MILLERTON NOTES

Grey River Argus, 19 December 1941, Page 11

MILLERTON NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent) The coal mine continues to work five days weekly. Mrs J. McGrath of Westport, is a visitor to the Hill. Hon. W. H. Mclntyre has left for Wellington. Mrs J. Paul, Westport, was a visitor at the week-end. Miss Gladys Birchfield and Mr A. Corbett have been notified by the Nelson Education Board that they have been selected to attend the Christchurch Training College. The Patriotic Committee held a social in Peggie’s Hall, to farewell Aircraftsman C. Nicholls, and there was a very large attendance. Mr T. Porter presented Mr Nicholls with a wallet and a sum of money, wishing him the best of luck and a safe return. The guest suitably replied. Mr W. Milligan was at the piano, and Mr G. Plummer acted as M.C. It was with regret that Millerton received news that Private Pat Fox, who was killed in action in Libya. Like many others, Pat has given his life for freedom. The sympathy of the people is extended to Mr and Mrs C. Fox and family.

A special meeting of the Miners’ Union was held, Mr W. Watson presiding, to receive a report from the district delegate to the National Council, Mr T. Muir, who stated he had been in communication with the National Secretary and other Executive members because an appeal had been received from the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb), re. the shortage of coal, and it was essential that the miners work extra days to make up the deficiency. After the position was explained and discussed a motion was carried that the Union .accept the recommendation and work from December 22nd, to December 24th and recommence on January 5. The chairman and secretary were instructed to notify the management to this effect. The delegate stated that regarding the Dobson ana Ohura mines, it was suggested that the matter should be cleaned up. At a meeting he had addressed at Stockton, members had been in favour of Messrs A. McLagan and W. Purdy visiting Stockton and placing the facts before the members. A similar motion was carried by the meeting.

A public meeting was held to hear Mr W. Woods of Welhngton, on the international situation, and on the necessity of a united front of the people against fascism. Mr W. Watson was in the chair, there was a good attendance. The speaker first dealt with the advance of fascism in Germany, and how it was possible for Hitler to gain control, mainly through disunity of the working class political parties and lack of understanding of the united front. There was a’ similar process in Austria, only that the civil war in that country,’ he said, reached a higher plane. ’ He said that in Spain the forces of democracy began to make a forward step. Spanish people had formed a united front and fought fascist hordes both from within and outside of the country and after a three-years’ war were defeated. Italian aggression in Abyssinia was touched on, and the speaker went on to the Far East and dealt with the Japanese attack on China and showed Japan had been held from consolidating in China by a united front. The position in Europe was dealt with, beginning from the Munich agreement, and the present Japanese attack on America. It was an urgent necessity for all democratic countries to reach a common understanding so that a united front of these nations Would be formed to defeat the forces of fascism. It was also an urgent necessity that a united front should be formed in all democratic countries by the peoples in these countries opposed to fascism. both from within and outside, as the history proved .where peoples had been divided, fascism has won out, but where a united front has

been formed, fascism had a defeat. A number of questions were asked the speaker, which were . answered satisfactorily. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to the speaker.