LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The State Placement, Service at Greymouth effected 13 permanent and five temporary private placements this week. Two youths and two females were included among those found employment. In addition to the private placements, one man was placed permanently with the Public Works Department and three men temporarily on 4b contract (land clearing) work.

People are always ready to popularise something distinctive, and it is this that contributes to the great selling success which Dewar’s Imperial Whisky is noAv meeting with. No whisky can ' compare with the, rare and appealing flavour of Dewar’s it is mild and smooth to the palate, a true friend to all num. You Avould be wise Io procure a bottle of Dewar’s, as its distinctive palatable flavour will meet with. Ihe greatest approval at all times. Messrs Griffen and Smith, Ltd., Distributors, Greymouth, Westport and Hokitika. — Advt.'

The new Ngahauranga Gorge road and me coasiai roao beiA’een mimue.ton and Paekakariki are to be opened. this afternoon by the Minister tor rublic Works anu ’transport, Mr. Semple. The ribbons will be cut by Mrs. Semple. The finishing work on the coastal highway is not yet complete, and this work will continue prouHDiy until Christmas. All the main construction work is ended, however, and surfacing is proceeding.

The dispute which idled both the James and Strongman mines yesterday, and caused the former to work short-staffed on Thursday, has been settled, and work will be resumed on Monday. The back shift in the Strongman mine was not able to work last evening, owing to the tubs in the mine being full of coal, as a result of the rope road being idle throughout the day.

An Auckland business man who has just returned from Australia said it was noticeable that the members of the Australian military forces were much better dressed than New Zealand soldiers. The Australian uniforms had an almost tailored appearance, and the general. effect was smartened by leather leggings. He added that the uniforms of members of the New Zealand Air Force were smart and therefore did not come under the heading of general criticism.

“I think that we should take a strong stand against them. There is no urgent shortage of men for the army and we need teachers,” said Mr. W. R. McElwain at a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Wanganui Technical College when it was reported that a teacher had enlisted in the special military force but had not yet been called up. Mr. McElwain considered that the teaching profession should be regarded as an essential industry. Other members agreed that the board, should take such action.

News has been received that the painting of King George’s Vl’s Coronation, by Frank Salisbury, the distinguished English artist, is now on its way from the World’s Fair, New York, to Wellington, where it will be shown in conjunction with exhibition of contemporary art. Salisbury’s “Coronation” is the largest picture that has ever been brought to this country. Indeed, it is the amazing size of the picture, as well as the masterly finish displayed in the painting of the many notable figures concerned in the regal scene, that makes it one of the most notable canvases extant.

Contrast in the buying habits of the public in various parts of New Zealand have been brought prominently under the notice of chain-store organisations and wholesale distributors as a result of the increasing scarcity of many lines in common use. The shortage of wooden matches has been more noticeable in Auckland than in the south, due to the fact that southern people use more wax matches, the “Star” reports. Canned fruits, on the other hand, have been disappearing from stock more quickly in, the south .than in. Auckland, probably on account of the taste for such fruit acquired where the season for fresh is comparatively short. Other examples of vthe kind are coming under the notice of distributors. ■

That the 40-hour week in the United States is forcing the mechanisation of industry, and so further contracting employment, is the impression of Mr. A. Harvey, of Auckland, who returned from an American tour. “Manufacturers in the States have been spending enormous sums on special machines to reduce labour costs,” said Mr. Harvey. “The result is not only a reduction in staffs, but an increase in productive i capacity. Technicians and engineers are continuously engaged investigating improvements to get more speed and efficiency out of machines. In this way the big companies are adapting themselves to the new labour conditions: Besides large numbers of unemployed, there is a great deal of idle plant in America, and if the war makes heavy demands on America for ayms and munitions industry there is quite capable of supplying the need.” Although the balance : sheet for the tour of the New Zealand Rugby League team to England as the result of the war —is not. complete, it was revealed by preliminary reports on accounts discussed at a meeting of the New Zealand Council that, through the careful control of the venture, the loss is expected to be approximately £4ooo—a good deal less than originally anticipated. A report submitted by the managers said: “Never in our experience have we known of a better-behaved, more conscientious, and harmonious team of footballers,” it ran. “Not one incident of friction between the players or managers arose and even under the cloud of the greatest disappointment of their football careers, each player vied with the other to be cheerful.” It was further indicated that the English Rugby League and supporters, who admired the physique, playing ability, and general deportment of the New Zealanders, would want more such visitors. Part of the accommodation of the Department of Health at the Centennial Exhibition, building is to be used by the Social Security Department. A bureau will be established in the charge of an officer by whom information will be given on monetary benefits under the Social Security Act, and on the law relating to' war pensions and veterans’ allowances. The Act-ing-Minister for Social Security (Mr. Parry) said that the bureau would be of convenience to the public visiting the exhibition. The officer placed in charge would be competent to give general information as to the. eligibility of persons for social security benefits and pensions, and 1 would have available a supply of application forms. It was intended also to provide the bureau with a booklet for circulation, giving in brief the history of the Pensions Department from 1898 up to the passing of ihe Social Security Act, 1935, and of its operation on April 1 of this year. Various monetary benefits under the Act as well as war pensions and war veterans’ allowances would be summarised and explained in the booklet.

Don’t, miss the Service of Song Salvation Armv. Sunday evening.— Advt.

And still the best place in town for materials is C. f v-h PVP — quality is priced so moderately.—Advt.