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Newspaper
Cairns Post
Location
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Date
Dec 23, 1940
Page
4
The report from Brisbane on December 22 stresses British naval dominance in the Adriatic and the Mediterranean after a successful operation against Viena. It notes minimal opposition, claims Italian fleet weakness, and highlights strategic gains for Britain in the Mediterranean theatres and beyond.
A readable fragment from a Cairns Patriot ic Fund notice mentions August and a date related to a war relief effort. It references local supporters and an appeal for contributions to aid servicemen. The readable text is incomplete but indicates a patriotic fundraising drive.
William McAllan died on Friday at age 77. The funeral procession moved from the church with dignified rites, pallbearers from family and local veterans. The service featured a volley from the guards and a firing squad in tribute, with mourners and friends paying respects at the graveside.
The notice lists daily and weekly transport times across multiple towns including Geeth beyond Insite, Townsville, Western Districts, Babinda, Atherton, Chiliscoe, Port Devclan, Cooktown, and others. It details recurring departures at 5 am, 4 am, 1 pm, and various other early morning slots with days of operation and alternating weekend patterns. It notes services from London to Aussi Sirzapore and inter-Sey services, plus weekday and Saturday schedules and special deviations across the region.
An unclear OCR fragment discusses sources and constraints for compiling a publication list and indexing. It mentions sections about ports, nights, and events but lacks concrete names, dates, or places to anchor a summary. The readable content is too fragmentary to identify a coherent news item or outcome.
Church of England Gordonvale Parish lists Christmas Day services at All Saints with 6 am and 7 am Holy Communion. A second Holy Communion is also noted at 70 Pa Evensong St.
Brisbane December 2 Romat produce markets show a natri re of potatoes yesterday with southern consignments short of demand. Pumpkins are plentiful while onions sell poorly at low rates. Maize supplies light with prices around 5/5 to 5/10 per ton. Lucerne chaff moderate. prime hay priced near 9 pounds per ton. Most entries describe warm conditions and cautious selling as crops mature for shipment.
In Melbourne on December 1, over 200 children from England plus their foster families joined Governor Sir Winston Dugan and Lady Dugan for a Christmas afternoon at Government House. The visit featured lemonade and gifts, with the governor and his wife speaking with the youngsters about familiar English places. The crowd enjoyed a warm day, the ballroom welcomed guests, and each child received a Christmas present before departing.
The Minister for Works announced Cabinet approval on December 1 for road works at Millaa Milla township and the Yangaburra Lake Barrine tourist road. Millaa Millaa area gains a repaired surface at an estimated £1400, using day labour. The Lake Barrine route will be cleared and metalled at about £60, ending at the end of the road to improve access to the tourist resort, also by day labour.
At an Innisfail council meeting following a chamber commerce request, the Electric Techs Committee urged the engineer manager to repeat last year’s illumination scheme for Yuletide. Discussion covered fronting Shire Hall, street lighting costs, and material availability with Dr S K Page urging restraint while Mr J Atherton planned two extra street cosings if materials allow. Dr Steina dissented.
A White nun inmate at Pearl Island resists eviction to support the Empire war effort. She bought war savings certificates for £10 recently and, via State Health Authorities, donated part of her small savings to the latest Commonwealth loan. Her example, cited by a Brisbane correspondent, could inspire many others in better circumstances.
War envirus certificates add im tralia up to date are worth £16,617,149. Ob erlive but Quernstead shows 46 percent of the £25,000,000 quota. Sales total £9,880,41 percent achievement. Commonwealth total 21,404 with state distribution: NSW 8,389, Victoria 2,055, South Australia 1,2909, Western Australia 6, maja 15 on Tastoanis. Yoernsurdean Company group increased membership from 8 to 12 in six months and contributed to Brisbane correspondent.
An aged notice urges subscribers to reduce busy signals on Saturdays by dialing carefully and keeping the receiver on the hook ready for the dial tone. It stresses to look up numbers before lifting the receiver, avoid leaving the handset off its cradle, and ensure operators connect calls promptly rather than leaving lines held.
At a Friday night meeting of the Innisfail Memorial School of Arts the committee accepted Mr Sherrington’s resignation with regret. President Mr F M Tenner noted Sherrington’s upcoming military service and appreciation was expressed for his past welfare work. The committee asked that the £860 budgeted for library and reading room maintenance be made available and that letters be sent to Johnstone Stine Cornell and others. The proceedings were attended by the proper committee.
