Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 74, 6 July 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Film Stars' Huge Salaries The Russian-born movie executive Louis Mayer, heads tlie list of high-est-paid Americans for the year with a salary of 705,000 dollars. Clark Gable, film star, is next, 357,000; then Nicholas Schneck, 334,000; tobacco magnate, George Washington Hill, 288.000; Darryl Zanuck. 2(50,000; Ginger Rogers, 215,000; Tyrone Power, 188,000. Price of Matches Although no price increase has yet been authorised for wooden matches, some Wellington shops are reported to have tried to anticiuate a decision by the Price Tribunal, and have increased the price of boxes formerly sold for Id to Inquiries from the tribunal revealed that consideration was being given to the cost of matches, but no decision had yet been reached. Price of a Colonel "The Army could get a colonel for tlie pay this man would receive,'" remarked the chairman at a man-t----power committee sitting when a married woman, appealing for the exemption of her hsuband, stated that there were seven children in the family. Appellant, in stating that she wished to have her husband in the home because of his influence there, mentioned that the ekles'-. child was nine years old and the youngest five months. An adjournment sine die was granted. The case of a man with a larger family was mentioned during a discussion at the Nelson Farmers' Union conference on the calling up for service of married men with four or five children. "A man from our district who is in camp has nine or ten children, and is drawing a colonel's pay though lie is only a private,' a member remarked. A remit was carried suggesting that single men granted exemption because they are engaged in essential industry should, wherever possible, .be replaced by married men.

The Birds Woke Up It was very noticeable at the time of the earthquake how roosting birds were much affected by this convulsion of Nature (says the Wellington livening Post) . Apart from domestic fowls which fell off their perches, birds roosting in_ trees and bushes were all awakened. Some of the more timid took fright, but others stayed where they were. There was much twittering and chirping, however, before they went to sleep again. Cats and dogs were variously affected: some seemed definitely scared, while others appeared to take no notice of the disturbance. Sausiagies for Soldiers Sausages of a total weight of 1150001b (approximately 55% tons) for Army needs overseas have been made since November last at the Hamilton works of Messrs J. G. Hutton (N.Z.), Limited, according to a statement made at last Tuesday"s sitting of the Hamilton District Manpower Committee, when the company appealed for four reservists, two butchers, a slaughterman and a small goods man. This out- , put, said the manager, Mr S. Bilby, was in addtion to regular supplies to Auckland City and the Waikato and King Country. Mr Bilbj' added that this week the staff was concentrating on making IGO,OOOIb of sausages for the fighting forces. Conservation of Power "So we are going to set up a private Gestapo. I question whcthei the regulation is constitutional," said Mr R. W. Bothamley at the meeting of the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board last -week, when the board was discussing the power which a recent regulation gives to inspectors to enter upon certain premises "by force if necessary'" to see if the regulation prohibiting the use of electric radiators between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. except on Sundays, .was being observed. The board delegated Mr E. F. Hollands,, engineer , and general manager to the board, the authority to give certain inspect tors the necessary power. Mr Hol-< lands assured the board that the power would be used with discre- '

The Right-Hand Rule According to a statement made in the Palmerston Magistrate's Court, a horse-drawn vehicle must give way to a motor vehicle at an intersection, whether the car is on the right or left, the right-hand rule applying to motor traific only. His Mistake A Tweed River, N.S.W., farmer declared, when he filled in his civilian evacuation census card, that he had at his home two males and 37 females. He had entered both his family ami his dairy herd. A stock evacuation card issued simultaneously confused him. Conscience Money The Secretary to the Treasury, Mr B. C. Ashwin, has gazetted ack-< nowledgement of reccipt of several amounts forwarded by persons unknown as conscience money to the New Zealand ' Government. Twelve amounts totalling £295 17s 6d are referred, to, one representing £250 to the Bank of New Zealand. The other amounts, ranging from 4s 6d to £12 10s, were paid to various Government departments. Importance of News When urging at Gisborne recently that newspaper runners must, subject to some restrictions, have freedom to use the roads and transport facilities in the event of an emen gency,, Colonel C. V. Ciochetto, regional commissioner of the Emergency Reserve Corps, said lack of news was detrimental to the morale of the people l . It was of great importance to ensure the production of at least a news sheet and to see: that it was circulated, as when there was no official news alarming rumours were liable to spread. Appeals for Women "My attention has been drawn ot a reference in the press concerning the fact that when women join the forces no provision is made for their employers to appeal," said the Minister of National Service, Hon. R, Semple, ''Although there is no statutory provision for employers to appeal in these cases, opportunity is, however, given for appeals to be heard by armed forces appeal boards. Every care is taken to see that an employer is not unduly embarrassed by the withdrawal of one of his female staff for war service." July Petroi Coupon When intimating that coupon No. HJ at half its face value would be the only source of petrol supply available for July the Minister of Supply, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, emphasised that only those coupons which were stamped with the official Post Office stamp on the relicensing of motor cars would be redeemable during the new motor licensing year, which begins in July. "The petrol position is still uncertain," said Mr Sullivan, "and Ave must continue to conserve our resources to the greatest possible extent. The decision to release a further half-coupon has been made by (lie. War Cabinet in accordance with the policy of keeping private cars j mobile as long as possible." I