NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 84, 10 April 1945, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Chronic Hospital Patients It was decided at last night's meetthat the following the taking over of Cornwall Hospital, the Auckland Hospital Board would consider the transfer of the chronic cases from the back dormitories at the Green Lane Hospital to Cornwall Hospital and the utilisation of the accommodation vacated for hospital services. It was also resolved that, following a decision in this matter, favourable consideration be given to the request of the Auckland Tuberculosis Association for the setting up of an occupational therapy department, and that consideration t»e given to a further proposal that an X-ray department be set up at Green Lane Hospital. Acate Labour Shortage "The Pukekohe growers are in a bad position—they must have more labour," said Mr. R. C. Clark, chairman of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, at yesterday's meeting when reporting on a conference held between members of the council, growers and representatives of the manpower office. It was desired to increase the Helvetia camp which was accommodating 110 Maori girls fromGisborne and surrounding districts he said, so that there would be a labour pool of about 170 available, and he believed that this could be done. There had been talk of closing down the camp owing to a contemplated reduction in the State vegetablegrowing scheme. One of the diffi culties met was the operation of two awards, one for the Pukekohe workers and another for those under the Department of Agriculture. The manpower authorities were doing their utmost to solve difficulties, and he thought that these would be overcome within the next few weeks. One member of the council said that the labour position at Pukekohe was desperate.

Great Barrier Development The belief that the Government was now in a position to proceed with the development of Great Barrier Island, several surveys having been made, was expressed by Mr. R. C. Clark, chairman of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, at yesterday's council meeting in referring to the fact that the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. Skinner, was expected in Auckland on Saturday before leaving on a visit to the island. To enable certain facts to be placed before the Minister, the council decided to ask for a conference while Mr. Skinner is in Auckland. Business Men's Club Plans for the formation of a social club were discussed at the Junior Chamber of Commerce convention held at the week-end. It was proposed that the club should contain a lounge, dining room, reading and writing room and facilities for indoor sports and social activities. Difficulty in finding suitable accommodation was being experienced, but the club committee had hopes of solving the problem. A report on the preliminary work carried out during the year was presented by the committee, which was set up following the raising of the question of a club at the last convention. To Encourage Tourist Traffic The value of tourist traffic to New Zealand was stressed by Messrs. A. Martin and T. Jary in presenting reports on this subject to the Auckland Junior Chamber of Commerce convention. "Ninety per cent of our publicity work does not compare favourably with that of overseas countries," stated Mr. Martin who outlined suggestions for improvement. The need for the maintenance of shipping services to the Dominion at the standard of the best of the liners in use before the war and the improvement of road, rail, shipping and air services within the country was urged by the same speaker. Mr. Jary, who reported on the accommodation question, suggested the setting up of a training school for hotel employees, the building of hotels for the use of tourist, and the installation of central heating and private bathrooms in hotels.