LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Public Lecture. A public lecture will be given in Knox Hall tomorrow evening, when Dean Warren, of Christchurch, will speak, on “America in Wartime—the Princeton Conference and Post-War Reconstruction.” Outsize in Lemons. An- outsize in lemons was found in one of two cases of lemons received recently by the Red Cross Society in Invercargill from a North Island branch for distribution among hospital patients. It measured more than Gin. in length, had a circumference of Ift. 2in., and when weighed turned the scales at lib. 9oz.

Amazing Case of Car Conversion. An amazing case of car conversion by a boy aged 7 has been reported to the Feilding police. The boy and an older brother, playing truant from school, took a small car from a street, drove half a mile, and stopped in the middle of the road. A woman who suspected that something was amiss spoke to them and was assured that the car belonged to them. They even tried to sell her some gooseberries in the car. The woman, dissatisfied with the answers, took the boys to the headmaster of the -school.

and Tires. A statement that there had been- a slight easing in recent months in the position regarding supplies of tires and petrol in New Zealand, has been made by the hfo. 1 Transport Licensing Authority, Mr E. J. Phelan, It was hoped, he said, that there would be no need for further restrictions. When the Minister of Transport, Mr O’Brien, was in Auckland last week he had expressed appreciation of the manner in which the public had accepted restrictions. Mr Phelan mentioned several hearings he had conducted in the province* where operators had sought better timetables. In view of the improved general position it was to be hoped that many of their requests could be granted. Factions in Yugoslavia In a letter to the “All Slav Union of New Zealand,” the national committee of the Yugoslav Immigrants’ Association of Australia sets out the differences which have arisen between the Partisan and the Mihailovitch groups in Yugoslavia. A copy of the letter has been sent to Yugoslavs in Masterton. The rise of the People’s Liberation Army (the Partisans) after the dispersal of the regular Yugoslav army is referred to in the following paragraph: “While General Drazha Mihailovitch and the Royal Yugoslav Government in London were enjoying the world’s limelight and preaching the impossibility of active resistance, the Partisan Army was fighting the enemy.” The letter alleged that Mihailovitch was a “Quisling,” and that the Royal Yugoslav Government was composed of men who were the servants of the pre-war Fascist government which sold the country to Hitler. Yet, it was added, that government was now moving to Cairo to be ready to accompany the Allied armies into Yugoslavia. The letter protested against the acts of Mihailovitch and his Chetniks and the Royal Yugoslav Government. It asked j the Allies to state clearly their intentions towards Yugoslavia. '

Whatman Shop Day. The Whatman School held a most successful shop day in Masterton yesterday. A wide range of goods met with a keen demand. “Lucky Dog” Art Union. In the “Lucky Dog” art union £5 prizes were won as follows:—“Lucky Too” (Eketahuna), “M. 0. (Masterton) and “303” (Masterton). A £lO prize went to “Lucky Dog” (Wairarapa). A Mixed Blessing. When the wind changed to the south early this morning welcome rain was brought to gardens throughout the district. To farmers the rain was a mixed blessing. While of benefit to growing crops, the rain flattened hay ready for cutting and has delayed shearing operations.

(Labour Under Harvesting Scheme,The labour to be provided by. the Army under the harvesting scheme 'will be available in the Wairarapa as from December 8. Applications for ’■such labour should be made through .the local committees to the Production Council in Masterton. Until that date contractors- and farmers will be required to carry on with whatever /labour is-available. Raising of Patriotic Funds.

A considerable amount of time was spent by the Dominion patriotic conference in Wellington yesterday in discussing a remit urging that the whole of the funds required for patriotic purposes should be raised by taxation and that this revenue should be handed over to the National Patriotic Fund Board and the provincial patriotic councils for distribution in the same manner as at present. This is a matter which had been raised at previous conferences and had been rejected. At the conference yesterday the proposal also received little support, the remit being defeated by an overwhelming majority.

Council of Sport Formed. Thirty-five delegates from all parts ofthe Dominion, representing provincial councils of sport and, national sporting bodies, who conferred in Wellington yesterday, formed the New Zealand Council of Sport, adopted a constitution and elected officers. The election of officers resulted^as follows-: —President, Mr W. A. Jenkins (Otago); vice-presidents, Messrs A. C. Kitto (Wellington) and D. E. Wanklyn (Christchurch); secretary-treasurer, Mr K. A. Falconer (Wellington); management committee, Mesdames H. D. Muir and Wilson, Messrs J. Meltzer, K. J. Hayr, V. L. Allen, M. M. Munro. D. T. Woodfield and Captain C. L. Mullaney.

Scholars and Farm Work, The Controller of the Industrial Manpower Division, Mr H. L. Bockett, has announced that arrangements have been made for a conference to be held tomorrow between representatives of the Manpower Division, Wellington district principals of secondary schools, and the Director of Education. A difference of views exists between the manpower authorities and the principals of the secondary schools regarding the scheme to employ pupils on farm work during and after the Christmas holidays. The principals contend that it is unwise to permit pupils to carry out farm work beyond the period allotted for the school holidays. Any extension, they claim, would upset the curriculum and affect adversely the pupil for the remainder of his term.