NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25803, 26 March 1945, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

“TN your criticism of the Govern■l ment of this and any other time, remember always that it is elected by ,a majority vote. It cannot survive without the confidence of a majority of the people," said the Mayor of Wellington (Mr W. Appleton) at a smoke concert held by the North Island Grand Lodge of the United Ancient Order of Druids. “ You have the right to express your disapproval openly and at the ballot box.” he added. “ These privileges are the birthright of a British heritage, dearly bought and won, and being fought for to-day by many hundreds of your own members in the armed forces. Not only should we preserve them, but they should also be the undisputed right of millions." j Miners’ Holiday

All coal mines in the Waikato district, including the open-cast, will observe the Easter holidays this year, following the decision of the Mining Controller. Mr C. H. Benney, and the Miners’ Federation, to which the Northern Miners’ Union is affiliated, that the miners will not be asked to work over Easter, as they did last year. Good Friday and Easter Monday will be observed as holidays. The miners have not worked on Saturdays since December.

Flood Repair Work Of the 70 soldiers who were sent to assist during the recent floods in South Otago, 50 have returned to thenbases. Of the remainder, 10 are in charge of the camp for employees of the Public Works Department and the other 10 are working on flood repairs, their duties including the arduous task of emptying the sandbags placed near the Stirling break and also general cleaning-up work. The army men are expected to be required until the end of this week.

Importance of Books “ I cannot emphasise too much the importance of the school library. It is fundamental to every school, even the smallest country school,” said Mr J. P. Hawke, the new senior inspector of schools for Southland, when replying to the welcome extended to him at a meeting of the Southland Education Board. “The library is the very life blood of the school," Mr Hawke added. “ I am sure that the board will cooperate in any effort that is made to improve the libraries of the schools in Southland. If that is done it will pay handsome dividends."

Cost of Rehabilitation “ So far as this country is concerned, there will be no shortage of finance for rehabilitation,” said the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr C. F. Skinner) in an address to a Christchurch, meeting, which was attended by soldiers of the Great War and the present war, as well as by other citizens. “Rehabilitation,” he added, “is as much a part of the war effort as the winning of the war itself.” Already £5,500,000 had been advanced for the rehabilitation of 10.000 men, and that would give some idea of the bill which would have to be met before all the servicemen were returned to civil life, said the Minister.

An Expensive Wait “ I went up there to see a man who owed me money and while I was waiting for him I watched the ‘ two-up ’ game,” said one of 46 men charged in the Police Court jit Auckland with being found in a common gaming house. Mr J. H. Luxford. S.M.: Well, it has cost you £3 to watch a game of “ two-up.” Accused: Can I have time to pay? The magistrate: No, those who play or watch “ two-up ” must be ready to pay. The police will get the money for you if you have it somewhere, or I think they will let you go with them to get it. They do not like to see anyone go to gaol; they would rather have the £3.

Thanksgiving Day The origin of Thanksgiving Day, one of the most popular days of commemoration held in the United States, was explained by the Rev. W. Allen Stevely in the course of his Anniversary Day address in First Church last evening. In 1620, Mr Stevely said, the Pilgrim Fathers left England to settle in the New World. After landing on a “ stern and rock-bound coast ” they suffered much hardship in seeking to make habitable their new home. Their severe privations caused them to become gloomy and many began to brood on their difficulties until one of them suggested that they should hold a Thanksgiving Day to thank God for His mercies. The suggestion was adopted and it put new heart into the colonists. Thanksgiving Day had since then been observed on the last Thursday in each November. “They discovered,” Mr Stevely said, “that it is a good thing to remember ‘ all the way which the Lord had lead them.’ ” Red Cross Work In a communication recently received in the Dominion, the director Of medical services, 2nd N.Z.E.F., Brigadier Kenrick, pays a tribute to the service given to the sick and wounded by Major W. G. Tweedy, the former 'Red Cross Commissioner in the Middle East. Brigadier Kenrick also states that he wishes to thank all the members of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society for the support that has been given to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the five years of war. The comforts sent, he says, have made all the difference to the welfare of the sick and wounded in the New Zealand field ambulances and general hospitals, while the parcels sent to the prisoners of war have been rightly described as “ life-savers.” This knowledge, he states, should bring satisfaction to all those who have done so much voluntary work, and also to all those who have so generously subscribed to the Sick and Wounded Fund of the National Patriotic Board. New Building Material

British scientists have produced a new fire-proof building material from waste ash, which may save millions of pounds sterling annually, reports the London Evening Standard. Its producers claim that its strength improves with age, it is not influenced by frost or damp, it is vermin-proof, it can be plastered, papered, or painted in colour; it can be sawn to any shape and will take screws and nails. The new material is made from the waste product of electricity power stations—the ash residue from the furnaces which burn pulverised coal. It is claimed that over 800,000.000 bricks could be produced in Bi’itain with the ash which is now thrown away at an approximate cost of £1,500,000 a year. Mr E. Mitchell, director of the United Kingdom Industrial Engineering Development Association, the organisation responsible for this discovery, states that he had had inquiries from the United States offering to buy the formula, which is secret. “ The Concrete Institute, United States,” he says, “ has been working on it for years, but has not succeeded. Our idea is that as new electricity power stations are built they should be equipped with a plant for turning their waste ash into building materials. No skilled labour would be required.” Ash bricks have already been used in the construction of offices and workshops, and one new housing estate in Central England is to have the first house built entirely of them. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is now testing the new material for heat resistance and strength.