GEORGE MEDAL WINNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24849, 22 March 1944, Page 4

GEORGE MEDAL WINNER

HUMANE SOCIETY AWARD (•0.C.) GISBORXE, Tuesday

In addition to the George Medal award announced recently for saving an airman from a burning aeroplane near Gis borne five mouths ago Mr. M. L. Holden, of Pouawa, has been awarded the Royal Humane Society's silver medal. Mr. Holden was severely burned in effecting the rescue, and was discharged from hospital only last month. RECENT WHARF DISPUTE CRANE DRIVERS' POSITION An answer to a question by a member, Mr. H. Turner, whether the crane drivers had refused to operate the cranes at tiie time of a recent dispute between the Waterside Workers' Union and the Waterfront Control Commission was given by the superintendent, Mr. D. Hoklerncss, at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. At the time the question was asked it was stated that the men were not asked to work.

"As soon as it was known that trouble had arisen with the watersiders, that the United States authorities intended to work the ship concerned with soldier labour and that the work could proceed reasonably satisfactorily with the ship's gear, I instructed that the board's crane drivers were not to be involved in the dispute by being ordered to work the cranes," stated the superintendent's letter. " These instructions were observed." Application for the hire of cranes was made through the traffic manager.

It was neither customary nor correct procedure for stevedores or others to question individual drivers as to their availability or willingness to work, said Mr. Holderness. However, that did not alter the fact that the crane drivers did not refuse to carry out the work. The order for the board's floating crane was countermanded by the superintendent, with the concurrence of the American authorities. TRAVEL PERMITS DENIED NURSES ON ANNUAL LEAVE (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Tuesday A protest against the refusal of the railway authorities to issue travel permits to nurses who wish to spend tlieir annual leave at their homes was made by tho Taranaki Hospital Board to-day. Representations will be made to the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmever, and the Minister of Kailways, the Hon. R. Semple, to have the position rectified, and the Hospital Boards' Association will be asked to support tho protest. "It is quite understood that there must be rail restrictions," said the chairman, Mr. P. K. Stainton, "but exemptions are made in rationing and should be made in rail restrictions also. We have 110 quarrel with the miners receiving special treatment as regards rationing because of the difficult nature of thoir work, but wo feel that nurses should he given consideration as regards travel." It was. he added, absolutely necessary that nurses should spend their leave away from the environment of the hospital. RAILCAR STRIKES COW <OC ) GISBORXE, Tuesday A railcar running empty from Gishornc to Wairoa last night collided with a com at Whakaki, near Wairoa. The railcar was derailed and blocked the line for six hours. The express from Wellington arrived in Gisborne at 4.20 this morning, over five hours la£e».