General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 9 April 1945, Page 4

General News

Farm Workers’ Wages Increased rates of wages for farm workers other than dairy farm workers came into force on Ist April, according to the Labour newspaper the “Standard.” A conciliatory meeting of representatives of the farmers and the .workers on 22nd March arrived at a complete agreement. The new rates are as follows, the previous rates being given in parentheses: Workers under 17. £1 10s a week (£1 2s); workers 17 and under 18. £2 < £ 1 9s); workers 18 and under 19. £2 7s6d <£l 16s): workers 19 and under 20 £2 17s 6d c £2 3s 6d);, workers 20 and under 21, £3 5s ( £2 10s 6d); 21 years and over. £3 15s (£2 17s 6d). Workers employed under the above rates must be found by the employer in food and accommodation. Where the employer does not supply the workers with fc )d and accommodation all rates set out above shall be increased by £1 a week. Harvesters’ wages have been increased from 2s 3d to 2s 9d an hour with rations. Other casual farm workers receive proportionate increases. The agreement provides that workers who perform work on a Sunday, other than the usual morning and afternoon attendance to animals, must get a day off as compensation at a time to be mutualiy arranged. Poorer Farm Lands The opinion that short hours of work and high wages in the cities, if pushed too far. might eventually lead 'o the abandonment of a good deal of nor poorer farming land which, in the aggregate, produced a great deal of natural wealth, was expressed by Mr A. P. O'Shea. Dominion secretary of the Farmers’ Union, when speaking .in Pahiatua. He said the high country farmers in the South Island were in a very difficult position, and something would have to be done about it. The plain fact was that the returns for their wool were not great enough to cope with increased costs. It would cost more to police this country for rabbits, goats and deer than it would to assist the farmers to stay on the land. South Island Meat Schedules The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board advises that the wether and ewe schedules in the South Island will be increased by one-eighth of. a penny per lb commencing to-day. Winceyet.te Nights. V-necks, Fancy trimmed, short and long sleeves. S.W. to X. 0.5.. from 11/1 (.4 Coupons) 1 McKay’s.*

State Purchase of Bank “My only regret was that the war broke out, for the Bank of New Zealand. I believe, would have been taken over years ago,” said Mr A. S. Richards, member of Parliament for Roskill. in a public address at the Waltham School, Christchurch. When he read the opinions of Mr Stronaeh Paterson about State banicing, said Mi- Richards earlier in his address, he laughed, because Mr Paterson was either talking with his tongue in his cheek or he knew nothing of the history of mankind. Why did not Mr Paterson tell the people that the Government had given aid to the Bank of New Zealand when the bank was bankrupt and that A and B preference (Shareholders had received millions in excess of what they had done for the country? Why did not Mr Paterson tell the people that if State enterprise had not come to the rescue thousands of people would have been ruined? College Governors In reply to a request that a representative of the Farmers’ Federation be appointed on the Nelson College Council of Governors, the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at its monthly meeting received a reply from the board pointing out that the Statute did not allow the appointment of another representative except by a special Act of Parliament to amend the constitution. Professors’ Salaries Recommendations for new salary scales for lecturers, senior lecturers, associate professors and professors have been considered by the Canterbury University College Lecturers’ Association, and tile association has urged that the proposed salaries be submitted to the Government at the earliest possible opportunity. The association proposes the following salaries:—Grade II lecturers, £4OO. rising to £725: senior lecturers, £650, rising to £1000; associate professors and others, £9OO to£1200: and for professors, a basic salary of £1350. These compared with present rates of £3OO to £375 for assistant lecturers, £SOO to £650 for senior lecturers. £4OO to £4<s for lecturers. and £9OO to £IOOO for professors. Labour for Next Year’s Harvest Because camps were being closed there was a prospect that no soldier labour would be available in the Nelson district for harvesting next year, said the Secretary of the Nelson Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. Mj T. H. Robinson, when reporting on the working of this year's scheme at the executive’s monthly meeting. It was resolved that representations be made to the appropriate quarters requesting that some form of organised labour be provided for next year, also that some concerted plans be made for the supply of shearers. Trees in Rural Nelson Much of the beauty of the Nelson countryside is due to the efforts of the pioneers in planting trees, particularly those brought from England. As old age and decay overcome them many of these fall or are cut down, but an ex Nelsonian who has lately revisited the district does not find much evidence that these trees have been replaced by others. He thinks Nelson landowners owe it to the pioneers to continue to plant trees for beauty as distinct from the commercial plantations which are to-be seen in the district. Ants Swarming Perhaps th e only annoying features of the pleasant weather experienced in New Plymouth lately has been that it has brought ideal conditions for the swarming of ants, states the “Taranaki Herald,” The black ant is a very interesting inseot, although a nuisance when swarming. It is generally supposed that ants, like bees, are able to determine by difference of foods whether the egg will develop into a worker or a queen. The workers are really inperfect females. The young males and queens leave the nest in summer or early autumn and fly to find a new location and effect fertilisation, losing their wings immediately they are settled. Recently myriads have been observed in New Plymouth flying in long waving columns, and they make a pretty picture when seen against the sunlight. The noise is very slight—no more than that of a single wasp—considering' th e numbers that are in flight. Warmer Justice The Nelson Magistrate’s Courtroom in winter time has struck a chill into more than offenders against the law. The large, cold, sunless building has not encouraged protracted legal proceedings, for Bench. Bar, officials and Press alike have shivered in a frigid atmosphere which an inadequate gas heater has done little to dispel. When the court sat this morning there was a new warmth about the proceedings not caused by the nature of the litigation or the oratory of counsel. Four large new gasheaters have been set into the walls of the courtroom and fresh pipes connected with the main to improve the previously poor pressure. A cheery warmth radiated to-day from the heaters and gladdened the hearts of those who frequent the halls of justice.

“No Direction” Policy The attitude of the Auckland district, manpower officer toward the direction, of returned soldiers from the Middle East was explained by a representative of the department. Mr J. Muncaster. at a silting of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee. He said the policy of the manpower officer was not to direct Middle East men to any particular employment. “Men from the Middle East know that when they return they can be directed, but that is not our policy." continued Mr Muncaster. They were told to have a look round and see if they could find something suitable for themselves. Should a man fail to find a job for himself, the manpower officer suggested where one could be found and the man was advised to go and see if it would suit him.

Londoners arc drinking considerably less beer than they did. but smoking four times as much tobacco —according to the latest statictics. Well, it’s the same story in New Zealand, and the greatly increased demand for the weed is not altogether due to the increase in population. It's largely attributable to the rate at which we all live now and the rush and hurry of modern life. People crave lor something to relieve the nervous tension, and find that tobacco helps considerably.. The evergrowing demand for the latter has been far more marked in New Zealand since the introduction of ‘'toasted.” which has fairly captured the public taste and is actually preferred by smokers innumerable to the imported article. This is by no means surprising. because “toasted” is not only of the very highest grade, but so free, comparatively, from nicotine, thanks to toasting, as to be safe for even the heaviest smoker. Here are some of the brands: Riverhead Gold. Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead) and Navy Cut No 3 fBulldog), also Riverhead and Desert Gold tailormades. All toasted, and no sore throat, no cough!*