The committee favours the Auckland Association’s scheme of assisting such men to acquire farmlets or small businesses, with the exception that loans granted for such purposes should be made repayable, though free of interest. On the future policy of Patriotic Societies the committee’s view are: "While the need of assistance to sick and wounded members of the forces still exists, and the demand for relief in necessitous cases continues as at present, it is thought inadvisable to determine a policy for the utilisation of the balance of patriotic funds that will preclude the granting of relief as at present. The difficulty of estimating the money that may be required for this purpose is plainly apparent, and, in view of the nature of the cases which have during the past year or two been appearing before the committee it is held that no departure should be made from the present system of granting relief. The committee has noted with no little concern the large number of cases of men who, after having been discharged for periods of over two and three years, have, under the strain of their civil occupations, broken down in health, and to these can some measure of assistance from patriotic funds is due until their pensions have been granted or increased. For many such cases the pension has been gradually decreased, or perhaps wiped out altogether, and the consequent reconsideration of the pension claim involves, in most instances, a lengthy period during which relief must be granted."
Murmurations of starlings
For about three week past an interesting and unusual spectacle has been witnessed in the Northcote district (states the Auckland Star), many thousands of starlings congregating towards sundown in the clumps of pines in the Northcote Point Domain, and in the pohutukawas in the vicinity of the point. The trees become literally black with the birds, which, like a dark cloud, circle about several times over the trees preparatory to taking flight further south across the harbour for the night. At sunrise they are astir again, and fly due north, returning to the Northcote district between 4.30 and 5 a.m., with a noise as of rushing wind, and continue their onward northern flight of possibly 50 miles, to return again at evening, with unfailing regularity.
Marriage dissolutions increasing
The number of the petitions in divorce filed at the Auckland Supreme Court continue to grow, and the scramble for the dissolution of marriages appears to be nearly as great as was the scramble to get married in the earlier stages of the war. Last year’s exceeds all previous records, the total petitions filed being no fewer than 238 as compared with 117 for the previous year, and 85 for 1917. — ODT, 24.2.1920.
