LOCAL AND GENERAL

Grey River Argus, 24 February 1944, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Flags were flying on public buildings yesterday commemorating Red Army Day.

The Gillespie’s Beach return for the two weeks ended February 19 was 81 oz from 26,422 yards in 216 hours.

Three days quick-selling —Friday, Saturday, Monday, at White’s Big Summer Fashion Sale. —Advt.

Compared with over ninety, trucks last week, there are , seventy-five trucks of live stock, mostly sheep and lambs, being railed this week from the West Coast to Canterbury.

According to advice received by the Manpower Office, Greymouth, seasonal hop-pickers operations are now required in the Nelson and Motueka districts. At the end of next month men and women will also be required for work; in fruit and tobacco industries.

One case of tuberculosis and two of scarlet fever were reported irom the West Coast last week. Notifications to the Health Department, Christchurch, included: Scarlet fever 19; tuberculosis 8; cerebro spinal meningitis 2; erysipelas 2; eclampsia 1.

The British'lsles RAF. pilots and! air crews killed during the. war (exclusive of Dominion and Allied squadrons) total thirty-eight thousand three hundred men, while there are ten thousand four hundred missing. The RAF. has lost over ten thousand aircraft. Mr. Churchill has just announced these figures.

Of eleven appeals lodged on behalf of employees of law offices, banks, and commercial houses in Greymqjitn, seven will receive the support of the Greymouth Clerical and Shop Assistants’ Manpower Advisory, Comrrnttee when, the appeals come up for hearing in the next few days. In the other four appeals the Committee it making no recommendation.

While the prices of New Zealand produce exported to Britain are fixed, the prices of British materials and goods imported to New Zealand are steadily increasing. Yesterday in (Parliament, however, the Minister of Marketing (Mr. Roberts) stated that remarks by/ Mr. A. J. Murdoch at a Northland' Dairy Conference to the effect that negotiations were in progress between the British and New Zealand Governments in regard to an increase in the price paid for butter were ant to give a wrong impression. “No specific negotiations in regard to butter and cheese prices are in progress," the Minister said, “but discussions are taking place on increases in the prices paid for materials and goods imported into New Zealand relative to prices of New Zealand export products. Mr. Nash is making appropriate representations while he is in London.

The contracting work on the reconstruction of the South Breakwater which was held up by the recent wet weather, is now in full swing. Explaining the purpose of the wavebreaker wall which is now being built on the south side of the breakwater, the Harbour Board Engineer (Mr. D. S. Kennedy) said yesterday that it would be more than an ordinary sea wall. It would be in fact what its name implied, as a concave section near the top of the wall would have the effect of turning the waves back upon themselves. This would stop the water from getting into the heart of the breakwater where it tended to push the material into the nyer, forming the aprons projecting into the stream., which have been a cause of considerable concern. This type of wall is used widely as a' defence against the sea in other parts of the world, and in the perfecting of the design, extensive use was made of scale models for experimental purposes.

The election of an Invercargill Licensing Committee is postponed' for six months and the status quo in Invercargill as that of a “no-license district is being maintained until a Licensing Comjnittee is elected. This postponement is effected under a Licensing Act Emergency Regulation passed last Friday. Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Minister of Justice yesterdaysaid at Wellington that it had been considered expedient to postpone the election of a committee during further consideration by the Govern,ment of the most satisfactory means of meeting present abnormal circumstances prevailing with respect to building conditions and to inadequacy of premises suitable to be granted licenses under the Licensing Act. An early- opportunity will be taken of seeking for Parliamentary approval of the postonement embodied in tne Regulation —P.A.

“Hang your washing on the Seigfried Line,” but don’t hans it on your hotel balconies. Our city fathers are concerned about the appearances of our fair city and rightly so, after all, appearances c Q an L The controversy is not all one-sided, however. Hotel proprietors are about their wits end, what with staffs being manpowered and linen unprocurable. In the old days before a modern laundry was established .m Greymouth, this was the only way of drying washing and old methods die hard. Getting back to appearances just stand out on the road and pass a critical eye at _ the appearances of your hotel with ,the washing hanging on the balcony. You will then ring 136 and hate Westland Laundry call for your washing and have it returned beautifully finished at a that will astound you. Then again, guests are most critical about appearances. Be modern apd have your hotel with appearances second to none. If you do not have a good stock of linen, which is no disgrace these days, Westland Laundry will give you a daily service. Westland Laundry Ltd. ’Phone 136. Depot: 27 Albert Street.—Advt.

Coal of a quick burning nature from the Strongman and other similar mines in the Grey district, which is popular for home use, is being at present reserved for the use of the railways and gasworks,,and according to the State Mines Department none of it will be available until further notice for household use. The Minister of Railways, Hon. R. Semple yesterday stated: “The position today demands the continuance •of the present restrictions on railway travel. The Department has made every effort to build up stocks of coal, but has not made any progress. In fact the consumption of coal during the past week has exceeded the supply. The Department has taken the utmost care to make the most effective us of supplies l of coal and has arranged all services to obtain the maximum results. This means that it would be foolish and dangerous to make any concessions in view of the demand for normal faster holiday trafflib. It simply cannot be done. Inquiries show that the public is very eager to travel extensivelyi at Easter, and I realise that Easter represents the last of the summer and autumn holidays, but I am sorry to say it is impossible on this occasion to serve the demand for travel facilities,”