CALL UP OF GIRLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25105, 19 January 1945, Page 4

CALL UP OF GIRLS

STAFFING HOSPITALS NEEDS IN AUCKLAND As it is not yet known when the 39tli General Hospital" will be opened by tho Auckland Hospital Hoard, no-direction j notices have been issued bv the manpower authorities in Auckland for girls to meet the staffing needs. Advice ha? yet to be received of the number of girls who will be required;'

It is proposed mwt week to call in several hundred girls tor interview at the manpower office to decide their eligibility for the work, and it is expected that a large number will be dealt with each night. In this way, the department hopes to be ready to fill the positions in the hospital immediately the Hospital Board requires the staff. The Minister of Manpower, Mr McLagan. said on January 5 that all unmarried women aged 21 and 22 years in the Auckland manpower district-were to he called in for interview immediately. They would be classified in order of priority of individual circumstances and directed to meet the urgent need? of the 39th General Hospital,'in accordance with their priority classification. He said that bv the end of January new hospital accommodation in Auckland would require several hundred additional women, apart from experienced nursing personnel. No decision has yet been reached by the Hospital Board regarding the taking over of the hospital, or the type of hospital to be established if the buildings are taken over, either as a whole or only in part. In view of this, it is extremely unlikely that the girls will be required at the end of this month.

KILLED IN MINE FATE OF MANAGER STRUCK BY PIECE OF STONE (0.C.) GREYMOUTH, Thursday The working manager of the Moody Creek co-operative coal-mining party above Dunollie was killed by being struck on the head by a large piece of stone while at work this morning. He was Mr James William Patterson, married, aged 60. In company with a member of the party, Mr ft. Wright, Mr Patterson v.-as engaged in timbering at the_ time of the accident and as Mr Wright turned away to obtain another prop a piece of stone fell from the roof and struck Mr Patterson. The manager died a few minutes later. Mr Patterson, who was born at Reefton, served in the merchant navy in the last war. He went to Runanga about five years ago and had since been manager of the Moody Creek mine. He was a former director of the Grey River Argus Co.. Ltd. He is survived by his wife, one son and one daughter. LOCAL AND GENEBAL Vegetable Supplies The recent heavy rain has had little effect on the plentiful supplies of vegetables at the city markets. Lower prices ruled yesterday for beans,- lettuce, pumpkin and cabbage, the last-named selling at Is to 6s a sack. Prices for pumpkin ranged from 18s to 30s a cwt. The values of other lines of vegetables were generally unchanged. Victoria Park Huts

More than 20 huts have been removed from Victoria Park since the Works Department began dismantling operations last week. Indications are that a great amount of work will be necessary to restore the park to its peacetime condition. No information has yet been given as to when a start will be made with the demolition of military barracks in the Domain. ; New Kaikohe Post Office

A contract for the erection of a new post office building at Kaikohe has been let to an Auckland firm, and construction is expected *to commence shortly This information was given to the Kaikohe Town Hoard in a letter from Mr S. W. Smith, M.P. The new building will be erected on the present post office site, and during the construction the post office will be accommodated in two buildings near the site. Age of Visiting Farmers "When 1 heard that a farmers' delegation from the United Kingdom was o visit New Zealand. I pictured a group of elderlv wbite-haired gentlemen, sai Mr H. M. Rushworth, president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (Auckland Province), when speaking at an official luncheon to the visiting delegation yesterday. "You can imagine tn shock to me when I saw the youth ana energy of members of the delegation and, since getting to know them. I can vouch for the brain power behind the? youthful exteriors."

Municipal Rates In the final two days before the tirs 10 per cent penalty date on unpaid municipal rates, which accrues as tro today, over £75,000 was received at tne Auckland City Council's offices. Representatives of business firms and l)° us * holders attended in considerable numbers to pay rates. On Wednesday £89.000 was collected, and yesterday s total was £36.034. Since the offices reopened alter the holidays, £258,615 i been paid. Up to last night there was » balance of £75,840 to come to equal tne estimate before the expiry of the ni penalty date in February.

Deliveries ol Phosphate The president of tho Auckland r?r* tiliser Merchant Distributors' Association, Mr C. F. llosser, said yesterday that the fertiliser works were abou four months behind with deliveries phosphate as a result of a shortage railway trucks. To prevent a delay trucks at various stations, particular flag stations, Mr Rosser suggested tn" full train loads be sent to centr stations in certain selected vital perhaps to Huntlv. Njjaruawahia, Hamilton, Momnsville and .Matamata. ana others in turn. At these stations tn whole train would be emptied and r - turned to the works the -nine day. Army trucks and local carriers woniu be used to make deliveries direct ir° ro the train to the farms.