Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1942, Page 4

Local and General

In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. J. O’Brien asked the Minister of Housing if he will take steps to erect garages for those tenants of State houses in Greymouth who own motor-cars, or will, on the other hand, allow these tenants to erect garages themselves. In a note to his question, Mr. O Brien stated: The cars of the State tenants are now standing out in the weather, rusting, and the tyres are rotting 1 . The tenants know that it will be impossible for them to obtain new tyres or cars, and they wish to build garages, which they are willing to pull down as soon as the State builds garages. •

The Coal Production Council, Messrs T. 0. Bishop (Chairman), C. J. Strongman and A. McLagan, will visit the Grey district next week. They will then proceed to Westport. Replying to 3446 petitioners, who asked for a short season for game shooting, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry) said to-day, at Wellington, that shooters should accept the decision for a closed season, as helping the war effort.—P.A.

The recent Red Cross examination in hygiene and sanitation at Greymouth resulted in the following being successful (in order of merit): Mrs. A. Richmond, Miss M. Butcher, Mrs. L. Wilkins, Miss M. Brown, Mrs. T. Nordstrom, Miss A. Ellison, Mrs. V. Olsen, and Miss E. Wilson.

The policy of the Government not to purchase any more land for the settlement of returned soldiers because of the difficulty of maintaining the 300,000 to 400,000 acres already purchased and because of labour and fertiliser shortages, was enunciated in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Lands (Mr. Barclay), replying to questions raised in the debate on the Lands Department estimates.

Consonant with the marked decrease in the number of motorvehicle registrations issued, a substantial decline is recorded in the total of drivers’ licenses so far applied for at the Borough Traffic Office. Up till this morning only 526 licenses had been issued —a big drop on the 1,470 in force up till the end of the last licensing period. Mr. H. Lane (Traffic Inspector) stated today that normally 1,300 applications are received within the first two months of the period, and he commented upon the abnormally small number so far recorded.

The Auckland Education Board yesterday decided, after a long discussion, to rescind its former resolution, restricting appeals for the release from military service to head teachers and certain other classifications, and in future to appeal for the exemption of all teachers, subject to the condition that they enrol in the Home Guard. The resolution is not to apply to teachers called in ballots, as they reach the minimum age of 18, for military service. The board also resolved that in view of the acute shortage of teachers, the Government be asked to declare the teaching profession an essential industry.—P.A.

An intimation that shortly it was hoped to have available additional supplies of knitting wools, particularly those required for baby wear, was given by the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan), answering an urgent question by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Independent, Egmont), in the House of Representatives yesterday. Such supplies, said the Minister, were regarded as being of prime importance, and by a rearrangement of defence contracts certain domestic mills would produce additional quantities of these materials immediately. Inquiries were also being made for supplies from Britain and Australia. —P.A.

At a general meeting of the Ngawakau Miners’ Industrial Union of Workers, held on Sunday last, the following resolution was passed:— “That while agreeing to allow the National Secretary (Mr. A. McLagan), leave of absence to join the War Cabinet, we do not agree to the unconstitutional method that the National Council wants Unions to adopt regarding the different National positions. We are of the opinion that the National Secretary should resign his position for the duration of the war. Unless this procedure is adopted this Union does not intend to take nominations for National positions.”

A suggestion that special provision should 'be made to cover earthquake damage was made by Mr. J. Robertson (Labour, Masterton) in notice of a question to the Prime Ministei - in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Robertson asked if the Prime Minister would consider enlarging the protection now afforded under the War Damage Act or, by independent legislation, covering damage to buildings or personal property which might ’result from earthquakes. Last week’s happening confirmed the need for suitable provision at least for people of small means.— P.A.

A warning that action would be taken against motorists who had not fixed relicensing stickers to windscreens was given yesterday by the Commissioner of Transport (Mr. G. L. Laurenson), who said it had been noted that fully one-third of the vehicles on the road were without stickers. In previous years, when motorists had been put to the trouble of fixing new number .plates, somelatitude had been allowed if the new plates were carried in the car, but the present procedure was so simple that it was not considered there was any excuse.—P.A.

Found at last. What? A great night’s entertainment. Where? At the dance and Challenge Chop at Nelson Creek on Saturday night.—Advt.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) asked in the House of Representatives if anything was being done to provide pensions for soldiers who met with accidents when on leave in New Zealand. The Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) said that the question was under consideration. Pie instanced a case where a soldier had met with an accident and lost both legs. In that case a compassionate allowance had been granted equal to the war pension. The Government accepted liability for accidents to men overseas, said the Minister in reply to further questions, but it was necessary to check up on cases in New Zealand. Where an accident was entirely due to the soldier himself, the Government had to ascertain if it were justified in granting pensions in certain cases.

An excellent example of the manner in which emergency conditions are being met in spite of staffing difficulties is afforded at the railways goods sheds in Greymouth. As a result of Army call-ups the number of permanent men has been greatly reduced, and in their place are a lesser number of casual hands, who are stated to be performing their duties in a splendid spirit, offsetting their lack of experience by marked enthusiasm. The clerical staff at the sheds is now wholly without the services of cadets, but three young women recently recruited to the ranks are proving most capable. Meeting extremely congested conditions because of cramped space and increased work as a result of tne petrol restrictions, the shunters are finding their duties especially arduous, but they are handling the goods traffic with commendable despatch.

A Fur Coat is a good investment, if purchased from White’s. Call and see their big selection. Priced from £l5/10/-.—Advt.

Children’s Rain Coats. Ideal for wet weather. .Good quality material. Plain colours, in satin finish material and tartan. Sizes 24in. to 36in., from 28/3. —C. Smith Ltd.

Residents of Runanga will be pleased to know that the Westland Laundry, Ltd., will pick up laundry on Wednesdays ana return Fridays. D. Manderson,. Runanga, will supply all information and price lists.—Advt.

Ladies’ Winceyette Nights. In cosy styles for Winter wear. High to neck with collar and long sleeves. Sizes S.W., W., and O.S. Flesh and Cream only, from 9/6. —C. Smith, Ltd.