NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

rTHE effect on primary production of the butter rationing scheme introduced in New Zealand last year is commented upon by Mr L. V. Talbot, president of the South Canterbury Primary Production Council, in a review of farming in 1943. “The scheme is to be commended if it will assist Britain in any way,” said Mr Talbot, “ but it should be fully carried out, and not dallied with half-heartedly. Rationing will not increase the production of food and clothing, and more production is better than all the rationing in the world.” Danger of Fire from Radio Set* Radio sets are a fire hazard. An incipient outbreak in a private house in Auckland was caused through an overheated radio set taking fire. Some sets are so built that there may be some flimsy material near the heated points; in other cases people may even stuff radio notices, and old accounts, or waste paper into the set, never dreaming that their action creates an element of potential danger from fire. Hot Weather Attire

During the last few days women conductors of the Christchurch Tramways Board have each been issued with one grey open-necked blouse to wear without their tunics in hotweather, as suitable material for lightweight uniforms is unobtainable. They are also allowed to go without stockings. The men, however, are not so fortunate as the women, and are required to wear collars, ties, and tunics. American Navy’s Coffee Men on service with the United States Navy in the Pacific now receive their coffee freshly roasted and blended from a navy-owned plant at Pearl Harbour. The plant was formerly at Mare Island, California, but was dismantled, shipped to Pearl Harbour, and reassembled. It used to take up to six months to supply orders, but now it never takes more than three weeks. Shark Caught by Tail

An unusual interlude was provided at Ohope Beach on, Monday by Mr R. S. Whittaker, of Whakatane, who seized a young four-foot shark in the breakers, dragged it by the tail into shallow water, and finally threw it up on the beach, where it was despatched. The shark, which was first noticed by watchers on the shore, sent bathers in the vicinity hurrying for safety. It then made in the direction of Mr Whittaker, who caught it by the tail. Combing of Markets In order to provide crockery for recreation rooms in camps and at stations, material for indoor games and sports equipment, the National Patriotic Fund Board has had to comb markets both in the dominions and overseas. A large number of the lines required have long disappeared from the Dominion, and, where possible, arrangements have been made to import under licence from abroad. Even in the big centres of production overseas, however, in some cases there are no longer stocks, and in otl\er cases production of certain lines is limited and export strictly controlled. The board has placed a number of orders. Some of the goods are now coming to hand, but delays are Inevitable.

Food Poisoning A married couple and two young children, were admitted to the Auckland Hospital believed to be suffering from food poisoning after eating Spanish cream. The persons affected were Mr James Arthur Youens, aged 23, of 20 Cleveland avenue, Parnell, Mrs Joan Audrey Youens, aged 26, and their two daughters, Marie, aged two, and Dorothy, aged three months. They became ill on Saturday after eating their evening meal, which consisted of meat, a vegetable salad, and Spanish cream. Their condition be : came worse during the week-end, and they were taken to the hospital in two ambulances suffering from gastroenteritis.- Their condition was later reported to be satisfactory.

Stranded Trawler No further attempt has been made to refloat the steam trawler Hananui 11, which went ashore in Ryan’s Bay, Otago Peninsula, on December 2, and it is understood that the vessel has been handed over to the underwriters. It is possible at low tide to walk out to the trawler from the shore, and already souvenir hunters have been at work on the wreck and have removed several articles of value. The police state that persons detected in this practice are liable to prosecution not only on charges of theft, but also possibly for breaches of the Customs Act, as the trawler, having been built overseas, incorporates in its construction much material ori which no Customs duty has been paid.

Dry Spell in Taranaki Not since the 1935-36 season has Taranaki experienced such a long period without any appreciable quantity of rain as during the present summer. Farmers are seriously concerned at the daily decline in dairy production as pastures become more parched and wells, tanks, 'and the smaller creeks dry up. The most serious effect of almost five weeks without rain is the fall in dairy production Four representative cheese factories in Central and South Taranaki estimate that their supply of milk is decreasing at the rate of 100 gallons a day, and factories in the coastal areas, where the soil is lighter and rain is needed more frequently, are suffering an even more serious decline. Although there is very little feed for sheep in the dry pastures sheep farmers do not consider that the dryness is yet very serious, although it was stated that if it continued the ultimate result would probably be a decline in the number of fat lambs and store lambs placed on the market and a resultant rise in price. If the present lack of growth is followed by a flush of feed in the autumn there is also the possibility of an outbreak of facial eczema among flocks. Grass Fires in Canterbury Several miles of gorse fences and hundreds of acres of dry grass pasture were burnt, plantations were damaged, and farm houses were endangered by fires which broke out alongside the railway line . immediately north of Dromore station, Canterbury, on Wednesday morning. In a three-hour battle with the flames, a. large number of farmers in the district, the staff of the Ashburton County Council, railway employees, a fire-fighting unit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and men from the army suppressed the outbreak alongside a paddock of lupins on a Government farm,‘about a mile and a-half from where it started. About 10 separate outbreaks occurred on the upper side of the railway line north of Dromore shortly after the south express passed before 10 a.m. Fanned by a south-easterly wind, they •converged into one Are and swept in a westerly direction, travelling quickly along gorse fences, through plantations, and over dry grass paddocks. The fire passed over three roads, including the Main South road, passed through two plantations owned by the Ashburton County Council, and over five farms. Altogether more than 400 acres of pastures and 10 to 12 miles of gorse fences were burnt. For rings, watches, and Jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers, 59 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt.