DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1942, Page 8

DOMINION NEWS

I NEED FOR MORE NURSES. ■ P.A. WELLINGTON, July 23. , The urgent need for more recruits for the nursing profession .was emphasised to-day, ■ by the DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. Watt, who expressed serious concern tor the future, unless immediate additions were made to the ranks of nurses. He referred to the extra demands upon the nursing service brought about by the war, and said that 2,000 nursing recruits were needed each year in the training schools. He pointed out that, while training, these nurses were doing vital war work in nursing the sick and wounded from overseas, and in helping to maintain the physical stamina of the civilian home front. Nursing was an essential service,- and while performing a community task of untold value. a nurse was fitting herself for an interesting and well-paid -career. The Department was anxious that as many girls as possible should come forward. Dr. Watt also pointed out the expanding hospital service as a result of the Social Security benefits, and that there was a corresponding demand on the nursing service. The situation was not yet critical, but unless proper supervision could be made for the inevitable expansion in the future, it would quickly become so. The time to make provision was now. INFLUENZA IN DUNEDIN. i DUNEDIN, July 23. > Influenza, fairly prevalent for several months, is working- up to a new stage of intensity and is seriously depleting office, shop, factory, and school attendances in the Dunedin area. One school with 540 on the roll has 136 absentees, in addition to two teachers and four student teachers. Other schools are less seriously ■ depleted. Several business places re- . port 50 per’ cent, staff depletions. ! WELLINGTON, July 23. Sentencing a first offender to 14 days’ hard labour for the theft of an overcoat, Mr. Stout, S.M., remarked i that there seemed to be an idea growing, and it was an encouragement to crime, that every first offender was going to get probation. It was a mistake to think so. Defendant was Harold Wilfred tsailey, a barman, who was stated to have taken the coat from, a restaurant by mistake, and to have done nothing about it, except look for a possible advertisement. Private John Angus McCarthy, who some days ago suffered an injury at Waiouru camp, when he slipped and fell, a bayonet going through his leg. failed to rally after an amputation operation and died this morning. McCarthy was married, aged 34. He had no family. He was previously employed as a linotypist on the “Gisborne Herald.” CHRISTCHURCH, July 22. Angus Young MacAskill, a soldier, aged 20 years, was killed to-day during military manoeuvres on the Hawkins Road near Darfield. MacAskill , was riding along the road and. failed I to negotiate a corner properly, and his bicycle ran into a cattle-stop. NELSON, July 22. The Nelson Provincial Fruitgrowers’ Conference passed a resolution favouring the Government continuing.

the purchase of the pip fruit crop during the war. AUCKLAND. July 22.

An indication that 1000 tons of seed potatoes will be required for planting in New Zealand in the next few weeks is given in replies forwarded to the New Zealand Grain, Seed and Produce Merchants’ Federation m _ response to a Dominion-wide inquiry., Auckland merchants predict that the higher guaranteed price for the coming season’s crop will influence southern commercial growers to retain abnormally large quantities for planting. The police are ‘searching for three men alleged to have attacked and robbed a taxi-driver, Chanes Lewis, early on Sundae morning. On Lewis’s arrival from the citv at a lonelv part of Point Chevalier, -an overcoat was thrown over his head from the rear seat, ana while his arms were held, money amounting to £7 was taken from his pockets. Leaving the car. the men ran in the direction of the beach, taking the ignition key with them. Lewis had to- walk two miles for assistance. No arrests have been made. . . An unusual complication arising out of the elections for seven members of the Auckland Education Board the results of which were declared to-dav. has been caused by the death of a candidate since the voting was completed on July 15. The candidates was Mr. A. N. Mackv. the sitting member for the east ward, who receiver 545 votes against Mr. J. Banks. 282. A further election in the ward will be held at an early date.