General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 11 June 1945, Page 4

General News

Replacement of Cargo Ships A comprehensive plan for the

placement of cargo tonnage is under consideration by the Union Steam Ship Company. Probably the first units to receive attention will be those in replacement of cargo tonnage lost during the war years, such as the Ko- ■ mata, Kalingo. Kaiwarra, Kahika and Waikouati. Up to the present, British shipyards have been fully occupied with war requirements. The licensing of new construction is now in the hands of a recently-appointed com* mittee under the chairmanship of the Director-General of the Ministry of War Transport, and allocations of licences to build are dealt with at present by this authority. Designs of different types of vessels required for inter-colonial and coastal cargo services have been de-; veloped in the company’s head office in Wellington, and the chairman, Mr N. S. Falla, will return to England soon, with a view to arranging contracts for replacements, first of all, of war losses and then of other vessels which are due for retirement. Later consideration will be given to the building of a passenger vessel suitable for the inter-colonial service. Natural Gas at Auckland Experiments with the use of natural gas are being carried out by an Auckland fruit-canning firm in an effort to overcome the present gas shortage. This gas, which is obtained from the earth by boring, is purchased by the firm in large cylinders. Its use has increased costs by 400 per cent., but it- is proving a satisfactory temporary substitute although it may prove difficult to obtain supplies over a long period. Both natural and marsh gases have been used inthe United States and other countries to supply lighting power to cities, and on a smaller scale, isolated pockets of this gas have been tapped in parts of New Zealand, particularly in Southern Hawkes Bay, and used to supply light and heat to farm homesteads. ■ New Radio Station at Makara The establishment by the Post Office of a new radio receiving station at Makara. Wellington, was announced recently by the acting-Postmaster-Gen-eral, Mr Jones. He said that in addition to its immediate responsibility for the reception of radio-telegraph communications, the new station would when war conditions permitted, form an important link in a world-embracing telephone network. Children’s Interlock Pyjamas, white and colours. Size sto 9 13/2 to 17/11. Nights Size 7to 11 10/- to 17/9. 2 and 3 Coupons. McKay’s.* The dear old lady smilingly approached the tobacconist with: "I want some cigarette tobacco for . my son.” “Certainly, madam,” said the tobacconist ‘What kind would you like?” "Oh, I forget its name," replied the old lady, ‘but it’s the tobacco my son says nearly everybody’s smoking now ” Th« tobacconist smiled. “Then tnis will be it,” he said, handing over a packet of Riverhead Gold. "That, madam.” he continued, “is the finest cigarette tobacco money can buy. It is quite harmless, too, because being toasted by a special process, it's practically free from nicotine.” The old lady” beamed. “1 am sure that must be the tobacco my son wants.” she said. “I suppose you sell a lot of it?” Any amount.” replied the tobacconist. ‘You see, it’s everybody’s favourite. ’ Well pleased, the old lady smilingly departed. Riverhead Gold, one of the five famous toasted brands: Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold. Pocket Edition. Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog)and Cut Flug No. 10 (Bullshead); also Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold tailormades. All toasted and no sore throat, no cough! *

Lamb and Ewe Schedules Increased The New Zealand Meat Producers Board advises that the lamb and ewe schedules in the South Island will be increased by one eighth of a penny per lb, commencing to-day. Cycling Championships The New Zealand cycling championship track meeting, which has been in suspension'since 1940, will be resumed at Wanganui in the 1945-43 season, it was decided at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association in Wellington on Saturday, after consideration of an Auckland remit urging the revival. Provision was also made for a 100-mile national senior championship road race to be held this year. Farther Auckland' remits that grass track championship titles be instituted, in addition to hard track titles, and that the Nelson and Marlborough clubs, at present attached to Wellington, be affiliated with a South Island centre, were lost. A Wellington remit that cyclists of each island be eligible for island championships only, in the island in which they lived was carried. Big Fire at Lime Works A fire engine had to travel about 24 miles from Wanganui to Waitotara on Sunday morning, when fire broke out in the Waitotara Lime Company’s works. One half of the company's main building was destroyed before the enigine arrived, but it was able to save the remainder. The fire was discovered just before daybreak by a railwayman living nearby. Employees of the works and other Waitotara residents formed themselves into a voluntary brigade and by means of buckets did good work till' the engine from Wanganui arrived! Three hundred feet of hose was run out to a lagoon nearby and the southern half of the building was saved. The roof had caved in when the brigade arrived, the fire having spread beyond the control of the voluntary fighters. Work in the building had ceased at midday on Saturday. No estimate of the damage could be given last night, but it is believed to be considerable. The v.brks supplies a wide district with lime, and will be out of commission till repairs can be effected. The theory is that spontaneous combustion was the cause of the fire, which damaged valuable machinery, electric motor's, and other portions of the plant. It is believed the fire started ini a pile of sacks near the centre of the building. A similar fire occurred in the same works seven years ago.

