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Evening Star, Issue 24006, 3 October 1941, Page 4

The Blackball State mine will bo idle for the remainder of tho week because of the difficulty in disposing of the large quantity of slack coal produced at the mine (says Thursday’s _ Christchurch ‘Press ’). Should the mine resume on Monday, the employees will have lost 12 out of IS shifts in the last three weeks. A white heron was seen in tho vicinity of the Whangapoua wharf, about 11 miles from Coromandelrecently by several residents and two visitors to the district. According to settlers who have lived there all their lives, there is no previous record of a white heron having been seen in the locality. Uniforms for the youthful members of the Air Training Corps of tho Royal New Zealand Air Force will not be made available until some time next month. They will bo of similar colour and pattern to the Air Force, with two distinctions. There, will bo no brass buttons or hat badge. Instead, there will be plastic buttons similar to those used on Australian Air Force uniforms, and tho distinguishing badge will merely be sewn on to the hat. The badge will include _ the letters “ A.T.C.,” probably stitched in red material, -

As a sequel to the recent dispute on a Panamanian ship at Auckland, a notice appearing in the 1 Gazette ’ will enforce the provisions of part 14 of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, in respect of masters and seamen of ships of too Republic of Panama. Part 14 of the Act gives masters and owners extended power in matters such as the apprehension and punishment of deserters. The gazetting of the Foreign Seamen’s (Panama) Notice, 1941. follows representations by the Consul for Panama.

The shop assistants’ dispute in conciliation proceedings at Wellington, which was adjourned sine die, was resumed yesterday, the employers having decided to continue. Wages in advance of those in the existing award are sought by the union, which also seeks no work on Saturdays and an hour daily for lunch. One of the picturesque features of the Waikokopu-Gisborne section of the East Coast railway, Kopuawhara bridge, with its immense arched spans, is nearing completion. An eight-story building could be erected under one span without reaching the deck level. The last few days have seen the construction of shorter spandrel columns, rising from the top of the arch, to support the decking and rails. Each of the sections will be 20ft in length, and they represent the last stage in the construction of the huge bridge, apart from the laying of sleepers and rails and adding the handrails. . A modern example of casting bread upon the waters is cited by a member of the St. John Ambulance Association now on active service. “ When I put my shilling into the collection at the annual church parade, 1 little thought I would get a return for it so quickly, if ever, he has written to a friend in Auckland. “ I was having a look at the Ophthalmic Hospital in Jerusalem when the matron noticed I had a slight conjunctivitis, which she treated there and then. It was a good return on a shilling,” The collections at the annual church parades of the Order of St. John are devoted to this hospital.

Claimed to be tho deepest shaft in New Zealand, tho Prohibition Shaft, from which 98 per cent, of the output of_ the Blackwater Mines Ltd. quartz mine at Waiuta is made, has reached a depth of 2,500 ft. The slope of tho reef is such that work is now_ proceeding on a contract for tho sinking of the shaft to the next level, No. 15, a further 125 ft.

“ To be pacifist before the training that every Gorman hoy receives in tyranny is like being pacifist before an inferno of fire approaching your house,” states the ‘ New Zealand Baptist,’ in an editorial on pacifism. “ In tho ’twenties and ’thirties of this century pacifism had its heyday among us. Many a minister among ourselves and other Christian groups stood for it. The failure of tho Disarmament Conference and the repeated failures of the League of Nations made the farsighted wonder if pacifism was a mirage.” Quoting an American writer in the * Century,’ tho article states that Hitler has developed a method of mastering the minds and ideas of 80,000,000 Germans. From the cradle, through the always secular school and through camp, they arc inoculated with his ipagau brutality. Pacifism was abstractly Christian, but no one could live in the abstract.

Friday is now being called rainday in Wanganui. Uain fell again to-day, and made the twenty-seventh successive wot Friday in Wanganui.—Press Association.

The only notifiable infectious disease cases occurring in Otago and Southland during the week wore pulmonary tuberculosis. One case was reported in Otago and three in Southland. “ The opinion of the New Zealand Government is that there should be direct representation of the Dominion in Genova to further tho welfare of New Zealand prisoners of war through the agency of the International Red Cross, and also to secure if possible earlier information for relatives in New Zealand. However, neither the United Kingdom Government nor the International Bed Cross favours the proposal,” stated the Prime Minister in the House, but further representations arc being made through tho Imperial Government. Mr Fraser pointed out that to get to Geneva under present circumstances meant a long roundabout journey. If the representations wore 'unsuccessful, tho Government would consider the possibility of some person of influence in Geneva, with New Zealand associations, undertaking the responsibility, if this was approved by the authorities; otherwise the only chance of representation would bo through the British Consul. He assured the House that everything possible was being done under difficult circumstances. —Parliamentary reporter.

