NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 114, 16 May 1941, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Election Results Owing to the reduced lighting scheme in Auckland, the results of the city Mayoral election and other local body elections will not he announced from the "Star" oilier to-morrow evening. Under the present, lighting restrictions it is not possible to make a display of names of candidates, nor is it considered desirable, owing to traflic dangers, for people to congregate in a darkened street.

J/lrfisf at 84 In his remarks at ,he opening of (he annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts last evening the president. Mr. R. (). Cross, drowattention to several works of art by Miss M. Walker. She was, he said, a lady SI years of age, who had received lessons in art about "■"> years ago and had, in the last few years, turned back to art as an outlet for her energies. The result had been so satisfactory that the Auckland Society of Arts council had presented one of her works to the I Auckland city gallery. Littered City Streets "If children were taught to keep towns tidy." said the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. I{. Mason, addressing teachers in a refresher course at Palmerston North, "we would have a more beautiful environment. Without suggesting that everything should be put on the shofulders of the school teacher, tiie greatest hopes of the community are with them." The subject could be thought of as a matter of education and the child taught not to be content with slovenly surroundings. The child should be taught to be content with nothing less than perfection. Engineer Apprentices Adherence to the peace-time regulation that there should not be more than one apprentice to each journeyman in the engineering trade was forcing youths into occupations for which they were not trained, said Mr. H. F. Vosseler at a meeting of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce. The natural absorption of engineers by shipping and industries and the demand for their services by the army was causing a shortage of journeymen, which was reflected by a reduction in the number of apprenticeship vacancies. "At no time have we had a surplus of trained engineers," said Mr. Vosseler. "The result is that firms are unable under existing conditions to maintain the correct balance between apprentices and journeymen." Tobacco for Soldiers The tobacco issue to Xew Zealand soldiers in the Middle East was a subject of complaint in a letter received by Mr. T. W. Hercock, chairman of the Napier Patriotic: Committee. Allegations are made that sergeants and other higher-paid men were able to purchase' tobacco and cigarettes at a discount of 12i per cent, while the rank and file had to "pay through the nose." Mr. Hercock said that his correspondent was one of a number who had been live months without a parcel of any description. It was also mentioned that Australian troops had opened up their own canteens and could obtain anything they desired, whether it was from New Zealand or Australia. Mr. Hercock said that he was referring the letter to the authorities, but before doing so he intended to tear off the man's name so that he would not be victimised. War Inventions Board

The Inventions Board set up to deal with suggestions likely to be of value in the war effort has had many hundreds of suggestions relating to the war services, reported the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in Wellington yesterday. The board, said Mr. Jones, comprised I senior technical officers of the three 'services, with representatives of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Munitions Controller. Only a small proportion of the suggestions were found to be suitable, but practically every suggestion received had been offered freely as a contribution to the war effort, and the Government appreciated the patriotic spirit which prompted these offers. The Minister added that consideration of these inventions was expedited if full details, including drawings or sketches, were forwarded to the secretary of the Inventions Board. M.P. a "Stretcher Case" A member of Parliament nowadays has to play many parts, from judging at baby shows to visiting balloon barrages, and something novel happened to Mr. A. S. Richards last night when he was a spectator at a demonstration by the Women's Auxiliary of the Mount Albert E.P.S. organisation. The auxiliary, which has been very active, was exhibiting the emergency cupboards which have been established in the various "blocks" i throughout the borough, each containing requisites capable of dealing with 30 casualties, including a collapsible stretcher. Team wardens and workers of Blocks D and E, numbering about 150 people, were present, as was also Mr. Richards, and Mr. H. A. Anderson, who presided. The question was raised as to the strength of the stretchers to carry a fairly heavy load. Mr. Richards volunteered to offer himself as a test, and threw l\is not unsubstantial weight on to the stretcher. Four workers attached themselves to the four carrying handles, and Mr. Richards was "taken for a ride" without mishap, the stretcher proving fully equal to the task. i