Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1943, Page 4

Local and General

The following resolution was passed unanimously at the Dominion conference of shop assistants held at Wellington That this conference desires to record its strongest protest against the stabilisation regulations recently issued by the Government, and is strongly of opinion that the said regulations are quite unwarranted, and can have no o.ner effect but to inflict a tremendous hardship on the workers of this Dominion. —P.A.

Auckland’s historic Government House, with its storied associations and picturesque surroundings of wide lawns and stately trees, entered a new phase on Saturday waen the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall), wno was accompanied by Lady Newall, officially opened the building as a club for members m the armed forces and merchant navy. Their Excellencies generously gave their Auckland home for the duration of the war as a place of rest and recreation for the rank and. file of the forces. Already Aucklanders have elven nearly £3OOO lor the furmshmg of the club, which is controlled by the City Council and staffed by voluntary helpers.—P.A.

Complaints of working conditions in certain branches of the Railways Department were discussed yesterday at Dunedin at a largely attended meeting of the Enginemen’s, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association, when a lengthy resolution was passed protesting against the poor quality of the coal supplied, with drivers expected to run to schedule under impossible conditions. The meeting was unanimous that working conditions warranted an immediate investigation by the Minister. After the meeting, the Secretary (Mr. A. Gibb) said that many members were worn. out. A large numbei’ worked 60 to 70 hours weekly, and the majority had had only six days rest leave’ in three years. The dumping of poor quality coal in Dunedin accentuated the already serious position.—P.A.

Recently, the starboard propelloi’ dropped from the Air Travel Limited passenger plane, which fell into the sea with the loss of four passengers, off Westport on December 21, was found on the beach near Patea and the evidence given when the Court of Inquiry resumed to-day at Wellington concerned the state of the propeller. It was identified as belonging to the machine by Captain J. C. Mercer, managing director of the Air Company. Squadron Leader E. F. Carpenter, senior aircraft inspector, said that its state indicated that either three of the eight holding nuts were loose, or those bolts had been of sub-standard quality. The latter he thought unlikely. Assuming that the three bolts were loose, he considered the looseness had existed over a fairly long period. He did not think the condition disclosed by an examination of the propellor could have developed in the five hours five minutes flying time, between the 50 hour check and the time of failure. He considered the conditions had not developed suddenly, but had been progressive.'—P.A.

At the Runanga Plunket Society’s March meeting the following were present:—Mesdames Timlin, Flood, Reid, "Hall, Thompson, King, Barber, Theyers, Griffiths, and Outhwaite. The Committee accepted with regret the resignation of Mrs J. Martin, who is shortly leaving the district.

Mr Webb stated, to-day, that mail comprising 91 bags of letters and other articles, and 43 bags of parcels, despatched from Australia to New Zealand in January, and also a small mail from India, despatched in March of last year, had been lost by enemy action.—P.A.

Railway goods traffic from the West Coast to Canterbury continues to be well maintained. During the week ended on Saturday 18,849 tons were railed through the Otira Tunnel, compared with 17,842 tons in the corresponding period of 1942 and 14,41'9 tons in the same week of 1941. - ‘

Whether the Government when reviewing pensions would make tax free all superannuation pensions up to £l3/15/- a month, thus placing all superannuitants in the same position as social, security beneficiaries, was a question for the Minister of Social Security, notice of which was given in the House of Representatives by Mr. Kyle (Independent, Riccarton). —P.A.

The largest detachment of recruits so far for the W.A.A.C. will leave Greymouth this week to enter the recruiting department. They are all volunteers for the Anti-aircraft Section of the Army. The recruits are Misses E. E. Baty (Coal Creek), B. M. Blackmun (Greymouth), E. J. Lines (Waiuta), L. V. Nuttall (Blackball) and J. S. Blight (Ngahere). After showing a marked easing-off in recent weeks, passenger traffic on the Midland line from Greymouth was again heavy this morning. The train comprised seven cars and carried about 250 passengers. However, only 160 passengers are travelling in a train of five cars from Christchurch.

Up to the present time 328 girls aged 18 and 19 have registered with the Greymouth Manpower Office for work of national importance. An officer of the department stressed this morning that, under the regulations, the onus rests on the employers of all women within this age group to ascertain whether they have fulfilled their obligations to register, otherwise the employer himself is liable to prosecution.

