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Evening Star, Issue 23444, 8 December 1939, Page 6

A shortage of boys for factory work of all types is at present the experience of the: Vocational Guidance Association’s, officer. It was hoped that, with the approach of school holidays, the position would be somewhat relieved; but, of those who have so far called seeking work, very few are considering anything except an office or warehouse job. It would-seera that many of them are blind to opportunities in the industrial world.

There were two enrolments in the special military force in army headquarters yesterday, the one name available for publication being Charles Lester, Dunedin, group 3 (married men with children) The District Medical Officer for Health (Dr T. M'Kibbin) reports that for the week December 2 to 8 inclusive there were seven cases of notifiable diseases recorded in the Otago and Southland health districts. They were as follow:—Otago: Pulmonary tuberculosis, 2; erysipelas, 2; scarlet fever, 1. Southland: Pulmonary tuberculosis, 2. That the Public Works employees refused to work alongside the Array engineers sent to the Wniourn camp to help them is denied by the district Public Works engineer in Wanganui (Mr G. W. Sampson), who states that so far as he is aware no Public Works man and no military man refused duty. Every man on that camp job worked well,, said Mr Sampson. They had done a good job, and should be entitled to credit; for it. The job went through in exactly one month, and was one of the biggest and quickest jobs in tho Dominion.—Press Association. A malicious false alarm w;as answered by tho Dunedin Fire Brigade at 8.25 pim. yesterday, while art automatic alarm from Messrs AVardells Ltd., in George street, was responded to at 4.52 p.m.

A difficult feat of engineering, involving one of the heaviest lifts attempted on the West Coast, was carried out on Monday morning, when the 78-ton locomotive which, on November 23, left the railway line and fell down an embankment along the Arnold River between Kairnata and Aratika, was restored to the track. A work train hauled by two engines left Greymouth at 4 a.m. for the scene of the accident, where about 30 men began work under the supervision of the district engineer, Mr P. H. Morey, and the locomotive engineer, Mr J. Binstead, both of Christchurch. The two engines were used to anchor two cranes, ono brought from Dunedin and the other from Christchurch, each with a lifting capacity of 40 tons. The actual lift began at 10.30 a.m. There was a tense moment before it was seen that the preparations bad proved effective, and about half an hour later the derailed engine was restored to the track-. It was towed to Grey mouth, where it is believed the necessary repairs can be done. The work was watched by a large crowd. When the accident occurred last month the engine driver, Mr S. Hern, was killed*.

An Italian shopkeeper in London provides one of the best bladk-out stories of the war so far. In answer to an official complaint that he was showing too many lights, ho expressed his surprise: “Me? But I’m neutral.” The rector of the Otago Boys’ High School (Mr H. P. Kidson), in his report to the board! for the year, stated that in the public examinations at the end of 1938 throe boys—D. I. Chisholm, J. B. Owen, and L. P. J. Chapmangained University National Scholarships. Higher leaving certificates were awarded to 40 boys, 48 boys passed the University entrance examination, 50 boys gained a full pass and 17 a partial pass in the school certificate examination, and four boys passed tho Public Service entrance.

