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Greymouth Evening Star, 8 September 1939, Page 6

A confidential commuhication from the Minister of Internal Affairs concerning the protection of vital points in an emergency, and a circular from the New Zealand Counties Association in connection with emergency precautions for scattered settlements, • were dealt with at the monthly meeting of the Grey County Council, last evening. It was decided that the matter of precautions should be left to the Chairman (Cr. J. Ryall), the Engineer (Mr. J. Higgins) and the Clerk (Miss E. M. Heaphy), should an emergency arise.

The petrol restriction is already having a serious effect on Greymouth garages. With no repair work to do on private cars, all garages will be working with skeleton staffs within a short time. It is understood that, as yet, there have been no dismissals, but as one garage proprietor stated to-day, by next week there will not. be sufficient work to keep the men working, and he will be compelled, however reluctantly, to reduce the size of his staff considerably. There would nor even be a chance to ration the work, as there would be so little of it to do. Other garage-men spoke similarly, and it appears to be certain that many hundreds of men will be thrown on to the labour market in New Zealand within the next few weeks.