DAILY INTERCESSION.

Evening Star, Issue 25173, 12 May 1944, Page 2

DAILY INTERCESSION.

Enlighten our eyes, we pray Thee, that we may learn righteousness. Strengthen the hands of those who face death in battle for our liberties. While we endure the long conflict give us visioji to look beyond the darkness of the present with its hate and strife to tho day of true victory for mankind when evil shall be overcome by good. Speedily bring in that time when the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

In view of the attention being focused on the rat menace, the announcement that red squill is being shipped to England and America once more is of special interest (says the Christchurch ' Star-Sun '). ,Red squill is a bulb plant found only in countries bordering the Mediterranean, and is used as a rat poison. It is an emetic which causes regurgitation in all animals except the rat, which is unable to regurgitate. Until the United Nations went into North Africa the supply there was being taken by the Axis. Now it is withheld from them and sent to tho Allied Nations to replenish stocks which have been getting low. To-morrow at 2.30 p.m. the 'Evening Star's ' gardening contributor will hold a demonstration jn the beautiful gardens of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Anderson's Bay. Tho subject will be how to make natures manures from refuse which is generally taken to the tip. Two very large compost heaps have been built from .the refuse from the home. Fine crops which have been grown from one application of compost will be on view. The garden is only five minutes walk from the tram terminus.

A survey of the man-power needs of the dairy industry was being made, said Mr W. E. Hale, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, at tho Dunedin ward conference of the board yesterday, and forms were already available for farmers, who were asked to fill in particulars of their labour requirements. Though the Government had accepted responsibility for supplying the men, he was more concerned about getting the farmers to take full advantage of the opportunity to obtain experienced labour than about the Government's ability to meet the demand., He advised farmers to put their money into more labour, thus improving the capital value and efficiency of their farms, la this way they would place themselves in a sound position to meet the trials that the post-war years would inevitably hring.

Man-power raids extending over the widest area yet attempted in Auckland in ono day were carried out by officers from the National Service Department yesterday afternoon. The raids, which were directed against male absentees and other industrial defaulters, covered hotel bars and billiard saloons. About 100 men were interviewed. Accompanying the national service officers were plain clothes constables, members of the Provost Corps, and American military police. Places in the_ city, Newton, and Newmarket were visited.

The construction of school buildings, as well as additions and alterations to such buildings, is declared essential 1 by a notice in last night's ' Gazette.' The Minister of Industrial Man Power, Mr McLagan, states that, although, this particular work does not come within the scope of the essential building works labour legislation modification order, the industry has agreed with the Commissioner of Works, Mr James Fletcher, to follow the wages and hours of work stipulated in that order. The declaration has been issued so that contractors may be able to retain adequate labour for necessary additions and alterations to schools. The Minister of Supply and Munitions. Mr Sullivan, said last night that he wished to draw the attention ot motorists to certain precautions which were advisable for safeguarding the mechanical condition of their vehicles in cold weather. Under the existing petrol restrictions, 'the Minister said, only small mileages were possible, and this raised special maintenance problems, particularly during the cold season. Tho Oil Fuel Controller had arranged for these problems' to be studied by a special committee, and a small leaflet had been produced, setting tut certain precautions which every motorist should take to ensure > the maintenance of his car in a satisfactory condition. Copies of the leaflets, the Minister added, were being distributed through the local officers of the Transport Department, the automobile 'associations, and the motor trade generally. Some time ago a pipe, with a pottery bowl in the form of a portrait bust, was sent for identification to the Canterbury Museum by Mr L. G. Todd, of Cobden, Greymouth. A drawing of the pipe was forwarded to the Polish Consul in New Zealand (Count WodziokO, • who identified the figure as that of Prince Poniatowski. a nephew of the last Polish king. Stanislas Poniatowski, and one of Poland's national heroes. Joseph Poniatowski was commander-in-chief of the Polish troops fighting against Russia in 179192. Like many Poles, he was faithful to Napoleon, and durinK the Napoleonic wars was commander-in-chief of Polish forces in the Duchy of Warsaw, created bv Napoleon. He lost his life after the'battle of Leipzig in 1813. A drawing of the pipe was sent by Count Wodzicki to General .Kukiel, Minister of Defence in the Polish Government in London. Agreeing that the portrait was that of Prince Poniatowski, General Kukiel wrote: "I was very pleased to hear that in far away countries there is interest in our past.' The owner of the pipe, Mr Todd, does not know bow, or when, it came into the possession of his family.

An assurance that additional supplies of fertiliser would be available in the coming vcar had been given, said Mr W. E. Hale, chairman of the Dairy Board, in his address to the Dunedin ward conference yesterday. The arrival of 100.000 tons of raw rock from Florida in time for the present season had been expected, but difficulties had arisen which had prevented the shipment from being made. It had been suggested that the increased supplies of fertiliser should be distributed on the same ration basis as at present and that there should be a slight increase for certain crops. A reserve would be established to meet cases of hardship, and the remainder would bo distributed to the dairy industry on a per cow basis. It was hoped that the amount made available would be equivalent to aibout lewt per cow, which should be of great assistance to the industry. A total of 45 cases came before a sitting of the Otago Land Sales Committee yesterday. Of that number 37 were granted, reductions in the proposed consideration being made by consent in seven cases. Six applications were adjourned and two were withdrawn. The committee consisted of Messrs E. J. Anderson (chairman), D. J. Ross, and Neil McNamara. During the week ended to-day nine cases of tuberculosis, eight of scarlet fever, two of erysipelas, one of eclampsia, and one of infantile paralysis were I notified to the Health Department at Dunedin.

The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company has forwarded a cheque for £3OO to the Dunedin Returned Services' Association from the Grace Lillian ' Mitchell fund, the amount to be expended by the association " for the benefit of those adversely affected by tho Great War of 1914-18 resident in the Dunedin district."

The price of butter on the Dunedin market was discussed yesterday at the Dunedin ward conference of the Dairy Board. Mr W. G. Wight asked if the Dairy Board had made any representations to the Government regarding the price charged on the local market. The price, he said, had remained at the same level since 1938, and it seemed only reasonable that the people should do something to assist in meeting the extra costs the dairy producer now had to bear. The chairman (Mr J. Dunlop) said that, while he agreed that the consumer should pay more for butter, it was the Government's to get primary products as cheaply as it could. If an increase were made the stabilisation plan would come into the picture andi the consumer would have to be subsidised. Mr Wight remarked that the Government ignored the question of stabilisation when it suited it to do so. The increase, he added, would amount to only l|d a week for each person. The chairman of the Dairy Board (Mr W. E. Hale} said that when the question was raised with the Government it had replied that the price of primary products was the basis on which the cost of living depended.