NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25305, 16 August 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

'T'HE value of loans on mortgage held A by the State Advances Corporation at the end of March last totalled £45,789,567. The annual report of the corporation presented to- Parliament shows that the number of rural securities at that date was 19,149 and the number of urban securities was 39,516. There were 15,563 State tenancies at the end of March, representing a capital value of £19,777,152. “Considering the large volume of business handled," states the report, “the proportion of instalments unpaid during the period is comparatively small. Repayments of principal sums owing under mortgages have been accelerated in a number of cases, indicating that borrowers generally are in a favourable financial position.” The report of the Director of Housing Construction discloses that applications from civilians for State rental houses which had not been satisfied totalled 23,630 at the end of March. To that date 573 houses had been allocated to exservicemen, and there were on hand a further 619 applications from families eligible for preference under the special arrangement giving preference to ex-servicemen. Service in the Pacific

A suggestion favouring green distinguishing shoulder patches for members of the New Zealand forces serving in the Pacific has been made by the Invercargill R.S.A. with the support of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council. Representations for the introduction of the patches have already been made to the Dominion headquarters of the R.S.A. A reply has been received from the Minister of Defence. Mr F. Jones, stating that the proposal for the patches is under consideration. In Italian Prison Camps

“In our few glimpses of the outside world we found that the civilian population was very friendly towards us,” said Driver B. W. Rowsell, of Whangarei, who, after nearly two years in Italian prison camps, has been repatriated under the protected personnel scheme. “The attitude of some of the guards was in marked contrast. They would not let us sing or whistle in the camp. Even if a concert was in .progress and the National Anthem, or, fo? that matter, any patriotic song, was being sung, the officers, who regarded themselves as censors, would stop us. ’ Farm Hand’s Wages

“It is hard to get good men and when you get them you want to keep them,” said a farmer before the No. 10 Armed Forces Appeal Court at Christchurch. The farmer said the man be was appealing for worked from about 5 a.m until 9 p.m. daily, and was capable of taking charge. In reply to the court, the farmer said he paid the man £2 17s a week, in addition to which he had. his keep. He was given a fortnight’s holiday every year and a bonus. “And he does all that for £2 17s a week,” commented the chairman (Mr R, A. Cuthbert). “I can understand your anxiety to keep him.” The appeal was adjourned sine die. Amenities for War Workers -

The excellent amenities provided for the employees of the great arms factories in Great Britain were mentioned by Mr L. G. Lowry, M.P., in the course of a broadcast address last night. While in Great Britain recently, he said, he visited an anti-tank gun factory in which 80 per cent, of the workers were girls. The factory had achieved a record output. The amenities provided for the employees were most impressive, and included a canteen, seating 7000, lawns, shower baths, violet ray rooms, and a musicians’ gallery. Everything possible, he added, was done for the welfare of the workers.

Waste of Seeds There is a tendency among home gardeners to buy too many seeds, says the Agricultural Department in a statement. Most people finish the season with seeds in hand, and buy more the next season. The actual weight of seeds varies according to moisture content, and a 6d packet may not weigh a quarter of an ounce. What that weight will produce in plants is illuminating, and shows that it is wasteful to sow seed too thickly. Normally a 6d packet of celery seed will produce 17,500 plants. Almost equally startling are the following figures: — Turnip, 3000; carrot, 5750; radish, 875; spinach, 1250; onion. 1750; leek, 1750; parsley, 6250; cauliflower, 3750; cabbage, 2000. This is assuming that 80 per cent, of the seeds germinate.

Farmers and Linen Flax “There are a hundred and one objections, but the principal one is that they do not want to grow it,” said Mr A. Stuart, instructor in agriculture, at a meeting of the Southland Council of Primary Production, when he was asked why farmers were disinclined to grow linen flax. “ Southland farmers usually consider they are too poor; now they have got too much money,” said Mr W. Young. The bonus for bobby calves’for last season was available, but half of the farmers concerned had failed to call for it. There was £3OOO lying waiting, but the farmers would not collect it. Mr Stuart said that in the Winton, Otautau, and Woodlands areas less than half the required acreage for linen flax had been secured. In the Winton and Otautau districts there were 59 farmers who had grown flax for the last three years, and he was diffident about asking them to grow it again, as they had done their share.

Army Changes • As part of the reorganisation of the home defence forces, the system of army zones has been abolished, and the 12 zone commanders in the Southern Military District (states the Christchurch Press) are being demobilised or in one or two cases, transferred to’other duties. The zone commanders were responsible largely for matters of local defence organisation, including the Home Guard. Changes in the administration of the fortress commands have also been made. Fortress Headquarters in Christchurch has been abolished and the officers demobilised, and the work is being taken over by Area Command. In Dunedin, Fortress and Area Headquarters were formerly combined; Fortress Headquarters has now been abolished and a reduced staff is operating under the Area Commander. No officer training courses are now being conducted, but the Southern District School, which is a permanent establishment, is being maintained with a reduced staff. Its future work will depend largely on the response to courses for non-mobuised officers and non-commissioned officers. Humus as Fertiliser

“The department has an officer working on the subject of humus as a fertiliser for our soils,” said the Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research, Mr D. G. Sullivan, when the estimates were being discussed m the House of Representatives on Friday. He was replying to Mr B. Roberts (Govt., Wairarapa), who had emphasised the value of organic manures both to the land and the health of the people. Mr Roberts S3id thst Gie3b Britain was converting vast amounts of waste into humus and returning it to the soil with remarkable results. The municipalities in the Old Country were in the forefront of this nationally important activity. It was important that the Government should encourage the people of the Dominion to turn household waste into organic fertiliser Were the department to carry out investigations along the lines of what was being done in the United Kingdom, and apply the results in the Dominion, they would be of untold value particularly to the health of the community, and of permanent benefit to the soil and pastures of the country.