NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25239, 31 May 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

rTHE farm labour problem was discussed at the annual meeting of the Southern District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society and conference of agricultural and pastoral associations at Gore on Friday. The meeting decided to congratulate the army authorities on the success of the harvesting camps and to urge that arrangements be put in train for the establishment of similar camps next year. Mr A. L. Adamson (Invercargill) said it would be a calamity if the soldiers were not made available for harvesting next year. Other speakers said they were satisfied that without the assistance of the military authorities the harvest could not have been gathered this year. Clothing Coupons Clothing coupons No. 26 on page five of the second series of lation books may be used at any time after to-mor-row. These have the same value as the M and O coupons, and all clothing coupons are available for the duration of the war. Price Orders The Price Tribunal informs us that a booklet containing the substance of all price orders at present in force has been despatched to' post offices to meet complaints by traders that some time elapses before they can obtain copies of price ofders from the Government Printer. Women Taxi-drivers Provision for the limitation of the working time of women taxi-drivers is being made in regulations now being drafted, says a report issued by the New Zealand Taxi Proprietors’ Federation. The report says that the Commissioner of Transport, Mr G. L. Laurenson, stated that the regulations would limit the hours to those between half an hour before sunrise and half an hour after sunset. Unusually High Barometer A high barometer does not necessarily mean fine, sunny weather. In Dunedin last week the reading reached the unusual level of 30.72 inches, but the weather was mainly cold and showery, with little sunshine. The barometer remained above the 30-inch mark all the week, the highest point being reached on Thursday, and since then it has been gradually falling back. Morality Problems ' Suggesting that there should be a curfew for girls in their early _ teens, and that there may be something to be said for the operation of open canteens under strict military supervision, the Methodist Times states: “Venus worshippers and the Bacchus idolaters are alarmingly numerous in this time of ours, and the shrines of the god and goddess flaunt themselves on every ■hand and not least in these lands of the Southern Seas. In other words, sexual .laxity and alcoholic overindulgence are becoming far too much in evidence amongst us, and their growth in the Dominion in recent months, especially in the large centres, has occasioned grave concern amongst all those responsible for the social and "moral welfare of the community.” Child Awarded £750 Struck in the right eye by an arrow when he was playing at the Newtown School on September 17 last year, Richard Norman Green, aged five, who had been at school only four days, had to have the eye removed. In the Supreme Court in Wellington last week he was awarded £750 damages by Mr Justice Johnston against the Wellington Education Board, which admitted liability. He ■ sued by his father, George Potter Green, a former member of the Post and Telegraph Department and now a soldier, and claimed £IOOO. His Honor said the loss of an eye was a serious matter to a boy of that age, and all the compensation that could be awarded should be given. He could not award the full amount, however, bdfcause he thought it rather excessive. South Island Dredging Plan

The creation of a South Island dredging board to control the dredging of ports is under consideration, said the chairman of the Bluff Hahbour Board (Mr W. J. A. McGregor) in his annual address to the board on Friday night. “ During the year the board considered the question of a scheme of dredging South Island ports, to be carried out by a dredging board elected by the boards throughout the South Island, the origin of the scheme being a very fine report on the matter prepared by Mr D. E. S. Mason, the board’s engineer, and Mr J, McG. Wilkie, engineer to the Otago Harbour Board,” he said. “The principle of the scheme has been heartily approved by all the South Island boards, but by common consent it has been held over for consideration after the war. The interest of boards in this scheme indicates great post-war possibilities for it.” * Success of Patriotic Revue The “Hullo Victory’’revue, which was presented at His Majesty’s Theatre for the last time on Saturday night, will result in a profit of at least £IOOO, which will be handed over to the Dun-edin-St. Kilda Patriotic Sub-zone Committee. Making this announcement during the interval on Saturday night, the chairman of the committee which controlled arrangements for the entertainment, Mr M. F. O’Sullivan, paid a tribute to the outstanding work of the producer. Mr W. Lints, and also referred to tne efforts of Mrs Gerald Fitzgerald and Mrs Dora Smeaton in arranging the ballet. The timber for the tiered rostrum at the back of the stage had been given by a local timber merchant, and a good deal of expense had been saved by the action of a firm of builders in providing the necessary labour free. Not a member of the cast of 600 received any payment for his or her services. Altogether, “Hullo Victory” had proved one of the most successful patriotic entertainments ever staged in Dunedin.

Begging from Servicemen The fact that begging from servicemen was becoming far too common in Wellington was mentioned in the Magistrate’s Court by Senior Sergeant G. Paine. He said that three men were before 'the court, and there had been three others recently. The peculiar part about it, he added, was that they were all able-bodied men. One, a labourer and seaman, who was seen begging alms, was sentenced to three months’ hard labour by Mr W. F. Stilwell, S.M. Another, a fireman, aged 39, and a third, a war pensioner, aged 47. denied beggipg in the Railway Reserve. but the magistrate said he was satisfied they were engaged in a joint enterprise. The men were sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.. Evidence was given that in 25 minutes seven sen-icemen were accosted, and finally two marked coins were used by the police. They were found on one man when he was arrested. Pilot Bales Out at Night With his engine failing at a comparatively low height, Leading Aircraftman A. F. Adeane, Waipawa, a pupil-pilot under training, made a successful parachute descent near a South Island station last Wednesday night. Shortly after taking off on night flying practice Leading Aircraftman Adeane found his engine running erratically. At a height of 1000 feet he had little time in which to act. His efforts to rectify the engine trouble were unsuccessful. As the aircraft was losing height and there was little chance, of making a safe forced landing in the darkness, he decided to bale out. Releasing his safety belt, he rolled the aircraft on its back and threw himself clear. He pulled his release cord at almost the same instant and the parachute snapped open in time to break his fall. Leading Aircraftman Adeane landed safely, and within 10 minutes had reported back to the airfield. The aircraft landed in an open paddock and was wrecked.