dominion news SEAMAN FATALLY INJURED AT NELSON

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 April 1946, Page 3

dominion news SEAMAN FATALLY INJURED AT NELSON

Signing on in Wellington on Thursday as an able seaman on the Anchor Shipping Company’s motor vessel Alexander, Laurence John Behan, aged 32, was fatally injured when the Alexander was berthing, at Nelson at 7.30 o’clock yesterday morning. He was working on the aft mooring line when he became entangled in the winch gear, suffering serious head injuries before the engine could be stopped. He was taken to the hospital where he died. He has no known relatives in New Zealand. His mother lives in Scotland.—(P.A.)

Fresh Air in Winter. k warning against forgetting summer fresh-air habits in late autumn, winter, and early spring is given in a bulletin issued by the. Department of Health. Most of the winter ills and infectious diseases are contracted by inhalation, the department states. Rooms in schools, offices and factories should be constantly flushed with fresh air, for stagnant, warm air was coupled with epidemics of infectious troubles in the cold weather. To prevent absenteeism, rooms Should be ventilated in spite of the cold. Rehabilitation Scholarships.

' A decision to award two further travelling scholarships in accountancy, ’open to members of their society who had served in the armed forces, was recently made by the council of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, says a statement from the Rehabilitation Department. These scholarships are in addition to two already granted by the society. They are valued at £2OO a year each (New Zealand currency) and are to enable the holders to obtain accountancy experience overseas and in due course return to New Zealand, thus tending to advance the standard of accountancy in this country. Father and Son Injured.

In a level crossing accident at Ashburton on Thursday night, Hunter Hugh Cavill, farm manager, of Elgin, and his five-year-old son were injured, not seriously, and were admitted to the Ashburton -Public Hospital. Mrs. Cavill, who was also a passenger in the car, which was driven by her husband, was not injured. The accident occurred at Walnut avenue crossing when a relief express south was approaching the Ashburton station. Although, the car was not capsized it was badly damaged, the body being almost torn from the chassis. Mr. Cavill suffered concussion and abrasions and his son received slight concussion. Last evening the condition of both was reported to be satisfactory.—(P.A.)

Physical Welfare. A fresh effort is being made by Physical Welfare Officers of the Department of Internal Affairs to promote suitable recreation for industrial workers. At this stage the women officers are mainly concerned as it is recognised that the needs of women and girls have the chief claim for attention. The preparations include contacts with Trade Unions, employers, the Labour Department, Child Welfare and Vocational officers, forewomen and shop stewards, in order to obtain complete and thorough knowledge of the conditions in each factory and the types of workers. All possible precautions are being taken to ensure the formulation of practicable plans. Hotel Goodwill.

The Otago Land Sales Committee delivered its reserved decision on Thursday in the application by Thomas Clarke Muir and Mary Frances Muir to transfer the property known as the Ocean View Hotel to James McLean Wilson and Elizabeth Wilson. The committee refused to sanction the sale at the consideration asked, stating m its judgment that it would approve of the transaction'only if the goodwill involved (£2,000) were reduced to £17,300, the amount of goodwill asked when the hotel was taken over by Muir last year. The committee’s judgment concluded by stating that future applications for increased goodwill above the basic value already fixed for the hotel would be scrutinised minutely from that point of view.—(P.A.)

Hop Price Increase. As a result of negotiations between the Hop Marketing Committee and the Price Tribunal, hop growers will be paid 2/9 a lb. for this season’s crop. Mr. B. T. Rowling, chairman of the committee, stated that owing to the low yield and high costs of production, growers had asked for a price increase over the 2/- paid last year. This year only 1800 bales were harvested, which was little more than half an average crop. The Tribunal previously agreed to increase the price to 2/3, but as that was unacceptable to the growers, a deputation was sent to Wellington. The deputation first, met the brewers, who agreed to 2/9 for this year alone. Armed with that agreement, the deputation approached the Tribunal, which, without departing from the opinion that 2/3 was a'reasonable price for a normal crop,- agreed to the additional 6d for this year alone.—(P.A.) High Academic Distinction. A high French academic distinction has been awarded to a New Zealander Mr. Fraser Mackenzie, for a thesis ■on the English language. The award to Mr. Mackenzie —he becomes State Docteur des Lettres —is held by very few Englishmen, and this one was ’ gained with “very high honours.” Mr. Mackenzie is the youngest son of Professor Hugh Mackenzie. He left New Zealand 16 years ago to continue French studies at Paris. After three I years there he completed a thesis which was the beginning of the one ■ which gained him the recent award. He was advised by his professors to hold and enlarge it for submission for a national degree. He then undertook the counterpart to his original thesis, completing the work in 1939, and the thesis came before the professors for preview. Mr. Mackenzie was told that he might print the requisite number of copies in readiness for sustaining the thesis. In 1040 the books were i lying with the publishers' in a small [town some distance from Paris when 1 France was overwhelmed by the Ger- ■ mans. The thesis came before the proI lessors for examination last Saturj day. It was sustained, and the award -was made. —(P.A.)