General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24567, 16 May 1945, Page 6

General News

Counterfeit Banknotes Counterfeit banknotes have been discovered in Auckland and Dargaville in the last few days, ■ Two forged £1 notes were detected at the Bank of New Zealand in Dargavillfe, and a note of the same denomination found its way to the Symonds street bank. A warning has been issued to the staffs of banks concerning the likelihood,of farther counterfeit notes being in circulation.—(P. A.) New gockbtun Workshops Good progress is being made in toe erection of new plant workshops at Sockbum for the Public Works Department. As the concrete pillars are being built the building is beginning to take shape. Wages and Cost of Living “Within the next two months, unless the regulations are altered, wages must be raised another 5 per cent, and that in itself will be cause for a further increase in the cost of living index, and before long another 5 per cent, increase will come. That is what will happen If the Government does nothing in toe present situation,” said Mr W. W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, in an address to fanners in Hastings. Mr Mulholland said stabilisation was in danger and conditions were moving towards economic chaos. Mr Mulbolland said the reason for the Government’s indecision was the pressure put on it by organised unions without the required knowledge.—(P^V.) Pay for Holidays The' Holidays Labour Legislation Modification Order has been revoked. This order, gazetted in 1941, provided, in effect, that instead of triple time, where that was specified by legislation or awards, being paid for work on statutory holidays, double time should be paid. Some industries were exempted from toe operation of the order. , International Bed Crow The following message has been received by the Minister of External Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) from toe International Red Cross. Geneva: “With the cessation of hostilities in Europe, the central agency for prisoners of war shares your joy and relief at the ending of so much suffering. They thank you for the support you have always given them in a good cause, and in the same spirit will give every assistance to complete the work still to be done."—(P.A.) Maps for Motorist* An opinion that toe Government was again making the purchase of maps too free was expressed by Mr F. W. Freeman at last evening's meeting of the executive of the South Island Motor Union. The Japanese, he said, pqssessed the maps. “They will never rise again,” commented the chairman (Mr W. R. Carey), who added that, the Japanese probably had a good deal of the information issued by New Zealand automobile associations before the war. “And we have all the Japanese maps, remarked Mr' G. Hamilton. A committee .to prepare ' the publication of a set of new maps of the South Island for issue to members was appointed. Message to Lord Bledlsloe The Acting-Prime Minister (toe Hon. W. Nash) has sent the following telegram to Lord Bledlsloe; “I thank you lor your most welcome message of congratulation, which was greatly appreciated by the Government and people of New Zealand. We all retain very happy memories of your period as Governor-General, and extend to you and Lady Bledlsloe our warmest greetings, together with good wishes and thanks for the great work you and Lady Bledisloe have done for the Dominion over many years.’’-(P.A.) Patting the Ball In the Scrom During a brisk discussion by the Otago Rugby Union concerning the many infringements • > f .J * erning toe placing of the ball ui the scrum, some members went so far as to say that the majority of scrum halves deliberately cheated,' while there were suggestions toat club coaches were not innocent in the matter. It was stated that referees were of opinion that there was only one senior half-back who put the ball in fairly, and halves generally were out to beat the referee.—(P.A.) Study of Horology A school for the instruction of apprentice watchmakers, the first of «s kind in the Dominion, has been formed by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Horologlcal Institute, and weekly classes will start (his month. Ah apprenticeship committee set up by the institute has appointed $ director of the school Mr Cecil Smith, of the Department of Scientific andTndustrial Research, who Is also a member of the Dominion council of the' institute. In addition to work set and supervised by the director at the school, there will be voluntary lectures on special aspects of horology by members of the Institute. Matches in Mail Cause Fire •The Post Office is perturbed at the prevalence of the offence of sending matches by post," said the Hon F. Jones, Acting-Postmaster-Gcn-eral' yesterday, “If the practice continues the Post Office may find it necessary to seek enforcement qf the substantial penalties provided by the law, which definitely prohibits the sending of all kinds of matches, in tin containers or otherwise, through the post. The latest case of packets or parcels Igniting while in transit occurred a short time ago in a South Island post office, where ui a parcel containing boxes of matches one packet caught fire, but fortunately without causing damage to other portion* pf the mail. -(P.A.) „ „ Community Research A suggestion that the Church of England Men’s Society could be developed as a “research” organisation in the assembling of information about community problems was made at the annual conference of the Society in Christchurch yesterday by the society’s Dominion organiser (Mr J. Snell). At present, he said, people would sometimes "badger" the church leaders into making statements; then someone else would criticise them, or even refute them. Statements by church leaders had now no factual or research basis such as could-be provided by the Men’* Society. Mt Snell described the Labour Party’s system of assembling information, which he bad had an opportunity of seeing when the Hon. Walter Nash, a member of the society, had been secretary to the party. Mr Nash had control of a large room full of sources of all sorts of information; and when anyone wanted to know something, no matter what its nature, he could be assured of getting it quickly by approaching Mr Nash. When the Men’s Society had been fully developed in New Zealand it could be a magnificent body for crystallising information, added Mr Snell. Greeting from Britain A letter of greeting from Bishop Bernard Hey wood, president of the Church of England Men’s Society in England, was read' by the president (Archbishop West-Watson, Primate of New Zealand) at the Dominion conference of the society, which opened in Christchurch yesterday. “War time is bound to be a difficult time for a men’s society,” wrote Bishop Hey wood, “but we not only survive here, but have been making, • lately, quite a number of new branches. I do believe that the realisation is growing that—in England at least—the disproportion between the numbers of men and women in our church life is something which should be on our consciences, and should stimulate energetic action." The conference decided to send a message to Bishop Heywood, thanking him for his greeting. . 1 Hooey for Britain Mr E. A. Field. Dominion president of the National Beekeepers’ Association, in reply to the statement by the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. B. Roberts), said the Minister had carefully/ refrained from giving an assurance that the 500 tons of honey required for Britain would be treated as priority No. 1. This, said Mr Field, was the crux of the whole position. Beekeepers had no say in the distribution of their commandeered honey, and here was a glorious opportunity for the Government itself to set an example by shipping it to Britain, regardless of all Dominion priorities. This action by the Government would be but a small contribution towards the thanks offering due to Britain by the people of New Zealand.—(P.A.)