General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 4

General News

Working of American Ships After a day’s lay-off of members of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union for stoppages on account of rain while working on American ships, work was reported on Saturday morning to be proceeding normally on all ships in port. With a view to settling differences which had arisen between the union and the American Transport Service, a conference was opened on Saturday afternoon, and it will be continued on Monday, when it is expected that the Minister of Industrial Manpower (the Hon. A, McLagan) will be present.—(P.A.) Electrical Disturbance An unusual electrical disturbance was observed in Christchurch about 9 o’clock last evening, when intermittent flashes of what appeared to be sheet lightning illuminated the sky. The flashes, which occurred at fairly brief intervals, came from all points of the compass, and were tinged with blue and purple. One particularly brilliant flash in the western sky silhouetted the Cathedral against a background of brilliant light. Thunder was also heard, and this was followed by rain, which continued as a light drizzle until a late hour. Shipping Control at Akaroa The Shipping Control (Akaroa Harbour) Notice and the Shipping Safety (Akaroa Harbour) Order appear in the last issue of the Gazette. The effect of these is to prohibit shipping entering portion of the Akaroa harbour without the permission of the naval officer in charge at Lyttelton. The waters concerned are in the vicinity of Dark Point and Nine Fathom Point. Linseed Oil Factory Opening a linseed oil factory at Dunedin on Saturday, the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said that in 1940 New Zealand imported 962.000 gallons of this oil valued at £259,000. This year New Zealand h&d 4000 tons of seed from the flax crop and the estimated oil yield was 350,000 gallons, or one third of the Dominion’s requirements. An important by-product would be cattlecake, a valuable concentrate for increasing the production of all stock. Reviewing industrial progress over the last seven years, Mr Sullivan said the Dominion had established an average of three new factories a week. —(P.A.) i. Soldier’s Travels To have travelled 11,000 miles during leave periods between campaigns, visiting most countries in the Middle East, has been the experience of Signalman A. S. Helm, Riverton, whose latest excursion included wanderings through Persia to Russia. In the Caucasus he met business-like Russian soldiers, who saw a New Zealander for the first time. At Ispahan he met Musavvir, the foremost Persian miniature artist, who was taken to England at the time of the jubilee to do work for the King and Queen, In his wanderings through six countries on this occasion, Signalman Helm covered 4000 miles at a total cost of £27.—N.Z.E.F. News Service. Milk Price Increased In Dunedin The decision of the Dunedin Milk Vendors’ Association to increase the price of milk locally by Id a quart as from April 11 was recently communicated to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, who replied that the representations of the association had been forwarded to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, for consideration, when Mr Sullivan was approached on the question, says the "Otago Daily Times. ’ he stated that no representations had yet been mrde to him, and he had no comment to make in the meantime. Water Main Bursts Certain Hillsborough residents were without water from late on Friday night until yesterday afternoon, when a water main burst. A gang from the Heathcolo County Council was soon on the job. but it was found that a section of the pipe had to be relayed, and the service was not restored until 5 o'clock last evening. The Wiles of Cricket An example of how a wily cricketer can trap the careless batsman was given, in the services’ representative match last week at Lancaster Park. C. Kerr and W. Dustin, opening Air Force’s first innings, were batting against Pritchard. Cromb was fielding at mid-on, and Dustin, a lefthander, pushed an over-pitched ball past him. Cromb, ambling afjer the ball, deceived the batsmen into taking a second run, and then, retrieving the ball quickly, dispatched it to the wicketkeeper Dunnett, who whipped off the bails. There were three run-outs in Air Force’s first innings, in two of which Cromb had a share. Cost of Men’s Trousers Dangling in each hand a pair of men's trousers —one pair made from New Zealand wool and the other of imported American cotton—before an audience at Ashburton on Saturday evening, Mr W. J. Poison, M.P. for Stratford, declared that having to import American cotton instead of using New Zealand wool was fantastic. He said that the trousers were made in New Zealand, the woollen garments being retailed at 14s lid, and the trousers of American cotton at 18s. "If we had the manpower available the manufacturer of the garments could supply the whole population of New Zealand with the woollen trousers at an even cheaper retail price,” said Mr Poison. The decline in the production of trousers alone was such that the manufacturer referred to now had working only five looms in his factory. New Zealand had to continue importing American cotton goods instead of utilising New Zealand wool, he said. Excursions to Timaru Two excursion trains took 669 passengers to Timaru yesterday, the first carrying 331 persons and the second 338. The morning' train from Timaru to Christchurch carried 264 passengers. Patriotic Fund Grants Patriotic appeals in the Dominion, in addition to raising funds to supply comforts and extra amenities for the New Zealand forces, have made, provision to enable a measure of relief to be afforded in Great Britain and Allied countries when serious damage and distress have been caused by enemy action. The extent of this assistance in goods and money, made through the National Patriotic Fund Board, amounts to more than £283.000, details of which are: Malta, £7000; Belgium. £2300; France £6726; Greece, £10.500; Norway £622; Russia £28,750; Poland. £20.377; London distress. £208,834. In addition, a large number of cases of clothing have been sent by the Lady Galway Guild for distribution among people in distressed areas. —(P.A.) “Loitering in the Pacific” Visiting servicemen did not escape the attention of the mock court which was held, in Christchurch on Friday to raise funds for candidates in the “Miss Victory” contest. A member of the United* States Marine Corps who was brought before the court was convicted and fined ICa on a charge of “loitering in the Pacific.” Trades Hall and Government Many Ministers of the Labour Government were anxious to do a fair thing, but they were dominated by the Trades Hall, which insisted on the policy of the Government. Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., told a public meeting at Ashburton on Saturday evening that it was the Trades Hall which insisted that the farmers should lose a proportion of the increase in the price of their wool. It was the Trades Hall, he said, which insisted that Mr C. G. Scrimgeour (Director of National Broadcasting) should be restored to his office after the Government had suspended him. Attitude Toward Election “I hope the election will not be a bitter strife among people who should be united.” said Mrs A. N.- Grigg, M.P., speaking at Ashburton on Saturday evening. She said she had not been altogether in favour of an election, but more recently she had thought that the people should have a say in what they thought of the government of the country—whether they approved or disapproved.