WOMEN AND GIRLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24302, 17 June 1942, Page 2

WOMEN AND GIRLS

BEHAVIOUR IS STREETS "NO GREAT DETERIORATION" (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The opinion that the behaviour of women and girls in the streets of New Zealand towns had shown no serious deterioration as a result of the war was expressed by Commissioner J. Smith, of the Salvation Army. _ "I do not think the position in New Zealand is very much more serious now than it has ever been," said Commissioner Smith. "So far as I know, the behaviour of certain of our women and girls has constituted a grave problem for many years—a problem caused, I believe, by the relaxation of the discipline of home life. Young girL have been given rather too much freedom to come and go and do what they like.

"Behaviour in the streets may appear rather worse to-day than formerly because there are more men in uniform and that draws attention to them and their companions. . "But we must beware of singling out for suspicion every man in uniform who is seen with a girl. After all, a man. who has been at sea for several weeks naturally wants the companionship of the opposite sex. We do want to keep the right balance. Let us beware of thinking evil where there is no evil."

ENGAGING LABOUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS EMPLOYERS' OBLIGATION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday No employer may engage any worker who leaves an essential industry oi undertaking without the consent m writing of the district manpower officer. This point was stressed by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. It. Semple, to-day. "It should be clearly understood," stated the Minister, "that this applies to every employer in the country. The obligation is placed on every employer when engaging labour to verify two points: whether or not the applicant had last worked in an undertaking declared essential and, if so, whether he had the consent in writing of the district manpower officer to his termination of employment in that undertaking. If the employer finds the applicant has left the essential undertaking without consent ho should refer the application to the nearest district manpower officer and only if that officer consents may the applicant be engaged. "Any employer engaging such a person without consent commits an offence under the regulations and is liable upon conviction to a penalty of £SO, or three months' imprisonment. This applies to all engagements of labour, women as well as men, made since May 21."

WATERSIDER'S THEFTS EARNED £7OO LAST YEAR (0.c.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Cumulative sentences amounting to 12 months' imprisonment were passed on Stanley Alekne, waterside worker, aged 56, who admitted before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in Wellington, charges of theft and receiving pillaged cargo. Detective-Sergeant McLennan said accused earned £7Ol on the wharves last year, and there was no need for him to steal. Some tins of tongues stolen had been consigned to the troops.

SHORTAGE OF RAZORS BLADES IN SMALL SUPPLY The shortage of razors of every kind is becoming more acute. Barbers' shops report" that blade razors and the standards and blades of safety razors are "unprocurable. Small quantities of safety blades are coming in from time to time, but these are described as a mere drop in the ocean when compared with the demand. There is a difference of opinion whether the lack of shaving equipment has so far brought much more custom to the shaving saloons. But it is clear that such custom will not be welcomed by the barbers. They are already working very short-handed, and a shave costing 9d takes almost as much time as a haircut at double the price. In some of the suburbs barbers have notices stating that they cannot shave customers on Friday nights or Saturday mornings. This personal problem for the vast majority of men promises to become more and more pressing, but few appear to have adopted beards. LOST RATION BOOKS THE DUTY OF FINDERS (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday People finding ration coupon books must return them immediately to the district rationing officer. This was emphasised in New Plymouth bv Mr. V. Dull', secretary of the New Plymouth Drapers' and Allied Trades' Association, when he stated already _ a surprising number of people had mislaid their coupon books and had been rushing anxiously to shops they had visited to see if they had left them there. They would most likely save themselves a great amount of time and worry if they inquired first from the rationing officer, said Mr. Duff. The National Emergency Regulations provide that any ration books found must be placed immediately in the care of the local rationing authorities. It is an offence for anyone to retain a ration book not belonging to him and attempt to it for his own purposes. The penalty for retaining possession of someone else's book is three months' imprisonment, or a fine not exceeding £IOO, with an additional fine of £lO for each day further the book is withheld.

FIRE AT PUKEKOHE (0.C.) PUKEKOHE, Tuesday A six-roomed house in West Street, Pukekohe, owned and occupied by Mrs. «T. Grant, was almost completely destroyed by fire this evening. Mrs. Grant had left the house for a few moments to visit a neighbour, and a passer-by gave the alarm. The fire had gained a strong hold and the brigade had a difficult task.

E.P.S. IN WHANGAREI ;0.C.) WHANGAREI, Tuesday The reduction in the number of E.P.S. personnel as a result of compulsory enrolment in the Home Guard was discussed at a meeting of the Whangarei Central Committee last night. Specially sent for the purpose of meeting technical officers, an official of the National Service Department arriving in Whangarei, will have only one to meet, the remainder having been in the Home Guard or the Army. Until the special committee of the E.P.S.. Home Guard and Manpower Committee allocates personnel, a full-scale try-out of the emergency organisation will he impracticable. CRUSHED BY A STONE (0.C.) WANGANUI, Tuesday Hit by a shellnick stone, weighing about a ton, Mr. V. Quarterman, Wanganui Harbour Board foreman in Kaiwhaiki quarries, suffered extensive injuries, and was admitted to the Wanganui Public Hospital. Mr. Quarterman was standing near a trolly on to which the stone was being loaded when it fell back against him, striking him on the head and breaking both legs, and causing severe crushing of the bod^