Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 September 1943, Page 4

Local and General

The tea and sugar rations for September are the same as for the last three months, the Food and Rationing Controller (Mr. J. E. said, yesterday. Sugar coupons 41 to 44 at a value of 12 ounces each, and tea coupons of the same numbers, with a value of two ounces, are available. —P.A.

It is estimated that between 500,000 and 700 000 tons of coal will be obtained by lowthe level of Lake Kimihia, near Huntly, and extracting supplies for electric power generating plants and for household use, said the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) to-day. A conference is to be held between engineers of the Mines Department and the Public Works Department at Huntly to explore the full possibilities. It is hoped that coal will be won before next Winter at a rate of up to 300 tons daily. The mine is practically an openquarry, and the cost of operation will be far below that of ordinary mining, including the cost of lowering the lake.—P.A.

By a proclamation gazetted yesterday, the Governor-General calls together the General Assembly of New Zealand on Thursday, October 21, at noon.—P.A.

When an empty iron LA wagon on the Greymouth-Roa goods train left the track near Roa at 8.30 yesterday morning a delay of an hour and ahalf was caused. No other trains were affected, however.

After being closed for nearly a month, the Arthur’s Pass section of the main highway to Canterbury is expected to be open again for motor traffic to-morrow. Rain has been falling at the Pass, where a thaw has set in. freeing the 2ft. of consolidated snow. So far, however, there have been no reports of floods.

An official inspection of a naval base was made to-day by the GovernorGeneral (Sir C .Newall), who was received by Commodore Dowding, Naval officer in charge, and after the Royal salute and inspection of personnel, he spent the day at the base, ■inspecting barracks, offices and hospital quarters.—P.A.

By proclamation gazetted to-day, the Age Benefits and Invalids Benefits (reciprocity with Australia) Act, which was passed by Parliament before it adjourned, comes into force as from to-day. Clause Two of the Act provided that it should come into force by proclamation, so that the provisions could operate simultaneously here and in Australia.—P.A.

The past Winter is recognised as having been severe from the aspect of farming conditions, both on the West Coast and in Canterbury, and on the Coast the shortage of feed has resulted in cattle coming on the market earlier than usual, and not up to normal standards. It is generally expected, however, that with the arrival of Spring green feed will come away satisfactorily.

Last week 189 towns attained or exceeded their National War Savings quotas. All but one of the 18 principal centres were successful, and in 16 out of the 18 postal districts the full district quota was obtained. Twenty-five towns now have 90 or more quota successes to their credit, while nine towns each with 98 successes share the distinction of an unbroken record since the inception of the quota scheme in October, 1941.

The wooden pavilion on the nurses’ tennis courts at the Grey Hospital was destroyed by fire last evening. The outbreak is thought to .have started shortly before 6 p.m., but the Fire Brigade was not summoned until 6.30, by which time it was too late to save the structure, which contained a tennis net. The building, which was erected about five years ago by voluntary labour, was valued at £l5O and was covered by insurance.

Although stocks of .22 ammunition are stated to be still available in Greymouth, no advice has yet been received as to the release of the 250,000 shotgun cartridges which Mr. Sullivan announced on August 19 were being shipped from the factory to cover the bulk of the outstanding permits. Merchants have been invited by the Colonial Ammunition Company to lodge orders, but no hint is given of the likely date of supply.

The fishing season in the Grey Acclimatisation Society’s district opened to-day, and will conclude on March 31, 1944. Formerly the season opened in October and ended in April of the following year. The Grey Society is conducting its annual competition for the largest fish caught up to Monday next, and though few reports were received this morning of the results of anglers’ efforts, one Greymouth sportsman landed a trout weighing 4 lbs. 13 ounces from the Grey River.

During the week ended on Saturday last 18,297 tons of goods traffic passed through the Otira Tunnel from the West Coast to Canterbury. This compares with 17,438 tons in the corresponding week of 1942 and 15,579 tons in the same period of 1941. The “bobby” calf traffic has commenced, and this week seven trucks, aggregating about 700 head, are being railed to the works from the Coast. The fat stock traffic has now virtually ceased.

At a conference of the ministers of all the Protestant Churches on the West Coast, at Moana, this week, the following resolution was carried by 18 votes to 2: “This conference of ministers of the West Coast declares its wholehearted support for the request made to the British Government by the Church leaders of Great Britain' for the feeding of the women and children of the occupied countries with the necessary foodstuffs, under the direction of the International Red Cross.”

The appointment of a business manager to effect improvements in the accounting of defence stores, particularly in the Army Department, is advocated again by the Associated Chambers of Commerce in a letter that has been sent to the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). The Associated Chambers state that from the reports of the Controller and AuditorGeneral there seems to be no doubt that at this late stage in the operations of the Defence Departments, particularly the Army Department, there is a laxity in the control of public funds and property which it is felt strongly should be made the subject of more responsible inquiry and strict control than appears at the moment to be contemplated.

Inquiries in connection with the complaint by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association of a shortage of shipping between the two islands, established that the complaint was due more to a shortage of labour and railway trucks than shipping. It is admitted there is a shortage of coastal shipping due to the transfer of some vessels on war service, and inability to obtain new vessels during the war period, but, nevertheless there is a much greater flow of goods from the South Island to the North than before the war. Owing to unfavourable weather precluding loading and discharging operations at Lyttelton, there has been an accumulation of vessels with the consequence there is insufficient labour for all ships. In such cases the national policy has been to give preference to deep sea ships, and in consequence several coastal vessels have been idle for some days.—P.A.

Come to the Golf Ball, and have lots of fun; come and hear what Cleary did, how he holed in one. — Ikamatua, September 4.—Advt.

Patriotic Prowess: Set yourself to give till it hurts over the final week of the United Nations Miss Victory Campaign at Greymouth, ending with a big sports meeting at Victoria Park and a four days’ Fair at the Town Hall, on Saturday. September 11. Don’t let up in donations in cash and kind, thereby materially helping to provide comforts t for the boys overseas and parcels for prisoners of war, and comforts for the sick and wounded—Advt.

Slightly over 80 per cent, of the youths drawn in the recent ballot in the Greymouth Army Office district were found fit for Territorial service as a result of the medical examinations which, as far as Greymouth and F n ki + 'ka are concerned, have been completed. The South Westland men will be examined during the coming week-end. The details of the examinations to date were: Grade 1, 69; Grade 2, five; Grade 3, 11; deferred for further medical action, five; defaulted, one. Seven men drawn in the district were transferred out to other districts before the examinations, and four were transferred in: six went to the Air Force and one to the Navy without Army examination, having been accepted. before being drawn in the ballot.

Manv Ladies of Westland have requested that White’s Fashion Sale be extended to Saturday at noon. White’s agree, but this will definitely be the final days of Sale, so get in while you can at White’s Big Winter Sale. —Advt. Boys’ Rompers in pale blue Ar white silk. Small stitched collar and short sleeves. Buttoned at leg, 16in and 18in., 8/3.—C. Smith’s.—Advt. •