NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

r PHE decision of the Government to set up an Industrial Hygiene Division of the Health Department was announced by the Minister of Health, Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, when addressing the annual conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The purpose of the division, the Minister said, would be to ensure that speciallyselected medical and nursing staffs would be available to deal with industrial diseases and industrial hazards. The Government had advertised in Great Britain, and it hoped to secure the services of a doctor specially trained in these matters who would be competent to take charge as the head of the division. In addition, it was hoped to train nurses in this work and make their services available in factories.

Tramway Workers A Tramways Industry Labour Legislation Modification Order, which was gazetted last night, states that any worker who is required to work in any week on a day which, except for the provisions of this order, would not be a working day, shall be given a minimum of eight hours’ work and be paid at the rate of time and a-half. Sunday is not regarded as an additional day under this order.

Nuisance Caused by Trolleys Attention is being given by the police to numerous complaints which have been made lately regarding the danger to pedestrians caused by the increasing number of boys’ trolleys which have appeared on the footpaths since the schools were closed. The police have pointed out that, while no mishap has yet been reported, the possibility of serious injury both to pedestrians and the boys themselves cannot be disregarded, and they ask that parents should take measures to put a stop to the practice.

Infantile Paralysis Two further mild cases of infantile paralysis have been notified in the Dunedin health district. One of these, from South Dunedin, is described as a definite case, with no paralysis, but some muscular weakness, and the other, a case from North Dunedin, is also definite. with no muscular weakness. These cases were recorded on Tuesday, and there were no further notifications yesterday. Since the outbreak of infantile paralysis in Dunedin 11 cases have been diagnosed. Seven are positive cases with paralysis, and four are positive without paralysis. In addition, there are four suspected cases. Saluting by Firemen

The question of firemen saluting superiors was raised by Captain R. 5. Judson, V.C., at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board. Captain Judson said that some clarification of the position was needed, since he had noticed that a man at Wanganui had been punished for failure to salute an instructor. He would like to see saluting put on the army basis, only commissioned ranks being saluted. He could imagine the effect on a former Guardsman, for example, of being asked to salute a man of equal rank. The chairman, Mr B. Brigham, said the matter could well be left in the hands of the superintendent. Cake a Year Old

Cake baked on May 12 of last year was served at afternoon tea for the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council on Wednesday. The Mayoress of Christchurch (Miss E. Couzins) explained that, because of complaints about cake in some soldiers’ parcels, which she did not think came from Canterbury, a test was arranged in Christchurch. When cake for the council’s order was made last year, several tins were put in a box on top of the factory roof, and left there exposed to the elements until they were opened this month. Members at the meeting, after sampling the cake, agreed that the complaints did not refer to Canterbury.

Day# Lost at Mines After being idle on Tuesday, because of the suspension of four of the employees, the Strongman State mine, on the West Coast, resumed work on Wednesday. The bins at all the coal mines in the district are practically empty, and the fulfilment of orders for shipping is dependent on the production of the coal. The fact that the Liverpool mine was idle last Wednesday, the Strongman mine on Tuesday, and the Wallsend mine on Wednesday, has meant that approximately 1450 tons of coal, or more than half of an averageship load, with the present restricted draughts, has been lost in a week. The Wallsend mine was idle on Wednesday to enable the mine employees to attend the funeral of an employee of the mine who died while on a deer-stalk-ing expedition during the week-end. Milk Prices

An interesting comparison between the average prices paid for milk by the consumers in the four main centres and the returns to the producers was given by Mr A. vE. Shieffelbien, who was a member of a deputation which yesterday waited on a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The consumer in Auckland paid 7d per quart in the summer and 7£d in the winter, the producer receiving 12Jd per gallon, Mr Shieffelbien said. The price to the Wellington consumer was 7d a quart for seven months of the year, and 6£d for five months, and the producer obtained 12£d a gallon. In Christchurch the consumer paid 6d a quart throughout the year, and the producer received 11.2 d a gallon. The price to the consumer in Dunedin was 6d per quart for nine months and 7d for the remaining three months, and the producer received 10.3 d per gallon. Children’s Courage A tribute to the behaviour of children during air raids is contained in a letter which has been received by women members of the staff of Messrs John Thompson, Ltd., from a mother in Norwich, England. She wrote to express her thanks for some bed covers which were among articles made by the staff in their spare time and sent to England for distribution in bombed areas. “My children, aged 10 and 6, were marvellous during the blitz,” she stated. “They did not complain or whimper once. All the children were like them. While the guns were still blazing, the elder ones tried to man the stirrup pumps when the men were tired, and they also ran for pails of water and carried out other tasks.” The writer added that the shock of the raid and the loss of her home were followed by a feeling of thankfulness that her family was still together and safe.