General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23586, 13 March 1942, Page 4

General News

Use of Cellophane The use of cellophane in factories without the consent of the Factory Controller is prohibited in the Cellophane Control Notice appearing in the Gazette published last evening.—P.A. Home Guard Camps In response to an appeal by the Group Director of the Home Guard, Lieutenant-Colonel D. S. Murchison, 'the executive of the Canterbury Employers' Association has decided to ask all employers to co-operate by releasing employees for Home Guard camps wherever possible. The executive, it was reported to "The Press” yesterday, recognised that employers generally were suffering from a shortage of staff, but realised that the attendance of the men at camps was essential. Supervision of Soldiers’ Farms Among the cases considered by the Manpower Committee was that of a farmer who had volunteered some time ago for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but who had been unable to find a manager to take over his farm. The appellant suggested that it would be of great assistance to persons in his position if a scheme for the supervising of soldiers’ farms by retired farmers could be put into operation. Missionaries Safe All missionaries of the Unevangellsed Fields Mission, who have been serving in Papua and New Guinea have arrived safely in Australia, according to cabled advice received in Auckland. Of the total of 13 missionaries ' evacuated, four are New Zealanders. Mr and Mrs T. Bruton, Miss Eva Stanton, and Mr Keith Dennis, of Hastings.—P.A. Wardens and Their Lights A total of about 1500 wardens in all are now on active E.P.S. work in Christchurch. Reports that from this big number one or two wardens might themselves have had their lights cut off as penalty for breaches in the last trial black-out were referred by a reporter yesterday to the Chief Lighting Warden (Mr F. J. Shanks). “There are' two usual answers to a questionin the affirmative or in the negative,” Mr Shanks replied. “But to this question the reply is in the evasive.” Midland Train Schedule It was stated yesterday by- the slationmaster at Greymouth (Mr G. D. Smart) that the proposed changes in the running of the midland expresses, from Tuesdays and Thursdays to Wednesdays and Fridays, would not now be made. He added that the necessity for the proposed alteration would shortly be removed. Trials of the Onion Grower A number of the appeals which have come before the Manpower Committee this week have been for the release or exemption of men for the harvesting of onions. Appellants have stated that part of this work demands considerable skill and experience, and it all demands physical endurance because of the amount of bending, lifting, and kneeling involved. It was not practicable to employ women, one onion-grower stated, because they could not stand up to the work as male workers could. Mr E. D. Thompson, for the Crown, suggested that women ought to be more used to such a position than men. Another oniongrower said that 20 Training College students had recently been out to work for him, and none of them had lasted out a full day. Men of the necessary qualifications for this work were difficult to find, and two appellants suggested that the Army authorities should not only release the man asked for, but should search' the ranks for other onion gatherers for the farmers.

“An Interesting Question’’ “This raises a very interesting question: we don’t know when the blackouts are going to be sounded, and yet we have got to leave on our parking lights. However, if we do and then don’t hear the alarm, with the result that the lights are on during the blackout. it will constitute a breach,” the Magistrate (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) said yesterday when a medical student pleaded guilty .in the Magistrate's Court to a charge of having left lights burning on his motor-car during the black-out on February 18. Mr A. F. Wright, counsel for the defendant, said his client, who had no possible idea that the black-out was to be held that evening, had gone to the pictures, leaving his car with the parking lights and the tail light burning. Tne first thing he had known of the black-out was when the theatre manager had announced that extra films wodld be shown until the sounding of the all-clear signal. He certainly had had no chance to hear the first warning. "It’s simply a question of what would happen if a real raid was to take place,” the Magistrate said. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs only. State Fire Office’s War Record

Of the local State Fire Insurance Office’s original male staff of 18 at the outbreak of war. only two now remain, and one of these is awaiting advice from the Navy. Of the 11 men who had been appointed to replace those who had left, six now remain, and four of these are expecting to be called upon for service shortly. These figures were given by a representative of the office when appealing for the release from service of the local assistant manager, Mr H. C. R. Blackwood. Captain S. Bowron, for the military authorities, said that Blackwood was a valuable soldier and had been in training for a commission. Mr S. L. Wright, one of the committee’s members, said that many of the committee’s most difficult problems arose from the fact that often the man who did best in private life also did best in the Army. The same problem had arisen in the case of reservists who were skilled engineers, and whose services were valuable both in defence projects for which they were required as civilians, and in the work of engineering units in the Army. No Evening Weddings Many Dunedin couples who had previously arranged night weddings, particularly at Easter time, are now confronted with ’lie ■ necessity for altering the hour of the ceremony. The difficulties that would be involved , in blacking-out the great majority of the churches led to the recent decision that after March 22 a system of late afternoon services should be introduced in the churches in Dunedin area in place of evening services, and this decision applies equally to weddings. Cost of E.P.S. After a long discussion, a conference of representatives of local authorities contributing to the cost of the Emergency Precautions Services in Auckland gave general approval to estimates of expenditure approaching £400,000 for the financial year 1942-43. The chairman of the central committee, Mr J. A. C. Allum, presided over the conference, which was held in committee. It was stated subsequently that the estimates would be submitted to the individual local authorities for their approval, In an explanatory statement, Mr Allum said that in broad terms the total expenditure was estimated at £400,000, of which the Government would find £300,000, and the local authorities £IOO.OOO. Of the latter figure, the City Council’s share was a little more than onc-half. As regards general E.P.S. expenditure, the estimates could be taken as a guide only; they represented a minimum, not a maximum. Shearing In New South Wales Although the general shearing in New South Wales does not start till July, arrangements are now in train to cope with it. A Federal shearing organisation committee has been formed and State committees are to be set up. The principal task is that of finding experienced men. Twenty thousand shearers and 20,000 men to do the mustering and shed work are necessary at the peak period, when 2,000,000 sheep a day are shorn, The State committees have been instructed to survey labour requirements and the number of men likely to be available; to take steps to induce as many men a ; possible to go out shearing; to ask graziers to spread the shearing season and to co-operate with each other in organising runs; generally to study the position and, by means of publicity, inform graziers of the requirements of the Industry.