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Evening Star, Issue 24429, 15 February 1943, Page 2

" We are very fortunate to have him with us on. the committee-,"* remarked Mr F. C. Bobby, superintendent of poultry husbandry, at a recent meeting in Henderson, when referring to Major Douglas Smith, of the United States Purchasing Board in New Zealand, who is a member of the committee appointed by the Government to increase egg production. Mr Bobby said Major Smith was a pedigree poultry breeder in America, and was at present studying New Zealand methods as well ns organising supplies for the American forces.

T-he high average wages earned by watcrsiders in Wellington were mentioned during the hearing of a civil case between a waterside worker and the Wellington Harbour Board in the Supreme Court in Wellington. The man's loss of wages because of an accident was in question. The .plaintiff said he was 59 years of age, and but for the accident would have expected to be ai> A grade worker for another -four .years He was working 84 hours a week. It was announced that counsel had agreed that the average earnings of men in the same grade as him, taken from cards selected at random in the records of the board, were Ss follows:—From Julv, 1942, to September, 1942, £l2 13s 4d "a week; from October, 1942, to January, 1943, £l3 9s 4c! a week. Over the whole period from July, 1942, to January, 1943. the average earnings shown on those cards taken at random were £l3 h 2d a week.

Decision to ask the Government to extend the control of marketing of all fruit and vegetables so that children could get>>an adequate supply at reasonable prices to maintain health was recently made by the Wellington School Committees aiid Educational Association. It was described as a " disgrace " and a "scandal " that fruit and vegetables should be the price they are in New Zealand. A motion that the Government be asked to extend the free fruit allowance to schoo! children to include stone fruit as well as apples was not carried.

Dr Galway added greatly to his laurels at last nigni's organ recital iu too Town Hall, giving a really spiendid registration of Wagner's gorgeouslyflorid tone poem, Overture to ' Tamiliauser.' Those who realised the technical difficulties of this piece appreciated fully the city organist's easy command of these, and in addition his adroit haudling of the resources of the instrument to gain some of the effects of a full orchestra, it was a magnificent purformauce, recognised by the audience by salvoes of applause. Other excellent offerings were Ithoiuberger's brilliant ' Introduction and Fugue,' an allegro by John Stanley, and Scnubert's lovely 'To Music/ The assisting artist was the pianist. Miss Margaret Boult, who played with real distinction ' The Island Spell ' (Ireland) and later Liszt's ' Rhapsody No. 5 ' with dynamic vigour.

The net result- of Saturday's waste rubber drive, apart from more than "10 tons of miscellaneous goods, such as hot water bottles, gum boots, tubes. and the like, was the surprising number of motor tyres collected. These actually totalled 4.000. The results from the drive passed all expectations, and due to the sp'endid collaboration of all concerned both the collecting and sorting were finished in one day. The undertaking was so big that there may be premises that were overlooked, and should this be the case the Waste Materials Committee has asked that those people affected phone No. 10-415, when arrangements will be made to remove the goods. In addition to Saturday's collection there are still supplies of waste material at most garages, service stations, tyre depots, and many large business firms, and these will be collected this week. In order to relieve the pressure on Saturday, school children had been collecting during the week, and in the depot in Dowling street there are nearly 1,000 tyres and about four tons of scrap rubber.

The opening of the oyster season is eagerly awaited, not only by Southlandcrs. but by people throughout New Zealand, and if the weather to-day is favourable the first day of the new season should be a successful one. The boats engaged in the industry this year "fiuve been completely overhauled, but because of the shortage of labour, difficulty has been experienced in finding sufficient men to operate them (reports the Southland ' Times '). The shortage of petrol will probably restrict the running of this season's oyster Derby.

The police, are conducting inquiries in respect to the whereabouts of a man who was reported to be missing from Seacliff Mental Hospital some time ago. Instances have been recorded where rumours have been circulated regarding the character of this man. and in this connection the authorities have stressed that there is no truth in these rumours. The man is not a dangerous character, but it is necessary for thorn to have information as to where he is. Any news which may be of assistance to the police should bo immediately conveyed to them. It has been reported that a man answering to the description of the missing person has been seen in the vicinity of Woodhaugh and Mount Cargill. and an investigation is being conducted in this area. A description of the man is as follows: Age. 33 years; weight, about 12 stone; build, stout: complexion, darlk: hair, greyish; clothing, probablv weuring a grev coat and trousers. He is a particularly broad-shouldered man.

The annual foundation service of the Otago Girls' High School was held at Knox Church last evening. Members of the Board of Governors. Miss M. H. M. King (principal). Miss Flora Allen (former principal), members of the staff and a large body of pupils attended, for whom special seats were reserved. Thf> choir seats were occupied bv the school choir, who sang an anthem. Miss King read the lesson, Ruth i., 1-18, mid the Rev. D- C Herron based his discourse on the same story, with application.-; -suited to his youthful congregation. Mr C. Roy Spackman was at tli* 1 organ. In the Police Court this morning Kevin Athol John Spiers appeared for sentence charged with the theft of 31 blankets valued at £2B 15s f;d. the property of the Y.M.C.A.. at whose hostel accused had stayed. A further charge of the theft of shoes valued at 15s. the property of some person unknown wns preferred against the accused, who pleaded guilty. The probation officer (Mr Mosley) submitted n report on the accused; and the magistrate (Mr H. -I. Dixon) committed Spiers to the .Borstal -.. ~ ~„..: ~i |lf ,< rv( ..,„,|\,,, f, V() yc-'rs.