LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1944, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fruit Marketing. Meetings of orchardists in Auckland, Ettrick and Alexandra have rejected the Government's proposals for the marketing of the 1944 seasons fruit crop. Mutton Schedules. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board advises that the wether and ewe schedules in the North Island will be increased by one-eighth of a penny per lb., commencing on January 10. In the South Island, the lamb and wether schedules will be increased by oneeighth of a penny per lb., commencing on the same day. Sequel to Raid.

As a sequel to a raid by detectives on eternises in Auckland on Christmas Eve, James Ernest Boreham, aged 40, was yesterday fined £5O by Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., for using his premises as a common gaming house. Of 26 othei men who were to be charged with being found in a common gaming house, four appeared and were fined £3 each. It was slated by the police that complaints had been received, mostly by letter, from wives whose husbands played at this gaming house. A Novel Method.

An aggrieved customer of a Wellington suburban Chinese fruit shop adopted a novel but effective method' of obtaining redress last night. flic complaint of the customer, a soldier, was that he had bought a pineapple the previous day which he had found was bad. Failing to obtain satisfaction in the shop, he cut the pineapple open and patiently and silently stood outside the door, holding it on a piece of paper. People began to gather, and when the crowd numbered about 50 the Chinese, who was the only person who did not take it all as rather a joke, refunded the cost of the pineapple.

Absentees From Work. An increase in absenteeism, especailly among women workers, was noted by most Auckland industries which resumed work this week after some JO days holiday. Inquiries yesterday showed that the proportion had varied considerably, being rather high in some cases and almost negligible in others. Industries which ielt it most wcic those into which the largest numbers of women and girls had been directed compulsorily under the industrial manpower regulations. Managers who were interrogated did not. regard the matter as very serious. Some of thorn pointed out that their factories had been working a great deal of overtime for long periods, the total time worked often being up to 60 hours a week, and that, though they had reopened on Tuesday of this week, it had been in the full expectation that some of their hands would not appear till a day or two later. Since then the position had improved.