General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23668, 19 June 1942, Page 4

General News

* Sunday Entertainment ; From Sunday next pictures will be screened in Wellington for the entertainment of members of the armed forces and their friends. Two theatres will screen programmes, at 2 p.m. and 8.15 p.m. These will be open to all members of the services of the Allied nations, and each may take one civilian friend.—(P.A.) Petrol Station Honrs Regulations announced yesterday providing for uniform hours for the retail sale of motor spirits throughout the Dominion during the present emergency will not come into operation till July 1. -This was made clear yesterday by Mr L. C. Kernahari, secretary of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Retail Motor Trades’ Association. Mr Kernahan saiu that he had no information yet about arrangements covering emergency petrol supplies. The Land Girl . “I have advertised in the newspapers and have made every effort to secure a man, but men are not to be had," said an appellant before the Manpower Committee yesterday, when applying for exemption from territorial training for a, farm manager. “I’ve been lucky enough, however, to secure a land girl and that is the only assistance available.” The main work was the care of 50 or 60 cows, and the delivery of the milk. Blades or Beards? The shortage of every kind of razor is becoming acute, and a leading city hairdresser said yesterday that though small stocks of safety blades are still coming into the country, they are “a mere drop in the ocean” compared with the demand. More men are being shaved professionally, this hairdresser said, but the custom is not altogether welcomed by the barbers, who can do a haircut in almost the same time as a shave and get twice the price for it. But in spite of the shaving problem, not many men have adopted beards in New Zealand yet, and it is the opinion of at least one Christchurch hairdresser that this is just as well, for he' said that few, if any, barbers knew how to trim a beard properly, as the fashion for beards had been out for so long. R.S.A. Discusses Pensions The establishment of two additional war pensions beards, one at Auckland ai d the other at Christchurch, was urged at the annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association yesterday. The meeting also decided to ask that the question of maximum amounts payable as economic and dependants' pensions should be decided upon from time to time by arbitration, the arbitrators to be two Returned Services’ Association appointees, and two Government appointees, under the chairman of the War Pensions Board, the basic figures for their deliberations being those of the Bartholomew Commission of 1923, which fixed the economic pension at 30s a week. There was also general agreement by the meeting that all war widows’ pensions should be jated on the same scale, irrespective of husband’s rank. It was decided to ask for increases in the present rates, based on the number of children and the age of pensioners.— (P.A.) Rain Needed at Harihari Flat It is almost four weeks since rain has fallen at Harihari flat, and several residents are short of water for household purposes. Because of shortage of water last week the plant at Messrs Cowan and Pierson’s sawmill was closed down until the weather breaks. Sharp frosts with fine, sunny days have been experienced in the south and in all parts of the West Coast, but no serious shortages of water have yet been reported elsewhere. Launch Rons Aground Thick fog, which completely eliminated visibility, was responsible for the Oamaru fishing launch Elsie running aground at Pukeuri late on Wednesday afternoon. Another launch was in the breakers before its predicament was realised. The Elsie was completely wrecked, but the two men on board, Messrs B. Mills and R. Smith, managed to get ashore. The launch was owned by Mr G. W. Todd, of Oamaru. Attempts are being made to salvage the engine. Most of the Oamaru fishermen spent yesterday at the scene of the wreck. Committees to Advise Minister Regulations* gazetted last night enable the Minister for Agriculture to set up an advisory committee in respect of any primary product over, which he has powers of control under the Primary Industries Emergency Regulations. 1939. One such committee is already established,, the Potato Advisory Committee. —(P.A.) Release of Farm Labour “I cannot accept the statement of Mr A. M. Carpenter that he submitted to me proofs that cases previously mentioned by him where farm labour had not been available were genuine, antf that I had accepted his submissions,” said the Wheat and Flour Controller (Mr R. McPherson) yesterday. “Mr Carpenter called at my office and said he could prove his contentions, but that he had left the proofs in his car. He did, however, explain the circumstances of the with 900 acres who could not get labour. This man had appealed for his son. The appeal was disallowed. He was then compelled to bring home his other son who was working in Christchurch. All this happened before the visit of the Minister _ for Supply in April, when the Minister made certain arrangements to oil the machinery for releasing men for farm work. Neither yesterday nor at the time Mr Carpenter made his speech did he know of any wheatgrower who was short of labour. All that Mr Carpenter said about not being able to divulge the name of the owner of the 900-acre farm without that owners authority was so much humbug, because Mr Carpenter was in a position to 6onsult that owner without moving one foot from the position he himself occupied at any given time of the day or night.” More Frequent Tram Service A more frequent tram service on the Fendalton-Opawa route will begin on July 6 said Mr H. E. Jarman (general manager of the Christchurch Tramways) yesterday. It will involve the use of an extra tram on the line each day of the week and will mean that the waiting period between trams from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. is reduced. An extra tram will be run during the morning and midday peak periods. The Interval of 23 minutes between trams in the mornings will be reduced to 18 minutes and the 18 minutes in the afternoons will he reduced to 15 minutes up till 8 p.m. On Fridays 15 minutes will be the interval after 8 p.m. ' as well. On the day of the introduction of this new time-table, trams will be reintroduced on the St. Martins line, on which buses have been used since January last year. "We were requested some months ago to substitute trams for buses wherever possible because of the shortage of tyres,” said Mr Jarman. “So we have begun the repairs to the St. Martins line, and the buses will not run on that route after Sunday, July 5.” Appeal Opposed The Manpower Committee in Christchurch yesterday heard an appeal made by a printing firm for a reservist in its employ to be relieved of military responsibilities. The reservist, however, questioned the committee on. the validity of the firm’s appeal. He said that he was still a member of the armed forces, although he had been classed grade 3. He had an opportunity of joining up with the Air Force, the training lor which would not be so rigorous as that required in the Army. He had been informed by the authorities at Wigram that he would probably be called up at short notice. He saw another difficulty, in the heavy restrictions placed on the importation of paper, and he could see himself very soon out of a job. The position was an unusual one, and the committee reserved its decision, but later adjourned the appeal sine die.