NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 254, 27 October 1942, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

I)«reUct Cars

No regulations have been gazetted .vet in connection with the problem of derelict motor cars which block some streets night and day, states a Wellington journal. The Minister of Transport promised prompt action over six weeks ago. Since then the Commissioner of Transport has communicated with the town clerk of Wellington in connection with the regulations, so it Is expected that these may be brought down at any ti me.

Banks Amalgamation Mooted

The possibility of an amalgamation of banks to release men for the armed forces and at the same time to continue the banks' services to the public was envisaged by Mr. C. A. L. Smith, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Stratford, when supporting an appeal against service for an employee heard by the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Stratford. Banks had considered an amalgamation plan but he had not heard how it had progressed, said Mr. Smith. Five banks operated at Stratford, and if four, or oven three, could give the necessary service to the public, a saving in staff would result.

Ambulance Heroes The warmest praise for the Red Cross and other services provided overseas for the troops was expressed by wounded soldiers who returned to Invercargill. Admiration lor the courage of the field ambulance drivers during the height of notions was expressed by Gunner J. It. Tocker. He said that right up in the front line during the thick of the lighting the field ambulances could be seen moving over the battle area picking up wounded and taking them back in advanced dressing stations. Ino enemy, particularly the Germans, appeared to respcct dressing stations and ambulance trains, but when the ambulances moved up into a field ot fire the drivers just had to 1-akc their chance. It was extremely risky work and the drivers proved themselves to be real heroes. Military Leave System He considered the present leave system was one which gave a fair' deal to the soldiers and did not unreasonably interfere with training, said the General "Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, LieutenantGeneral E. Puttick, D.5.0., N.Z.S.C., to a Wellington interviewer. He thought the leave was very generous, but this was a good thing if it produced a contented soldier, when troops were In their own country they could not be kept down to too rigid a schedule. Under the new system It was possible to get the leave over in 26 days and leave 34 to r?6 days for uninterrupted concentrated training. In effect, in a two months' period one month was a leave month (a percentage being away at a time), and the other month a full training month.

Gold Mining to Bomb-making

, Workshops in £outh Africa belonging to gold mining companies have been converted to war production, and new shops erected. One illustration is that of a bomb-producing machine shop, the foundation for which was cut in June, 1940. The machine shop is 44ft by 220 ft. It was finished and the machines were running in June, 1942, and the first bomb was completed by July 4. The machines needed were made in the workshops of several different mines; the material used included old railway rails, second-hand motor car gear boxes, and various odds and ends. All the lathes with which the shops are equipped were made by mine engineers and mechanics in this way.

Possible Onion Substitute

As a palatable substitute for cultivated onions a hitherto despised noxious weed, the wild onion, may take its place on household menus in Taranaki if supplies become scarce. The wild onion, or Allium triquetrum, grows well in Taranaki gardens and pastures, where it becomes readily established in cool, damp places. In recent years it has proved to be a weed difficult to control. In appearance it is a characteristic member of the lily family, easily distinguishable by its triangular stems. The leaves are narrow and bright green, and its white flowers are in stalked clusters at the tips of the stems. The bulbs are about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, with pale coats, and they have proved to be an acceptable substitute for the garden onion. The plant is a native of the Mediterranean region and of North Africa, and in Algeria is used as a vegetable under the name "bibrous." It was introduced as a vegetable into England towards the end of the 18th century.

Black Market Not Known

Erstwhile Londoners will remember cigarettes called "Wild Woodbines." In the old days they were five a penny, and were smoked by the office boy and the van boy. They were usually smoked half-way and then "nipped," the remaining half being put in the pocket, writes a correspondent from England. What a change to-day! "Woodbines" are "the" smoke and are queued up for, and they cost practically a penny each! As a matter of fact all the small size cigarettes are the same price—9d for ten. The bigger ones are all 1/ for ten, and are only smoked by millionaires or by anybody trying to be really "swanky." Don t get the impression, however, that we are grumbling at these things—the taxation on tobacco and alcohol is most loyally accepted by even the poorest as a sensible contribution to our wax taxation and all is borne with a cheerful smile and a joke. Also, don't get the impression that half the people of Great Britain live by selling goods in the black market to the other half; In fact, not one of us out of a thousand ever come in contact with the well-advertised "black market."