LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Twelfth Frost in Succession. Masterton today recorded the the twelfth frost in succession when 8.4 degrees was registered this morning. Wellington Hospitals. In emphasising the amount of work now expected of the Wellington Free ’Ambulance, Sir Charles Norwood, president, speaking at yesterday’s meeting of the board, said there were now 13 hospital buildings in and around Wellington, which depended for their trans- | port work on the Free Ambulance. Much, of that work was actually hospital work, as it consisted of transfers of patients between one hospital and another. Regulations Widened. The scope of the Accommodation Emergency Regulatins is widened, by amendments gazetted last evening. Premises can now be acquired for various State purposes other than use by the armed forces. The amendments operate in respect of premises taken since March 31, unless agreement as to the terms of occupancy has already been reached. In order to reduce administrative work the new regulations lay down the terms of occupancy of premises so that in general it will be necessary only to fix the rental to be paid, and this is to be done by agreement, or, in default of agreement, under the provisions of the Public Works Act for settling compensation. Political Unity. After proceedings in committee lasting two hours last night at Wellington, the conference of the New Zealand Returned Services Association, which is officially described as the association’s council, carried the following motion:—“That as considerable progress has been made between the party leaders, who are still negotiating, the council expresses appreciation of and endorses the efforts of the Dominion executive committee in bringing the parties together in an attempt to bring about national unity.”

Electric Supply to be Cut Off. The supply of electricity in the Kaiparoro, Hastwells, and Mauriceville areas controlled by the Tararua Power Board will be cut off from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday to enable urgent maintenance work to be carried out on the lines in those districts.

Import Licences. The basis for the Issue of import licences covering the seventh period, 1943, was announced last evening by the Acting-Minister of Customs, .Ml Nordmeyer. He said that in the light of existing conditions, when so many difficulties and delays were experienced in obtaining supplies of commodities from overseas, the Government recognised that it was to the advantage of importers to have as much notice as possible regarding the extent to which licences for imports were to be made available to them, in order that they might arrange to obtain their licences and place their orders at the earliest possible opportunity. In view of the delays at present being experienced in the fulfilment of orders and in shipping goods from overseas, it has been decided that sixth period licences shall be valid for imports up to June 30, 1943, instead of December 31 next. Wages and Profits. Adopting the advice of those delegates who warned that any resolution along the lines proposed would take them on to dangerous ground, the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association at Wellington yesterday rejected a remit that in view of the war situation, the Government be asked to abolish all overtime rates of pay and put workers on standard rates of pay for all hours worked. When the adoption of the remit, which had been sent forward by the Invercargill association, was moved several speakers asked why the conference should propose a reduction of the income of one section of the population. An amendment that words asking that the Government make collateral provision tq prevent increased profits resulting to employers was lost, and finally the whole remit was rejected,