Local and General

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 February 1944, Page 4

Local and General

A conference between delegates of the National Council of the United Mme Workers Federation and the Grey Miners Central Committee was held, yesterday, at '-’keymouth, to discuss the go-slow policy which has been in operation at the Liverpool and Strongman State mines for the past two weeks, but it is understood that little progress towards a settlement was made. Though the State Mines Department has not released figures showing the loss ol production it has been estimated that the go-slow policy has already resulted in a loss of about 5000 tons to the country.

There has been no substantial change in the configuration of the Grey bar since soundings were previously taken on r rictay. The Harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar) took fresh soundings this morning with the aid o. the echometer, and these showed a depth oi 19 feet on the inner bar and lift on the outer bar at low water. The outer bar extends tor 140 ft, and though there is a big improvement compared with recent weeks the position can hardly be considered satisfactory, as a storm would- probably sweep the shoals back towards the river mouth. A considerable swell, with a lift of sft, operated on die bar this morning. Sales worth well over £2,000,000 are expected to be made in the financial year ending March 31 in canteens conducted by the Defences Services Canteen Board, in defence establishments in the Dominion and the Pacific. The Board’s turnover has shown a progressive increase since its first canteens were opened within a few weeks ot the outbreak of the war and the extent of this expansion is shown by the fact that the turnover for the first complete trading year was £338,623. From its profits the Board has already distributed £175,000 to the Services for use as ships, regimental and service institute funds. Trading operations are restricted to New Zealand and the Pacific, the canteens in the Middle East being subject to British control.—P,A,

Taking advantage of the fine weather, yesterday, hundreds of people were out blackberrying in all parts of the district, including South Beach, North Beach, Runanga, and the Omoto Road. More cars were on the road than usual, obviously conveying parties of pickers intent on a day’s outing.

A special train was run to Rapahoe, yesterday afternoon, to bring in 250 tons of coal for consignment to Westport. This went forward, last evening, on a double-header train. In addition to the Grey district coal being shipped through Westport the Holmlea will take 600 tons when she sails this evening.

Although the railway workshops at Greymouth handle only a very small proportion of the repair work undertaken at Addington and Hillside, the staff are fully engaged at present. Overhauling of locomotives in particular is claiming attention, and overtime is being worked by the men on these jobs. The scarcity of skilled tradesmen is a factor on the Coast.

Commenting on the Washington cable concerning New Zealand’s contribution to U.N.R.R.A., the ActingMinister of Finance (Mr. Sullivan) said that although communications had been received from overseas in respect to New Zealand’s contribution, further details were awaited. Meanwhile, no decision as to commitments had been made by the New Zealand Government. —P.A.

The medical examination of the 39 men who recently returned to the Greymouth Army Office district on furlough from the Middle East, will commence on Thursday, and will be concluded, with three sittings of medical boards at Greymouth and one at Hokitika, within a week. Thirty of the men are to be examined at Greymouth and the remaining nine at Hokitika.

The inauguration of fortnightly services last evening, at the Cobden Gymnasium, by St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Greymouth, received generous support, about 120 being present. The minister, Rev. T. G. Campbell, thanked them for their encouraging support, and said that with this co-operation the fortnightly services would be continued.

Twenty-four hours after the special breakdown train left Greymouth at 4 a.m. yesterday for Slatey Creek, the scene of the capsize of a seventon crane used in clearing the Westport line after the derailment or the coal train, it returned to Greymouth this morning with the work accomplished. The job was not without hazard, and the fact that the derailment took place in a cutting made it difficult to restore the crane to the line.

“The sentencing of prisoners is the part of my job that troubles me a lot,” said Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, when dealing with a prisoner for sentence. He added that he always took a lot oi trouble in matters relating to sentences and it was the part of his job that sometimes made him feel like giving it up. His Honor said that he had to exercise a duty in imposing punishment on all sorts and conditions of men, many of whom had started under severe handicaps.

While engaged in loading sand on the Blaketown Beach, this morning, a three-ton motor truck, owned by Mr J. Morgan, became caught in the sand, and before it could be removed was partly engulfed by the incoming tide. In an effort to shift the heavy truck under its own power the drive shaft became fractured, and the services of the Harbour Board’s crane on the South Tip were requisitioned to tow the vehicle from the water after it had been partly submerged for about an hour.

Flashing medals and gaudy decorations freely issued by the Italian Army as a means of bolstering up morale are among the souvenirs brought back to New Zealand by a number of men in the second furlough draft. An Auckland officer said that medals were apparently struck for the most insignificant campaigns, and could now be purchased in Italian shops for the equivalent of about 6d. Prized among a collection obtained by a Wellington officer is a medal especially struck to mark the Italian entry into Cairo.

Sentence of two months’ imprisonment in Paparua Prison was imposed by Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, this morning, on Roy Spark, who was charged with disobedience of a maintenance order for £ 1 a week, made at Christchurch in September, 1942, in respect of his wife. It was stated that the arrears to January 31 were £l6 10/-, and that defendant had paid only £B/10/- in the last five months. Guy Anderson, for riding a cycle on a footpath in McGowan Street, Runanga, on January 22, was convicted and fined 10/- with 10/- costs.

Dairymen are reminded that Mr. Cowell, of the Department of Health, Wellington, will give an address interesting to dairymen at M. J. Fogarty’s office on Wednesday.— Advt.

“I don’t know what has come over our Courts these days when three Magistrates working over the whole of Friday cannot cover all the defended cases,” said Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., late on Friday afternon, when adjourning a case in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court until to-day. The Courts started sitting at 9.30 a.m., and Mr Luxford did not rise until 6 p.m. Besides police and detective lists, and prosecutions brought by various departments, there were 22 summons cases to be heard. “I do hate people having to wait round here all day and still not have their cases heard,” the Magistrate concluded.

The monthly meeting of the Dobson Women’s Institute was held in the School Hall, Mrs. G. Smith presiding over a good attendance. The Aspirations were read by Mrs. Ramsay. The motto was “Deeds are mightier than words, actions mightier than boastings.” A letter of appreciation from a soldier was received. A letter from the Secretary of the Patriotic Society appealing for knitters was received, and seven members promised help. Mrs. Hill’s demonstration was the various uses of whitebait netting. The competition, a spike of gladioli, resulted; Mrs. John Dunn 1, Mrs. T. McCallum 2. The roll-call was “Suggestions for the coming year.” The hostesses were Mesdames Gibson. Ramsay and C. McPhie.

At a meeting of the Grey Returned Services’ Association it was reported that during the past two months 11 pensions appeals concerning West Coast soldiers had come before the War Pensions Appeal Board, and that all had been successful. It was decided to make representations to Headquarters for first-class free travel for members attending sittings of the Pensions Appeal Board, and further that appellants from the West Coast should be allowed an extra day in Christchurch to discuss their appeals with the advocate. The action of the President and Secretary in purchasing a gift for Mr E. Wilcox, former secretary of the Christchurch, branch, who" has been appointed to the Pensions Appeal Board, was approved. Mr N. Mes-I senger (2nd N.Z.E.F.) was appointed to the Westland Patriotic Council, re-' placing Mr R. Kelleher, who has relinquished the position on account of ill-health.