LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Coal Mine Closed. The James State mine has ceased production. It has produced 682,741 tons of coal since the commencement of operations in 1922. Freedom from accident has been a feature of its history. The 40 remaining employees have been transferred to the adjoining Strongman mine. Dead and Missing Soldiers.

A communique from the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society states that it will be of great benefit to all concerned if inquiries regarding deceased or missing stildiers are addressed to Base Records, Wellington, or the War Purposes Committee. The joint council's commissioner in the Middle East suggests that these .should be consulted before sending such inquiries to him.

A Rumour .Denied. “There is no foundation whatever to the rumour that I am contesting the Hurunui seat at the general election,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, in an interview in Wellington, last night. “I have had no other thought than to stand for my own constituency of Christchurch North.” The Hurunui seat is at present held by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, who announced some time ago his intention of retiring from Parliament at the coming dissolution. War Graves Inquiries. The commissioner in the Middle East for the joint council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society has again drawn attention to the fact that he is receiving inquiries from the Dominion regarding photographs of the graves of deceased soldiers. It has been stated on a number of occasions that the only office which can accept such inquiries is Army Headquarters in Wellington, and that while the commissioner will do all he can when he receives such inquiries, a great deal of delay is saved by applying through the correct channel.

Bulk Petrol. Bulk consumers of petrol will continue to be given the bulk consumer rate of 3d a gallon less than the ordinary retail price, even though the annual amount purchased is lower than 3600 gallons. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, explained in Christchurch yesterday that the effect of the recently gazetted Motor Spirits Prices Emergency Regulations, 1943, would be that bulk consumers who formerly qualified for the bulk purchase rate would not have their oil fuel costs increased merely because the wartime restrictions on petrol consumption had reduced their annual purchases below the stipulated level.