FORCED LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 2

FORCED LABOUR

BELGIAN STUDENTS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday The Consul-General of Belgium in New Zealand, M. A. Nihotte, states tliat in accordance with a decree of the German military administration in Belgium dated March 6 all male and female first-year university students' were mobilised for six months' forced labour. The rectors of the. universities refused to carry out this order and the Germans decreed that students must present -themselves at the labour offices before March 20, that defaulters will be conscripted for forced labour in Germauv for an indefinite period and that in future a preliminary' requirement for admission to Belgian universities will be one year's forced labour. A German decree of March 7 orders the rationing offices to cancel the ration cards of Belgians refusing to enrol for forced labour. r ' • LOCAL AND GENERAL New By-law Passed A by-law was passed by the Onehunga Borough Council last night giving the council power to decide the location of offensive trades in the borough. The Mayor, Mr. J. Park, explained that the measure was in the nature of a precursor to a system of town-planning. Grant of £l5O Subject to the approval of the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, the Auckland Hospital Board last night made a grant of £lso_ to the St. John Ambulance Association. The sum is to go toward the cost of the voluntary blood transfusion service for • the year commencing on April 1 next. Howick Water Supply An ample supply of Avater is assured to the residents of the Howick and Bucklaud's Beach districts, stated the chairman, of the Howick Town Board. Mr. C. H. Emery, yesterday, He said that although heavy demands had been made 011 the supply during the long dry spell the level of the new supply from a bore sunk last year at Pigeon Mountain had not receded in the slightest Electric Power Sales Gross sales of eleotric current in the Waitemata Electric-Power Board's district in February amounted to £19,261, compared with *£20,814 for the corresponding month in 1942, according to a report presented by the manager, Mr. A. Main, at a meeting of the board yesterday. For the 11 months ended February 28, he said, the total sales amounted to £217.187 17s lid, compared with £194.082 18s in the corresponding period last year. Quota Too High The Onehunga Borough received advice at a meeting last night from the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee that the quota for the borough for 1943 had been fixed at £8615. Councillors generally expressed the opinion that there was little hope of raising the amount demanded. After some discussion it was resolved that the question be referred to the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association, and that the council's decision he deferred in the meantime. . Ridiculous Questions Saying it was ridiculous that the Hutt Valley Electric-Power Board should be asked to answer such silly questions, Mr. J. W. Andrews, at a meeting of the board, pointed out that on the one hand they were getting demands from the Government to supply current to various war industries and hostels and other buildings erected by the Government, and on the other they got a letter asking for details of the current demand for the coming year, while a second letter complained they had increased their demand beyond the extent permitted. Orchestra tor Soldiers For the purpose of providing musical entertainment at clubs for the_ services, a number of well-known musicians have co-operated in the formation of a voluntary orchestra which will specialise in light concert music. It is known as the Toe H Services Orchestra, and has a membership of 30 instrumentalists. The orchestra, which is conducted by Mr. J. T. Lighton, has already given three performances, two at the Down Club and one for the Second N. Z.lv r • Association at the Town Hall. ine leader is Mr. N. Dimery and the deputyconductor Mr. W. Anderson. Uses of Plants A compact but most informative ©* 'hibit of useful plants commonly to un in the South Seas or in New Zealan is now on display in the botany depar ment of the Auckland War Memori Museum. The exhibit, which has been arranged by the museum botanist, Jul Lucy Cranwell, is designed to show no the various plants on view may be « as food, for clothing, as a eamouflajZ dve, for medicine, for shelter, and one instance for stupefying fish so tha tbev may readily lie. caught by nan ■ As most of the plants concerned do n quickly wither away the display -continued ioKv about & fortjßgW*.