Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 August 1943, Page 4

Local and General

Two cases of diphtheria have been reported this week from the Punakaiki district and the patients, both children, are m hospita.. There were a number of cases of diphtheria in the Westport district a couple of montns ago, but there have been no recent notifications in the Grey district.

The State Mines office at Dunollie was entered by unauthorised persons last nigh-, entry being gained through a window. Drawers and desks were ransacked, but the safes were found intact and little of value was taken.

The Grevmouth Borough Council has received a reply from Mr. O’Brien (Minister of Transport) to its representations, by letter and telegram, regarding the diversion of West Coast timber to Lyttelton for loading. The reply stated that he has taken the matter up with the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan), who is conferring with the limber Controller,

“I don’t regard this as so serious an offence as if he had been wearing a decoration like the D.S.O. or anything like that, said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistratet’s Court, Wanganui, after a young man, Norman Diamond Vincent Martin, had admitted a charge of unlawfully wearing the badge of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association. Asked if he had anything to say defendant told the Court that he wore the badge more or less as a joke and did not think there was any crime attached to it. He did not attend any meetings or obtain any benefit from the badge. Defendant was fined £l, with costs 10/-. — P.A.

To date the Greymouth Manpower Office has received 1317 applications to terminate employment in essential undertakings, 1107 being from employees and 216 from employers. Of these 27 were subsequently withdrawn, 1083 were granted, 195 were withheld, and 12 are still under consideration. Arising out of the Manpower Officer’s directions 34 appeals were made to the Christchurch Manpower Appeal Committee, six being later withdrawn, 11 upheld, and 16 dismissed; one still awaits decision. An analysis of the 1083 successful, applications shows that 312 persons returned'to the same industry, 331 appeals were granted on condition that they transferred to other essential work, 45 moved to non-essential callings, 222 were wholly lost to industry through ill-health, marriage, etc., and 173 entered new employment, the nature of which is not known.

A painting, gang 6f the Canterbury Education Board is at present employed at the Grey Mam School. It is some years since extensive painting was carried out at the school.

The annual Winter contests of Rugby and basketball between the primary schools of Greymouth and Hokitika were to have taken place in Greymouth to-day, but were cancelled because of the wet weather. It is possible that they will be held during the third term.

The West Coast Rugby League representative team', .under 6st 7lbs, left,' this morning, lor Christchurch, where on Saturday they wul play Canterbury for the Innes Cup. Mi W. P. Moore was manager ot me party.

During the- previous month seven new consumers had been connected, reported the Engineer of the Grey Electric Power Board (Mr Sinclau Trotter), at last evening’s meeting oi the Board. Three new applications for power had been received, and permits issued.. Applications now totalled 5237 and consumers 5338.

A timely hint to residents of Cobden to leave their windows partly opened during the artillery practice which, it has been announced, will take place this week was given today The concussion of a heavy shell is sufficient to shatter the glass of windows which are closed tightly, and expense and inconvenience at a time when glass supplies are only oi moderate proportions would be avoided by this precaution.

Amendments to the hosiery ins scheme announced by the Fooa Sa Rationing. Controller (Mr J E. Thomas) provide that fully lasni ed sTlk or art silk stockings marked “seconds” by manufacturers may b purchased on surrender of two clothing coupons a pan , and all luiiy fashioned black stockings may now be purchased with clothing coupons. The only stockings for winch the “X” counon is required aie nisi grade and medium, in fully fas *“£p" ed silk or art silk, m colours othei than black. —P.A.

The Nelson Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union has advi .^; d the Minister of Agriculture G ■Rarclav) that it cannot recommend potato growers to continue P lant |£| crops until the conditions oi growing contracts are known. e ~ „ n executive asked the Minister for c - immediate statement giving, the iu 1 conditions. The President pointed outhat it was already nearly too late to plant potatoes for December digging and no definite contract cond tions had been received m writing by me growers.

