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Evening Star, Issue 25700, 25 January 1946, Page 4

In their search for female operatives, Auckland manufacturing firms, particularly those in the clothing line, have- been offering alluring conditions in the way of wages and general amenities. ' A new inducement, however (records the ' Herald'), was offered recently by a city firm, which advertised that it worked a 36-hour week, the premises closing at 12.15 p.m. on Fridays. In order to avoid further difficulties with Auckland's gas supply, which' might have resulted from the mishap to the Karepo, the collier Kiwitea has been diverted from Westport to Greymouth to load coal for the Auckland Gas Company. The vessel is expected to arrive at Auckland on Tuesday morning with more than 2,000 tons for the company, representing 10 days' supply. A high degree of devotion, rare in cats as a species, was displayed by a Persian tabby owned by the late Mr J. Mac Lean, Waitara. Upon the death of her master, the cat was taken to a home six miles out of Waitara, and that night gave birth to a litter of five kittens, one of which she was per- ' niitted to rear. Waiting for three months to allow* her kitten to gain sufficient strength, she ran away from her new home, and, in company with her kitten, was found on the doorsteu of her late master's house on Christmas morning.

The harbour master (Captain F. G. Mac-Donald), in a special report to the Otago Harbour Board last night, stated that the fire which had broken out at the end of X shed on the Victoria wharf on the night of December 22 had occurred in the straw which had been scattered on the wharf, presumably by members of the crew of an overseas vessel. No damage had been done to the board's property. Captain MacDonald added that since the restrictions on the entrance to the wharf had been removed some of the board's property had suffered at the hands of vandals, telephones having been damaged, the lighting system switched on, and punts cast adrift.

An Auckland woman who had received piteous appeals from her mother and other relatives in Prague to relieve their acute distress—in one letter they said they had even tried to eat vaseline —sent a cablegram to the British .Embassy, Prague. A few days ago she received a letter of one sentence from the Embassy, which stated: " In reply to your telegram regarding your mother, Mrs , I have to inform you that present regulations relating to distressed persons only apply to those who have near relatives in the United Kingdom." There have been 1,022 marriages between New Zealand girls aud American servicemen recorded in the Auckland province alone, and 450 children have been born. The figures give an indication of the difficulties the authorities are experiencing in arranging transport for New Zealand wives, children, and fiancees to the United States. There are at present still in the area, which extends to the forthest point north and as far south as Te Kuiti, 658 wives, 322 children, 14 widows, and 834 fiancees._ Of the GSB wives, howeaer, 47 have indicated the possibility of divorce, so that those awaiting transport might be reduced by this number. Altogether, 348 wives, 128 children, 32 fiancees, and • two widows have, departed from the area for America since July 1, 1942. Of these numbers, 158 wives, 65 American citizen children, 21 fiancees, and one widow have goneto America since July 1, 1945, about six weeks before V.J.Day. The condition of principal roads in the province was discussed at a conference last night between the members of the Main Highways Board, who are at present in Dunedin, and members of the Otago Automobile Association and representatives of local bodies. The immediate completion of the Waihipi deviation and the raising of the approaches to the Waitahuna bridge to prevent blockage of thr? Main South road at these points through floods were urged by the president of the Automobile Association (Mr H. S. Reid), who also referred to the need for either the replacement of the bridges at Bushey an 1 between Goqdwood and Palmerston or an improvement to the approaches. Representations were made on behalf of the Port Chalmers and West Harbour Borough Councils and the Peninsula County Council for improvements to the roads in these districts. The chairman of the board (Mr L. Newnham) said that the reports covering the roads that had been discussed would be sent to Wellington for final consideration.

Reference was made by, the Rt. Hon. W, J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand in Britain, to the high esteem in which the King and Queen were held by the people in an address to the Dunedin Junior Chamber of Commerce last night. The speaker was satisfied that no one could have done more than the King and Queen during the war years _ and there had never been_ a time in the history of tlio Empire when the Royal family had been more firmly entrenched in the hearts of the people. " In 1936, when I went to Britain, King George V. was on the Throne with Queen Mary at his side. After his death King Edward ascended the Throne, but later abdicated in Ifavour of King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth," said the High Commissioner for New Zealand in Britain (the lit. Hon. .W. J. Jordan) at a meeting of 'the Dunedin Junior Chamber of Commerce last night. " That means that in 1936 we had three kings and two queens—a full hand."

The vacancy in the seat in the House of Representatives for the electoral district of Raglan owing to the death of Mr Robert Coulter, was formally notified in the New Zealand ' Gazette' last night. Go-slow tactics were adopted by the watersiders working the Blue Funnel freighter Reavely at Auckland yesterday morning. The dispute arose when a watersider working a winch was instructed to work on the wharf when the wharf cranes were brought into operation. The man refused to do so, and was dismissed. The remainder of the men working the ship, which is loading produce for Britain, then decided to go slow until he was reinstated. The union has referred the matter to the Acting Minister of Labour, Hon. J. O'Brien. The Skymaster aircraft, fitted up as a flying laboratory, which brought the party of 18 scientists to Auckland on Saturday, has left Whenuapai for Australia. The scientists, vvho are working under the direction of the United States Air Force and Army Signals Corps, have been carrying out investigations in Hawaii and Fiji, and will continue with similar work in New Guinea, Guam, Saipan, and the Philippines. While in New Zealand the members of the party have taken part in discussions with officers of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and with the heads of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Paris restaurateurs who can make a profit on burgundy bought at £l3 a bottle have been outbidding British merchants at recent wine■ sales in France. This price was paid for 228 litre bottles of Blondeau Cru of the 1943 Volnay vintage at a Beaune Hospices sale. Even_ though wine prices in London are higher than ever before, representatives of British merchants are unable to compete at these values. High prices have always been paid for Beaune ."Hospices burgundy, lint £l3 is regarded as out of, the question by British buyers. The figuie compares with the agreed retail price of 12s 6d for ordinary beverage burgundy imported into Britain since last October. Champagne was recently nhanghig hands in France at £l6 a bottle.

Within the ,uext few days a statement is expected from the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, on the petrol supply position, and hopes are entertained that it may contain some good news for private motorists. Rumours have been current in Auckland (says the ' Herald ') that petrol rationing would be abolished at the end of February. When this report was referred to Mr Sullivan in a telephone conversation, the Minister replied that he had no statement to make at the moment, it is understood that the Minister was to have discussed petrol supplies with the Cabinet at a meeting early this week, but it is not known whether the Cabinet, reached this item on the agenda. It is confidently anticipated that the Minister will make an official statement on petrol and tyres within the next two or throe days.

Ex-servicemen trained at (Rehabilitation Board trade 'raining centres will, it is hoped, build 1,400 State houses during the year ending March 31, 1947, says a statement issued by the Rehabilitation Department This will be almost double Jib number for the year ending in March next and 10 times the total tor the year onded March, 1945. The figures for these latter periods are 796 (completed and under and 140 respectively. In addition there will be a substantia] number of houses built by exservicemen who have completed their training and are working .or pavate employers.