GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 February 1942, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Tea fliers With Forces Over 50 per cent, of the Nelson E<aiiat ion Board's male teaching staff is on active service. This was stated at yes- | ten lay's meeting of the board. The secretary. Mr H. J. Thornton, said that 44 teacher.-, were now on active service exclusive of those with the Territorial forces or National Reserve. \ Dairy Farmer’s Hours “It seems to me if you want, to preserve your son alive you'd better let ! him go to the Army where he'll have I reasonable hours.’' said Mr J. S. Bar- | r.ett, considering the appeal at a sitjimg of the Christchurch Man-power j Committee of a dairy farmer for his j son. reports “The Press.” The appelj lant slated that he was milking 70 (cows and ran 100 to 150 ewes and 100 ( lambs for fattening and that he and ! his son worked from 14 to 164 hours a j day. ‘‘How long do you expect your son to last at this?” asked Mr Barnett, i “Well. I’ve lasted a I it myself for close on 30 years and I've suffered no ill | effects, so I suppose my son will do ; the same,” replied appellant. Balance-Sheet 'lagged j F: r the second year in succession the j balance-sheet of the Invercargill City ! Council bears a tag from the Audit Ofi fice because of the council’s vegetable- ! growing project (reports the "Southj land Times”). At a meeting of the I coui cil last week the balance-sheet was 1 receded for adoption from the Audit ! Office with the comment that there was ino authority in law for the council to ! engage in vegetable growing and the j council’s expenditure on the project was j unlawful. The Town Clerk (Mr W F. I Slurtnan) said a similar tag had appeared on the balance-sheet a year before The Audit Office was merely pointing out Dial there was no authority lor the scheme. It was a peculiar position that the council could make a cash grant to the forces, but it was unlawful to grow vegetables for the forces. It wa decided to ask the Municipal Association to take steps to have vegetable growing by local bodies in war time validated by legislation. Councillors emphasised that if there was a loss the councillors might be called on to refund the amount. A Technique that Failed The members of the military boards | ai present silting in New Zealand haves

fortunately, is a‘. times relieved by hi imorous incidents, states the “Otago Daily Times.” One board, in its earlier sittings, had the repeated experience of being informed by employers that this or that employee was absolutely essential. and this no matter how many men were engaged in the particular industry. A mein her of one board, however, shook the assertiveness of an employer-c'j-pel lant when he asked him how he \ ould get on if: the employee for whom J: • was appealing was suddenly attacked with appendicitis and had to under. go an operation. The appellant re pbed that he supposed that lie would have to do without him. The technique ci a possible attack of appendicitis was 1 ursued at subsequent meetings of this particular board, with greater or less success, until .he fateful climax arrived. A dairy farmer and his son appeared before the board, the father appealing for the son. Again came the query, “Well, what would you do o' your son came ta you to-night and said that he ha ! an attack of appendicitis?” “1 would cull him a liar," came the unexpected reply to a surprised board. “Is that so?” the farmer was asked. “And why?” “Because, ictorted the farmer, “h: had his appendix removed 12 months ago.” Food in England “You have no idea how acceptable parcels of samples of New Zealand produce are when received here.” writes Major II D. Robertson, officer in charge of V arbrook Hospital. Eversley. England, in a letter to the Wanganui Rotary CI lb Tic aid tinned goods travel very we'l 'md butter and cheese are most popular as they arc rationed “The food problem seems much easier this war. perhaps it is because rationing wa*- introduced much earlier and everyone h a chance at the standard lines." added Major Robertson. “I think most New Zealanders feel the absence of fruit most, although apples are to be nad at Is and Is 3d a pound Peaches arc *hi sale in London from 4s 6d to 7s Od each and hothouse grapes up to 12s a pound, but on Army pay these are too expensive ” Major Robert, on stated that London has cleaned up the ravages of the big raids last May. The shops still appear to have novelties but many of the small luxury type have gone out of business Community feed•nc» is on the increase especially in some of the towns where the shopping area has been destroyed Good meals are sold for 6d and Is. with special meals for children.