An ingenious proposal i°r improving his finances, made to the nehabilitation Board by a newlyreturned serviceman, was related by Mr W. E. Leadley to the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association last evening. The man had been established in a country hotel. Aitei he had settled in, he wrote asknia the Board for more assistance, if the Board would see that the local constable were removed, he suggested, he would be in a much bettei position to repay his debt. “He’s not an old soldier,” said Mr Lead.ey, “but at least he must be the son ot one.”

Normally bicycle tyres should “hang” for some two years for curing purposes to enable them to render good service, but owing to the demand having exceeded the supply for Dominion-manufactured articles they; have had to be supplied in a “green" state, and numerous instances have occurred of their failing to stand un to hard wear. It is stated that in Greymouth many complaints have been made, and that as little as ■ a fortnight’s use has been obtained before the new tyre gave trouble. The Tyre Control Committee is now keeping step with the demand, and is issuing some 375 tyres a month.

When the Electric Power Board, two months ago, reduced the domestic charge for power from 6d to 5d a unit the wording of the accounts, a large number of which had been printed in advance, was not altered, with the result that numerous consumers, without troubling to tally the figures, have concluded the 6d' charge is still being levied and have approached Board members on the subject. Mr J. Smeaton mentioned the matter at last evening’s meeting of the Board, asking whether the figure could not be altered to agree with the actual charge imposed. When other members said they also had been approached by people who had not analysed their accounts but had jumped at conclusions the Secretary was requested to have the requisite change made.

The value of loans on mortgage held by the State Advances Corporation at the end of March last totalled £45,789,567. The annual report of the Corporation presented to Parliament shows that the number of rural securities at that date was 19,149 and the number of urban securities was 39,516. There were 15,563 State tenancies at the end of March, representing a capital value of £19,777,152. “Considering the large volume of business handled,” states the report, “the'proportion of instalments unpaid during the period is comparatively small.” The report of the Director of Housing Construction discloses that applications from civilians for State rental houses which had not been satisfied totalled 23,630 at the end of March. To that date 573 houses had been allocated to ex-ser-vicemen, and there were on hand a further 619 applications from families eligible for preference under the special arrangement giving preference to ex-servicemen.

Quotas were secured by Greymouth, Blackball, Hokitika, Jackson’s Bay, Kumara, Moana, Reefton, Ross, Runanga, and Stillwater in the National Savings campaign last week, though the returns fell below the standard of recent weeks and the district quota was not attained. Cash investments totalled £962/15/3, or £154 below the allotment of £lll7. Blackball, Hokitika, Moana, and Stillwater were the only towns that actually bettered their objectives, though Ngahere missed by only 8/-. The figures for the various offices were, as follow, deficiencies being indicated in parentheses:—Greymouth, £471/5/- (deficiency £25/15/-); Brunnerton, £l9/6/9 (£3O/10/3); Ikamatua, £6/15/- ( son’s Bay, 5/- (£ll/15/-); Kumara, £23 (£8); Ngahere, £B/12/- (8/-); Otira, £5/10/- (£B/10/-); Reefton, £74/3/- (£B/17/-); Ross, £3/7/(£2B/13/-); Runanga, £l3/7/(£B7/13/-); Waiuta, £2/15/- (£32 5/-). Blackball contributed £62 15/-, a surplus of £lO/15/-; Hokitika, £226/16/-, a surplus of £56 nn’/,^?? ana ’ £33/16/-, a surplus of £27/16/-, and Stillwater £lO/19/6, a surplus of £l/19/6.

+u Pa |[ lotlc . Pointer s: Do you know that there is really a war on? Do you ever consider the comforts of the boys overseas. If not, why not? Give your ready support to the United Nations Fair and Miss Victory Campaign ending Greymouth on Saturday, Sept. 11.—AuVt.

