Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1942, Page 4

Local and General

The Wellington Education Board decided to inform the Manpower Officer, in reply to a letter from him, that it was against teachers taking up work outside their regular school duties, as it was definitely opposed to such a policy.—P.A. A baker aged 74 years who works in. the bakehouse 12 hours a day, gave evidence to the Armed Forces Appeal Boaid in Giey South, to-day. He said he workea from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving a hand in all depait ments. He had been m business for 44 yeais. The Auckland Education Board will appeal against the call up of 76 teachers included m the recent ballot. The Chairman (Mr. W. J. Campbell) said that 550 of the Board s teachers were in the Armed Forces, and 350 of these had gone overseas. —P.A. “There are some optimists who believe the war will be ended to-morrow, this year, or the beginning of next year. I will be surprised' if it ends within six years, accordm . to figures that have been given us in the last few days,” observed Mrs. M. M. Dreaver, M.P.. in her address at Greymouth, last evening.

When the story of what the merchant navy has done in this war is written, it will stagger the world, said Captain Dalgleish, Secretary of the Auckland Merchant Service Guild, to-day. Over 16,000 merchant seamen have lost their lives through enemy action since the war began. He declared that the ordinary seamen had not been given the credit they deserved for getting vital supplies to Malta and the Army of the Nile and for the great convoy that opened the present North African campaign. Referring to New Zealand s efficient merchant navy, Captain Dalgleish said the service as far as he knew, was not even rated as an essential industry.—P.A.

In response to a request from the Mining Controller, the Wallsend mine will work the remaining two back Saturdays, November 28 and December 12, before Christmas. This decision was reached at a meeting of tne Brunner Mine Workers’ Union, yesterday morning. The men will be paid at ordinary rates, though at a previous meeting m response to the request to work on the back Saturdays they had decided not to work unless paid at the rate of time and a. half. The Grey Valley and State Miners’ Unions made a similar reply to the request, but the Dobson miners will consider the request again at a bath-house meeting, possibly before the end of this week. No advice has yet been received by the State Mines Office regarding work on the remaining back Saturdays.

A full-scale trial of the Runanga E.P.S., with all units engaged will be held on Saturday, at an unspecified time. The Home Guard and W.W.S.A., will also take part in the trial, which is expected to last approximately three hours.

The Runanga Co-op. Womens Guild held their Study Circle in the Druids’ Hall, Mrs. Oakley presiding. A paper on the origin of co-operation was read and discussed. Supper was served by the hostesses and the rest of the evening was spent in dancing.

Providing an attractive setting, several miniature pines m smart green boxes were placed outside tne Chief Post Office at Greymouth this morning. This provision of fresh, green shrubs is part of a general policy of relieving the normal drabness of Post Offices in the largei centres.

Three more bales of waste paper were packed at the Town Hall depot to-day, when another good response was made to the appeal. Twenty-two bales have in the last few days been railed to the mills at Mataura foi pulping purposes, while three bales oi rubber have also been despatched for treatment.

The road between Reefton and Springs Junction is now open, for traffic, thus re-opening the Lewis Pass route to Canterbury, but care is still necessary in negotiating some of the narrow sections of the road. A slip came down on the road between Waiho and Weheka on Sunday, but was cleared sufficiently to allow of the passage of light traffic on Monday, and was restored to normal last evening. The annual examinations for underviewers’ and deputies’ tickets commenced at Greymouth, this morning, and will be concluded on Friday. There are 13 candidates for underviewers’ tickets and 12 for deputies’, and the candidates are drawn from the mines in the Reei'ton, Brunnerton and Runanga districts. The supervisors of the examinations are Messrs J. McArthur (Inspector of Mines) and J. Hadcroft (District Manager, State Mines Department). Forty volunteer firemen from the Greymouth, Cobden, and Railway Auxiliary Fire Brigades will travel to Christchurch on Friday evening by the rail-car to take part in a demonstration organised by the Addington Railway Auxiliary Brigade. An extensive programme has been arranged and the West Coast men will leave again on Saturday night, arriving at Greymouth at 3.55 on Sunday morning. The rail-car will return to Christchurch at 2 p.m. on Sunday, and will cater for ordinary passenger traffic.

