In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24861, 29 September 1942, Page 4

In the News

October Tea Coupons The Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas, said yesterday that the tea coupons for October were numbers 17 to 20 inclusive, not 16 to 19 as was formerly announced.—P.A. Blown in by Storm An unusual visitor, an albatross with a six-foot wing span, was blown in to a Charlton farm by the storm at the end of last week. Because of its large wing span the albatross has difficulty in taking off from a flat surface and it was still on the property yesterday. Mr S. Jackson, on whose farm the bird made its forced landing, would welcome some advice about the best sort of food to give it and also information on the best method to use to allow it to make a quick take-off. Registration of Women Yesterday the staff at the Post Office experienced a busy time handing out registration forms to women between the ages of 24 and 30 who must register before Thursday. More than 200 forms have reached Mr S. C. Bingham, the district man-power officer. When the need for the services of the women arises they will be notified by the manpower office and will be interviewed either by the man-power officer or the interviewing officer of the W.W.S.A. National Rivalry The spirit of rivalry between the Scots, the Irish and the English is keen in Southland, judging from the response made to the broadcast appeals for patriotic funds. A good number of contributions has been received by the provincial treasurer (Mr W. F. Sturman) and it is hoped that a substantial sum will be added during the next two days for inclusion in the quota for the present financial year. The Scots are in the lead so far with contributions and this fact should stir the Irish and the English to further efforts. Warning To Motorists “There are still some motorists in our midst who consider themselves in a privileged class. They motor to and from work and also home for lunch,” said Mr J. Lindsay, district oil fuel controller in an interview. “However, a check-up is being made of the motoring activities of these self-determined privileged motorists with a view to detecting breaches of the oil fuel regulations.” Patriotic Parcels The patriotic rooms in Don street are closed this week and will not be reopened until next Monday, when a start will be made with the packing of the last quota of parcels for the year. The Christmas parcels have all been packed and will be sent to Wellington this week. Last week a party of women from Waianiwa and Ryal Bush came in on different days to do their share of the packing and have expressed their wish to come in again in the near future. Truck Shortage

Such large quantities of lime,, coal and general goods are being carried on the railways in Southland at present that there are not enough trucks to meet the demand. One result is that deliveries of lime to farmers are being held up. Consignors and consignees can assist by loading and unloading trucks as quickly as possible. “Farmers and others can assist themselves by assisting us. We ask them to give trucks b quick turn round,” a railway official said yesterday. Saving Petrol

A report from the United . States mentions that a large saving in the petrol consumption of cars can be effected by immobilizing half the cylinders of the motor and making a slight adjustment to the carburetter. The scheme was tried in Great Britain two years ago, half the connecting rods and . pistons of the car being removed. The change has the effect of reducing the power of the engine, but greatly increasing the saving of petrol, the American figure being quoted as high as 40 per cent.

Golf Club’s Petition About 5000 signatures have now been received to the petition against the Maungakiekie Golf Club’s being required to quit its course on the Cornwall Park domain, Auckland, and it is hoped to present the petition to the trustees early next month. A wide section of the public, in addition to members of Parliament, local body members and other prominent citizens, have signed. The sponsoring committee has corrected a misconception that the area is to be taken for military purposes, pointing out that the trustees have specifically stated that the area is to be thrown open as a public recreation area.

Puzzling Suspension Orders “It is a great pity that the people who draft these labour suspension orders do not take a little more care,” said Mr W. E. Anderson, appearing for the Auckland City Council, when the Arbitration Court had before it a question of interpretation of overtime as affected by one of these orders. “This is only one of these questions,” Mr Anderson continued. “They are arising every day, and it is extremely difficult to interpret them. It would be a very simple matter for those framing the orders to have repealed certain clauses and then substituted others, but they started off with a general clause. The suspension orders are put together very carelessly.” Cruelty to Animals

On a charge of cruelty to animals, Gordon E. Jefferies, of Taonui, Colyton, who pleaded guilty, was fined £l2, by Mr A. Coleman, S.M., in Feilding. Mr Mclnnes, who appeared for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, stated that 34 head of cattle and 264 sheep had been put in a paddock of 54 acres and during the winter had been without sufficient food. Most of the cattle were in an advanced state of starvation and there was no evidence of any supplementary food having been fed to them. Three cows and 34 sheep had died. Counsel for the defendant said he had intended to grow root crops for the stock, but a contractor had let him down and the crop had not been put in.