GARDEN LABOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24850, 23 March 1944, Page 4

GARDEN LABOUR

JAPANESE PRISONERS PROCEDURE AT GREYTOWN (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wadnesday A statement that the number of Japanese prisoners of war employed at the services vegetable gardens at Greytown varied from 30 to GO was made by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. B. Roberts, in a written reply in the House of Representatives to-day to a question asked by Mr. G. H. Macklev (Opposition —Masterton). The Minister added that the prisoners were transported from their camp daily under armed escort and on arrival in the gardens were arranged in three or four working parties. While on rare occasions it had been necessary to have our own employees ' working in the same paddock as the prisoners, the Minister continued, care had always been taken to see that they were never in close proximity, a state :of affairs which would be most undei sirable. Generally speaking, however, the prisoners were employed in paddocks other than those in which our own employees were working. At no time, by any stretch of the imagination, could it be stated that the latter were working, alongside the prisoners. NURSES ON LEAVE TRAVEL PERMIT QUESTION MINISTER'S INSTRUCTIONS Inquiries concerning the refusal of travel permits to nurses on annual leave show that the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, recently issued instructions to permit officers that no preference in the matter was to be shown to nurses, but that they were to be treated on the same footing as ordinary members of the public. This instruction appears to have come because of complaints of lack of uniformity in the treatment of nurses' applications in different centres. In some centres they were granted, while in others they were refused. The lady superintendent of the Auckland Hospital. Miss V. M. Cussen, yesterday expressed herself as strongly of opinion that such permits should be granted."! feel that so many of our nurses live away from their homes," she continued, "that it is necessary for them to Ik? permitted to go awav from hospital to their homes for their holij days. It is impossible for them to pay for board." Miss Cussen said she had made out forms for nurses to assist them in their applications, but she did not know how far these had been effective. At any rate she had had no complaints from nurses that they had been refused permits to travel home. NURSING IN THE HOME PROPOSALS FOR SERVICES (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday Proposals for nursing services in the home were almost ready for submission to the Government, said the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. H. isordineyer, in the House of Representatives in a written reply to Mr. J. T. Watts (Opposition— Kiccarton). The question of benefits in respect of domestic assistance in the home in cases of illness was also receiving attention, but the general form of the arrangements had yet to be decided. ABSENT WORKERS POLICY OF STRICT CHECK An indication that the raids which had been made by the National Service Department to check industrial defaulters would be continued and that a strict policy would be carried out to ensure that people remained at work was given by the Controller of .Manpower, Mr. H. L. Bockett, yesterday. "The initial experience obtained by the department as a result of the raids on theatres has shown that there are still a number of people who are absentees from essential work, or who are avoiding their obligations," said Mr. Bockett. "In view of the call for increased production in all fields of essential industry, it is iust as important to-day that people should remain at their work as it was when this country was in danger of invasion." AIR FORCE WEEK BEGINNING TO-MORROW Sixty aircraft of many types will fly over Auckland to-morrow to mark the opening of .Air Force. Week, during which a drive for aircrew recruits for t.ho Royal New Zealand Air Force will be held. Interest should also be aroused by the display of a Warhawk singleseat fighter outside the Chief Post Ollice. Other features will be appearances of the Air Force Hand and a parade of personnel who are about to go overseas. Prominent fighter pilots will give broadcast addresses on activities on the Pacific front during the week.