General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 4

General News

Diphtheria in Boiler District Notification of diphtheria had been received from four households, and the cases had been investigated and precautions taken to prevent the spread of the disease, Mr W. A. Satcnwell, Health Inspector for the Buller district, reported to the Westport Borough Council this week. Mr Satchwell added that the normal period of incubation of the disease had now passed. United Nations Flag Day United Nations Flag Day, which was celebrated for the first time last year, will be observed in New Zealand again this year on Monday. In Christchurch flags of all the United Nations will be on display in Cathedral square, and the Mayor (Mr E. H, Andrews) asked yesterday that citizens and business firms should display flags. The day is in honour of the countries which signed the United Nations Declaration on January 1, 1942, Objection to Any War Work "I object to this direction because I would be releasing a man to take part in the war," said Elsie Mary Barrett to the Industrial Manpower Committee yesterday, when appealing against her direction by the Manpower Officer to employment with Kaiapoi Woollen Mills on the grounds of conscience and because she was needed to work at home. ‘T do not object to making clothes and blankets but to all work connected with war, and if I were to accept this direction I would be going against my convictions which are very strong,” she added, saying that she had been a keen supporter of the Peace Pledge Movement since before the war began. Her evidence was supported by Mr R. Thurlow Thompson and Mr Lincoln Efford. "Miss Barrett was directed to do civilian work, not war work in the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills, and she evidently wants to be clothed but expects someone else to do the work,” said the Assistant Manpower Officer. Women’s Work During Harvest An appeal for women to be “manpowered” out of the Army to assist farmers’ wives at harvest time was made in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr D. C. Kidd (Opposition, Waitaki), who said that it was almost impossible to get help in country homes. Harvest time was nothing but drudgery for the women on the farms. Many were young mothers with babies and with children going to school.—(F.O.P.R.) “Heard it Before” “I was caught unawares, your Worship,” said a youth charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with riding a cycle at night without a light. “Well, you’re honest at any rate, but next time it will cost you more,” said Mr E. C. Levvey in imposing a fine of ss. “I lent my lamp to a friend who had to ride through the town,” said another offender, who was apprehended at Belfast. “Well, don’t you think a lamp is needed on country roads as well as in the city and why did you not tell this to the constable?” asked the Magistrate. “I did, but he said he had heard the same story a dozen times before,” replied the accused. “I don’t wonder at it,” said the Magistrate, “but next time it will cost you a week’s wages.” Population Drift to North Island Expressing concern at the drift of population to the North Island, the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) has written to the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews) suggesting that a conference of mayors of cities and boroughs and chairmen of county councils be held to discuss the problems of the South Island, Grant Refused When last year the Workers’ Educational Association made application to the Wellington City Council for renewal of the former annual grant, the council, on the motion of the Mayor, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, declined any grant, on account of alleged pacifist activities of an official. Much the same decision was made by the council when the matter arose again this week. The W.E.A. had definitely got into wrong hands, and the council should make no grant at all, as the tone of some of the lectures was not in the interests of the State, said Mr W. Appleton. The final decision was that a letter should be sent stating that the council would sympathetically consider a further application when an office-bearer to whom objection was taken no longer held office. “Missed the Point” That the Hon. J. G. Barclay had “missed the point” was a view expressed by a member of the North Otago Progress League when the Minister of Agriculture informed that organisation that the commercial growing of tobacco, linen flax, and sugar beet would not be an economic proposition in North Otago. When the Minister's letter was under discussion Mr H. S. Stevens said that the league’s inquiry was contingent upon a proposed irrigation scheme. Mr Barclay had quite “missed the point,” said Mr Stevens, who moved that the Minister should be written to again. The motion was carried unanimously. Bold Tiicft When a New Plymouth man borrowed a light motor-car a few days ago, and left it parked under a street lamp it developed a fiat tyre. Next morning he found the inner tube had been removed from the tyre. To do this it had been necessary to remove the wheel and remove the tyre from it. The thief had not only done this, but had also replaced the tyre and the wheel, so that to the casual eye the tyre was merely flat. The theft was committed some time during the night in a much used street. Bridge Thought Unsafe Concern at the alleged instability of the Bulls bridge, was expressed at a meeting of the Manawatu County Council by Mr H. J, Fagan, who declared that unless something was done shortly a collapse similar to that of the Whirokino bridge might occur. He added that many persons were nervous when using the bridge. When repairs were last carried out it was ascertained that some of the timbers were rotten. The chairman. Mr W. E. Barker, said an improvement was carried out 10 years ago, the bridge being made suitable for traffic for five years, and during that five years there had been periodic inspections. The State had afterwards taken over. Mr Fagan moved that the council write to the Highways Board urging an immediate inspection, this being carried unanimously. Egg-Rationing in North Island •Preferential rationing of eggs will come into force in Auckland and Wellington next Monday, but retailers stated on Thursday that they had not yet received any instruction or advice other than the announcement of the plan made by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. Those in the preferential categories are children under five years old, expectant mothers, and invalids who have a medical certificate to the effect- that eggs are an essential article of their diet. One merchant expressed the view yesterday that if all those qualified under these categories were registered by June 18— the closing date for securing the new- ration card—they would absorb all the eggs available for civilian consumption this winter. Justice For a Minority

“I don’t like honey very much, and I should not think the Minister of Agriculture likes it very much,” said Mr D. C. Kidd (Opposition, Waitaki) in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives yesterday. He said that the Minister had been taken to task on this question by his brother, Mr George Barclay. The Government had passed a regulation demanding that the producers sell to the Internal Marketing Division 70 per cent, of the honey for 2d or 3d less than they could get in the shops. In one district the farmers had been able to get 9d per lb net, and the Minister offered 5Jd. Beekeepers had refused to hand honey over. Now the Minister was threatening legal action to take the honey. That sort of thing was no good. Mr A. G. Osborne (Government, Onehunga): Do you want a minority to rule* Mr Kidd: No, but I want justice for a minority.—(F.O.P.R.)