NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25849, 21 May 1945, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

T>ANKS could make their proper conD tribution towards development if they were regarded by their Government as, at best, co-belligerents, said Mr D. F. Anderson, chairman of the Bank of Australasia, at the annual meeting in London. If the banks were to make their greatest contribution to the further development of Australia, their attitude must be dynamic, but no enterprise could undertake the risks of a dynamic role if it was tied down to rewards which were sufficient only for a static part. Perhaps the first steps towards encouraging new capital to flow in to Australia would be to modify the exchange control which did not even permit of capital being remitted to London. The exchange control was introduced under financial conditions which appeared since almost to have reversed themselves. Its retention, far from serving any Australian interest, seemed now to be an anachronism and merely discouraging to new capital which was timid of entering any field marked “ no exit.”

Advice by a Judge A special word of advice to claimants for compensation was given by Mr Justice O’Regan in a judgment in which he found against a workman, Walter Mark King, who claimed compensation against his employers, C. H. Drysdale and Co. “An offer was made,” said his Honor, "which the plaintiff, without taking legal or medical advice, declined, thus placing himself out of court. A claimant of compensation should never on his own responsibility decline an offer of settlement.”

Auction in Italy A quantity of unclaimed property was being disposed of by some New Zealand soldiers at an impromptu auction sale from an army truck in Italy. Italians were swarming round the truck and bidding freely for every article offered. A little man riding a bicycle arrived on the scene, and leaning his cycle against a shop front, was soon lost in the crowd of excited bidders. Within a few seconds the bicycle had been passed up and the auctioneer sold it in record time. The Aucklander who tells the story does not know what the original owner of the cycle had to say when he found that it, too, had been sold by the Kiwis. Treatment of Tuberculosis

Varying opinions were expressed at the meeting of the Southland Hospital Board last week on a suggestion that the Otago Hospital Board should become one of the boards associated with Waipiata Sanatorium and that Otago patients should be admitted to Waipiata. Allied with this question is the proposal of the Southland Board for the establishment of an institution for the treatment of tuberculosis at Frankton. No decision was reached by the board. The'question will be discussed at a conference to be held in Dunedin on Wednesday and Thursday, when the whole subject of the treatment of tuberculosis in the South Island will be reviewed.

Treatment of War Criminals Strong exception to press reports regarding the luxurious treatment accorded to several of the most prominent Nazi officials since their capture was taken at a meeting of the Rotorua Returned Services’ Association last week. The meeting gave support to General Eisenhower’s proclamation that fraternisation with war criminals must immediately cease, and urged that these criminals should be strictly dealt with in accordance with the laws and usages of war and with the least possible delay. The granting of any special privileges to them was regarded as a breach of faith with the men and women who had fought and died for the preservation of liberty. Sale of Hot Water Bag* A complaint that, while chemists had honoured a request from the Health Department to sell hot water bags only to necessitous cases, and had received a limited allocation of bags for disposal, certain firms in the city had sold bags indiscriminately'during the week, was made by the president of the Chemists’ Service Guild in Dunedin on Saturday. The number of bags made available to chemists last week was 200, which averaged about three bags a shop, and many people who were entitled to hot water bags had not been able to obtain them because, it was alleged, of the unfair and haphazard method Which had been used. It was also alleged that discrimination was being used in the distribution of other supplies among certain shops.

House Caught in Slip When , a concrete retaining wall at the rear' of a brick bungalow situated at 6 Sidey street, Caversham, gave way on Saturday, a section of the hill slipped away and crashed into the rear of i the dwelling, spreading round on either side pf it for a considerable distance. The house, which was a newone, was apparently not badly damaged, although it is thought that the rear wall was affected by the weight of the debris which was piled against it to the level of the eaves; but in view of the possibility of danger the dwelling was evacuated by its occupants. The future of the dwelling is uncertain, as even if the large amount of clay and slurry brought down by the slip is cleared away, the future behaviour of the hill behind the house cannot be predicted. Orepuki Shale

The Orepuki shale works formed the subject of an interesting talk given to members of the Southland Progress League by Mr R. W. Willett, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mr Willett outlined in detail the history of the works and the shale fields, and expressed the opinion that the prospects of economic commercial development were promising. He advocated drilling as a means of exploiting the possibilities, and added that in addition to the shale there was a potential coalfield in the same area. “ Orepuki shale has been synonymous with Southland over the last 50 years,” said Mr Willett. “ There have always been many stories about the cessation of activity at the works, the huge deposits and wonderful possibilities. Some of the stories have been rather fantastic at times, and rumour has played its part to a large extent." Important Appointment The position of president of a military legal court in Germany, to which Brigadier Inglis has been appointed, is of great importance. There are to be five such courts in the British sector, and they will be the highest courts of jurisdiction. It is understood that under the scheme approved for the military government of Germany in the post-war period the tribunal of the type' over which Brigadier Inglis will preside will have to deal with criminal cases, comprising offences against the Allied military power, and that it will also be available for civil cases in which Allied nationals are concerned. Commenting on the appointment, the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, said on Saturday that, with the wide military experience which he had gained in the war of 1914-18 and in the present conflict, together with his legal qualifications, Brigadier Inglis was well equipped for the very important post for which he had been selected. “I know all his military and legal friends will join with me in wishing him well in his new appointment,” the Minister added.