Ladies’ Dressing Gowns in Ripple Cloth. Wrap-over style with roll collar, in shades of Rose and Saxe. W. and O.S. sizes. Price 29/6 —C Smith’s Ltd.—Advt.

Mr Fraser, in a speech, last night, at Whangarei, said he hoped the election campaign would be fought in a judicial spirit, free from anger 'or personalities. He mentioned incidentally, as evidence of the Dominion’s co-operation with me Homeland in the war, that it gave i-half of its stock of ten million rounds of small arms ammunition to Britain. This went down when the Niagara was mined off the JNortnland coast. —P.A.

The extent to which undertakings classed as non-essential require staffs is illustrated by returns furnished by the National Service Department at Grey mouth, which show that so tai 122 applications to engage new labour have been made in respect to 155 persons, of whom 104 were females. Permission to engage has been granted in all but two cases, where persons were directed to other employment. In at least 90 per cent, of cases applications were in respect to persons under the age of 20, chiefly girls for shops and boys just leaving school.

An employee of the electrical branch of the Public Works Department, Frank Goulstone, 22, of Greymouth, received lacerations of his right thumb while at his work at the Dobson power house yesterday afternoon. He was admitted to the Grey Hospital, and his condition to-day was reported to be satisf actoi y. Sidney Bowen, 28, bushman, of Ahaura, suffered an axe wound in his leg yesterday, and was admitted to the Grey Hospital. He was to-day reported to be in a satisfactory conditlo‘Whenever coloured street lights are used in Greymouth 20 per cent, of them are found to be broken when they are returned. It just can t oe helped in view of the weather conditions,” stated Mr Sinclair Trottei, Engineer of the Grey Electric Powei Board, at last evening’s meeting, when a request from the Boroiigh Council that such lights be erected for the Victory Fair was under discussion. He added that m view oi the difficulty of procuring lamps and wire he did not think the suggestion would be practicable, and the matter was left to his discretion.

Indication that arrangements are being made for the release of substantial quantities of canned fruit and vegetables immediately, m addition to considerable .quantities which have been released during the last two months, was given, by the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan), in answering an urgent question in the House yesterday afternoon, by Mr Langstone (Govt., Waimanno). Canned goods would be disposed of through the normal trade channels throughout the Dominion, he said, and arrangements were also being made for the release of extra sugar to the next-of-kin of the members ot the services for making cakes for inclusion in Christmas parcels.—P.A.

Jack Wylde, secretary, Ikamatua R.S.A., will be overjoyed when he finds the Ikamatua Hall packed on Saturday night, when the annual R.S.A. Ball is being held. Williams’ orchestra. Suitable ’bus arrangements. from Blackball 9 p.m., Greymouth 8.30 p.m.—Advt.

Everyone who counts will be in the count at the Ikamatua R.S.A. annual Ball, Ikamatua Hall, on Saturday. All soldiers on leave cordially invited and Admitted free. Williams’ orchestra. Suitable ’bus arrangements, from Greymouth 8.30, Blackball 9 p.m., picking up passengers en route if required.—Advt.

Whitebait Netting. In two widths: 72” 5/7 and 80” 6/9. Extra heavy double mesh. —C. Smith’s Ltd.-

White’s Winter Fashion Sale. Hundreds of satisfied West Coast ladies can’t be wrong. There’s a bargain for you, too. Many Coats; Frocks; Hats, etc. Call early at White’s Big Sale.—Advt. thefiu a!shortly

How to help win the War: Give your wash days to the war effort. Volunteer for local Hospital service, for war production work, as nurses aids or V.A.D.’s in Red Cross work. Send your laundry to the Westland Laundry and spend the time you save in the country’s war effort. Here is the favourite of many particular housewives, our No. 2 Thrifty Service, 181 b flat work for 5/-. This works out at only 2/6 per week. Don’t delay, help win the war.— Westland Laundry Ltd., ’Phone 136. Depot, 27 Albert Street. —Advt.