A collection of marriage and memorial notices from Mareeba. Entries mark weddings at the Mareeba Presbyterian Church and heartfelt in memoriam references for Corcoran Haigh, Ford, Firth, Graham, Hopkins, Kinnear, McGrath and others, with family tributes and dates in December and 1930s.
The Cairns Fost TM will not publish on Wednesday December 25 or Wednesday January 1. This notice informs readers of two skipped weekly publication dates in the upcoming holiday period.
In a House of Representatives speech Mr Holt, minister for Labour and National Service, defends the new department and its aims to marshal manpower for Australia and Britain. He notes unions’ role in disputes, pledges to curb abuse of the new machinery, and details plans for technical training and postwar industrial needs.
The department, formed from Commonwealth and State collaboration, will handle general labour policy, manpower priorities, labour supply demand investigations, and postwar rehabilitation planning. It will place workers including the war effort, the unemployed, and underemployed, while addressing rising industrial disputes caused by long hours and wartime strain.
Rate notices dated December 22, 1940 remind that a five percent discount applies to half year rates due by December 31 1940, excluding emitting charges if paid today. A five percent discount applies to the second half year ending June 30 1941 if paid on or before February 23 1941, contingent on all amounts due being paid.
Retired skilled workers are being recalled to North Ipswich railway workshops as production pressure grows. The Queensland Timen notes several veterans are back at their posts with more interviews planned to fill shortages in key classifications and help the department meet current and future orders.
An ex-change notes demand for Eungella cedar is at a peak with timbergetters active in the scrubs before the wet season. The Netherdale railway yard is full of timber trucks and dumps hold thousands of super feet as heavy consignments head to Brisbane and Maryborough for local and southern orders.
Holiday travel curbs keep Cairne residents near home while Green Island and Roranda resorts fill up. Beach areas near Cairne foresee typical city and country influx. December to January ration tickets and stored provisions let some motorists venture farther.
At the December meeting Councillor Laurison moved to rescind a May 1939 decision fixing the Chairman's annual allowance at £10. The motion failed by three votes. Chairman Campbell announced he would forgo his entire allowance as councillors had voted themselves out. The Maryborough Chronicle protested the decision.
Divers retrieved a bag of octopus eggs from a pier pile, cluster about an inch long and the thickness of a lead pencil, with several eggs opened revealing small fast-moving octopuses. Eggs appeared ready to hatch, and divers report nearby octopus activity not previously seen at the site, including one sighting near a lighthouse caretaker.
Perth reports that the government maintains a House majority over Labour after the Swan by election. Final counts place Ferguson 7,097 and Marwick 12,296 with Barker 2,504. Dinan backed Labour at 12,296. Historical note on potential stability and party balance through March parliamentary session.
December report from Brisbane praises Queensland as the most air minded state in the Commonwealth based on northern recruiting train results. Mackay and Rockhampton show high acceptance for pilots and wireless operators, with large upcoming itineraries across many towns. The plan consolidates to one train and expands staff as air crew recruitment rises statewide into early 1940s.
Public health concerns rise as obnoxious odors from Cairns drains threaten residents. With crowds in town this week, the stench could worsen health conditions. City officials urged attention to drainage problems.
Pittsworth correspondent reports government salvage drives boosting waste paper and cardboard collection. A youth corps formed by J. W. Shaw, led by Captain Muir Daniel and Sergeants Wally Cornford and David Logat, organises monthly parades. Since formation, members wear P S C on hats and collect by trolleys and wagons, weighing several hundred pounds of materials each Saturday morning, with expectations of growing weekly collections as members stay devoted.
A brief army of lines notes Mr Hughes describing Navy resolve to destroy the Raiders and press on with broadcast duties. The report emphasizes determination and disciplined conduct amid threats and war conditions.
A blaze gutted the engine and machinery rooms of the Warwick Farmers Co operative Mill ing Association flour mill at Mill Hill early today. Damage is estimated at £30,000 with 40ft wall threatening adjoining storage. Thirty staff will be idle until replacement machinery arrives. origin unknown. Local mill part is 80 years old and insured for £40,000.
More than 50 members of the fighting forces bound for northern stations reached Townsville by train only to learn they must wait until tomorrow for a connecting service. They were told the Brisbane assurances held. A Northern Command officer is understood to have endorsed each man’s pass for an extra day of leave.
Mackay date December 20 Pilot Officer Hubert Lenne of Echuca died in hospital from burns after a plane crash at St Lawrence on November 28. His funeral was attended by Townsville squadron comrades. Observer Sergeant Ellis remains in hospital but shows progress.
