General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24566, 15 May 1945, Page 4

General News

The Death Penalty “This grand jury is unanimously of opinion that the Government should be asked to reimpose the death penalty.’’ This was a. rider read by the foreman of the grand jury at the opening of the Supreme Court sitting in Wanganui yesterday, when a true bill was returned on an Indictment for murder against a labourer. <the foreman, Mr A. R. Donaldson, added that members of the grand Jury were perturbed by the large number of murders which had been committed in New Zealand during recent years. Stating that the rider would be sent to the Minister of Justice, Mr Justice Johnston said that it was not for him to express an opinion, as the death penalty was a matter of policy, but such a recommendation was well within the province of a grand jury. “It is a fact that an impression is gaining ground that the sanctity of human life is not as important as it was once regarded,” said his Honour.—(P. A.) Manpower Directions The Director of National Service .(Mr H. L. Bockett) will visit Christchurch this week to discuss manpower directions of labour to the North Island. Mr Bockett will attend a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association to-morrow, and on Thursday he will meet other local organisations interested in this subject. Broken Glass on Streets Although many bottles were broken on the streets of Christchurch during the V-E celebrations not one driver of taxis in the two biggest fleets reported to his, firm that damage to tyres from broken glass had been caused. This was established yesterday when inquiries were made by '‘‘The Press” from the two firms after reports had been received that, because of damage to tyres of cars of other drivers, some drivers had garaged their cars early in the evenings. „ Good Shooting Season With ideal conditions prevailing during the week-end many limit bags of ducks were taken by sportsmen in the Ashburton district. Reports from Hinds, LowCliffe, Elffelton, and other pans of the county state that ducks are plentiful, and one sportsman of more than 50 years’ experience said that in no previous season had he seen so many birds moving. Reports on the opening of the 1943 shooting season in North Canterbury Indicate that some excellent sport has been obtained at Rotherham', Pahau river, and Hurunui, one man gaining a bag of eight birds in an hour before breakfast. At Okuku and the upper Ashley river, however, only poor results have been reported. Heavy rain and rising streams caused many mia mia occupiers to leave their positions. There has been an unprecedented demand this year for game licences. Telegraph Pole on Fife An unusual type of fire was dealt with bv the Christchurch Fire Brigade about '5.50 o’clock last evening, when a call was received to a blazing telegraph pole in Gloucester street west, near the Jellicoe Hall. * The Insulating material on the telegraph wires was on fire but no wires were brought down. The pole itself was charred. The brigade had no difficulty in extinguishing the blaze. It is thought that a short circuit, caused bv the telegranh wires coming in contact with power lines, mav have started the fire. Teleohone services to nearby houses were put out of order, Butter Exports At a public meeting on food rationing in New Zealand neld in Dunedin last evening and addressed by Dr. Muriei! Bell, the following resolution Was passed: “That as Britain’s meat and butter ration 1$ much lower than that of any other English-speaking community, and furthermore, as there is no likelihood of it being increased in the near future, this meeting of Dunedin citizens urges the New Zealand Government to take immediate steps to increase this country s export of meat and butter to Britain by reducing the New Zealand ration in these commodities.” It was stated that the saving of 4oz a head of butter a week On 1.000,000 ration books would enable New Zealand to export an additional 5800 tons of butter to Britain (P.A.) Increased Number of Students “Why has the number of university students increased so much during the last five years,” asked Mr R. H. Webb, employers’ representative on the Industrial Manpower Committee, during the hearing of an appeal yesterday. The rector of Canterbury University College (Professor A. H. Tocher) said he thought one reason was that parents had more money to spend now than previously, and also that the youth of the country were seeing in industry the need for a knowledge of chemistry and allied subjects, which could be given them at the university. In answer to a suggestion by,Mr Webb that one reason for the increased number might be an endeavour on the part of some persons to evade the mannower regulations, Professor Tocker said that the majority of first-year students were under the age for direction by the manpower authorities. Those who cfimpleted a satisfactory first years study almost automatically became approved students. Frank Milner Memorial Prize In memory of Mr Frank Milner the executive of the New Zealand section of the British-American Co-operation Movement decided at a recent meeting to establish an essay prize to be known as the Frank Milner Memorial Prize. The prize will be competed for in the annual essay competition of the Co-operation Movement and will be given for the best essay throughout New Zealand. For this year’s competition, which is open to school children under the age of 18, the subject will be “The contribution of the late Franklin Delano Roosevelt to British-Ameri-can Co-operation.” For purposes of the competition New Zealand ia divided into five districts and a prize is given to the winner in each district. The Frank Milner Memorial Prize will be granted to the best of these. ’Concern at Manpower Directions “There has been a growing tendency among the public to view some of themanpower ‘directions with concern,” said Mr J. K. Moloney during the hearing of a case by .the Industrial Manpower Committee yesterday. “It has been felt that many directions have been made to profit-making concerns that have no real connexion with the war effort,” continued Mr Moloney. “There is a feeling that one of our most precious liberties, the freedom of the individual, has been seriously interfered with during the last year or so.” .Mr F. A. Saxton, representing the district manpower officer, said it was acknowledged that liberties were being infringed by. the regulations referred to. “We all reckon that they are bn abomination, but until the war in the Pacific is over thev will just have to stay.” said Mr Saxton. Free Loan to Miners The granting by the Government of a loan of £6OOO for the*erection of a hall for the mining community at Rotowaro was the subject of strong comment by Mr C. M. Bowden. M7P. for Wellington West, in a political address at Hamilton East last night. Mr BOwden was speaking in support of Mrs Hilda Ross. National candidate in the Hamilton by-election. “A great example of privilege was reported in this morning’s paper,” said Mr Bowden. “Did you see that a loan of £6OOO has been advanced by the Government, without interest, for a miners’ hall at Rotowaro? I do not mind the miners having a hall, but I object to the unfairness of it. Suppose a church in Hamilton wanted to build a new hall. Would the Government advance the money free of interest? Suppose A soldier back from the war wants a loan to build a home for himself. Does he get it free of interest? No. He has to go cap in hand, and experience frustration and delay, and then if he gets a loan he has to pay interest on it. but then he is only a soldier, and has not got a big political boss to pull strings for him in Wellington.” Mr Bowden contended that the Rotowaro loan was a typical example of the system of special privilege built up by the present Government. —(P.S.S.)