D.S.O. FOR AIRMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24878, 27 April 1944, Page 4

D.S.O. FOR AIRMAN

ESCAPE FROM ENEMY

COURAGE AND FORTITUDE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday The following members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have been awarded decorations for conspicuous service in the European war theatre, according to official advice received by the Air Department:— Distinguished Service Order.— FlightLieutenant Malcolm Robert Head Mrs. N. E. S. Head, Auckland (wife). Distinguished Flying Medal, 1 lightSergeant Bernard William Windsor— Christchurch.

The citation to Flight-Lieutenant Head's award states that in air operations he has always shown skill, courage I and fortitude of the highest order, lie was reported missing on air operations in July, 1943, and later notification was received to the effect that he was a prisoner of war in Italy. He escaped and reached England in February ot this vear, suffering from a broken arm which had healed but still required some medical attention. After receiving necessary treatment, he returned to operations. . 0R Flight-Lieutenant Head, who is -u. joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940, and after completing his training in Canada was commissioned as a pilot-officer m 1942 He was promoted to nymg-omcer in *1942. and to flight-lieutenant in April of this year. His birthplace was Pot one, and lie was educated at the Southland Boys' High School, Canterburv College and Otago University, tie graduated bachelor of engineering "(mechanical) with honours and completed the major portion of the bachelor of science degree. Prior to his enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F.. Fhght-Lieu-tenant Head was employed on engineerin ff work bv the Dunedin City Council and Cadburv. Frv, Hudson. Limited. His father, Mr. A. W. Head, is superintendent of the Awarua radio station, Awarua, Southland.

DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT AWARD TO CORPORAL DENVIR (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Advice that the King has approved of the award of the Distingmsned Conduct Medal to Corporal John Denvir "in recognition of gallant and " distinguished service in the field has been received by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. It was recently announced that Corporal Denvir had been awarded the Soviet Medal tor \ alour. Corporal Denvir became well knowi through his exploits while leading < battalion in the Yugoslav J artisai Army after his escape from the uer mans following the Grecian campaign. SOLDIERS' VOTING GENERAL ELECTION METHODS COMMITTEE'S INQUIRY OPENJ (0.C.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday The Select Committee appointed b the House of Representatives to inquir into service voting at the last geners election began its sittings at lar if ment House to-day. The committee ha been directed by the-House to mquir into and report' upon the orgamsatior set up and methods employed for rt cording and dealing with the votes c servicemen in the recent general ele< tion. The committee consists of the ac J I! JS Prime Minister, the Hon. D. G. bull van, the Minister of Rehabilitation, th Hon C. F Skinner, and Messrs. \\ A. Bodkin (Opposition—Central Otago P G. Connolly (Government —Dunecii West) W. S." Goosiiiau i.OppositionWaika'to). T. L. Mac Donald (Oppositio -r-Mataura). R. M. Maefarlane (Goveri ment —Christ-church South), A. G. 0 borne (Government —Onehunga), S Richards (Government —Roskill) an J. T. Watts (Opposition—Riccarton). The proceedings were not open to tr press. UNAUTHORISED FLATS MOUNT EDEN SITUATION I A report to the Mount Ede | Borough Council last night stated ths ! there were apparently many instanci jof houses being converted into fla 1 J surreptitiously, and the building ii j spector said W was convinced som j thing should be done to prevent the ii spallation of extra stoves in housi } without a permit. It was consider! ! this would put a check oil unamhoris( | apartments. The inspector said he ha found 'two and three gas stoves i non-conforming fiats in Mount Eden. The Mayor, Mr. R. J. Mills, said tl lack of houses was a great probleir people did not go into sheds becaui they wanted to. He moved: "That th council is concerned about the lack > houses for the people, and urges tl Government to expedite the release < manpower to build houses as soon i possible." This was carried. Further discussion centred round tr legal powers of the council in the coi trol of heating installations, and tl extent to which the council was e: titled to relax the by-laws in view < the housing situation. Finally tl clause in the report relating to us authorised flats was referred back to tl Town-planning Committee. PROPERTY SALES DELAYS IN PROCEDURE (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday A protest against, the customary pr cedure of supplying the Crown vah at ion of properties just before cas were heard was made by a Hamiltc solicitor, Mr. A. L. Tompkins, at sitting of the Land Sales Committee Hamilton to-dav. He said that it w; obviouslv unfair that the Crown val at ion was not disclosed until the la minute whereas vendors were cor polled to reveal details of their budge ing to the Crown. Mr. Tompkins al: asked if anything could be done 1 hasten the hearing of cases, as he coi sidered two months too long betwe« the lodging of an application and tl hearing. The chairman, Mr. IS. A. Chin! agreed that Crown valuations shou be disclosed as soon as the figures we: available. It was not only fair to tl parties concerned, but would expedi' the business of the committee, if tl solicitor had a full grasp of all aspec of the case. He had an assurance fro; the Commissioner of Crown Lands tin staff difficulties would be overcome ar this should assist considerably in r during the time between the lodgir of applications and the hearing, as wc as giving an opportunity for Crow valuation figures to be released mu< sooner. SMALL SEEDS EMBARG EXPORT NOW PERMITTED (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday Replying to a protest from Canterbury executive of the Farmer Union concerning the embargo on smf seeds, the Minister of Agriculture, t, Hon. B. Roberts, states that steps a being taken to regulate the prices which they would he retailed for loc use as soon as it can be assured th; these requirements can be fulfilled reasonable prices. Free export will again he permitti in the meantime. Since the in trod u tion of the total embargo the positit has been fully reviewed and the relea for export of seeds considered no essential to the New Zealand farmer now permitted together with certa limited quantities of other seeds A communication has also been r reived from the Dominion secretary the union, Mr. A. P O'Shea, who sa that after a recent conference the que tion had to go before the Stabilisatir Committee and he was unable to r lease any information until it had bet dealt with by that body. The execute to-day resolved to press for the releai of information.