LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Parliament Prorogued. 1 A Proclamation gazetted last evening prorogues the General Assembly till January 27, 1944.

Price of Eggs. An increase of Id a dozen in the wholesale prices of all grades of. eggs has been arranged by the Wellington Egg Marketing Committee and the Internal Marketing Division, working in conjunction with the Price Tribunal. Social Service.

Last night the Masterton Y.M.C.A., with the assistance of the W.W.S.A., again commenced service in a camp. Any. supplies of games, books, etc., will assist the two organisations to make camp life a little easier for the troops.

Payment of Pensions. On account of the year-end holidays old-age pensions will be paid out at the Post Offices on and after December 21, instead of at the end of the mpnth. Other benefits and pensions, including family benefits, war veterans’ allowances, and universal pensions, will be paid on and after December 22.

Minister Vocalist.

The most popular on the list of musical items presented at the complimentary dinner at Westport was that in which the Minister of Works (Mr Semple) was one of the principals. He and Mr Ray Kemp, secretary to the Minister of'Mines (Mr Webb) “brought down the house” with the singing of “Waltzing Matilda,” one of Mr Semple’s favourite songs.

Airmen Engaged in Pea Picking. About 250 Air Force personnel from a Nelson station went to country districts one day last week to assist with the green pea harvest. In view of the urgent need to gather the rapidly-rip-ening pea crops, Mr Atmore, M.P., telephoned the Deputy Prime Minister, advising him of The seriousness of the position and that no college pupils would be available for harvesting last week because of examinations. As a result the services of 130 airmen were made available. Requests were made by growers for additional labour, and further representations to Mr Nash resulted in 120 more men from the Air Force going pea-picking. Farming in Britain.

A farm survey, covering all the farms of Great Britain, had been completed, stated Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, when speaking at the Masterton Rotary Club yesterday. The survey, he said, would be of the greatest value when post-war policy came up for decision. Sir Harry Batterbee said~ that subsidies had been paid to the farmers to enable them to change from pasture to arable, and there were guaranteed prices and markets for all important farm products. Marketing remained in some instances in the usual trade channels, while in other cases it had been taken over by the Government. The Ministry of Food bought all fat stock and some vegetable crops, including potatoes, and milk was marketed through the Milk Marketing Board.

Farmer Killed.

Mr Walter Edwin Brightwell, married, a Boer War veteran and a wellknown farmer, was killed on Saturday when the half-ton truck he was driving fell into the Wanganui River when ■attempting to pass a county lorry on a narrow road, states a Press Association telegram from Taumarunui.

Druids’ Lodge.

Members of Stonehenge Lodge No. 1 are asked to note that the annual Christmas tea will be held this year on Saturday, December 18, at the Orange Hall, Masterton. In order that the catering arrangements can be made, it is necessary that all members’ wives and children who are able to be present should notify the secretary on or before December 14, 1943.

Y.M.C.A. Boys’ Camp. Any assistance which can be given with supplies such as vegetables, fruit, jam, etc., for the Y.M.C.A. camp in January will be very much appreciated by the campers. Donors may advise the camp director, Mr J. A. Kennedy (telephone 1664) or the camp captain, Mr L. M. Johansen (telephone 1218, Y.M.C.A.) and they« will make arrangements for collection. There are now almost 50 intending campers.

College Farm Operations.

Pupils taking the agriculture course at Wairarapa College receive ample practical as well as theoretical instruction. This was borne out this morning, when pupils were engaged in shearing operations. The boys, under their agricultural master, Mr H. N. Bibby and Mi' P. Cooper, who is demonstrating to the boys, showed commendable ability. In addition to learning to shear, the boys are growing 10,000 cabbage plants, one acre of potatoes and one acre of mangolds. Experiments in breeding are also being carried out.

Art Exhibition

The exhibition of reproductions of the works of old masters of the Florence and Umbria periods, which opened at Wairarapa College last night, attracted a good deal of attention. The display is on loan from the National Art Gallery. Mr S. B. Maclennan, an associate of the Royal Academy of Art, gave an address on the masters of the period The material and social conditions of the time were faithfully reproduced in the paintings. The display will be open to anyone interested during the day until Friday.

Christmas Cantata,

On Sunday evening at the Masterton Methodist Church the junior choir will render the sacred cantata “Chimes of the Holy Night.” The soloists will be Ngaire Foster, Mary On Hing, Joy Perrin, Shirley Anderson, Mary Tolhurst, Ron Price, Daniel Davey, Noel Price, Ray Foster, Robert On Hing, Brian Marryatt and Haddon Bateup. Although the cantata is written for an pdult choir the children have proved themselves quite capable of executing the difficult parts that are required of them throughout the entire work. The conductor will be Mrs I. Parker, the song leader, Miss E. Donald, and the organist Miss C. Donald, L.R.S.M.