced in accordance with the reorganisation policy adopted by the Army in New Zealand. Some of the women thus released will be directed into essential industries. The result of the reorganisation in Taranaki is the dispersal of the operational signals section at army area headquarters at New Plymouth. The staff has been reduced to a care and maintenance basis, and of 14 women formerly in the section two are to be transferred to the New Zealand temporary staff and will remain at area headquarters, six will be posted to signals units in other districts, and six will be available for direction into essential industries. It is understood that throughout the Dominion a large number of women are being released from the Army. They may state preferences for the type of work they wish to take up, but the decision as to their future employment rests with the district manpower officers. ■ J

Building Society. A meeting of shareholders of the No. 2 Workers’ Mutual Benefit ■ Building Society was held last evening for the purpose of holding appropriations by ballot and tender. Mr A. L. Bennett presided over a small attendance of shareholders. The successful shareholders at the ballots were Messrs E. G. Eton, L. Robinson and A. McKenzie. A tender of £BO for £BOO was accepted for the appropriation offered for sale by tender.

Kennel Club Meeting. A meeting of the Wairarapa Kennel Club was held last night at the residence of Mr and Mrs C. Pedersen, Lansdowne. Owing to the absence of the president, Mr H. MacKenzie Douglas, Mr R. A. Taylor was in the chair. It •was decided to hold a ribbon parade in the Masterton Park on Saturday, December 11, the judge of all breeds to be Mr C. Pedersen. An extra attraction at this parade will be a pets’ class. Children or adults can bring their pet dogs and enter them in this section, which will be for the best kept dog. It is not necessary for the dog to have a pedigree. The judge of this section will be announced later. After the business of the meeting had been completed supper was provided by Mrs C. Pedersen, Mr and Mrs Pedersen were thanked for their hospitality.

Presbyterian Women Elders. A proposal that women should in future be eligible for election as elders of the church was contained in an overture which was brought before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church at the final session at Dunedin yesterday by the Rev M. W. Wilson on behalf of the Presbytery of Timaru. Mr Wilson said that the Church today was coming to a different view from that held for so long. It was gaining a new idea of the dignity of womanhood. Communism led the way and enabled women to take their place alongside men. Why should women not respond to the call to eldership? In the Presbyterian Church in England, he said, there were many women elders, and he believed that women would improve the wisdom of the assembly and Church courts. The proposal was sent down to presbyteries for their consideration and reports to the next assembly.

Areas in Crops. A return of the areas sown in wheat, oats, barley and potatoes for the season 1942-43 and estimates of the areas sown for 1943-44 are contained in last night’s Gazette. Areas less than one acre I within borough boundaries arc not included. The returns for 1942-43 for wheat, oats and barley respectively are: For threshing, 286,998 acres, 56,291 acres, 28,657 acres; for chaffing, 1165 acres, 121,435 acres, 596 acres; total harvested, 288,163 acres, 177,726 acres, 29,253 acres; not harvested (fed off, etc.), 1995 acres, 64,639 acres, 6008 acres. Grand totals, 290,158 acres, 242,365 acres, 35,261 acres. The estimated areas for 1943-44, wheat, oats and barley respectively, are: North Island, 11,000 acres, 11,000 acres, 3600 acres. South Island, 233,000, 209,000, 37,400 acres. Totals, 249,000, 220,000, 41,000. Potatoes, 1942-43: North Island, 7493 acres; South Island, 16,367 acres; total, 23,860 acres. Estimated acreage for 1943-44: North Island, 7000; South Island, 18,000. Total, 25,000.