NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 60, 12 March 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Potatoes may be Short Despite the apparent glut in potatoes at the present time, it was stated at yesterday 's meeting of the Manawatu Primary Production Council that there was a likelihood of a shortage just as acute os last year, at the end of this year. Unfit for Milling Because of unfavourable weather in the Rangitikei district, it was estimated that 20,000 sacks of wheat would be unfit for milling and would be available for poultry feed only, said Mr. A. S. Coleman at a meeting of the Wanganui District Primary Production Council. Veteran Bowlers Owing to bad weather, the veterans' bowling tournament held on the Palmerston North Club’s green on Wednesday was not completed. The finalists were Feilding (A. Williamson, W. Duncan, F. Sayvrell and 11. G. Davidson) and Palmerston North (B. Levin, Sloan, Lett, Brown) with 11 wins each. A draw foi the honours took place, and Feilding were declared the winners. Death of Pedestrian Aii accident involving fatal injuries to a middle-aged married man, Mr. ltaymond Vear Purton, of ISS Grey Street, occurred in Ruahine Street on Wednesday night at S o'clock. Deceased was walking across Rifahinc Street near the junction of Broadway Avenue, when ho was involved in a collision with a taxicab proceeding toward Main Street. He was removed to the hospital in a serious condition and died at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. “Child Slavery” “We are getting back to the old days of child slavery,” said the principal ot the Christchurch Technical College, Dr. E. D. Hansen, during a discussion by the Board of Governors, when the incidence of child labour in the Dominion was described as “quite startling.” A visiting American investigator in social science had told him that one of the worst things he had seen in New Zealand was the number of children in factories, Dr. Hansen added. Gumboot3 for Farmers The need for conserving gumboots was mentioned at the meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production, when several members commented on the habit adopted by many farmers of wearing their gumboots botli in winter and summer. It was stateu that the men most concerned were dairy farmers and market gardeners, and there were only very small supplies available. It was decided to bring the matter to the attention of those interested and advise them to have theii boots repaired before they became unusable. Fertiliser Rationing The Manawatu Primary Production Council yesterday had before it the grounds on which appeals for further consideration in respect of fertilise! allocations will be received by chairmen of local fertiliser committees. These are:—(J) Where through misunderstanding or inability, the owner of a property did not lodge an application 01 an appeal under the Pliosphutie Fertiliser Control Notice, 1941. (2) Where it can bo demonstrated by' documentary evidence that the two years ended May 31st, 1911, were not a true indication ot the average amount, of topdressing used. Boy Drowned in Dip A tragic discovery was made at Hohinui, near Pahiatua, when a six-year-old boy, James Earl the adopted son of Mr. Gemmell, mauagei of the dairy factory tiicie, was fouud drowned in a sheep dip. The boy hau left the factory to take a message anci some time later another boy informed Mr. Gemmell that there was a body in a 3hecp dip on a farm not far away. Mr. Gemmell hastened to the scene and found it was the body of his son, and applied artificial respiration for some time, but without avail. How the unfortunate lad came to be in the dip is not known.