At a meeting held in the Greymouth Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, the following committee was elected to arrange the programme to support the Army motor cyclists’ trick riding at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon: — The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham), Captain A. R. Curtis, Lt. F. F. Boustridge, Lt. F. Bower, Messrs O. McLean, A. M. Jamieson, F. W. Baillie, F. M. Dennehy, W. H. Parfitt, and T. Anderson.

The fact that it is an offence to send a person under the age of 21 years to a bottle store for liquor was mentioned in the City Police Court, Dunedin, by Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., when a woman admitted having sent an 18-year-old youth to purchase some liquor at the bottle department of an hotel in the city. “It is probably not generally known to the public that it is an offence to send anyone under 21 years of age for liquor, even to a bottle store,” said the Magistrate, who ordered the defendant to pay costs, 10/-. The badge of good citizenship—a rose on Plunket Day. Buy one on Friday.—Advt.

Representations are being made to the Government by Mrs. M. M. Dreaver, M.P., to establish a Women’s Home Service to assist the wives of farmers during the war period. Disclosing this fact in her address at Greymouth, last evening, Mrs. Dreaver said the Women’s Land Service would aid farmers, but not the women folk. A Home Service, on the other hand would provide an opening for women who did not wish to do farming work, enter industry, or join the Services, but who could help in maintaining the home life in rural districts.

Place the Plunket Fair, Town Hall, first on Friday’s shopping list. Be wise—be early.—Advt.

At a meeting of the Greymouth branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association last evening, the Secretary (Mr. W. F. Harley) said it was not generally known among motorists that they were now permitted to “touch up” their number plates, if they were becoming too rusty, provided they maintained the black background with the white numbers. However, the sticker on the windscreen still had to be carried. Mr. J. Smith suggested that motorists would prevent the spread of rust if they gave their number plates a coating of clear shellac.

Daring stunt-riding by Army motor cyclists will form an outstanding part of the great Gymkhana to be held for patriotic purposes at Victoria Park next Saturday. There will be many other attractive items. Full details will be advertised to-mor-row. —Advt.

The fact that Japanese prisoners of war are being employed in large numbers in the Dominion was mentioned by Mrs. M. M. Dreaver, M.P. in her address in Greymouth last evening. In reply to a question as to whether prisoners were being required to work on the land as were New Zealand prisoners of war in enemy countries, she gave an assurance that they were doing heavy work in furthering primary production. “The Japanese are here—though I wish they were not—and are being made to work, and work hard. I cannot tell you the locality in which they work, but they have a very heavy guard over them, for they are treacherous,” added Mrs. Dreaver.

The Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) announced last night that the Food and Rationing Controller had now made arrangements for the morning and afternoon tea ration as for office workers to be extended to all farmers and farm workers. Most of the dairy companies, he said, were co-operating in the issue of permits to suppliers. Quarterly permits for 2-|lb of sugar and |lb of tea to each worker would be issued, and would apply to farmer, wife, and children ovei’ 14 engaged full time on the farm, and also to permanent employees. Farmers not supplying dairy factories would get the same ration by applying to the local ’rationing officer. Permits for special allowances for casual workers would continue to be issued by rationing officers.—P.A.

White’s can turn you out really smart and cheaply too. What about a smart floral frock with hat to match? Call to-day at White’s Corner. Your Fashion Centre.—Advt.

Fine quality, seamed Art Silk Hose. Fashion-marked shades, Duskee, Collette. Sizes 9”, 94”, and 10.” One M coupon required. 5/11 pair.—C. Smith, Ltd.—Advt.

A good selection of Dressed Dolls for ’Xmas. Some with real hair; 15/6 to 46/6. Lay-by if you wish. —C. Smith, Ltd.—Advt.