GENERAL NEWS Canned Fruit Price: Minister Corrected

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1947, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS Canned Fruit Price: Minister Corrected

* -■ ■ ■ ■ ■- “The statement Minister of Supply, Mr Nofdmeyer, that as the result of the removal of the sales tax housewives would be' able to buy New Zealand canned peaches at Is 4d a tin, compared with Is 7d, made us laugh,” said a . representative of a New Zealand canning firm in a statement at Wellington. Mr Nordmeyer quoted these figures in the House of Representatives. The firm’s representative said the wholesale price to the grocer was 19s lid a: dozen, less in some instances 2| per cent. The selling price retail was about 2s 3<L not Is 7d, including sales tax, so it was impossible that New Zealand peaches, even without sales tax, could sell at Is 4d.

Overseas Mails ... TX . Surface mails for the United Kingdom, Eire and parts of the continent of Europe close at Greymouth on Monday next, November 17 at 5.30 p.m. for letters and tomorrow at noon for parcels.

Capital And Corporal Punishment “It is not proposed to introduce legislation this season providing for the reinstatement of capital and corpora! punishmen,” said the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser),- in a written reply to Mr G. H. Mackley (Opposition, Wairarapa)*- in the House of Representatives last evening.—(P.A.)

Timber Shipment It is now unlikely that the proposed shipment of 750,000 board feet of West Coast timber to Australia—the first for five years from the port of Greymouth—will be made this year. The James Cook originally was expected to load the timber at Greymouth about December 12 but the latest advice from Australia is to the effect that, owing to the lateness of the vessel’s loading schedules on the Australian coast, it is unlikely to reach Greymouth until late in January. Lime Subsidies

An announcement of the Government’s policy on lime subsidies in the light of the select committee’s recent report would be made as soon as possible, said the' Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He was reDlyinv to an urgent question from Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo), whp had asked for an early announcement in view of the fact. that lime works had received many notices of suspension.of orders and production would be disorganised unless the situation. was clarified without delay.—(P.A.)

Bach's B Minor Mass Music-lovers in Greymouth had the opportunity on Wednesday evening of listening to a complete recording of the B minor Mass by Bach. The performance, Which had not been heard in Greymouth before, was given in the Greymouth Municipal Band hall and was introduced by Mr H. S. K. Kent, tutor in adult education, who said that the Mass was considered the greatest work by Bach. Artists featured in the recordings included Elizabeth Schumann, Margaret Balfour, Walter Widdop. and Frederick Schorr, with the Philhai" monic Choir and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

War Gratuities An amendment has been made to the War Service Gratuities Emergency Regulations, and was gazetted yesterday, to provide for the depositing in a war gratuity account of the 5 per cent, bonus on the .first, second and third anniversaries of the date of entitlement, instead of March 31 at or the next following the end ot the first, second and third years from date of entitlement, which is the case at present. This alteration would remove existing anomalies which have placed some depositors in an unfavourable position, compared with others said the Minister ol Finance, Mr Nash, in Wellington today.—(P.A.)

Aid For The Starving “That this conference of the New Zealand Methodist Church appeals to the whole church to accept the responsibility of food for Britain and aid for Britain as an urgent implication of Christian stewardship” was a decision of the Wellington district synod, which was concluded at Levin last night. The synod also decided to ask the conference to reiterate the appeal of the last conference concerning “relief to starving people ■without discrimination as to nation, race or colour” and to point out that the situation in Europe and China was desperate to an unparalleled degree, calling for the continued support’of the church.—(P.A.)

Milk Authorities Provision, for the constitution oi local milk authorities in cases where the local borough council is unwilling to act as milk authority for the district or it is impracticable for it to do so,'is contained in the Milk Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister of Health (Miss ,M. B. Howard) said the principal Act made no provision . for such a con-, tingency. The Bill also empowered local milk authorities to acquire and hold shares in a company formed for the treatment of milk. The Bill strengthened the conditions under which a milk vendor must offer his round to the local milk authority before selling.—(P.A.) Hutments or Hostel?

“If the timber in the ends of those hutments alone was made available, it would give us three or more houses in which to put families,” said the National candidate for Westland, Mr J. F.' Lockington, in his address at Greymouth last evening, referring to the miners’ hostel being built at Reefton. Mr Lockington was dealing with the housing problem in the Dominion and pointed out that a huge capital expenditure was involved in the hostel. He maintained that, instead of 11 individual hutments, the same accommodation could have been provided under one roof, on the principle of a hotel with the consequent saving of a large amount of timber.

Two outstanding events:’ Kiwis win Test match, Rugby League Ball at Hokitika Tonight (Fri.). Buses from Runanga and Greymouth.—Advt. It’s wonderful having people to stay over the holidays, but the big enjoyment is having everything with that Spring freshness look about the whole house. Send your blankets, eiderdowns, curtains. and chair covers to the Westland Laundry Ltd. and have them returned, with that new appearance look. Don’t delay and so avoid disappointment as we will not be able to handle. these extras two weeks before the holiday. Make your telephone line your clothes line. Ring 136. Westland Laundry Depot: Sam McAra, Mackay Street.—Advt.