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Evening Star, Issue 23449, 14 December 1939, Page 10

“ Apart from a shortage of shearers, the employment situation in Dunedin is perfectly normal,” said the placement officer, Mr T. A. White, to a ‘ Star ’ reporter this morning. Shearers were very hard to get, and there was a number of sheds shearing with only one or two men on the board. An endeavour was being made, however, to divert men from northern sheds. To mark the historic occasion of the centenary of New Zealand, the managing director of a largo retail store in the city has handed to the secretary of the company a cheque for £6OO as a special gift to be distributed pro rata among all the members of the staff, including those in the workrooms.

To-dav, December 14, is the birthday of His Majesty King George VI. Flags were flying from all public and some other buildings in the city, but, as on former occasions, the King’s Birthday will be officially observed on the first Monday in June. The change was made because of the inconvenience which would have been occasioned by a public holiday so near Christmas. “ For what reason I do not know, but after the last war the blockade of Germany was kept up for six months after the armistice,” said the Rev. D. C. Herron, speaking to the Travel Club yesterday afternoon. The Salvation Army became the organ of certain philanthropic people in England, he continued, for distributing milk to the starving German children. It had been noticed of late years that the Salvation Army was allowed far more freedom in Gemany than other t religious bodies, and Hitler, on being asked the reason, replied merely, “ Well, we remember the milk.”

To enable war pensioners and Social Security beneficiaries to receive tbeir pensions and benefits in ample time for Christmas it has been decided to authorise payment to begin earlier than usual this month. The Acting-Minister of Social Security (Mr Parry) stated yesterday that war pensions, war veterans’ allowances, and Social Security benefits (other than sickness and unemployment benefits) would be available for collection on or after Wednesday, December 20. Unemployment and sickness benefits for the weeks ending December 23 and 30 and January 6 would be paid in one amount in the week ending December 23. The fat sheep sale opened with prices equal to those of last week at Burnside yesterday, and, as the auction progressed, prices generally improved to the extent of Is to Is 6d a head, but over the last two races values eased to slightly below last week’s rates. Extra prime heavy wethers made to 355; prime wethers, 30s to 32s 9d; medium, 26s to 28s; light, from 21s 6d; extra prime heavy young ewes, to 31s; extra prime heavy, to 27s 3d; prime, 24s to 25s 6d; medium, 19s to 21s; and light, from 12s.

When digging up the lawn of his home in Hamilton Mr L. J. Mark, headmaster of the Hamilton West School, found a diamond engagement ring. An inquiry was made, and it was found that the ring was lost by Mrs J. B. Pomeroy, of Hamilton, when she and her husband occupied the property 19 years ago. Two of the 12 diamonds were missing from their setting, otherwise the ring was undaraaged. '

One wonders what the local reds, pinks, and pale pinks will advance as •specious excuses for the latest outrage by Russia in callously invading one of the most peaceful and inoffensive nations in the world (writes a correspondent of the Melbourne ‘ Age ’). .The Polish outrage had its batch of unimpressive apologists, but it is difficult to see how; even the most one-eyed exponent of Stalinistic frightfuluess can find the slightest pretext for condoning this example of Bolsh-cum-Nazi ruthless brigandage. The wrigglings and twistings of lovers of foreign dictatorships who, nevertheless, take care to live under the British flag,/do their self-exposed unworthy cause more harm than any attempt to suppress their views.

