NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25304, 14 August 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

SERVICEWOMEN in New Zealand who are married or about to marry servicemen home on furlough have been granted an extension of the leave they previously received. This advice has been received by Mr H. J. Acland, M.P. for Temuka, from the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, who states that, where practicable, leave without pay for a period not exceeding three months will be approved for the servicewomen concerned on their making application.

Eclipse of the Moon A partial eclipse of the moon will occur on Monday morning. It will commence at 4.58, when the fringe of the shadow of the earth will gradually dim the moon’s brightness. No striking effect will be noticeable, however, until 5.59, when the full shadow will make contact. By moon-set this will cover the major portion of the surface, giving the- moon a crescent appearance. Owing to the low altitude the eclipse will be seen best from situations with a westerly aspect.

Interests of Outram Gardeners A request that the Government should give favourable consideration to the erection of a dehydration plant at Outram was made by Mr V/. A. Bodkin (Oppn., Central Otago) in notice of a question in the House of Representatives yesterday. He said that a large number of market gardens were established at Outram. The Taieri Plain comprised the best vegetable growing land in Otago, and the area under cultivation could be extended very quickly, thus ensuring a steady supply of vegetables for processing.

Auckland Egg Supplies As from Monday Auckland storekeepers can expect to have five times as many eggs available for sale as they had six weeks ago. Instructions which have been issued to distributors by the Internal Marketing Division (states a Press Association message) say that next week up to 100 per cent, of the normal peace-time turnover can be released for civilian consumption. It was stated that the eggs are ready for delivery and that everyone should have no difficulty in obtaining ample supplies. Bequest to Charities A sum of approximately £15,000, being the residue of his estate after the payment of certain personal bequests and all duties, has been provided under the will of Mr Malcolm Ferguson, late of Tapanui, for distribution among such charitable organisations or objects in the provincial district of Otago as the trustee in its absolute discretion thinks fit. The estate is administered by the Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company. Ltd. This bequest is in addition to four totalling £SOOO which have already; been announced. Chairman’s Long Service Mr James Wallace has completed 25 years as chairman of the Otago Education Board, to which he was first elected as a member in 1914. In recognition of his long term as chairman, and of his outstanding service to education, Mr Wallace will be the guest of the board at a complimentary function in the University Club rooms on Tuesday night. The deputy chairman (Mr W. R. Brugh) will preside, and those present will include the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), representatives of the School Committees’ Association, the Teachers’ Institute, and other educational interests. It is also hoped that the Minister of Education, Mr H. G. R. Mason, and the Director of Education, Dr C. E. Beeby, will be present.

Primary Produce Market* Mr W. P. Endean, M.P., who has returned after being one of New Zealand’s two delegates to the Empire Parliamentary Association’s conference in Ottawa, said in an interview at Auckland that the Dominion’s primary produce markets in Britain should not be affected after the war by the immense development which had taken place in the United Kingdom since the war started. Mr Endean said he had paid particular attention to this question while he was in Britain, and he had been assured that so great would be the food needs of Europe after the war that New Zealand would continue to find a ready market for her produce, and that normal readjustments would guarantee the future for her after the needs of the immediate post-war years had been met. Poor Quality of Stockings A complaint about the quality of some of the stockings manufactured in New'Zealand was made by Mrs W. J. Poison (Oppn.. Mid-Canterbury) during consideration of the estimates, of the Department of Industries and Commerce in the House of Representatives yesterday. She said that some of them were most unsatisfactory, and she felt that the manufacturers could do better. Mrs Poison supported her argument by exhibiting a roughly-made shapeless stocking, which appeared to have been made for a person with a club-foot. “ It looks more like a sugar-bag,” said one membsr as Mrs Poison held it up for- the inspection of the House. The Minister of Industries and Commerce. Mr D. G. Sullivan, said he could not explain, nor could he defend an article such as that exhibited by Mrs Poison. The matter would be taken up with the manufacturers. Decentralisation of Industries

An inquiry if it was the policy of the Bureau of Industry to decentralise industries and to explore the possibilities of industrial development away from the main centres was made by Mr C. L. Carr (Govt., Timaru) during the discussion on the 'Estimates in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr D. G. Sullivan, said the bureau had the necessary authority so far as licensed industries were concerned. Unless an industry was licensed under the Industrial Efficiency Act, the bureau had no power to tell it where to go. Mr Carr said he understood from the Minister of Rehabilitation, Major C. F. Skinner, that his department was working along the lines he had mentioned. He also understood from the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and from Mr Sullivan, that decentralisation was the Government’s policy.

Soldiers’ Work on Wharves The treatment of soldiers detailed to work on the wharves was criticised by members of the executive of the Auckland Returned Services’ Association at a recent meeting. A resolution was passed that the military authorities should either compile leave rosters, by which a certain number of men would be given leave to enable them to do wharf work and earn ordinary wharf pay, or that soldiers who work on the wharves should be compensated by being given reasonable leave on full pay, with subsistence allowance, after the period of work has been completed. The secretary, Mr H. R. Mason, reported that, whereas the usual night shift for watersiders was from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the soldiers had to work from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Leaving camp at 7 p.m., they did not return until 8 a.m. It had been reported that it had been difficult for them to get enough sleep. The executive decided to urge that the hours of work be reduced.

Women for Tram Track Repairs It may come as a shock to Wellington people shortly (states the Evening Post) to see women at work repairing tram tracks through the mid-city streets and, in fact, right through the city, as they gradually get round on a very big job of long overdue repairs. Whether Wellington is going to be shocked or not—probably not, for women are doing this same work in England as a matter of course—the Tramway Department is going to be well pleased, for this is the one way open to it to get the tracks into safe order. Its maintenance gangs have dwindled almost out of existence, and, though efforts have been made for months past, men cannot be found to take the places of those who. have gone, either to the services or to other work. There is no intention to ask these volunteers for the work to lift and handle rails and heavy gear, but they will look to the sealing of the joint between rails and road surface. What heavy work is to be done will be carried out by the few men still available.