Employers’ Association

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 46, 23 February 1945, Page 4

Employers’ Association

Mr. W. M. Sexton presided at the annual meeting of the Manawatu-Wni-rarapa Employers’ Association last night. The chairman, in speaking on rehabilitation, saicj, the trade groups would be called upon to give a good deal of assistance. They had been asked to set up small advisory panels to give information about opportunities for employment and expansions that might be planned. Already the panels had been able to help quite a number of servicemen. Mr. Sexton spoke of apprenticeship problems, saying it might be difficult to put into practice, the recommendations of the Apprenticeship Commission. There should be provision made as well for the employment of adult apprentices economically. His remarks on industrial matters are reported elsewhere in this issue. , Mr. Sexton was re-elected president. Messrs L. H. Hartley (Pahiatua), H. P. Hugo (Masterton), J. W. Rimmer (Levin), W. H. Brown, W. L. Macpherson, N. Smith, T. Packer and D. J. Rodgers were elected vice-presidents, The committee comprises Messrs E. R. B. Holben, H. E. Townshend, B. E. Keillor, J. O. Boniface, A. E. Clausen, 0. V. Ciochetto, F. N. Andrews and J. A. Burrell. National War Savings. The figures for National War Savings for the city on Thursday, February 22, 1945, were £149 3s. Import Control and Taxes. A relaxation of import control and the granting of a greater freedom of selection, along with reliof from taxation as soon as possible, is to be urged by the Manawatu-Wairarapa Employers’ Association in a remit to the New Zealand Employers’ Federation. Ash hurst Bridge. At the quarterly meeting- of the North Island Motor Union Mr. T. M. N. Rodgers (Manawatu) asked Mr. M. H. Wynyard, motorists’ representative on the Main Highways Board, if he could indicate what it was proposed to do with the traffic bridge at Ashhurst, on the main road to Napier, which had subsided recently. “It looks as if wo will want a new bridge,” he added. Mr. Wynyard said that the matter had not yet come before the board. Verb ‘ ‘To Graunch. ’ * The Aimed Services, particuarly the Royal Air Force, have contributed a score or more of new- words and phrases to the imperishable stuff of the English language since the war began. Latest of these words, and one not yet in full use, because it has not filtered through all ranks, is “graunch.” Briefly, it means to make a mess of anything, as to smash up a plane or motor-car, to fail in any particular job or mission. “In a night landing, being a poor type, ho graunched his kit- and the winco took a very dim view of the whole teaparty,” might be a typical Air Force way of saying that an indifferent pilot crashed his aircraft, thereby incurring the extreme displeasure of the wingcommander. Damaging Trifles. Indicating the good work done by the magnetic truck operated by the Main Highways Board, Mr. M. H. Wynyard, motorists’ representative on the board, told the council of the North Island Motor Union, at the quarterly meeting, that in the past year the truck had picked up 9280 pounds of nails and other items damaging to tyres from aerodromes, and 5182 pounds from main highways, of which 3618 miles had been traversed. The figure relating to highways worked out at 1.4 pounds to the mile, the previous corresponding figure being 2.1 pounds. The board had since acquired another magnet, of a type operated independently and towed by a truck, which was now in use in tne South Island. Another was being built for use in the North. Island. The degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science lias been awarded to Robert Howard Ellis and Francis John. iSouthcombe, of Massey Agricultural College,