Shortage of Beef Butchers Strong criticism of the present manpower policy in New Zealand was expressed at the Southland Farmers’ Union conference on Friday night during a discussion on the shortage of beef butchers in Southland. A decision was made to send telegrams to the Minister of Manpower, Mr McLagan, and Mr Adam Hamilton. The telegram to Mr McLagan reads: “Do you want beef for Britain? If so is the manpower position in New Zealand so chaotic that yOu» cannot secure the release of married! ■ beef butchers held in New Zealand?, Thousands of pounds of beef here today is rapidly deteriorating. Send us the butchers if your concern for Britain in genuine.” It was stated that there were thousands of men in camp in New Zealand who would be better on the farms and the view was expressed that the matter should be given full publicity. The position at present was that the farmers were maintaining at great expense stock which should have been ,serit to the freezing works long ago. That represented so much meat that was not being sent to England, where •it was urgently needed. Inoculation Against Distemper Further representations were to be nr.aiie to the Government requesting that the inoculation of all dogs against distemper be made c.ompulsory, said Mr R. J. McDonald, chairman of the North Island Sheep Dog Trial' Association, at the annual meeting of the association at Napier. It was stated that the association had spent £7OO on an experiment that had grown into a service of no small magnitude. L£st year nearly 1000 dogs were inoculated and since February 400 had been treated. Crowd of 12,960 at Ohakea weather and before a crowd estimated at 12,000, a thrilling air display was held at Ohakea Royal New Zealand Air Force station on Saturday afternoon. The proceeds went to assist' the 1945 Victory Loan appeal. Good organisation on the part of the Air Force personnel enabled the huge crowd to be handled with a minimum of delay.

Treatment of Military Defaulters “This association, representing those who fought for this country during two major wars within a quarter of a century, is most dismayed at the recent decision of the Government jn connection with military defaulters,” reads a ; telegram sent by the Waverley branch of the New Zealand R.S.A. to the Act-ing-Prime Minister, Mr Nash. It continues: “First, we feel that these men in refusing to protect New Zealand from an enemy even more barbaric and ruthless than our enemies in the last war should not be better treated than defaulters were then. Secondly, to exclude the Press and public from the inquiries is unjustifiable and must meet with widespread opposition from the people of this country. Thirdly, we consider that to give these men who have been adjudicated as not being genuine in their objections a re-trial wh?n others who have gone overseas in obedience to the decision of the tribunals, • have served, and even died, in the service of their fellow men, is unfair. In conclusion, this association calls on the Government to bring into effect the wish of the people that these lawbreakers. whose cases have all been . heard lay a properly-constituted tribunal, be retained in detention camps till all servicemen have returned and been rehabilitated, and that they be excluded from the public service and deprived of civil rights for 10 years.” Prices of Citrus Fruits Slight changes in prices of some New Zealand-grown citrus fruits, including Meyer lemons, are defined in a price order issued by the Price Tribunal. Citrus fruits retail prices not altered by this price order are New Zealand true lemons, New Zealand sweet oranges, and imported oranges and grapefruit. The order defines wholesale prices and allowances for cases, as well as retail prices. Fruit are graded as “fancy and extra fancy” and “commercial.” Consumers’ prices are not materially altered by the adjustments, which retain prices on the same overall basis. For New Zealand poorman oranges and grapefruit the price formerly ruling all the year round now applies only in September and October. From May to August the price is 2d cheaper than formerly, and from November to 30th April it is 2d dearer. For Meyer lemons, prices from June to October in the Auckland province are £d cheaper than formerly, and in Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough prices are Id dearer than the former prices all the year round. For mandarins. tan r,A ” : nes and tangelos, prices are 2d cheaper in the North Island, and 2£d cheaper in the South Island during the whole year. Navy House Cardigans. S.W. 22/-, Wm.’s 23/9. 3 Coupons. McKay’s.* Infants’ Winceyette Frocks. Pink and white 7/6. Romper suits with j button on pants 9/11. Smocks suits 11/3 and 13/6 McKay’s.* Infants’ Clydella Frocks with hand smocking and embroidery. 16in and 18in 20/3. Florals 21/6. McKay’s.*