Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1943, Page 4

Local and General

It is officially stated by the Rationing Controller (Mr. J. E. Thomas) that M and O clothing coupons will be available for the duration of the war. Coupons for expectant mothers, besides being available at all rationing offices, v/ill now be issued at maternity hospitals and Plunket Society branches. These coupons are specially marked to enable drapers to give preferential rationing of baby wool and similar materials in short supply, occasionally. Special coupons issued recently by the Prisoner of War Inquiry Office to next-of-kin of prisoners of war for purchase of wool, have now been cancelled, as wool must be purchased only with the official prisoner of war clothing coupons and the armed services ration cards issued to next-of-kin.—P.A.

’ To-morrow will be Ash Wednesday, marking the commencement of the Lenten fast. To-day is Shrove Tuesday, a date with which several old customs are associated, among them being the eating of pancakes.

No cases of infantile paralysis have been admitted to the Greymouth Hospital, nor have there been any suspects. This information was given this morning by Dr. D. M. 1 Logan, Medical Superintendent, thus disposing of contrary rumours.

Numerous entries have been received for the Grey Acclimatisation Society’s competition for eels, which has been conducted for several months with the object of reducing the number of these fish. However, none has approached in size the largest yet caught—one of 22|lb in December.

On Monday next a start will be made with interviewing the girls in the 18-19 year group who were recently required to register. This work will be undertaken at Greymouth, Reefton, and Hokitika by officers of the W.W.S.A. Girls in rural areas will be interviewed by the Country Interviewing Officer of the National Service Department.

Eight women from the Greymouth district left, this morning, en route to Wellington to take up employment of national importance, being in. all cases volunteers or persons who had' no grounds for objection to such an undertaking. Two more girls are required to complete the first _ West Coast allocation of ten, and it is hoped to despatch them shortly.

In reply to an enquiry by a correspondent as to why the Public Service is not being tapped as a source of female labour for essential industries, the “Nelson Mail,” states: It is understood that the manpower authorities have power to direct this class of labour, but an instruction has been issued that it shall not be done. This condition exists while staffs of private employers are being closely combed for female labour.

“Will the Minister of Marketing explain why 200 sacks of potatoes were dumped in the rubbish tip at Liardet Street, Berhampore, last week?” was the text of a question notice of which was given .in the House of Representatives by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo). He also asked why these potatoes had not been available for consumption during the shortage, when potatoes were almost unprocurable in Wellington.

When the case of James Hamilton Lynch, who appealed against the refusal of the Manpower Officer to allow him to terminate his employment with Blackwater Mines, came before the Christchurch Manpower Appeal Committee, at Greymouth, the company withdrew its opposition to his release. The appeal was struck out and the Committee requested the Manpower Officer to issue an authority to Lynch to terminate his employment to take up work in an essential industry.

The Grey Acclimatisation Society, at a meeting this week, decided to adopt similar dates to those of the Westland Society as an open season for waterfowl —May 1 to May 16, inclusive. However, the bag limits recommended to the Department of Internal Affairs differ, and arc as follow: (1) 20 head in all of grey duck, black swan, paradise duck, and pukeko; (2) 15 head in all of grey duck and paradise duck; (3) five head of paradise duck; (4) 10, head of pukeko. A license fee of 10/- was recommended. It was decided to recommend an- open season for opossums from June 1 to September 1, both days inclusive.

The reappointment of twelve members of the Legislative Council, whose terms expired last night, and the appointment of a new member to the Council, Mr T. O. Bishop, of Wellington, were announced to-day by the Prime Minister. Their term of office is for seven years. The twelve reappointed were among the first appointed by the Labour Government after it came into office. Those are Messrs M. Briggs (Wellington), T. Brindle (Wellington), M. Connelly (Otago), J. Cotter (Auckland), T. F. Doyle (Southland), G. R. Hunter (Canterbury), F. E. Lark (Auckland), J. A. McCullough (Canterbury), B. Martin (Auckland), R. Mawhete (Wellington), B. C. Robbins (Auckland), and Sir Charles Statham (W ellington).—P.A.

Since before Christmas the Paparoa Mine, at Roa, has worked about only ten full clays, the bins being full with an accumulation of some 4000 tons of coal—a state of affairs due to lack of orders. When the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) was in the district recently he promised to return within a fortnight to address the men or send Mr. C. H. Benney (Under-Secretary of Mines) in his stead. Developments along this line are still awaited. Meanwhile, under a new regulation, the company is required to pay the miners a minimum wage of £5/10/- a week whether or not they are working. Six of these men, on their own intiative, have, with the permission of the Manpower Officer, obtained employment in other mines, thus relieving the position to a certain degree. Two each are now employed by Grey Valley Collieries, Brunner Collieries, and the Blackball State Mine.

Valuable flax which would otherwise be destroyed by burning is to be salvaged and turned into profitable materia], thanks to a scheme about to be inaugurated in the Barrytown district. Mr A. T. Richards, the contractor for clearing the ground ahead of the Barrytown dredge, recently informed the Armed Forces Appeal Board that there were 48 acres estimated to produce 600 tons of green flax, which he believed could be cut over a ten-week period. He further estimated that the labour of three men would enable him to lay a tram track for about 40 chains and cut the flax, which is in good condition and free from disease. The National Service Department and Department of Agriculture have now arranged for the manager of the Govermnent flaxmill at Westport to have the tlax cut under Mr Richards’s supervision. It will later be conveyed to the Westport mill for treatment. At this stage the track will be laid only to the best stands of flax.

Every lady in Westland is invited to view the Exclusive Autumn interpretations of 1943 Fashions now showing at White’s Corner, Your Fashion Centre.—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.

If unexpected guests walked in would your bedrooms stand inspection? Not if your spreads, eiderdowns and sheets are dull, rumpled and sagging. Nothing adds so much to the fresh, crisp appearance of a bedroom as professionally laundered linen. Our special methods and modern equipment keep the colours bright and clear. We have the equipment for fluffing pile fabrics back to downy softness. ’Phone 136 and Westland Laundry will be at your service.— Advt.