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Evening Star, Issue 24104, 27 January 1942, Page 4

The Strike and Lock-out Emergency Regulations, 1939, amendment No. 1, gazetted last night, provide that every person who has committed or shall hereafter commit an offence against these regulations shall be liable on summary conviction, in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding £SO, and in the case of a body corporate to a fine not exceeding £2OO. To-night the first medical examination of men called in last week’s ballot will take place at the Dental School, when approximately 100 _ recruits will be examined. The examination is being conducted in alphabetical order. Little time is to be lost in getting through the big list of ballottees, and next week it is likely that four sittings of the medical board will be held, probably on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights.

On Saturday the Waitahuna branch of the Tuapeka County E.P.S. staged a demonstration. At 2! p.m. the tolling of a bell proclaimed a state of emergency, and the communications, law and order, medical supply, and transport units immediately went into action, while the Homo Guard paraded at full strength. The Presbyterian Sunday School Hall was equipped as an emergency hospital, and during the afternoon many casualties were attended to by the Waitahuna Voluntary Aids, under the direction of Mrs E. Ellis, assisted by voluntary aids from the Lawx’ence detachment. The vehicles requisitioned as ambulances proved very satisfactory, and were efficiently handled by women members of the transport section. The Home Guard was inspected by the district commander, Lieutenant J. E. R. Benton. Under Scoutmaster J. R. Shaw, the Boys Scouts had a particularly busy afternoon, and rendered assistance to all units by acting as messengers. At the conclusion of the trial the chairman (Mr W. Cameron) stated that the arrangements had proved very effective.

An inquiry for the reason why “ fresh water sand ” is specified in the Emergency Precautions Service directions for smothering incendiary bombs has been received from a correspondent, who also asks whether thoroughly washed and dried sea sand is not equally suitable (says the Auckland ‘Herald’). The reason given by fire-fighting experts for not using sea sand is that the salt in it sets up a chemical action in contact with the bomb and causes spluttering. Moreover, its presence hinders sand from drjfing completely. No objection to washed sea sand appears',to have been raised by any authority, “ It would be a much better idea if those people who are sending articles packed in tins to soldiers overseas wore to seal the tins with adhesive tape instead of soldering them,” a soldier in Suva, to a friend in Christchurch. “ Tins are very handy, and are also very scarce over here, and if they arc soldered they are of no use afterwards, as they have to be cut to be opened.” The effect of the war on Presbyterian charges is discussed in an article in the ‘ Outlook,’ which states that 24 ministers are at present serving with the forces at home and abroad, and that 28 vacancies in charges were listed in the 1940 Assembly report. The church is making a call on retired ministers and teachers to fill the vacancies.

The question of digging trenches at the larger primary schools m Invercargill was discussed at a meeting of the Southland Education Board last week. Members expressed the opinion that trenches for the protection of school children should be prepared as early as possible. The secretary was instructed to endeavour to secure the services of men under scheme 13 to dig the trenches.

As part of tho scheme for combating the spread of tuberculosis among Maoris in Now Zealand, huts are being erected by order of the Health Department in various districts with large Maori populations. Each hut is to be erected close to the home of a Maori family, of which one member suffers from tuberculosis, and is what is known as an “ infective ” case. The patient may not be ill enough to be confined in hospital, but might infect other members of the family with the disease, especially where families are so crowded in a house that there is not sufficient space in which to isolate this patient.

At last night’s meeting of the Acclimatisation Society the council recommended that an open season for Californian quail be declared as follows: The period to bo increased by one month for the Vincent and Mauiototo Counties—that is, from May 2 to July 31. In the Taieri and Waihemo Counties, excepting that portion in the Taieri County on the seaward side of tho main highway south from Dunedin, the season to be May 2 to May 31. A closed season is to exist in the Waikouaiti and Clutha Counties. The period for the taking of chukor is to be increased by one month—that is, from May 2to July 31. For other game the duration is to be the same as last year.

The giant hollyhock war is on. Mention of a 10ft hollyhock in the ‘ Star ’ a few nights ago brought forward a correspondent last night who referred to a 12-footer. But these are only midgets compared with one that is growing beside the train examiner’s hut near the Dunedin railway station. For here is a perfectly healthy specimen which is 15ft 2in in height, and still going strong. Remarkably enough this particular hollyhock is growing only in cinders, and it is causing some interest to know just what nourishment the plant is receiving from such a growing base. With this hollyhock it might be a case of “ mother and son both doing well,” for right beside it is a determined “ trier,” which has so far attained the height of 9ft 6in, but is obviously going to do better than that.

The Manawatu Automobile Association decided to remove its road signposts now in view of the restricted motoring, being of opinion that, should an acute war emergency arise, the posts might be hurriedly removed by the authorities using the axe. Members said the proposed step had been placed before the Transport Minister with a view to universal action.—Press Association.

The mayoress (Mrs A. H. Allen) advises that the distribution of wool in the Dunedin-St. Kilda sub-zone of the Patriotic Council will be recommenced on Wednesday next. February 4. The Wool Committee will be in attendance in the basement of the Town Hall from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on every Wednesday subsequently at the same time. Articles knitted from wool previously issued should be returned as early as possible. As public hospitals have been declared an essential industry, no member of the staff may resign until application has been made to the man power officer, the secretary (Mr H. G. Naylor) told the South Canterbury Hospital Board at Timaru. Mr J. C. Hay suggested the regulations might make it difficult for the Waimato Hospital to secure thq services of a matron. Six applications had been received for the position, and only one applicant was not covered by the restriction. The secretary stated that the Government had power to deal with the man power and women power of the Dominion. Mr Hay said that should have come in long ago. It should have come in with conscription. An Association message from Auckland reports that some time may eventuate before the United States Minister comes to New Zealand, the United States Consul stated to-day. The nomination of Mr David Winton has been withdrawn by President Roosevelt at Mr Winton’s request. His services may be used in America.

The second major wool .appraisal of the season is at present being carried out. The wool has opened up in fair condition, but the quality generally_ is below that of last year. Central clips are showing the effects of the dry weather experienced there and are heavy in quality. The appraisal, which began on Sunday, is expected to he completed to-morrow. “ This war, more perhaps than any other war in the history of mankind, is about beliefs,” asserted Mr St. John Ervine in a recent address, states the ‘ Methodist Times.’ “ If I were asked to state very simply and very shortly what I think this war is about, 1 should reply that it is a conflict between those who think that the community is more important than the individual, and those who think the individual is more important than the community.”

The drawing of “ Happy New Year ” -Art Union is to take place at the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, to-morrow-morning, commencing at 9.30 o’clock.