NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24336, 28 June 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Price of Eggs After having stood at 2s 8d per dozen wholesale for about the past two months, the price of eggs has lately fallen steadily, and yesterday the price dropped to 2s a dozen, or 2s 2d retail. The fall in priceds due to larger quantities of eggs coming on to the market and to a slacker demand. This trend is usual at this time of the year, and the current value is about that of previous seasons. Decrees Absolute Mr Justice Kennedy yesterday granted decrees absolute in the petitions for divorce by Doris Mabel Annan d against Ernest William Annand, and by Amos Thomas Hall against Lcma Beryl Hall. City Police Court In the City Police Court yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., a first offender, charged with drunkenness, was fined £l. K Sarah Elizabeth Smith, who pleaded guilty to a similar charge, was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. Auckland City Rates A reduction of threepence in the £ in the total fate levy for the current financial year was made by the Auckland City Council (reports a Press Association, telegram). This reduces the present aggregate of 4s 4|d to 4s 12d. Molybdenite at Karamea The possibility of supplies of molybdenite from Mount Radiant, Karamea, being useful to British steel producers in the future was mentioned in a letter to the Buffer County Council from Sir Harry Lindsay, director of the Imperial Institute, London. Sir Harry Lindsay asked for certain information about the field. It was decided by the council to communicate direct with the institute on the possibilities of having the field developed. Defeatism Condemned The suppression of defeatism, no matter what turn the war ever took, was advocated by the Mayor of Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis) at a meeting of the Auckland emergency precautions organisation. “ Triumphant defiance should be our watchword at all times," he said. “Away with moaners and those who run about with downcast faces, worrying their soul cases out as to what is going to happen.’’ Sir Ernest suggested that the determined attitude of the people in Britain served as the best example of “ triumphant defiance” New Zealanders could adopt. Rumour Source Named An Auckland radio listener claims that an overseas short-wave radio station calling itself “ The New British Broadcasting Station ” is the fount of most rumours which have circulated in that city during recent days. A cable message from London on February 27 last stated that this antiBritish propaganda station was low in power and was operated from the Continent. It is said to have been heard daily in Auckland recently. Waterfront Commissioners’ Salaries The salaries paid to the three waterfront commissioners recently appointed by the Government is £1250 a year each. This is disclosed (says our Parliamentary reporter) in the Estimates of the Labour Department presented to the House of Representatives last night. Two of the waterfront controllers receive £BSO each, two £750, and the fifth £650. The six wharf superintendents receive salaries of £6OO each. Pensions for Dutch Nationals For the benefit of Netherlands nationals residing or sojourning in New Zealand the Netherlands Consulate at Wellington wishes to make it known that the Governments of the Netherlands Indies, of Curacao and of Surinam have resumed the payment of pensions, which was temporarily suspended after the German invasion of the Netherlands. So far as the recipients of these pensions are concerned, when the latter fall due, in countries not belonging to the sterling-frac-guilder bloc, remittances will, for the time being, be made for only half of the amounts due, the other half being credited to the recipients in Netherlands guilders.

A “ Putsch ” Defined “What is a ‘putsch’?” asked MiJustice Blair in the Supreme Court at Auckland, when reading from a magazine article which he held to be contempt of court. Mr V. R. Meredith replied that he supposed it was what was called in the vernacular a “ clean up,” a general persecution by violence or other methods to get rid of opponents. “It is a term used in Germany for attacking the Jews.” said Mr Julius Hogben. Breadmaking a Controlled Industry The breadmaking industry, including the making, distribution and sale of bread is now a controlled industry under the Supply Control Emergency Regulations. Notice to this effect (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) is contained in a Gazette issued last night. Daventry Broadcasts A complaint that the frequent Daventry broadcasts interfered with farm work and affected production was made by Mr F. C. Johnstone at a meeting of the Waikato Council of Primary Production. Mr G. Jamieson agreed with Mr Johnstone and said that many farmers, instead of working. remained in their homes waiting for the broadcasts in the hope that something fresh would be announced. It was resolved to ask the director of broadcasting to reduce the broadcasts to three daily, in the morning, at noon, 'and in the evening. Fire Brigade Calls Machines from the Central Fire Station turned out to Irvine and Stevenson’s factory in Filleul street in response to an automatic false alarm at 8.28 a.m. yesterday. The brigade was called out again at 3.2 p.m. when a malicious alarm was given from the corner of Elgin road and Mitchell avenue, and at 4.44 a gorse fire in Norman street. Anderson’s Bay. was attended to. Farmers Await Lead Uncertainty about the direction the war effort of the farmers is expected to take, and an urgent desire for a lead from the Government or the War Council, were expressed by members of the executive of the North Canterbury district of the Farmers’ Union. “I am desperately alarmed about the position,” said Mr G. C. Warren, who opened a general discussion. “ The linen flax scheme is the only thing of tangible value we have had. We are getting nothing from Wellington but a lot of talk.” The executive decided to get into touch with the Dominion president (Mr W. W. Mulholland), as farmers’ representative on the War Council, as soon as possible, and if necessary to call the District Standing Committee together to discuss increased produc tion. The executive also reaffirmed its resolution to co-operate with the War Council and the Government in any measures undertaken to increase production. Repercussions Possible repercussions from the big brewery blaze on Tuesday morning and Fifth Column activities were hinted at in the course of a somewhat garbled story told to Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the City Police Court by a female defendant who, making her thirty-first appearance, pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness. She had been in Anzac avenue, she said, when she was approached by a man carrying a rifle, who threatened to shoot her if she did not have a drink. “He was a German spy,” she told the magistrate confidentially, “ so what could I do? ” His Worship succeeded in interrupting her tale by reminding her that she was falling from grace too frequently, but she met this with: “Anyway, we won’t no more 1 suppose, the old brewery has been burned down. Even if we do,” she added brightly, “it might be dearer, mightn’t it? ” Then, having been sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, she courteously thanked the Bench and stepped down from the dock.

The monthly old-time and modem dance of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association will be held in the Early Settlers’ Hall on Wednesday at 8 p.m. A contingent from the Air Force is ex. pected to be present. . “Aeschylus, Poet and Theologian of Greece,” is the lecture to be delivered before the Classical Association in the Museum Lecture Room on Monday, at 8 p.m., by Mr H. R. Minn Coffee for breakfast! Order from your grocer a tin of “ Bourbon, the coffee of quality. Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie’s, Coffee Specialists, 32 Octagon, Dunedin. Advt. , . For rings, watches, and jewellery, try Peter Dick, Jewellers, 59 Princes street, Dunedin. —Advt.