NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1942, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Strikes and Lockouts,

An amendment to the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations, 1939, issued last night, is of a machinery nature. It deals with the appointment and work of disputes committees in industry, and removes some minor defects experienced in the administration of the regulations. Poisoning Willows. The secretary of the Hutt River Board, Mr. A. J. Gearing, advised the board yesterday that the Housing Department had commenced operations in the Waiwhetu Stream for the poisoning of willow trees obstructing the flow of water in the stream. The board decided to advise the Department that it would not hold itself liable for any damage done. The poison is being sprayed on the trees Youth's £12 15s a Week. An air-spray gun operator, aged 19, who was appealed for at a sitting of the Christchurch Man-power Committee, was stated to be working 70 hours a week, reports the "Press." He was paid 3s an hour. On a 40-hour week he would be drawing £6 a week wages, plus 30 hours a week at time and a half. The overtime would bring in another £6 15s, making a total weekly wage of £12 15s, plus any work done at double rates of pay. He was engaged on defence work. Shelters in Lower Hutt. At various points in the city the Lower Hutt City Council has provided slit trenches for air-raid shelters and in other places, notably along the river bank at the rear of High Street properties, has taken advantage of old drains screened by willows and other growth. In addition the council has authorised the construction of four covered shelters alongside the stop, bank off Andrews Avenue, estimated to provide shelter for .800 persons. The shelters will be built up against the stop bank, with walls of concrete, 14 inches,thick. The council also has in hand plans for the construction of other shelters. Mount Cook Ascent. Mount Cook was climbed on Monday for the second time this year, states a Timaru correspondent. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ayres, of Franz Josef Glacier, after crossing Graham -Saddle to the Haast Pass, were joined there by the Rev. Father O'Gorman and Mr. R. Logan, both of Rangiora. The party climbed Mount Cook via the Linda Glacier route. The conditions and day were perfect. The party left the Haast hut and crossed over to. the Pioneer hut on Thursday, and Mr. and Mrs. Ayres and Mr. Logan made the ascent of Mount Tasman on A- Saturday, the first of this season, by the northern route over Mount Lindenfeldt. The conditions were perfect and fine views were obtained. This party returned via Newton Pass, the Aimer hut, and Franz Josef Glacier. Confidence from Deeds. "If ever we have any fears as to the result of this war, take confidence from what has been done in the past," states the Wellington branch of the Royal Society of St. George in its annual report. "Numbers of British soldiers have changed the history of the world, British seamen in small ships, have driven enemy fleets off the seas, and our airmen have proved by similar deeds that this fighting capacity is in all three Services." The society records with a deep sense of pride and humility its recognition of the deeds of heroism displayed by the personnel of the Army, Navy, and Air Force at Dunkirk, Greece, Crete, and Libya and the Merchant Navy in. the Battle of the Atlantic. "Future history," the report adds, "will record epics of heroic endeavour unsurpassed in British history." War Publicity. The importance that the Government attached to films as a medium of war publicity in New Zealand was emphasised by Mr. J. T. Paul, Director of Publicity, yesterday afternoon, when giving evidence before the Armed Forces Appeal Board in support of an appeal by the Director of National Service on behalf of an employee of ti3 Miramar Film Studios. Mr. Paul said that films were considered. the most helpful form of war publicity and the best method of presenting phases of the war effort and maintaining public morale. This policy was being extended in Britain. The Miranmr film studio was producing a war effort newsreel each week, and this was shown, in almost every theatre in New Zealand. The studio was also p.oducing longer films, and had been asked to produce some showing the industrial side of the war effort. In addition the Army had made a request fnr instructional films. Payment of Rates. A large number of Wellington ratepayers are taking the opportunity of making payment of their rates prior to the imposition of the penalty. The total levy for the year was £629,462. To date £517,317, or 82 per cent, of the levy, has been received. The average daily receipt for the past week lias been £10,000. It is anticipated that during the remaining period before the imposition of the penalty the daily takings will be very considerably increased. Monday next is the last date for payment before the penalty is imposed, and, although ratepayers have been requested to make early payment, there will no doubt be a large number who will delay payment until the last possible moment. The Corporation officials desire again to emphasise the necessity of early payment in order to avoid inconvenience and delay to ratepayers, as the normal staff has been greatly depleted by the calling up of members for military duties.