LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Women Judges. At the Wairarapa Interhouse Association’s gala day on November 27, for the first time in the history of the Association, all the judges will be women. N.C.O.’s of a Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps will act as judges. Fancy Dress Ball. A most succesful plain and fancy dress ball was held last night by the Whakataki Tribal Committee. There was a large attendance and many pretty fancy dress costumes were worn. Dancing was enjoyed and supper was served by the ladies. Address to Women.

Dr Clara Lee, of Wellington, will address a public meeting of women in the Y.M.C.A. Hall. Masterton, on Wednesday next, November 17, at 2 p.m. sharp. The subject will be “Social Problems.” Dr Clara Lee is an able speaker and qualified to talk on this very important question. Her address should appeal to all women. Armistice Day.

Twelve people assembled in. front of the War Memorial in the Square, Palmerston North, at 11 o’clock on Thursday morning, when wreaths were laid by the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) for the citizens of Palmerston North, by the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Services’ Association, the Manawatu Patriotic Committee, and by the Imperial Ex-Servicemen’s League, says the “Manawatu Times.” After the wreaths had been laid, a two minutes’ silence was observed by those present. This gesture was also observed by a few business establishments in the city, but apart from this, everything in Palmerston North carried on as usual. Hardly anybody stopped in the streets and no vehicles were seen to stop or even to slow down. It has often been doubted whether the observance of Armistice Day is worth continuing with everybody concerned as they are ■ with the trials and problems of this war, and Thursday's ceremony was a clear indication of the public attitude towards the ceremony. Will Not be Intimidated.

The threat by the West Coast timber workers to strike unless the butter ration was increased to lib a week for all workers engaged in the timber industry was the subject of a statement last night by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan. “Actually, prior to the annual meeting of the union at Greymouth representations in the normal way had been received on behalf of the timber workers from Mr F. Craig, national secretary, of the Timber Workers’ Union, and along with representations from the Federation of Labour on behalf of other groups of workers in heavy industries, the timber workers’ case was being considered by the Government. These investigations are not yet complete, but when they are the Government will make its decision in respect of all representations received solely on the merits of the respective cases and on no other basis. “I desire to make it perfectly clear that the Government has no intention of allowing its consideration of the matter or its judgment to be diverted in any way by threats or inflammatory language such as that used by Mr Turley in his communications to the Government and the Press.”

Heavy Fruit Yield Expected. “The yield of apples and pears from Hawke's Bay orchards this year has been estimated at 1,000,000 cases, compared with 520,000 cases in 1942-43, and there is every prospect of a record harvest,” said Mr B. G. Goodwin, district supervisor, Department of Agriculture, for the Wellington province. Recently Mr Goodwin made a tour of Hawke’s Bay orchards and he found that the trees were bearing well. Apart from a bumper crop of apples and pears, the stone fruit crop will also show an increase over the two previous years, but will keep a more, average level. The only .exception to this increase will be the plum harvest, which will be light on account of bad weather affecting spraying.

Tribute to Chaplain. A tribute to the work of Bishop Gerard as senior Church of England chaplain to the New Zealand Forces in the Middle East was paid at the Anglican General Synod at Auckland yesterday. Mr A. G. Appleton, of the Waiapu Diocese, expressed regret at the loss of Bishop Gerard’s services while a prisoner of war, but said there had been some compensation in the fact that since his release he had been able'to give great comfort to the parents of the men with whom he had come in contact in Italian prison camps. Bishop Gerard formerly resided in Pahiatua and was a well known footballer. He played for Bush and the Wairarapa-Bush- team which met the British fifteen at Masterton some years ago.

Anglican Synod Concluded. The Anglican General Synod completed its session at Auckland yesterday after meeting since November 5. Most of the members returned south last night. A number of visiting clergy are remaining over the weekend, and will preach in city churches on Sunday. The 30th General Synod will be held at Dunedin in 1946. A proposal that meetings should be held every second year as from 1946 instead of every third year as at present was approved by the synod. The proposal will be submitted to .the various dioceses for consideration. The synod also agreed that the standing committee should meet when and where the Primate should deem necessary, provided that at least one meeting was held each year, except in the year when general synod met. Few Cattle Purchased. As the result of developments at the Burnside stock sale on Wednesday beef will be practically unprocurable in many Dunedin shops next week. Before the sale opened a meeting of the Master Butchers’ Association was held, and members confirmed the decision made last week to refrain from individual buying and to appoint two representatives to purchase supplies for the local market. Butchers’ representatives operated on the basis of 50s a •1001 b for prime ox beef, and as the only competition was from a few outside buyers and graziers, values were hardly equal to those obtained last week. These prices were unacceptable to most of the vendors, and the majority of the pens remained unsold. Instead of 220 to 230 beasts usually purchased for the Dunedin trade, only about 20 were bought, and several of these will be reserved for supply to hospitals and other institutions.