London announces the King will broadcast at 3 p.m. British Standard Time on Christmas Day to the Nation and Empire. The announcement sets a national broadcast event for the holiday season.
In Brisbane on December 22 only about 80 minutes of play were possible due to a storm that waterlogged the grounds. University and Northern Suburbs won their first innings against East Suburbs and 4.08 respectively, while Toombul-South Brisbane and Valley-Western Suburbs matches were drawn. The University leads the premiership with 33 points, ahead of Toombul 26 and Valley 24 as Eastern Suburbs 22 and Northern Suburbs 25.
L Butler (Geebung) bats in wet conditions at U.M.1 in the Junior Division third grade fixture scoring 119 runs in 50 minutes. Other notable scores include M Hangar 67 from Chatsworth Donaldson 65 not out Gee bung Jade 54 and Robinsom a NM Butterworth Boom rang and RK Tanner Chats ya list additional tallies.
In Brisbane on December 21 Norman Brimson and South Australia rain soaked Milton matchday as Wests led four games in singles and a doubles win seemed likely without Vivian McGrath who left for Sydney but returns January 11 for a third Wests versus South Australia replay to decide the Q.L.T.A. pennant. Brimsom’s service could tilt the replay with McGrath back.
The Federal Treasurer warns that next year will be a critical war period with a heavier financial drain. He notes criticism of the Budget for higher taxes, but points to record Christmas spending and expects monetary expansion to continue as employment and output rise. Income and spending power are projected to grow despite new taxation.
Melbourne dispatch reports inter state steamer Orungal with cargo grounded at Barwon Heads and later found destroyed by fire. Marine surveyors declare total loss, with underwriters to assess indemnity. A Marine Court of Inquiry will probe the fire causes. Value to date placed between £300,000 and £500,000.
Tokyo December 21 Prince Konoe reshaped the cabinet after all night talks appointing Hiranama as Home Minister and Yangawa as Justice Minister while others, including a former premier and key officials, were replaced or retained. The changes aim to strengthen government before the Diet reconvenes.
At the Johnstone Shire Council monthly meeting in Innisfail on December 3, permission was given to grant the Etty Bay Life Saving Club land at Etty Bay beach for up to 15 years at a yearly rent. Cahill argued the chosen site would reduce kingares and favoured the club house at the current end of the beach. Dr S Ko Page, chairman, said the site was central and camping should be at the front with car parking behind, though parking was chaotic and attendees faced many issues.
The Swansea Chamber of Commerce reports 60 wagons of anthracite awaiting clearance and orders at 120 tons, but demand has ceased amid a hopeless outlook. Output fell to 3 cents last year and the entire anthracite industry may close unless rail transport improves.
A fire at 10:20 Saturday night gutted a four room dwelling in McLeod Street occupied by Carl Lauer. The family was away. Cairns Fire Brigade with No 2 Dennis engine fought the blaze, preventing spread to nearby homes. The house, owned by W D and A Hamilton of Tully, was insured for £500 with contents insured for £300. Damage value not yet estimated.
In the Pacific region officials report intensified concern over five ships near Nauru and outline a broad review of enemy actions over the last two months. Proposals aim to boost commercial shipbuilding for Australia and allied nations, with the Empire acting as a coordinated bloc rather than individual states, amid neutral complications.
Sydney December 22 Minister for the Navy Mr W M Hughes speaking at the launching of the corvette HUM 8 Lithgow Mort's Dock urged that shipbuilding become a permanent, nation building industry in Australia to secure markets and employment. He stressed cooperation between government industry and labour and warned against apathy in apprenticeships while noting wartime gains and the need to keep ships building into peacetime.
Mr Hughes says the fight is for the community as a whole to raise living standards and widen industrial peace. He urges building ships for merchant service and navy but notes a shortage of qualified apprentices and skilled labor. He expresses hope that conditions causing the shortage will improve.
Iain Liroyd, master of the inter passenger liner, faces charges after the Court of Marine Inquiry found fault in the November 2 accident that sank the HMAS Goo Tangsi. He will appear January in another Court of Inquiry to answer the charges.
Sydney December 2 The Northern Miners Executive acting on recommendations from major meetings today asks the Central Council of the Miners Federation to extend the strike in other parts of Australia. The dispute centers on miners demand that in dismissals the last man hired should be the first to go.
In Leichhardt a 16 month old girl Gwen Veronica Murdoch was killed when a motor lorry backed out of a laneway into a street rolling over her chest. An arrest for manslaughter followed the incident.
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