Seven pages of the latest ‘ Gazette ’ are occupied with the names and addresses of upwards of 400 _ persons, firms, and companies which have been declared enemy traders : for the purposes of the Enemy Trading Emergency Regulations, 1939. The Minister of Industries and Commerce is satisfied that they are carrying on business to a substantial extent for the benefit of alien enemies resident out of New Zealand. Some of the names mentioned are very well known, and the addresses given show that the businesses affected are situated in every part of the world. Large numbers are from different parts of South America, and many others from such countries as Finland. Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Iran, Mexico. Cuba, Yugoslavia, and Japan. Three children found the strain of standing through five speeches too much for them at ; the opening of the Christchurch South Intermediate School by the Hon. H. G. R. Mason on Saturday, states the ‘ Press.’ One small boy appeared to faint, though not seriously, and another small boy and a girl had to be led into the school building. Before the speeches began two large squads of children entertained the guests with massed drill, folk-dancing, and singing. They then stood “at ease ” right in front of the speakers for more than an hour. After half an hour most of them were obviously weary of standing, as there was little in the speeches addressed directly to them. The children endured their discomfort with great patience, though with considerable shuffling of feet as the minutes passed. However, when the Minister was about to speak, they were permitted to sit for a further quarter of an hour on the asphalt. The “ casualties ” remained in a classroom wrapped in rugs. Having been in European hands for the past 60 years, a walking stick or staff which formerly belonged to Te Kooti Rikirangi, the celebrated Maori rebel leader, is to pass back into Maori hands for the diiration of the war. Now in the possession of Mr A. Rosenberg, Hastings, the staff will serve a member of the native corps as a ceremonial cane, according to the terms of Mr Rosenberg’s surrender of the relio. The idea of the loan of the stick is that it will prove an incentive to the Maori recipient to emulate the boldness and resource which characterised To Kooti. It is stated that the stick was given to Mr John Wheeler, New Plymouth, by Te Kooti during the ’seventies, and it subsequently passed through the hands of another party to those of Mr Rosenberg. Portion of the staff has been broken off. and its length is now about 2ft 6in, the effect of a carved design being heightened by a number of outgrowths. The loan of the stick was agreed to by its owner on the urgent request of a'young Maori, who is training for commissioned rank at Trentham. The soldier is a follower of Te Kooti’s faith, .the Ringatu, and intensely admires its founder. Dissatisfied with the arrangements made for his exhibition at the Centennial Royal Show, at Invercargill, a boar of formidable appearance made his escape on Tuesday morning, and horrified mothers living near Rugby Park hastily gathered in their children when they learned that the animal was at large. After an exciting chase it was captured and tied to a pole, but the united efforts of four men were required to subdue it and put it on a lorry for conveyance back to the show grounds.

Coloured monumental stone comes from Sweden, so it is unlikely, because of the war, that any supplies will reach the Dominion for a considerable time. The stone is red and black granite, and is used more extensively than the grey and light grey granite that comes from Coromandel, in the Auckland province. Masonry firms in Dunedin will not be embarrassed through the disappearance of the Swedish market, as all report that they Lave accumulated supplies.

The King’s uniform will become a more familiar sight in Dunedin for the next two weeks, and citizens will realise mdre forcibly that there is a war on, for approximately 260 Dunedin members of the special military force are arriving at the station this evening by special train from Burnham military camp. The men are returning on final leave, and are scheduled to arrive in the city at 5.1. Travelling south by the same train from the camp are about 50 men for the North Otago district, 40 for South Otago, while 160 will continue on to Invercargill. At the last meeting of the Corporation Transport Committee it was decided that all troops on final leave in Dunedin he allowed to travel free on the trams and buses while in uniform. There were two enlistments in the special military force at Army headquarters yesterday, these being Gordon Henry M'Murray, Dunedin, group 2 (single men), and William Gladstone Middlemass, Dunedin, group 4 (married, with children). Local grown new potatoes are coming on to the market in greater quantities just now, with the result that supplies from the Pukekohe (Auckland) district have ceased. The bulk of those grown locally are coming from the Outram district, with a smaller percentage from the Peninsula. Prices remain fairly firm and stocks were sold wholesale this morning at 3Jd a lb, retailers asking about sd. As supplies become more plentiful naturally there will be an easing in price. There has been a surfeit, of green peas in the past few days, and growers have realised lid to lid a lb. the latter price ruling this morning. It is anticipated that there will be a definite firming up, however, from now on. Owing to the dry. weather conditions, which have, been against the proper swelling of strawberries, this fruit is not plentiful. In fact, a big drop in supplies is recorded, and an increase in price is anticipated between now and Christmas. They were retailing at Is 3d this morning. Tomatoes, the bulk of which are corning to hand from Christchurch, Nelson, and other northern sources, ai-e in more plentiful supply, and prices for good quality ranged in the vicinity of Is 2}d this morning, although poorer grades were being sold at KHcl a lb. All supplies so far are from the glasshouse, as it is yet too early in the season for any of the outside grown variety.