Briefly

Northern Advocate, 19 February 1942, Page 2

Briefly

Battleships.—Mr Churchill’s statement in the House of. Commons about the navy's reinforcement is generally interpreted to mean that the Anson and Howe, last of the five 35,000-ton King George V. class of battleships, are nearly ready for the sea war.

Oil Shares Slump.—The value of leading oil shares fell by over £10,000,000 on the London market yesterday. Burma's slump alone accounted for £4,000,000. The news from Rangoon depressed the market. Even Indian gold shares and Ceylon tea were marked down.

Egyptian Elections. —King Farouk of Egypt has signed a decree fixing March 24 as the date for the Egyptian elections.

Teachers and Home Defence—A decision to reject the Education Department’s proposal that certain classes of teachers should be appealed for when called for home defence was reached by the Wellington Education Board yesterday. Members of the board expressed the view that while educational facilities must be maintained at the highest possible level, the defence of the country must come first. A motion giving effect to this decision was carried without opposition. Lack of Co-ordination—Lack of co-ordin-ation between the central organisation of the E.P.S. and local authorities was the subject of complaint by members at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. It was stated that the regulations should have provided standard machinery to avoid the overlapping of effort. A Wellington architect urged that the authorities should take quicker action in considering plans submitted by architects for air-raid shelters. During the past month he had put in 12 such plans, but only two had come back and they were inconclusive. Ambulance Van. —An offer was made in December by Mr and Mrs J. Sutherland Ross, of Dunedin, to the Government, of an ambulance van fox uke with the forces in the Middle East. This generous offer was accepted Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) on behalf of the Government, which will facilitate its delivery to army headquarters of the Middle East Forces. The van will cost at least £SOO, and the only stipulation made covering the gift is that it shall be built in Dunedin. Arrangements are now in hand to this end.

Struck by Train.—Concussion and fractured elbow's were received by Mrs Florence Lorraine Sillick, aged 27, of Huntly, when she was struck by the north-bound Taniatua express on the Victoria Street crossing shorty' after 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs Sillick w'as taken to hospital. Her condition is serious. New Award. —Complete agreement was reached in Conciliation Council yesterday in the case of the application by workers in the coach and motor-body building industry for a new Dominion award. They accepted the existing award, with an increase of meal money to 1/9, the addition of Anniversary Day to paid holidays, the acceptance of the improvers’ clause in the metal trades award, and the payment of tool money to woadworkei-s supplying their own kits. School Elections.—Approval was expressed by the Otago Education Board to a suggestion by the Canterbury Board that school committee and education board elections should not be held this year. The Canterbury board took the view; that as most committees had been asked to make certain measures in connection with emergency precautions, it w'ould be unwise in this moment of danger to disturb existing arrangements. Loan to Soviet.—A Washington message says President Roosevelt informed M Stalin in a recent communication that the United Suites had agreed to make another verv large loan to the Soviet for the purchase of military equipment and munitions. The loan would not boar interest.