Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 December 1943, Page 4

Local and General

Some fifteen teachers and University students whose homes are on the West Coast have been directed by the District Manpowei’ Officer to undertake certain seasonal employment. The majority are to commence duty before Christmas.

Strong resentment of a statement attributed to the Ministei’ of Railways (Mr. Semple) when he was at Westpoi’t, in which he blamed the train drivei’ for the railway accident at Hyde was expressed in a resolution passed at a largely-attended meeting at Dunedin of the Engine-Drivers’, Firemen’s, and Cleaners’ Association. “In our opinion,” the resolution says, “a grave doubt exists as to whether the true position was revealed in evidence given at the trial. The verdict appeared to be founded on a mass of technical evidence, which only tended to prove that the derailment could have been caused by excessive speed. As practical locomotive men, we are not convinced that the speed of the train at the time of the accident could be held responsible.”—P.A.

“Some doubt still appears to exist regarding the forwarding of food parcels to civilians in the United Kingdom.” said the Post-master-General (Mr. P. C. Webb), at Wellington to-day. “The position is that bona fide unsolicited gifts of foodstuffs, except tea, mav be sent subject to three conditions: (a) That the parcels do not exceed a gross weight of 51b each; (b) that the weight of anv one foodstuff contained in the parcel does not exceed 21b,; and (c) that parcels are not sent more frequently than once a month.” As regards rationed commodities. Mr. Webb stated that tea was the only foodstuff which so far had been notified to the Post Office as being prohibited from export by parcel post. Butter and sugar are still allowed to be sent to civilians in the United Kingdom, subject to a weight restriction of 21b of each ■ commodity in any one parcel.—P.A,

The proceeds of the Marist-Con-vent fete, and allied functions, for the Marist and Convent Schools in Greymouth, amounted to £740/7/10.

Between 35 and 40 employees of the Railways Department who have seen service overseas have returned to work on the West Coast. At a meeting, yesterday, of the executives of the A.S.R.S., R. 0.1., E.F.C.A. and Railway Tradesmen’s Association it was decided to tender them a welcome which will take place in Greymouth on Saturday evening.

During the heavy floods early this year the Cobden railway bridge underwent a certain amount of strain, and steps were taken to strengthen the piers by the dumping of heavy stone. The work has been interrupted for a time, but.yesterday, for about eleven hours, men were at work. In all sixteen truck loads of heavy stone were dumped in the vicinity of the piers.

Last week about 3500 tons of coal were railed from the Buller district, resulting in a certain amount of congestion in the Greymouth area. To meet the situation twp special trains were run from Greymouth to Otira, yesterday, conveying about 1000 tons of coal for East Coast destinations. In addition, to satisfy shipping demands at Greymouth a special train brought in 350 tons of coal from Blackball.

Owing to a typographical error in the prize list for the Marist Brothers’ School, as it appeared in Saturday evening’s “Star,” the awards for Forms I. and 11. were incomplete. The correct list is: Form I.: Religious knowledge, Graham Kelly. Highest aggregates, M. Leonard, O. Duffy, R. Fitzgerald. Form II.: Religious Knowledge. James Walker. Highest aggregate, J. Walker, W. Gibson, A. Crooks.

The Timber Industry Manpower Advisory Committee met in Greymouth, on Saturday, when Mr. C. Biggs, of Hokitika, the new Conservator of Forests, was appointed Chairman in succession to Mr. F. J. Perham, his predecessor. The Committee gave fresh consideration to a case adjourned from the previous week to enable fresh evidence to be obtained, and eventually authorised an employer to terminate the services of an employee as from December 31.

An example of the growing use of the strike threat as a means to an end —though in this instance industrial conditions are not involved—has come under the notice of a local stock and station firm, says the “Otago Daily Times.” The firm received the following telegram from an up-coun-try sheep station: —“Shearers out of cigarette tobacco. Send some, or stop work.” Deciding that the provision of supplies of tobacco for shearers did not come within its sphere of operations, the firm has decided to take no action.

What is believed to be the first case of its kind in the Dominion was heard when a taxi drivei' was fined in the Magistrates’ Court at Palmerston North for not having joined a union when x’equested to do so by an officer of the union. The pi'osecution was laid undei' an amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act passed last session, making a worker equally liable. Previously only the employei' could be proceeded against for employing a non-unionist. Under that condition if a worker 1 still refused to join his union the only alternative was to dismiss him.

The Member for Buller, Mr. Webb, has advised the Bullex- County Chairman (Mr. Ward) that as the result of urgent representations made by the Buller County and Westport Borough Councils, Progress League and Rehabilitation Committee to have the proposed deviation through Carter’s on the Westport-Greymouth coast road listed as an urgent work for rehabilitation, he has recommended the application to the Ministei- of Public Works. Mr. Semple has intimated that he has approved of a grant foi’ a complete survey of the route between Cape Foulwind and Charleston. The survey will commence early in 1944 and the job will probably employ 100 men for two years.

“I think it is a monstrous law if the Commissionex’ of Taxes can effect an action which means that a man’s wife has got to starve. Surely to goodness the Commissionex- is not such a rapacious individual as that,” protested Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Blenheim, reports “The Express,” when it was stated by counsel that'one of the reasons why a man charged with disobedience of a maintenance ordei' had been unable to make’payments was that his employei' had compulsorily to make deductions from his weekly salary to covei’ income tax arrears. The Magistrate added that he thought representations should be made to the Commissioner of Taxes if that was the reason the wife was not getting her maintenance.

The Architect of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr. Bigg) visited the Blaketown School, on Friday, to select a site fox’ the proposed dental clinic. It is expected that he will furnish plans and specifications to the Committee shortly. Meanwhile, the future of the clinic and the proposed swimming baths was assured when, on Saturday, the School Show took place, resulting in a profit of £l7O, compared with £l5O last year, the proceeds to be devoted to these two projects. The display included a wide range of handcraft, including scarves woven by the pupils from vvool that had been spun and dyed by themselves. A drill display and choral items werel given, and the new microphone in conjunction with the talkie plant enabled an amplifier to be in use foi’ the first time.

The system of colour' light signals came into operation in 'the Greymouth railway yards, to-day, marking an important development. Yesterday, with the aid of a crane, all but two of the old type gantry signals were removed, and they are succeeded by five of the new type, which give better visibility and facilitate shunting operations. Authority has been received for the installation of automatic signalling between Greymouth and Stillwater, and it is hoped that material will be available shortly to enable a start to be made. Meanwhile good progress has been made with the installation of the train control system on the Westport line. As a further' aid to efficiency the teleprinter system between Greymouth and Christchurch went into operation to-day.

Attractive Cot Blankets in Nursery designs, blue, green and pink, 8/6 each. —C. Smith’s.—Advt.

Bath Mats composed of Balswood 16” x 24.” Blue, green, maize and pink. 4/6 each.—C. Smith’s.—Advt.

“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas —so goes the popular song, but are you dreaming of that pile of whites —those snowy white sheets, pillow cases and table cloths as they come back from the Westland Laundry, or will your dream turn into a nightmare when you have to turn to the washtub yourself over the Christmas holidays? Try our No. 2 Thrifty Service, flat work perfectly laundered for only 5/-. And here s another way we can help you. let us wash and iron those curtains and drapings—we’ll tint them just light for you too. Save yourself the not, wearing job of ironing those v j v C u^ a J ns . or you’ll be delighted with their freshness and our charges are most reasonable. Pnone 136 now. Westland Laundry Ltd. Depot: 27 Albert Street.—Advt,