NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Message to General Mac Arthur. On behalf of the British-American Co-operation Movement, Mr. C. -H. Weston, X.C, its president, yesterday sent the following message to General Douglas Mac Arthur, Allied Com-mander-in-Chief in the South-west Pacific, who had reached the age of 63: —"The British-American Co-opera-tion Movement executive and members desire to tender you on the occasion of your birthday their gratitude and highest admiration for your outstanding achievements in the united cause leading on to victory." Far Behind Savings Quota. After an excellent response on Monday, when £2133 was invested in National Savings in the Wellington metrwpolitan area, the local National Savings Committee advises that yesterday receipts, were only £556, a total of £2689 for two days. This leaves a balance of £5311 to be subscribed by Saturday to reach the quota of £8000. Brighter news, it is urged, should not blind people to the iact that there was as yet no justification for a slackening of effort, and citizens should see that the quota was reached. Transport Charges. The question whether passenger and goods transport charges were to be included in the stabilisation proposals, and if so, from what date, was raised with the Minister of Transport (Mr. O'Brien) at Christchurch yesterday, states a Press Association message. The Minister said that the Stabilisation Commission would have the control of transport charges, and they would definitely have something to say about them. Australia's War Effort. An interesting picture of Australia's war production effort was given at the A.I.F. luncheon in celebration of Australia Day yesterday by the Acting Australian Trade Commissioner. Mr. J. L. Menzies. He said that before the war there were 540,000 factory employees producing for civilian needs., This figure had dropped to 194,000, a reduction of 64 per cent., and of the present total of 705,000 factory employees, 511,000, or 72 per cent., were engaged in war work. "I think," said Mr. Menzies, "that those figures show strikingly the way in which Australia has transferred labour from civilian to war work." • * Post-war Port Development. In common with other local authorities, the Wellington Harbour Board has been requested by the Rehabilitation Board to acquaint that board with lists of work which it is proposed to carry out after the war and which may provide employment for men returning from service overseas. After the matter had been discussed in committee the chairman, Mr. W. H. Price, stated that it had been decided to refer the question to a special committee of the whole board, to prepare a detailed report. Conscience Money. , Wellington Harbour Board finances have benefited to the extent of 3s 6d from the weight of conscience of a traveller—a woman by the writing —who had the unique experience (or almost so). of passing through the barriers without paying dues on her luggage. She did not say when, or how, the latter being of greater general interest, nor was she positive of the dues, but, estimating them at 3s 6d, sent that amount over the signature of "Yours, etc." While agreeing with Mr. J O. Johnson that the board should take no notice of anonymous correspondents, the chairman, Mr. W. H. Price, said that the board would al-j ways accept anonymous sums from1 those troubled in mind. Power on Wharves. Up to the present time contractors have been allowed to bring in electric power from the city supplies to switch boards erected on the wharf sheds, stated a report from the Acting Chief Engineer, Mr. K. T. Jenssen, to the Harbour Board last night. This is, however, a very dangerous practice and on several occasions these trailing cables have been broken in the dark whilst carrying the current, fortunately without serious results, he stated. Proper power points are now being installed, two at each of Pipitea, Kings, I and Glasgow Wharves, with cables j properly insulated, and, carried under- | neath to the points at the sides of them so that the trailing cables will not have to pass over any portion of the board's property on which work is being carried out or where they can be of any I danger to life or property. Mr. Lang stone's Salary. He was sure Mr. Frank Langstone, M.P., never received a salary of £4000 a year as New Zealand representative iin Canada; it was probably in the vicinity of £2000, including expenses, said the Minister of Supply and Munitions (Mr. Sullivan), replying to a question at the Labour campaign meeting :in Christchurch East, recently. He added that he could assure his audi- j ence that there was nobody working for the Labour Government who was) receiving £4000 a year. The questioner said that Mr. Langstone had mentioned receiving £4000 as New Zealand representative in Canada, so that he was interested to know what Mr. Nash was receiving for the "Washington job." Not To Be "Cut." An emphatic denial that the National Party would, if in power, cut pensions or wages or commit other "mistakes of the depression," was made by the party's candidate in the Christchurch East by-election, Mr. M. E. Lyons, in replying at Waltham to state- j ments' made by the Labour Party's candidate, Miss Mabel Howard (states the "Press"). "Allegations have been made by the lady that if the National Party were returned we would immediately set about to cut pensions and wages and reduce this and that and wipe out Social Security," said Mr. ■ Lyons. "That allegation has been made ; at meetings of women in particular. and I want to give it as far as I and ' the party are concerned a most emphatic denial. The National Party will . not cut pensions and wages and do some of those mistaken things that were done in the depression. We have had the experience of the depression to . guide us in matters of that kind. Miss Howard has made repeated statements ■ of the sort mentioned, particularly to i old people and those dependent on Social Security. I give you this emphatic pledge—the National Party will 1 [not reduce wages and-pen§ions, v