NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25674, 24 October 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

rpWO years ago yesterday General Montgomery and his British and dominion troops of the Eighth Army launched their famous assault at El Alamein. It was prepared by one of the most massive artillery concentrations of the war, and supported by a colossal air assault. This momentous offensive developed during the following 10 months into a continuously victorious drive through Libya to Tunisia, and brought the final destruction of the enemy in Africa. The initial moonlight infantry attack following the barrage resulted in a penetration which was firmly held and steadily exploited during the days that followed, and these preliminary gains provided a spring board for a further mass artillery and infantry assault on the night of November 1-2. This resulted in a break-through, expansion and development which routed Rommel and flung him from Egypt for the last time. The German defences at El Alamein were stronger than anything the enemy had to overcome at Stalingrad, and the success of this famous undertaking was due to General Montgomery, who restored the gun to its rightful position on the battlefield. His artillery thus provided his army with the necessary start, and the infantry and armour, stoutly supported by engineers and supply organisation, carried the enterprise through to its famous ending. Land for Servicemen A total of 706 acres is involved in notices in last week’s Gazette declaring land taken for the settlement of discharged servicemen under the Service-, men’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943. Of the land acquired, 63 acres are in Otago, 74 in the Auckland land district, 389 in North Auckland, and 180 in Wellington.

Teachers’ Salaries At a well-attended meeting of teachers of the Te Puke district considerable discussion took place regarding the salaries of teachers. Indignation was expressed at, the fact that junior certificated teachers earn a salary of less than £3 a week. The following resolution was carried unanimously:—“That this meeting of teachers of the Te Puke district draws the attention of the Government to the immediate necessity of an improvement to salaries. The meeting, is unanimous in declaring its intention to pursue the matter until favourable action follows.”

Boy Manages Farm A tribute was paid by the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board at a sitting at Auckland to the 16-year-old son of a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force when it was disclosed in evidence that the boy had been managing his father’s 87-acre dairy farm for the last three years. When the father entered the forces, he reduced his herd to 25 so that it would not be too big for his son, who was then only 13, to handle, but through his diligence and efficiency the lad' had been able gradually to increase the number »of stock again and the property now carried 38 cows.

Sales Tax on Perambulators The efforts of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation to secure the remission of the 20 per cent, sales tax on perambulators have not been successful, but the Comptroller of Customs has advised the federation that the matter “will receive further consideration when a revision of the schedule of exemptions from sales tax is next undertaken.” The letter states that the federation’s representations had been very carefully and sympathetically considered by the Minister of Customs, but it was regretted that the request for the removal or reduction of the tax could not be acceded to at the moment. Students’ Practical Joke

The spectacle of a young man in brightly-coloured attire securely tied with ropes and gagged reclining outside a theatre entrance greeted picture patrons as they emerged from theatres in the Octagon last night. Within a few minutes a crowd of several hundred people had gathered round the young man, who appeared to have been the victim of a practical joke. A large placard placed above his head, reading “ 21 to-day,” gave the clue, and it was not long before a charitablydisposed onlooker released the young man from his bonds. Inquiries showed that the victim of the prank was the president of one of the University residential colleges. Industrial Efficiency 1 A meeting will be held shortly to form a Wellington branch of an Institute of Industrial Management. The aim of this organisation is to share knowledge, to educate the supervisory personnel of manufacturing plants in leadership, and to promote greater efficiency in industrial management generally. The provisional committee has adopted the group discussion method of teaching to impart knowledge and to maintain interest. The initial action taken was to arrange a training course in group discussions for potential group leaders, comprising 26 members representative of executives and supervisory staff in industry—accountants, secretaries, sales managers, foremen, purchasing managers, and technical experts. Southland’s Record

Two scrolls, each eight feet by six feet, flanked the stage of the Civic Theatre at the presentation of the Freyberg Flag at Invercai-gill recently. The printing on each stated that Southland was.fii-st in the Victory Loan and in scenic beauty, tourist and sporting attractions, dairy quality (most awards at Empire dairy shows), lamb quality (London show award), oyster production, licensing reform, building society investments, fourth in area, fifth in factory output, sixth in overseas exports, and seventh in population. Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., called the Prime Minister’s attention to these scrolls during his speech. “There’s no need to do that,” said Mr Fraser, “I have been looking at them all night.”

Marked Increase in Divorces The total of 803 petitions for divorce or for restitution of conjugal rights filed at the Auckland Supreme Court this year up to Friday, which marked the end of the third quarterly session, shows a notable increase on all previous records. The figure is already 100 beyond last year’s total of 703, which passed the record by nearly 200. At the same stage last year the number of petitions lodged was 546. Previous to last year the greatest number of petitions received was in 1939, when there were 518. Unless there should come a shai-p falling off, it would appear that this year more than 1000 petitions will be lodged. The most common ground on which petitions for divorce are based continues to be separation of the parties for upward of three years, but there are also many petitions based on failure to comply with a decree of the court for restitution of conjugal rights or on adultery. The ground of desertion is not vei-y common. •> Advertisement Banned

The man-power authorities in Tasmania and Western Australia have refused to permit publication in their States of Auckland City Council advertisements inviting applications for the position of parks superintendent at Auckland. Advice to this effect has been received by the council through a firm of advertising agents. The firm said it had been advised that the advertisement would be appearing in an Adelaide paper, but no acknowledgments had yet been received from Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne. Copies of letters from the Director-generals of Man-power in the Departments of Labour and National Service in both Tasmania and Western Australia were forwarded by the agents. These stated that publication of the advertisements could not be approved, but no reasons were given. The advertisements were circulated following a decision of the council last month to seek a successor to the present superintendent of parks, Mr T. S. Aldridge, who will reach the retiring age next January. It was resolved to offer the position at £BOO a year and to invite applications from New Zealand and Australia and from the armed forces.