NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25015, 8 September 1942, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

"V"0 damage was caused to the City Council's plantations in the vicinity of the fire which burned on the slopes of Flagstaff throughout Sunday afternoon and night. As a result of the good work done by a group of 10 City Corporation employees, the names, which raged over a large area of tussocky ground, were extinguished before the trees were seriously threatened. The superintendent of reserves, Mr M. R. Skipworth. last night expressed the thanks of the corporation to the many people who, when tramping on the hill on Sunday, had lent a willing hand to help in the work of putting cut the fire. Free Buses

As a measure of compensation to the residents of Stanley Bay. Auckland, who have been temporarily deprived of their direct ferry service to the city, arrangements have been made for the free transport of travellers to and from Devonport. This additional service, which otherwise, it is calculated, would have cost the community £IO.OOO a year, is to be financed by the War Expenses Account. Five Sons in Army

A woman who applied to the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday for the transfer of her son to a local camp explained, when questioned by the chairman (Mr D. C. Cameron), that she had four other sons, three of whom were in Egypt and one in an overseas camp She was not, she emphasised, appealing to have the remaining son released from camp, but she felt, in the circumstances, that she would like to have him near home. " You have a splendid family record," Mr Cameron commented in granting the appeal. " New Zealand " Patch As the result of an Army order, the wearing of the patch " New Zealand " by soldiers is now confined to men who have served with a unit of the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East or the United Kingdom, and also to personnel of hospital ships, staffs on transports and liaison staffs while actually engaged on such duties. They will cease to wear the patch immediately on transfer to other units or duties in New Zealand. Members of the Pacific section of the N.Z.E.F. are not permitted to wear the patch. Air'Force Rescue Boat

The first of a number to be built for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, a New Zealand-built "crash" rescue boat has been launched in Auckland. A 40ft launch, constructed entirely of New Zealand timber, most of which is kauri, with two 110 horse-power Diesel engines giving it the speed required for its work, the craft is built from a design of Sir Hubert -ScottPaine. a leading English designer. Although mainly designed for the rescue of air personnel, the new launch is equipped for salvage work, and may also be used for servicing flying-boats. Medical Supplies The production in India of medical supplies for the armed forces has nearly trebled since the war, states a communication from the Indian Government Trade Commissioner to New Zealand. Over 350 items of drugs and medicines, previously imported are now being made from raw materials of indigenous origin. In surgical and orthopaedic instruments, India is now by far the leading producer in the Eastern Supply Group. It is the main source of suDply for medical stores and equipment for the Middle East. Iran, Iraq, and Burma. China and Russia are also receiving large supplies. Supplies of Butter Boxes According to a statement made by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr J. G. Barclay, at Whangarei, fears of a possible shortage of butter boxes due to the change back from cheese to butter are groundless. Steps taken to meet the original scheduled butter production of 100,000 tons for the 1942-43 season, requiring 4,000,000 boxes, have been sufficient to allow an expansion to 5.000,000 boxes required to pack the 125.000 tons of the new programme. With timber allocations to the butter box pool now standing at 2,000,000 board feet a month, the whole of the season's requirements will be in stock by the end of December. Army and Civil Pay

Objection by a reservist to an appeal which had been lodged against his, military service, on the ground that, in addition to his wish to serve, he would be better placed financially if he were in the army, was commented upon as unusual by Mr A. M. Samuel at a sitting of the Auckland (No. 1) Armed Forces Appeal Board. " That's a new one," said Mr Samuel, adding that the usual complaint of reservists going into camp was that the pay was less. In this case, however, the man's salary was £270 a year. He had four children, and the allowance for them would make his army pay more than his salary. The appeal was adjourned sine die, after it had been shown that he was engaged in essential work. West Coast Erosion Indicative of the concern being felt throughout the West Coast in regard to the loss of land through erosion, a representative conference of county council and Farmers' Union members and others interested was held at Greymouth on Saturday morning. Resolutions' were carried requesting that the Soil Conservation and River Control Council should pay an immediate visit to survey and remedy the situation, and requesting that the Government should provide a sufficient grant to enable the legislation to be carried out. The Minister will also be requested to l-efrain from issuing fresh dredging licences until they are referred to the council for consideration and a report.

Recreation Huts for Camps The construction of 44 more recreation huts for the' benefit of men at New Zealand camps and stations has been approved by the Standing Committee of the National Patriotic Fund Board. Over 200 huts have already been built in the Dominion from funds provided by the board. Though " hut" is the official term, it is something of a misnomer, for in the larger camps the recreation huts are definitely in the category of buildings. A proportion of them are not permanent structures. They are bolted together and may readily be taken down and moved should it be decided to transfer a camp or station to another site. Thirty-five of the additional huts sanctioned will be of the bolted type, and the others will be lighter stnictures. The meeting also approved the provision of equipment for a number of recreation huts at camps and stations.

Plant Identification An important service given by the Botany Division of the Plant Research Bureau, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, is the identification of plants sent in by other Government departments, bv schools and by private individuals. This work is done by one of the division's workers, others assisting in special groups. In an average year he identifies as many as 1200 specimens. Plants sent in casually sometimes prove to be new to the botanical records of New Zealand, and more than once have given the division warning of the presence of a serious pest. There is no charge for the service, but division workers request that amateur botanists or anyone wanting a plant identified should send in duplicate specimens, so that one may be retained by them if it proves of special interest. In general, the division does not undertake to return specimens. A Rude Awakening

During combined operational manoeuvres between armoured fighting vehicle units and Home Guard units in the Waipahi district, one Home Guardsman received a rude awakening and was given a grim lesson that the modern battlefield is no place to sleep. The man was attached to a Home Guard unit which had as, its objective the ambushing of tanks and Brcn gun carriers, and during the manoeuvres he was in a camouflaged position likely to be used by advancing tanks. The heat of the mid-day sun proved too much for him, however, and he fell asleeo. He was rudely awakened soon after by the roar of a modern tank rumbling past within a foot or two of where he was lying. The tank was so close to him that it ran over his rifle, which was lying beside him. and smashed it completely. For the rest, of the day he lost his inclination to sleep.