In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24757, 30 May 1942, Page 4

In the News

No Sugar For Jam A definite statement that no provision has been made under the sugar rationing scheme for domestic jammaking has been received from the Auckland district rationing officer by a man who applied for a permit to purchase sugar for this purpose. In his application he said that for many years his orange trees had provided sufficient fruit to enable the making of all the marmalade required by his household. At the present time he had about 121 b of fruit which had been blown down and which could be used instead of wasted if sugar could be made available.

Sly-Grog Selling What is believed to have been the first case of sly-grog selling by a Chinese in Auckland came before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., when Kwong Shing, aged 69, pleaded guilty to a charge of selling liquor without a licence. The police said a search of a shop in Grey’s Avenue revealed 1570 bottles of whisky, wine and beer, which was seized. Counsel for the defence, Mr Allan Moody, said the defendant had an unblemished record. He was employed on the premises. He had sold only beer and this in defiance of his employer’s instructions. He had since been dismissed from service and was in very poor health. Mr Luxford said such offences could only be punished by imprisonment, but as the accused was obviously in bad health he would be examined by the prison surgeon to ascertain if he was fit to undergo imprisonment. He was remanded for sentence. —P.A.

Saved by Iron Lung Yet another human life has been added, to those saved by the use of the Nuffield iron lung at the Christchurch Hospital. Recently a boy was admitted to the hospital suffering severely from the effects of infantile paralysis on the respiratory organs. He was placed in the iron lung, and spent the greater part of two weeks in the long metal case. This mechanical method of artificial respiration tided him over the critical period, and now he is on the way to recovery. Since the lung was presented to the hospital two years ago, a number of patients have been given the respiratory assistance it provides, and to it they owe their lives. Originally the hospital possessed two iron Jungs, but one was made available to a ’New Zealand hospital ship. Library Book Covers Alarm was expressed by members of the Temuka Library Committee at the effect of an Order-in-Council prohibiting the use of paper or substitute material for the manufacture of library book covers. “It is obvious that the life of a book is considerably prolonged by the use of covers and with the present difficulty of obtaining books, it is more than ever necessary to protect them,” said Mr W. L. Harrison. It was decided to ask Mr Greenwood, librarian of the Palmerston North Public Library, to represent the Temuka Library Committee on a deputation being arranged to approach the Minister concerned with a view to having the decision altered. Saving Jurors’ Time

To save them having to report when they might not be required, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court, Wellington, informed waiting jurors who had been excused duty till the following day that steps would be taken to notify them by telegram or through the Press, or by both methods, if their services were wanted. Army Dentist’s Work Although he has been working under primitive conditions, an officer of the Dental Corps attached to an Army unit in the Northern Military District produced in successive weeks returns of 250, 302 and 175 fillings respectively. To achieve this result, stated Colonel B. S. Finn, Director of Dental Services, the officer had worked daily from 7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. Careless Writers Recently, as the war has come nearer to New Zealand, there has been a marked improvement in the standard of care of persons writing letters overseas, according to a report issued recently by a censorship authority. In the four months of this year the number of letters subjected to treatment by the censor has declined by approximately one half, and letter writers appear to be taking their responsibilities more seriously. There are, however, still too many correspondents who cannot resist the temptation to pass on bits of news that should not be passed on. Correspondents must remember, said the authority, that with large Japanese naval forces within striking distance of the sea routes from New Zealand, the chances of a ship carrying mails being captured are not remote. Mails are regarded as an important prize, because in the hands of expert intelligence officers, they can yield a rich harvest of military and political facts that could be obtained by no other means. “Too much information of military importance is still finding its way into overseas letters,” he said.