NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 122, 18 February 1944, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Transfer Of Workers

Arising out of failure of the Government to vouchsafe a reply to recent protests against the decision to transfer skilled workers in the building trade from Dunedin to the North Island, the mayor of Dunedin, Mr. A. H. . Allen, and the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. B. Stewart, have sent an urgent telegram to the Minister of Works. It reads as follows :—“We are informed that definite action to draft skilled building tradesmen to the north is under way. B e strongly protest and ask for urgent assurances and a reply to our previous telegrams requesting that these or other men will not be taken from Dunedin or the district.” —P.A.

Angling Conditions. All rivers and streams in the Wellington district are in good order for flyfishing, reports the Wellington Acclimatization Society.

Penalty On Unpaid Rates. The penalty of 10 per cent, on unpaid rates for the current year will be imposed by the Wellington City Council on Tuesday, March 7. The last date on which payment may be made without incurring the penalty is March 6.

Court of Appeal. The personnel of the First and Second Divisions of the Court of Appeal for this year is notified in last night’s “Gazette” as follows: First Division, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), Mr, Justice Blair, Mr. Justice Kennedy,.Mr. Justice Callan and Mr. Justice Northeroft; Second Division, the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Smith, Mr. Justice Johnston, Mr. Justice Fair and Mr. Justice Finlay.

Building Trade Dispute. The following emergency disputes committee has been appointed to decide the dispute concerning travelling time in the building trades: Workers’ representatives, Messrs. R. Eddy (Wellington), F. L. Langley (Christchurch), R. Stanley (Auckland). Employers’ representatives, Messrs. C. 8. Luuey (Christchurch), H. J. Hulse (Auckland), W. J. Mountjoy (Wellington). Chairman, Mr. J. A. Gilmour, S.M. Heavy Equipment Stolen. A heavy oxy-acetylene cylinder and equipment valued at about £3O were stolen from the premises of the Sterling Engineering and Welding Company near the corner of Khyber Pass and Bark l£oad», Auckland, onia recent night. The theft was discovered next morning,. when it was found that a door had been forced. It is believed that there must have been at least two burglars with a''motor vehicle to remove such heavy gear.

Christchurch Mayoralty. The present mayor of Christchurch, Mr. E. H. Andrews, has been selected as the candidate of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association ’ for the forthcoming mayoral election. His was the only nomination received by the association. Though the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee has not yet made its selection of a candidate, it is believed likely that its candidate will be Mr. R. M. Maefarlane, M.P., a former. Mayor.—P.A.

Hen Lays Record Egg. What is thought to be the heaviest hen egg ever recorded has been produced by a Black Orpington owned by Mrs. J. Sim, Tauranga. The egg was weighed on two sets of scales at i Joz, It was 3sin. long and BJin. in circumference. So far as can be ascertained the previous best efforts were two 6Joz. eggs. The first of these was laid by a Rhode Island Red on the English estate of Lord' Bledisloe, itnd this was equalled by a Black Orpington owned by Mrs. Sim in 1938. Bedding Supply Needs. The shortage of civilian retail supplies of bedding was referred to at the first meeting of the building manufacturers’ trade group of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association. It was resolved to point out to the Minister of Manpower and the Minister of Supply that the bedding industry was engaged to at least 75 per cent, of its capacity on orders for the armed forces and that as a result of this preoccupation and the laek of manpower there was a serious shortage. Returning soldiers were finding it. difficult to obtain any bedding. From Shop to Factory.

Twenty appeals against the direction of women to a factory making jams and preserves were brought before the Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committee. Of these, 15 were lodged by firms employing the directed women, the remaining five being personal'appeals. A total or IS girls out of 67 complied with direction to the factory, said the manpower officer's representative. Of the 18 who reported only one remained, and she was related to a partner in the firm. Had they all reported for work he considered they would all have remained. As it was those who reported asked “why should we be the mugs?” Eightieth Birthday. “I rise to wish our chairman, Mr. zj,. Walker, many move happy birthdays," said Mr. R. W. Bothamley at yesterday’s meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, when members paused for a cup of tea during an unusually lengthy session. “I have just heard that he Was 80 years old yesterday. Surely Mr. Walker must very nearly hold a- reeori among chairmen, of local bodies. I am encouraged by his obvious excellent health to hope that he will continue to enjoy many more years with us, and I ask you to drink his health.” “What, in tea?” asked a member. “Yes,” said Mr. Bothamley. “The notice has been short, otherwise I would have suggested that Mr. Walker bring along 80 bottles as befits the occasion.” The health was duly drunk in tea. Blackout by Opossums. It was revealed at a meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board yesterday that opossums have been playing an unofficial role in blacking cut. Despite the fact that guards are placed to prevent opossums climbing power poles these gymnasts manage somehow to get among the high tension power lines. In the last five years, it was stated, no fewer than 57 properly authenticated iiistances had occurred where opossums had interrupted the supply. ‘Most of tae I iterruptions occurred in the Upper Ilutr area. Three, however, occurred al Eastbourne. The average interruption lasted from 20 to 60 minutes. Mute proof or the result on the opossum in one case was to be had from a lone half-burned opossum foot still clinging to a length of overhead line, passed round for inspection by members of the board. How to stop opossums climbing poles would appear to be still unsolved.