PACIFIC FIGHTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24748, 23 November 1943, Page 2

PACIFIC FIGHTING

VICE-REGAL VISIT

TALKS WITH SERVICEMEN (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, Nov. 21 The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, visited New Zealand servicemen as far north as \ ella Lavella and the Treasury Islands during a tour of forward Pacific war /.ones just completed. 11 is Excellency was away from New Zealand for a fortnight in which time he covered many thousands of miles to see in operational conditions units of the Dominion's Navy, Army and Air Force fighting in and around the Solomons area. His tour of the armed forces opened at the South Pacific base of the Third New Zealand Division, where he inspected reinforcements at their training depot. His Excellency spent several hours with hospital patients and talked iv i tli casualties evacuated from the front lines. Members of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. New Zealand girls working for Allied military officials. also had the opportunity of meeting the Governor-General. In company with Major-General H. E. Barrowclough. Sir Cyril Newall visited forward elements of the division on islands of the Solomons group, where he met and spoke to almost every man of the force. On Yella Lavella he presented New Zealanders with awards won during the recent campaign on that island.

His Excellency spent several days with Royal Now Zealand Air Force personnel. His visit to operational airstrips coincided with a period of heavy attacks on enemy airfields and shipping in the Bougainville area and he saw formations of New Zealand fighter aircraft on their way to and returning from escort and strafing sorties. The Governor-General learned with pleasure of the high standard of the work done by the ground crews of the New Zealand squadrons. The fighter wing's tally of enemy aircraft at the time of his visit was 57.

At an advanced Royal New Zealand Naval base His Excellency inspected ships of a flotilla which has operated in Pacific waters for many months. He, was accompanied by Commander A. D. Holder and during his visit presented long-service medals io three of the flotilla's personnel.

CHEAPER POWER

WAITEMATA DISTRICT A reduction in charges to consumers involving not le.ss than £IO,OOO a year was made by the Waitemata ElectricPower Board yesterdav. In a report adopted by the board the chairman, Mr. Ralph N. White, said the board had two systems of charges. One was for the all-electric home, which was paid by about 8000 consumers and which was reduced in April, and the other affected about 10.000 consumers who were charged separately for lighting and domestic power through two meters. It was proposed to use one of those meters for measuring water-heating units and to frame a new tariff, under which the consumption of lighting and domestic power units by consumers not on the all-electric home rate would be recorded through one meter. The new rates would he 4d a unit for the first 12 units, with a step rate reduction for all units consumed thereafter, instead of charging for all lighting units at lid and for domestic power at 3d a unit for the first .'SO and at l|d thereafter. Discount would remain at 25 per cent. To bring about uniformity in charges it was also proposed to reduce the lighting _ rate lor premises other than domestic dwellings from 4.'d to •Id a unit, less 2") per cent discount The new rate would operate from February 1, 1944.

PROTECTIVE WORKS

REMOVAL AT HOSPITAL A start with the demolition of brick walls built as a protection against aitraid risks is to be made by the Auckland Hospital Board in accordance with advice received from the DirectorGeneral of Health. Dr. M. H. Watt, at a meeting ol i lie board last night. Dr. "Watt said the Director of Civil Del' once had advised that protective works designed to avoid or minimise damage to any form of structure as the result of enemy attack might now, at the discretion ol the owner, be removed, i he cost was to be horn by the owner of the premises and not by the War Hxpenses Account, irrespective of how the original eosi was met. 'I lie board decided that protective walls round the theatre. Costley Block, should be demolished in the first instance and that other protective works should be dealt with at the discretion of the acting-architect. MAKO SHARK CAUGHT (0.C.) WHANG. A "RET, Monday I he first deep-sea fish of the season was landed at 'Russell, Hav of Islands, yesterday, by Mr. Fred Raker, of Russell. This was a mako shark, which weighed o.'Mlb.. and was 9ft, -tin. in length. Mr. Raker was fishing for hapuku from his own launch off Cape Brett when he hooked the shark.