German beer gardens are likely to lose much of their attraction soon. They are to bo compelled to sell tho now* “ official ” -weak beer, which contains only 1 per cent, of alcohol. Another decree has been issued forcing distillers to make brandy from chestnuts. Another new drink is being produced from wild cherries. The authorities promise it will taste “ nearly like cherry brandy.” A most useful piece of work was done this year in terracing the bank on the west side of the Littlebourne ground, states tho rector (Mr H. P. Kidson, in his yearly report to the Otago High Schools Board. This had proved most •useful at tho athletic sports and on occasions when school matches were played there. The board supplied the cost of the material for the work. No progress could, however, be reported concerning the proposal to enlarge the green into a full-sized football ground. “In tho meantime the old wooden buildings (the baths, gymnasium, and janitor’s cottage) are approaching nearer to decay, and the school remains the worst off in the way of playing fields of any secondary school in New Zealand,” the report stated. Attempts to change New Zealand money overseas provided humiliating experiences for 1 a resident of Christchurch, who has just returned from England. In Australia no one wanted New Zealand money, he said. In Loudon he received a little over £3 in exchange for a £5 note, but the greatest blow of all came when the native boys at Suva refused to dive for New Zealand coins. “ From that you can get some idea of how our national credit stands overseas,”, he added.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, in a letter to the Hawke’s Bay Acclimatisation Society, announces the limitation of the 1940 shooting season to a fortnight, with a close season following in 1941. It is understood that this will he general throughout the Dominion. —Press Association. “ The Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. Nash) has advised the manager of the Presbyterian book room that after careful consideration it has now been decided to grant licenses for the importation of religious books,” states the ‘ Outlook.’ “ The announcement of the restrictions published in October advised that the import of all books was subject to a 50 per cent, reduction. This restriction would have caused a great deal of hardship and inconvenience to our Sunday school teachers and scholars, and to our ministers and church members generally. It is with feelings of pleasure and thankfulness that we announce the special arrangements made.” Far more goods were being imported into New Zealand at the present time than before the present Government came into power and before restrictions wore imposed, declared Dr D. G. M‘Millan at South Dunedin last night. In 1935, he said, the imports totalled £46,000,000, while for the 10 months of the present year the amount was £45,000,000, so that, before the end of the year the 1935 figures would be exceeded by some millions of pounds. Importers were therefore really better off to-day than they had been for years. The retailers, too, were selling Snore goods. Had the Nationalists been returned they would not have been worrying over the difficulties < of importing, but they would be worrying about finding consumers for what they had imported. Humorous interludes in a competition judge’s life were recounted by Mr Will Hutchens, speaking at tho Rotary Club in Christchurch, In a backbloeks Australian town competitions were held for the first time. Two "local “ wags ” persuaded a youth somewhat soft in the head to enter, prescribing rigorous training, which included the drinking of water in which canary seed had been boiled. On the great day the youth was shooed on to the stage, with instructions to start his song again, in a louder voice, when the judge rang his bell for the competitor to stop. The resulting confusion when the judge “ gonged ” him was too vivid to describe. Then there were two judges who, receiving their cheques from a competitions society secretary, were asked to contribute to a special fund This they did, but inquiries later brought the information that the fund was “to get better judges next year.” Reserve Bank permits for the payment of goods imported under the third period licenses (January 1 to June SO next), now being distributed to importers through the trading banks, reveal that in many cases the applicants have received a pleasant surprise (says tho Auckland ‘ Herald’). Though the issue is not yet wide enough to base a general opinion upon them, it is remarked that some of the permits provide for the remittances at the times sought in the applications, and in others tho dates have actually been brought nearer. Some importers who applied for payments spread over six months have received authorisations for payments spread over the January-March period. It is believed that the bank is endeavouring to clear up many import commitments in tho early portion of tho third term.

The Public Works Department advises that during the next fortnight tar-spraying operations will be carried out on the Dunedin-Duke’s road highway between the Whare Flat road, a little to the south of Ashburn Hall, and the Silver-stream at Black Bridge. During week-days the road between these two points will be closed to traffic, which will require to take the alternative route through Whare Flat. In order to establish a regimental fund for the New Zealand Anti-tank Squadron in London, the chairman of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, Sir Ernest Davis, has cabled £l5O to the High Commissioner, Mr Jordan, with the request that the money be handed to the officer commanding the unit to ensure a measure of Christmas comforts.—Press Association.

A special meeting was held in the North-east Harbour School last evening for tho purpose of electing a new school committee in lieu of the previous committee, which resigned. There was an attendance of some -10 members, and the following were elected to the committee:—Mesdanies Vickers and Percy, and Messrs Earnshaw, Vivian, Robinson, Campbell, and Percy. At a subsequent meeting Mr Percy was elected chairman, and Mr Campbell secretary jaud treasurer.

Fire caused by a faulty destructor damaged the outside walls of a fourroomed brick-and-wood dwelling at 53 Cargill street this afternoon, tho City Fire Brigade being called out at 2.10.

Two additional donations of £4 each have been received from “ K.W.C.” and “ Anon.. St. Hilda,” for the fund for tho “ Adoption ” of Chinese Refugee Children, bringing the total contributions to date to £826 12s 6d. The rector of the Boys’ High School has (recommended to tho board that tho David Baxter Memorial Bursary of four guineas bo awarded! to Frederick 11. Bond, and the principal of the Girls' High'School has recommended that the bursary for her school be divided between "Nora Lindsay Calvert and Edith Sybil Wallace. The schools board, which met yesterday afternoon, approved the recopspondatkmej