NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Dog Certificates. Emergency regulations issued last night authorise local authorities who may be unable to obtain dog collars to issue certificates of registration to dog owners. N.Z. Forces in Fiji. The title of the New Zealand Forces in Fiji has been altered from Eighth Brigade Group, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, to Pacific Station, Second -New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The change has been made as the former title is considered no longer appropriate. Formal notification of the change was announced last night. Timber Control. A notice published in last night's Gazette directs that without the consent of the Timber . Controller, no owner of any Australian hardwoods shall use or sell such timber except for motor-body building, manufacture of cross-arms, and the manufacture or repair of agricultural implements. Other notices restrict the use or dis--1 posal of beech timber, oregon, or douglas fir, and pinus, insignis. .Bible Translations. In the annual report of the British and Foreign Bible Society for the year 1941, it is stated that the total number of languages in which the Bible is printed is now 747, six new languages being added during 1941. The Scriptures issued during the year total over 11,000,000. In New Zealand, the society was called upon for Scriptures in 22 languages. The Big Sunspot. Although it does not. seem to have materially increased in size, the big spot on .the sun is undergoing rapid changes. It will cross the sun's meridian early on Sunday, and the, Carter Observatory authorities consider that the chances of auroras and other disturbances following this crossing are about fifty-fifty. The spot is easily large enough to be seen by the naked eye through a piece of smoked glass. Time and Wages Lost. "Industrial disputes, judged by the number of actual disputes during 1941, were more prevalent-than in any year, at least since 1920," reports the Government Statistician. "However, if consideration is given to. the numbers of firms affected, workers involved, working days lost, or estimated loss in wages, the 1941 figures, although high, are by no means a record." Disputes in 1941 numbered 90, with 15,566 workers involved, 26,542 working days lost, and £34,917 estimated loss in wages." Power Supply. Provided there are no major breakdowns in plant the electric power supply position in the North Island this winter should be much the same as it was last winter, and certainly no worse. Economy in the use of current will still have to be continued, but it should be possible to avoid hardship to domestic and commercial consumers. The wetness of this summer has eased the position, and by the end of the winter it is hoped to have another 21,000 k.w. unit running at Waikaremoana. Economy Measures. As wartime economy measures the Government is dispensing with the need for the formal renewal of various licences. For instance, regulations gazetted last night suspend the necessity for sheep owners to make annual returns of flocks. Meat exporters' and slaughterhouse licences will now automatically be renewed each year. There will also be no necessity for the renewal of public road transport service licences. In the lastmentioned case it is stated that existing legislation contains ample power for such licences to be reviewed if the necessity arises. In all three instances economy will be effected in man-power, paper, and printing. Women Church Workers. The annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand decided this week that a pension scheme for women servants of boards and departments and institutions of the Church on their retirement was desirable and possible, but it would not be practicable to start one under present conditions. It recommended that each board, department, or institution should make its own, provision for pensions in individual cases, as had already been done in some instances. From returns received, it was stated, it had been ascertained that there were very few workers who would be interested in a pension scheme. Many were covered by the present Social Security benefits. Hospital Buildings. The Wellington Hospital Board's architects have been instructed to call tenders for the erection of the 210-bed block, Wellington Hospital, Jn stages as previously resolved, as soon as the plans are completed and approved by the Department of Health. The architects have also been instructed to proceed as rapidly as possible with the final plans of the pipe tunnel from the new boiler house to the 210-bed block. The board has also decided to have plans prepared immediately for wing F of the Hutt Valley Hospital, the building to be of two storeys, in light construction. Plans are also to be prepared for a mortuary in permanent materials. An extension, in permanent materials, to accommodate 55 to 60 nurses, is to be made to the nurses' home. - i