NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25068, 9 November 1942, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

EGISTR ATION S for essential work 0 f women of the 24-30 age group now in the hands of the National Service Department total 34,644, but it is estimated that 41,000 were eligible. Employers are obliged to check up on their staffs to ensure that all those liable have registered. Women with children, members of the forces, and a number of other specially-exempted classes are not called on to register. Of the 34,644 registrations, 20,898 are by single women and 13,746 by married women without children.

Armed Forces Sports Meeting

Consideration will be given by the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association at its monthly meeting to-morrow night to a proposal that the military authorities should be approached with a request to sanction the holding of an armed forces' sports meeting during the holiday period. It is proposed that the meeting should be open to all branches of the services, including the W.A.A.C., the W.A.A.F., and secondary school cadet units.

The Freezing Industry The freezing season will open m some parts of the North Island this week. A recent survey by the National Service Department of the man-power required for this work indicates that there is likely to be a shortage of over 2000 men. The War Cabinet has approved of the release of experienced men from the army, and steps are being taken by the National Service Department to arrange for them to commence work as soon as they are required. It is stated, however, that the releases from the annv will by no means meet the expected shortage, and other steps will be to ensure that sufficient freezing hands are available. It is expected that a large number ot university students will be available for engagement in freezing works during December, January, and February,-and this should alleviate the position. An appeal has been made to all men who have had experience in freezing works to return to that employment during this season, as it is regarded as imperative that labour requirements should be fulfilled.

Good Family Records “How many brothers have you?” This is a question addressed to the majority of reservists by the Crown representative, Mr J. W. Hinchey, when they appear before the Southland Armed Forces Appeal Board. At a sitting of the board at Gore the question produced surprising results in three cases. In reply to the question one man said he had eight brothers, six of whom were in the armed forces. The reservist, a farmer, who was Grade 111, was in the Home Guard. Members of the board agreed that the reservist's family record was an exceptionally good one. “I am sorry to have to break it,” said the reservist. In another case a reservist replied that all five of his brothers were serving in the forces. One was a prisoner of war in Germany, one was in the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt, one was in the Royal Air Force, another in the Scots Guards, and the fifth in the Cameron Highlanders. The chairman, Mr E. H. Murney, stated that the record was a splendid one. Another reservist replied that he had five brothers in the army.

No Privileged People “When peace conies it will be the duty of all to sacrifice the lesser interest for the greater interest of the general welfare. I think we must be prepared to accept the position that there may be no privileged people unless privilege also implies very great responsibilities,” said Mr C. S. Hammond retiring president, at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. “Britain and the United States are no more the master race than Germany; but we have the responsibilty of helping and encouraging and developing the weaker and more backward peoples. The old attitude of the white to the coloured races will have to change. There will be no question of the native races readily acquiescing in domination and exploitation by the white peoples. There is a great problem hero to be solved if another world war is not to develop later with the white races ranged against the coloured peoples. There must be an effective world federation of tree peoples, perhaps on the lines of federal union. We shall have to be prepared for many changes —changes which will remove old injustices and misunderstandings.” British Women

Great Britain can claim to lead the world in the utilisation of her womanpower, said Sir Hai'ry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, in an address to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Of 9,500,000 available women between the ages of 18 and 64, he said, more than 7,500,000 were doing full-time war jobs; 1,500,000 were directly engaged in the manufacture of munitions of war; and about 500,000 women had been taken on in the munitions factories in the first half of this year. In addition, he said, there were great armies of women in the fighting services; many were serving in anti-aircraft batteries, where they had shown themselves particularly adept in working the various new scientific devices for the detection and spotting of aircraft, while the balloon barrage organisation was now almost entirely conducted by women. There were many thousands in the Land Army, and more than 1.000.000 in the Women's Volunteer Services. Besides all these, there were hundreds of thousands of women with children or domestic duties that prevented them from taking whole-time work, who were flocking into the factories as parttime workers. British women were working not for money but for patriotism and love of country.