The Westland Acclimatisation Society has decided to recommend to the Department of Internal Affairs an open season for waterfowl from May 1 to May 16 inclusive. The following bag limits were recommended: (1) Fifteen head in all of grey duck, black swan, paradise duck, and pukeko; (2) 12 head in all of grey duck and paradise duck; (3) four head of paradise duck; (4) five head of pukeko. A license fee of 10/— was recommended. It was decided to recommend an open season for opossums from June 15 to September 15, both’days inclusive.

Valuable experience was gained, during the week-end by members of the 2.lst Lines of Communications Motor Transport Company in the first bivouac for a year, which was held on the Omoto Racecourse. Men were present from Greymouth, Westport, Ikamatua, and Hokitika, while members of the 20th Company, Blenheim, were guests. The course, which was of a general nature, was under the direction of Captain B. I. Cummings, of Greymouth. Captain N. Taylor, of Blenheim, who recently returned from the Middle East, and Major A. Hazleton, attached to Headquarters at Christchurch, were present. Members of the W.W.S.A. assisted with canteen work.

Greymouth and Cobden Ratepayers: Thursday, March 18, is last day for payment of Borough rates.—Advt. The people of Central Otago are proud of their reputation for hospitality, and they are prouder still of the men who have gone from their district to fight overseas, says the “Otago Daily Times.’’ These two facts have produced a practice that is not a little puzzling to visitors. In some wayside hotels may be seen attached to the ceiling of the bar-room as many as four or five bank notes, mainly of £1 or 10/- denominations, though it is stated that in one hotel a £5 note holds pride of place. The explanation is that friends bidding farewell to overseas-bound soldiers have established a variety of trust fund to assure a suitable welcome home in case they may be absent at the time.

Up to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, Greymouth Borough rates will be accepted without penalty.—Advt.

Predictions about the probable development of Tasman flying were expressed by Captain J. W. Burgess, chief pilot of Tasman Empire Airways, who is going to a position in Baltimore, United States. He said in an interview at Auckland that the Tasman service will offer largely a choice between flying-boats and stratoliners, with pressure sealed cabins, flying at 20,000 to 25,000 feet. The flying-boats would probably develop into freighters. With ’ stratoliners the present Tasman travelling time of eight to nine hours would be reduced to four. Captain Burgess added that stratoliners had been used overseas for some years. He mentioned also,' the possibility of pushing up flying-boats into the substratosphere and through it. Bigger flying-boats would be made. Speaking of “silent developments” in aviation during the war, Captain Burgess said people would be surprised at the speed of aeroplanes after the war more than anything else.—P.A.

Penalty of 10 per cent, on all Borough rates unpaid at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 18.—Advt. West Coast honey, which finds a market far beyond the district, owes much of its popularity to its fine flavour and pure whiteness which is largely due to the contribution of the rata trees. Coast beekeepers have been disturbed in recent months by the inroads of some obscure disease which is affecting hundreds of rata trees, particularly in a well-defined belt in the Paparoa Ranges, and more especially in the vicinity of Blackball. The trouble began about two years ago, but now is most pronounced, otherwise healthy trees, apparently sound in the trunk, dying “on their feet.” Dr.' D. Miller, Director of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson last week inspected the trees in an endeavour to analyse the trouble. In conversation with a ‘‘Star” representative he stated that it was apparent that the widespread “blight” was due to more than the scale insect, but until an opportunity had been given foi' exhaustive research, perhaps lasting many months, it would be premature to guess at the cause, which might even reside in the soil. Dr. Miller intends obtaining observations from men wellversed in the habits of the rata and to link these with the laboratory and field tests.

Attention! Please note White’s Big Fashion Opening This Tuesday.— Advt.

Infants’ Silk and Wool Vests in Creme, with short sleeves. Sizes 1 2 and 3, 3/6 at C. Smith’s.-—Advt.

Infants’ Locknit Frocks in Creme and Peach. Dainty styles with collar and smocked yoke. Also tiny puffed sleeves. Sizes 16” and 18” 14/6 at C. Smith’s.—Advt.