LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1943, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mr. H. Bliss has announced his intention of contesting the Kaiapoi seat. His action has the approval of the People’s'Movement. Flying Officer R. Clayton is announced as an Independent candidate (sponsored by the People’s Movement) for the Patea seat.

One hundred and ninety-eight towns attained their national war savings quotas last week, and in 17 out of the 18 postal districts the full district quota was reached. All the principal centres were successful. New savings group certificates will be available shortly for presentation to firms with more than 80 per cent, of their staffs contributing regularly through war savings groups.

Several instances have occurred since the inception of the Queen Carnival in Greymouth of tardiness of raffle winners in claiming their prizes, the latest being in connection with the Miss Britannia penny raffle, the prize for which was a bicycle. The raffle was drawn on Friday evening, but up till to-day the winner had not claimed the prize. The winning ticket was sold on the street.

Forty girls over the age of 25 have been instructed by the District Manpower Officer, Greymouth, to report to the Hokitika Mental Hospital to interview the Medical Superintendent to determine their suitability for employment as probationer nurses.Their fares will be paid by the National Service Department. The position of 15 qfhers is still under investigation.

Since the inception of the scheme early in 1942, at Greymouth, 437 persons have been directed to employment, 125 of these being women. During July the total was 59, of whom 11 were women. In the majority of cases of men they have been directed to sawmills and mines, but the women have been fairly evenly distributed among minor essential undertakings, including hotels, laundries, shops, and the Mental Hospital.

The impossibility of proceeding with river protection work in the Dominion at present on account of war conditions was emphasised by the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) in the House last evening. The Minister added everything had to be laid aside to enable the prosecution of the war. Notwithstanding this, catchment area boards had been set up all over New Zealand, and the organisation would spring into action at the psychological moment. —P.A.

“It has been decided that moneys earned by soldiers employed on outside work, over and above the wages they receive from the Army and the cost of upkeep, will be granted to the men concerned,” the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones) said in the House yesterday in reply to a question by Mr. J. A. Lee (Democratic Soldier Labour, Grey Lynn), who requested reconsideration of the question of payment for waterside work by soldiers. Mr. Jones said there were several important details to determine, including the method of payment and the basis of calculating upkeep. In the past it had been the practice to hand the surplus earnings to the New Zealand patriotic funds for the benefit of soldiers.

Replying to representations by the Otago Primary Production Council on the subject of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill, the Minister of Lands (Mr. Barclay) said that the class of landowners whose properties were exempt could be widened. “The bill itself does not exempt from compulsory taking the property of any person other than a serviceman during his absence the Minister wrote, “and to this extent, therefore, those who have remained on farms for essential production are in no worse position than men actually in the forces, but stationed in New Zealand.” Commenting on the letter, Mr. A. C. Leary, chairman of the Otago Production Council, expressed grave concern at the effect of the bib..—P.A.

Since initial action for the release of men from the Armed Forces was taken at the beginning of May 173 men have been "released to take up employment in the Greymouth district. Of these 32 left camp on the application of the District Manpower Officer for direction into essential industries, principally sawmilling and mining, 65 were released as a result of applications by employers (mainly those identified with essential undertakings), and the remaining 76 were Army personnel released on the soldier's own application, these generally being youths aged 18 and 19 who were permitted to follow their own line of occupation. In addition to these applications in respect to another 39 were refused by the Army, and 34 cases are still being investigated.

The most serious shunting accident to take place on the Greymouth Wharf for some time occurred at 1.45 o’clock this afternoon, when a 35-ton W tank type shunting engine was derailed and a bogey van partly derailed. Caused by a rail close to a set of points snapping, the derailment of the engine, which was impelled by the weight of a heavy train of timber, was attended with spectacular effects, the locomotive swaying alarmingly to an angle of about 60 degrees. The driver and fireman remained at the controls, and eventually brought the train to a standstill after the locomotive had ploughed along the decking of the wharf lor 33 yards, smashing the permanent way as it went and damaging the buffers. The van was returned to the track within half an hour, but a big job confronted the men engaged in handling the locomotive, every wheel except one of which was off the rails, which were spread or chewed to a serious extent.

The restrictions governing the purchase of radiators and replacement elements were explained to-day by Mr. Sinclair Trotter, Engineer of the Grey' Electric Power Board, whose permission has to be obtained in terms of a Gazette notice of July 1 last, before these can be obtained. Hospitals are exempt from the order, but in other cases only where the radiators are required for the use of sick and infirm persons will permission be forthcojning, and a certificate authorising purchase is then given for presentation to a dealer. Mr. Trotter pointed out that the restrictions have been laid down because of the shortage ol power and materials for elements, in which nickel is used. Even if purchases were not restricted by law elements could not be replaced, because stocks of materials are practically exhausted. For the same reason houses cannot be wired for electric, power, except in the case of dwellings in course of erection.

Patriotic Perplexities: The difficulty of raising Patriotic Funds is always a worry to those associated in its collection. The job is one for all of us. to set about. Give your best support in cash or kind towards the Miss Victory Campaign, United Nations Fair, ending September 11 at Greymouth.—Advt. Colleen Moore, violinist, will be heard to advantage at the Concert by Convent pupils, Town Hall, Thursday next.—Advt.

St. Mary s Choir.—Hear them sing at the Convent pupils’ concert, Town Hall, Thursday next. Aid Baby McAra.—Advt.