General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24021, 9 August 1943, Page 4

General News

Freyberg Savings Flag The Prime Minister (the Rt - Fraser) visited Nelson on Satuiday afternoon to present the:. Fr^ b 1 e = 1 '“ ’ which was awardea to NeLon ditrict for subscribing a higher P tage above the quota than any othci district in the Dominion m the recent Third Liberty Loan campaign— (P-AJ Main North Road Closed Work on the culvert, which is to be installed on the Main North road about three-quarters of a mile south of the Kaiapoi railway crossing, vuh be commenced to-day, and the roaa will be closed until further notice. Motorists will now have to make a aetour which has been mapped out py the Canterbury Automobile Association. Message from the Sea Noticing a sealed bottle floating in the inner harbour at Lyttelton on Saturday morning, Mr W. KEvans, of 11 Clarence road, Riccarton. recovered it. Inside was a piece of paper bearing the and addresses of two New Zealand airmen. 436664, A.C.I Dickison, L RNZA.F., Hamilton, and 43G7G3. A.C.I Mitchell, T. G., R.N.Z.A.F.. Mastcrton The only message was the request “Please write” The bottle had the appearance of having been in the water a long time. Rail-car Derailed The rail-car from Christchurch to Greymouth was derailed at Kowai Bush about 3.40 a.m. on Saturday, and was unable to complete its journey. None of the passengers was injured. A steam train assembled at Springfield took up the service, and arrived at Greymouth more than three and a half hours behind the rail-car’s scheduled time. Railway Engine Not a Memorial The railway engine which for 18 years has carried the Passchendaele memorial plaques is not itself a memorial to railway servants who fell in the last war. This view has been expressed in a letter from the Minister of Railways (the Hon. R. Semple) received by the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E, S. Hanan). Mr Semple said that contrary to popular belief the engine never bore the name, Passchendaele, but merely carried the memorial plaques. “I feel that the plaques will be very suitably placed at the two principal stations in the South Island,” Mr Semple said. Excursion to Timaru Two excursion trains were run *o Timaru from Christchurch yesterday, carrying 132 and 300 passengers respectively. A special train run from Timaru to ■ Christchurch yesterday morning carried 221 passengers. Manufacturers’ Interests The council of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation decided to hold the annual conference of the federation at Napier, commencing on October 12. In view of the many major problems facing manufacturers at the present time, it is expected that there will be a large attendance and an interesting range of remits. The conference will be opened by the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan), and will be presided over by Mr C. V. Smith (the federation president). Pyjamas by Ballot The Wanganui City Patriotic Committee has 12 pyjama suits for returned soldiers, but can obtain no more, according to a statement made by the chairman (Mr N. R. Bain). "The Ministry of Supply,” said Mr Bain, "advises that there is no pyjama material in the country, and although orders have been placed there is no definite information as to when the material will reach this country. We invite applications from men recently returned from overseas who are urgently in need of pyjamas. Such applications must reach the Patriotic Office not later than August 12, when u ballot will be held for the 12 suits available.” Youths and Farm Labour The Otago Primary Production Council, at a recent meeting, expressed alarm at the effect the calling-up of 18 to 20-year-old youths would have on the farm labour position. The labour position in relation to farming was fully outlined in a letter to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) from Messrs W. W. Mulholland and R. A. Candy, of the National Council, a copy of which was before the meeting. It was pointed out that further withdrawals of farm labour for the armed forces would affect production, and that the shortage would bo felt more in the coming year than had previously been the case. The farming community had made a fine effort, mainly through the younger people below military age and elderly men and women. The position had got beyond the stage where this effort could be carried on, and production was bound to suffer. After discussing the position, the council expressed concern at the decision to call up the 18 to 20-ycar-old group, and passed a resolution urging the Government to take into consideration the effect it would have on farm labour before taking action. Conscientious Objectors Referring to conscientious objectors, of whom he understood there are 700 in detention. Mr A. H. Joseph, speaking at the Rough Riders’ reunion on Saturday evening, said he thought that the Government and candidates at the forthcoming Genera Election should be asked to make an election promise that no conscientious objector be released until all returned servicemen had been given a fair chance of obtaining employment. The suggestion met with the approval of the gathering. Pensions After War Arresting figures dealing with the aftermath of the last war were given by Mr E. J. Anderson in an address on the Heritage Movement before the conference of branch delegates of the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association. Mr Anderson said that the 'imperial War Graves Commission, under Sir Fabian Ware, had under its control, after the Great War, no fewer than 15,846 burial grounds throughout the world, containing 1,100,000 British dead. The repair and compensation of the injured after the last war was a colossal work, Mr Anderson continued. In Great Britain alone, in 1938, 20 years after the Great War, there wore 1-2,000 men who had lost limbs, 10.000 with impaired sight, including 2000 who were blind. 11,000 who were deafened, 41,000 still suffering from chest complaints, 38,000 who were suffering from heart trouble, and 3200 whose minds had been broken by war. England was paying £40,000,000 a year in pensions on the last war, and in 1938. just before the beginning of World War 11, expected to face a total pensions cost of £2,000.000,000. Defence Building Contracts Tests of the fairness of schedule prices in defence building construction contracts by reference to the contractors’ records of profits will be made periodically, according to the annual report to Parliament of the Controller and Auditor-General (Mr C. G. Collins). He stated in his report that investigation by the Public Works Department had indicated that original schedules gave contractors an unduly high rate of profit on certain types of buildings, and a reduction in rates was effected last September. It was aesirable that tests of the fairness of schedule prices should be made from time to time, he said, by reference to actual profits earned by contractors as shown by their own records, and the contracts provided for such reference if it was desired. Representations had accordingly been made to the Commissioner and the Public Works Department. and these authorities had agreed that examination of the contractors’ records would be made forthwith. Elsewhere in his report on contracts, Mr Collins said that a large contract for the construction of some 8500 Army huts baa been arranged at a fixed price a hut but information obtained by the Audit Office indicated that the price was excessive. Treasury and Audit had then made an investigation, with the result that a saving of about £30,000 was effected.