PRICE OF PETROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 2

PRICE OF PETROL

INCREASE SOUGHT APPLICATION BY COMPANIES (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Thursday An inquiry whether the price of petrol ayd lubricating oil was likely to be increased substantially at an early date was made by Mr. W. Sullivan (Opposition—Bay of Plenty) in an urgent question to the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister replied that an application for an increase had been received from the oil companies which had submitted data in connection with higher costs. No decision had been made. Mr. Sullivan: Ts it a large increase? The Minister: No larger than any individual increase during the last year or so. Replying to a further inquiry by Mr Sullivan whether in view of the Government's desire for stabilisation the Minister would see that the prices for petrol and oil were not increased, the Minister said that was something at which he would have to have a good look.

BODY IN HARBOUR

YOUNG AMERICAN SAILOR The body of an American naval rating, who is thought to have fallen from a ship in the Auckland Harbour on March 6, was recovered yesterday. He was: — Charles Ross Oornelison, aged 19. The body was recovered from the Devonport side of the harbour at about mid-day.

INFANTILE PARALYSIS

DEATHS IN CANTERBURY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday There have been three deaths from infantile paralysis in the Canterbury health district this week, making a total of five deaths since the outbreak of the epidemic. Ten cases have been admitted to hospital this week. There wore two deaths on Monday, a male aged 43 and a boy aged six. The third death, a girl of eight, occurred at Waimate on Wednesday. There is now no likelihood of the schools reopening for some timo.

SCHOOL TRUANCY

CHILDREN VISIT ARMY CAMP (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Thursday "The position at present is very alarming and we are very perturbed," said Mr. I. F. McDonald, chairman of a deputation of headmasters received by the Wellington Education Board to ask for the appointment of a fulltime truancy officer to deal with the situation which has arisen in _ certain areas of the board's administrative area. Mr. McDonald said that in the case of one school, the headmaster, finding 25 per cent of the pupils away one day, went to a neighbouring camp ot overseas servicemen and was able to round up the majority of them. The children, he said, were in some cases protected by their parents. He instanced the case of a boy seen shining shoes. When the matter was taking up the mother sent a note saying the boy was sick. The present use of child welfare officers had been very helpful, Mr. McDonald added They might get tho child back for one day, but lie would be away again the next day. Parents, too, were inclined to resent the visits of welfare officers, since they were associated more with delinquency matters. Welfare officers were not empowered to take any drastic action. FALL FROM PLANK FATALITY ON PORT BOWEN (0.C.) WAXGANUI, Thursday Injuries from which ho died a short time later were received by a youth. He was Arthur Lewis Taylor, aged 16, son of Mr. A. It. Taylor, Castleclilf. The lad was working on the wreck of the steamer Port Bowen, which has largely been dismantled. He is believed to have fallen from a plank on which he was working. Although other workmen engaged in their task on the wreck were in the vicinity at the time, none witnessed the accident. The police" and St. John Ambulance were summoned and artificial respiration was carried out without aavil. MISHAP AT SCHOOL While performing some exercises on the parallel bars at the Auckland Grammar School, yesterday, Peter Kenneth Smith, aged 13. son of Mr, K. G. Smith, of 25 Matai Road. Green Lane, slipped and fell. Ho suffered a fractured dislocation of his right elbow and was admitted to the Auckland Hospital. COLLISION WITH TRAM While cycling to work yesterday morning, a sewing-machine mechanic, Mr. Brian Cecil Herbert Rockell. aged 31. married of 2 Rosedale Road. Mount Roskill. collided with a tram when he turned out of Landscape Road into Dominion Road. He was admitted to the Auckland Hospital suffering from concussion and lacerations to the arms and head,