PUBLIC NEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 103, 3 May 1945, Page 8

PUBLIC NEEDS

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

SHOPPING AND TRANSPORT

Arrangements for the continuance of essential services and for sufficiently wide food shop hours, including bread distribution, to enable households to provide for YE Day and the following day, are now fairly complete, except as regards tram and bus transport within the city. . '

Yesterday the Minister of Labour (Mr. O'Brien) asked all transport workers to realise their obligations to those of the public who are anxious to attend the celebrations and also to the very many people who must continue to work in essential services. However, the appeal has not so far ended the deadlock over city trams and buses. The union has asserted that in spite of requests for a timely indication of the council's intentions, that indication was not forthcoming On the other hand, the council and the management assert that the council's intentions were stated, and there, after an exchange of statements and letters between the Mayor, the Town Clerk, and the union, but without a discussion round the table, the argument rests. No definite statement has been made about railway services, but it is expected that trains and railway buses will run, though staff members who can be released will be granted free time. Hydro-electric, broadcasting, and many Government and local essential services will, of course, continue, and workers will receive time off later, or payment in compensation. . . The Waterfront Control Commission, has issued instructions that work which is not essential shall cease on YE Day, and that essential work on both day and night shifts in the loading of frozen meat or perishable commodities shall be carried to completion —that is, till this class of cargo which has already left works or store is loaded, so that it will not be left to deteriorate in trucks. TAXIS AND CARS. Today arrangements for emergency taxi services are being completed. Generally the rule will be that genuinely essential calls only will be answered. Taxis will not be available for 'Victory Day joy rides. The secretary of. the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association has advised that, following the lead of the Government, the local garage committee is recommending that all garages and service stations should remain open for one hour after the special announcement is made to enable clients to secure their vehicles and obtain petrol. Thereafter the same holidays as will apply to Government departments will be observed, premises closing for the balance of the day and the whole of the following day. Police and city traffic officers will co-operate in controlling traffic and maintaining good order in the city. Where necessary streets will be closed, as when the official announcement is made from the portico of Government Buildings, and in the afternoon car parking will be banned in various streets about the Basin Reserve; traffic controllers will direct drivers where to park and where not; Dufferin, Rugby, Ellice, and Buckle Streets will be closed to parking; official cars will park in Sussex Street as directed. The street police force will be brought up to about 200 by calling on those who normally do office duty. They will look with, a tolerant eye uoon reasonable foolishness, and with both eyes intolerably upon the unduly foolish, the obstreperous, and the pub-licly-annoying celebrants of YE Day. Hotels will remain open. HOSPITALS MUST GO ON. It is not proposed to have special; celebrations in the institutions under the control of the Wellington Hospital Board. The secretary, Mr. J. B. I. Cook, said yesterday that wherever possible an effort would be made to fall into line with the Government's wishes and let those sections of the staff that could be spared have a holiday Because of the uncertainty as to the time and the fact that many people had appointments, there would be no closing of any of the departments, such as the out-patients', Xray, dental, and massage. If the celebrations fell on a visiting day, normal visiting hours would be observed, but if on a non-visiting day no special visiting would be allowed. - The Building Trades Sub-contractors Association met yesterday and recommended that sub-contractors should cease' work and pay workers for the day news of the surrender was received, resuming work next day, if the event became known officially before midday.l However, if the news was received after noon, it was recommended that workers, have that afternoon and the following day off, and be paid therefor. If the news was received on Saturday or Sunday, it was recommended ,that Monday be observed as a paid holiday. - CLOSING OF HOTELS The following telegram has been sent to the Acting Prime Minister by Mr. G. H. Mackley, M.P.:— "In view of the widespread feeling both here and overseas, as expressed by yourself on several occasions and by the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the President of the United States, that the capitulation of Germany would best be celebrated by all people as an occasion for thanksgiving rather than one for an undue outward manifestation of our great joy at such an event, I respectfully suggest that the Government give serious consideration to the closing of all hotel bars during the two-day period of holiday or such shorter period as is to be observed in recognition of the first step towards final peace. I note with pleasure the decision of the Australian Federal Government to adopt the course I now suggest and would ask that you use your best influence to enable New Zealand to follow Australia's wise lead. I am sure the necessity for reinforcing the city police forces would thus be minimised, and benefit would accrue to all concerned in a spirit of sincere thanksgiving without recourse to those artificial which might rob the occasion of much of its meaning and value to the community."