NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24910, 8 May 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

staff of the Dunedin Museum has commenced a large model relief map of New Zealand, which, when finished, will be the most accurate in existence.. Airmen and mountaineers have helped to correct parts of the topography over which they have .flown or walked. The model is more than 20 feet long and about four feet in width, and, as the process of colouring the map has just been commenced, it will be at least a month before it is completed. The Museum staff is also preparing an agricultural exhibit and renovating the display cases in the zoological section.

Waterfront Conditions Discussing conditions on the waterfront, the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb) said in the House of Representatives last night that the waterfronts had been robbed of their young men, and on the Wellington/ waterfront 50 per cent, of the men loading ships were over 60 years of age. On the whole, the .waterfront work of the Dominion was now being done immensely better than in the past. Some of the men had played the fool, the Minister added, but most of them had played the game.

Training College Students The temporary release from territorial camps of lads selected by the Education Boards for admission to the Training Colleges this year was suggested by Mr W, J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford) in notice of a question to the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Poison said that these lads could re-enter camp during the college vacations. If the war continued for a long period many of them would be over age and would And themselves without a profession when it ended. Air Training Corp»

When members of the Air Training Corps reach the age of 18£ they will now have the opportunity of being drafted to an Air Force station. Under previous regulations they entered the territorials and remained there until vacancies occurred in the Air Force. In order to take advantage of this latest order, those to whom it applies must make an application to the Air Force through the Air Training Corps headquarters. This is not compulsory, as the boys still have the option of entering the army.

Hospital Taxation The view that any suggestions for the revision of the incidence of hospital taxation should be deferred until after the war was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, when discussing • local body levies with Mr X. J. Goldstine, president of the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies’ Association. Mr Goldstine said he had to agree that such matters could scarcely be advanced as being urgent, although strong views were held by local bodies that the cost of hospital maintenance should be placed on the taxpayers instead of the ratepayers.

Home Guard Enrolments Since compulsory enrolment in the Home Guard came into force, several thousand men in the Otago district between the ages of 35 and 51 have registered with the secretary of the Manpower Committee in Dunedin. Enrolments have been coming in steadily, but yesterday, which was the last day for registration, no fewer than 1500 were received. A further large mail is expected to-day from men who posted their enrolment forms yesterday. and no doubt a large number of country registrations will come to hand in the next few days. The task of dealing with all the enrolments is one which will occupy the secretary and his staff for some time to come.

Shortage of Doctor* The sevei'e shortage of doctors available to the civilian population was mentioned by Mr J A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) in a question of which he gave notice on behalf of Mr W. E. Barnard (Democratic Labour, Napier) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He asked the Minister of Health. Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, it he would make an early statement and so relieve public anxiety. “The position in some districts has become so serious that appointments in less immediately urgent cases have ft be made a long time ahead,” said Mr Lee in a note to the question. “It is reported that in one Auckland suburb there are now only two doctors to care for 8000 people.” No Revenue

One of the effects of the inability of the Porbury Park Trotting Club to hold race meetings at the present time was mentioned last night at a meeting of the committee, when a request for a donation was received from a social organisation. When it was pointed out that the committee usually made an annual grant to this body, a member asked if, since the club had no income, the committee was justified in making such contributions. With other members, he said, he fully sympathised with the aims of the organisation, and would, in normal circumstances, be prepared to assist it, but at the present Juncture he did not think the club could do anything. “Our source of income has been cut off,” the president (Mr B. S. Irwin) said, “ and as we have no income we would not be justified in paying out of capital.” It was decided to defer consideration of the request in the meantime.