Answering a question by Mr Richards in the House, the Postmaster-General, Mr Webb, announced reduced postage rates for parcels for soldiers in the Middle East, Britain, Canada, up to the end of this month would bo forwarded at the following rates: For parcels "not exceeding 31b, Is; for parcels weighing from 31b to 111 b, 2s. Mr Webb said the effect of this would mean that parcels weighing between 71b and 111 b would bo accepted for the rest of this month at 2s instead of 4s, tho normal rate. Mr Webb said that although the concession was available until tho end of the month, he advised posting by October 15.—Press Association.

November 15 is freely spoken of in political circles in tho city as the date of the General ElecUon (says tlio Christchurch. ‘Star-Sun ’). Trades Hall officials, who are in a position to get reliable information, said that November 15, a Saturday, had been suggested by Labour organisations to tho present caucus as a suitable date if the Government decided to hold the election. Some went so far as to say that this date had already been decided on, and that the Government was only awaiting a suitable moment to make the announcement. Tho progress of the Social Security Amendment Bill might bo a factor in determining the timing, it was suggested. A Mataura lady has received from overseas three copies of the pamphlets dropped by the Royal Air Force over Germany. While they provide little information from tho point of view of the average British reader, the setout from the printer’s viewpoint is decidedly attractive. In' one of the leaflets there is a picture of Hitler in one of his frenzied, oratorical moods, and proceeding from his mouth are the printed boasts, which arc apparently dealt with in prominent type lower down. Propaganda to which it is desired that special nttenton should be drawn is set out in panels with appropriate headings and heavy type, while the whole of the printing is done on the best class of white paper.

An answer to tho contention that tho publication of information in the ‘ Gazette ’ was of little practical value was made by Sir Justice Blair during the hearing of a case at Auckland. Sir J. B. Johnston had asserted that not one person in 5,000 read notices in the ‘ Gazette,’ but His Honour replied that the notices were nevertheless of much value. Tho newspapers went carefully through the ‘ Gazette,’ and whenever they found anything of public interest they made it known. A widely-travelled American film cameraman, Sir Arthur Menken, arrived in Auckland on Slonday on a brief visit to tho Dominion. During a fortnight’s stay he hopes to complete a newsreel of New Zealand’s war effort. Since he filmed the German blitz in England last year Sir Menken has shot films in China and tho Philippines, and completed a survey of the western Pacific all within tho period of a year. The last war newsreel which ho completed was the bombing of Chungking by the Japanese. In all Mr Slonken has made newsreels for his company in six continents. He was in Finland and Norway during hostilities in those countries, and secured excellent pictures.

In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday Stephen Henry Carr (Mr 0. G. Stevens) proceeded against E. 0. Meinung (Mr J. P. Ward), claiming possession of a dwelling situated in Oxford street. After hearing lengthy _ evidence the magistrate (Mr H. J. Dixon) made an order for possession on or before November 1.

A wounded Now Zealand officer who lost his watch on a beach in Greece had it returned in tho Wellington Hospital recently. Tho officer lost tho watch when an enemy b,allot shattered his wrist and severed tho watch strap. It was later picked up by a New Zealand soldier who was also wounded. Officer and soldier wore repatriated to New Zealand and both entered tho Wellington Hospital for treatment, occupying adjacent beds. Having no watch, a nurse borrowed one being worn by the soldier, who explained that it was not his, as he had found it in Greece._ To his surprise the officer recognised it as his own.

The City Fire Brigade answered a malicious false alarm last evening at 8.28 from Duudonald street. Anderson’s Bay, and at 12.37 this afternoon attended to a chimney fire in Trafalgar street. St. Kilda. No damage was reported.

Attention is drawn to an advertisement in this issue concerning an attractivo first-day souvenir cover now in issue free at Whitcombe and Tombs and all post offices, for use with tlio 1941 health stamp, which will bo on issue on October 4. The supply of covers is limited, and all interested aro advised to obtain their supplies early. On Saturday afternoon a fete in aid of war funds will be, held at the Otago Boys’ High School grounds. The programme will consist of items by pupils of the school, physical training display, and an exhibition of emergency precautions work. Humorous items will no given throughout the programme.