NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24834, 6 February 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

IN connection with the display of methods of dealing with incendiary bombs to be given under the direction of the Fire Controller (Mr F. C. Laidlaw) at the Oval on Tuesday evening next, a special stand will be erected to provide the fullest possible visibility. The display of emergency fire fighting equipment and personnel will provide an insight into the extensive provisions which have been made by the Government and the E.P.S. for fire fighting throughout the metropolitan area. Peninsula E.P.S. A decision to join the Dunedin Metropolitan Emergency Precautions Service was reached at a special.meeting of the Peninsula County Council yesterday. Air Board Membership A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that under the Air Board Emergency Regulations issued with the Gazette last night the number of Air Force services’ representatives is increased from three to four.

Bluff Oyster Fleet The Bluff oyster fleet after four months’ spell from trawling is again ready for sea. During the four months off season these ships have undergone a complete overhaul, which is always needed after eight months’ strenuous work in Foveaux Strait. The season will open this year on Sunday, February 15.

Traffic Emergency Regulations The general effect of the Traffic Emergency Regulations which were gazetted last night is (says a Press Association telegram) to enable the Minister of Transport to control traffic in military areas. The regulations state that 3 by reason of activities arising directly or indirectly out of any war it appears to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for securing public safety the Minister may from time to time fix speed limits or prohibit, limit,, or restrict traffic on specified roads. High School Enrolment*

The number of new enrolments at Otago Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools, and at the King’s High School shows a general increase over the figures for last year. The number of new pupils at the Girls’ High School is 149, compared with 135 last year. At the Boys’ High School there are 140 new pupils as against 138 last year, and the King’s High School, with 97, shows an increase of 22. The new enrolments at the King Edward Technical College total 325, made up of 151 girls and 174 boys. These figures also show an improvement. Patriotic Chinese

The unity of the Chinese the world over in the attempt to defeat Japan and the financial assistance being given in New Zealand with this in view were referred- to by Mr Charlie Meng Yee at a meeting of the Gisborne Rotary Club. Mr Meng Yee said that all overseas Chinese were organising and working together to help by sending money home. There were about 3000 Chinese in New Zealand, and they taxed their employees’ incomes to the extent of 2s in the pound, and the employers paid 10s a week. By this means they had sent £IOO,OOO to China. Desire to Save Teeth A reservist who declined to have his teeth removed en the orders of _an army doctor until he received advice from three dentists was allowed a month to comply with the order when he appeared in the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court. Detective Sergeant A. J. White said that the reservist had not objected to going into camp until he had been told that his teeth needed attention. He had an upper dental plate, but it was pointed out that his lower teeth required extractions. He had refused to go to the hospital when 'he realised that he was not to receive treatment for his teeth,: but extraction. Subsequently, continued the detective sergeant, he had seen three dentists, and, as a result, decided to have his teeth out. “He merely wanted to take his own teeth to camp with him, but now discovers he was wrong,” said Mr White. “He is not a shirker, and has, at all times, been willing to do his duty.”

Tin Companies Approximately 30 Australian-con-trolled tin companies with a paid capital of about £7,000,000 were .operating in Thailand and Malaya up to the time of the Japanese invasion. The head office of about 15 Eastern tin companies are situated in Melbourne, while a large number are controlled from Sydney. With the exception of Peninsula and Ronpibon, the staffs of Mel-bourne-controlled companies have escaped either to Singapore or Australia. In many instances European employees of tin mining companies have either enlisted in Singapore for active service or have become engaged in essential work there. In most cases surplus funds have been transferred from Thailand and Malaya to Australia. Funds of Takuapa Vally Tin Dredging Company in the East, less immediate requirements, have been transferred to London. At present the world’s tin supply is at the rate of 200,000 tons a year, of which Thailand and Malaya contribute approximately 60 per cent. Cars at Race Meetings Reference to the number of people who can still go to race meetings in their motor cars was made by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, when opening the quarterly sessions of the Supreme Court in Hamilton. “ The petrol regulations are an example’ of the necessities of the time, and it is essential in the national interests that they should be respected and obeyed,” his Honor said. “ The greatest possible reserve supplies of petrol are necessary for the requirements of our armed forces and, if it be true as one may have read recently, that there were 400 motor cars, or thereabouts, driven for a distance of 18 miles (or in some cases perhaps 100 miles) to a certain race meeting and back again, that means a waste an absolute waste —of at least 1000 gallons, and probably much more than that, of petrol which may well be of almost inestimable value to our fighting forces. “I do not suppose it occurs to the persons who use their petrol in this way that their conduct in doing so lays them open to the comment that their conduct is not loyal to the country.” Japanese Can Fly

“There is no doubt about it—those blighters can fly, shoot, manoeuvre and are pretty hot in their tactics and execute their attacks like veterans,” states a Timaru pilot in a letter from Malaya on January 17. “The moon has disappeared now for all practical purposes,” the letter adds, “ and so Mr Tojo has taken to visiting us in the daylight and, lest we should have become bored with the sight of bombers only, he has obliged with some hefty fighter escorts—which makes life' rather interesting for us. There must be a considerable number of severely shaken Japanese pilots about just now. It is rather hard to obtain confirmed victories here, as there is so much cloud, sea and jungle. Most of the planes hit are listed as probables and damaged, but some of those damaged machines would be jolly lucky to get home. I really think that the old Jap. will have his wings sufficiently clipped to stop him from reaching New Zealand. We have been working flat out lately; sometimes we cannot afford the time to knock off for meals. So we just have sandwiches and tea. To-day I have not had time for a decent wash, much less a shave.”

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.