General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23965, 4 June 1943, Page 4

General News

Settlement of Native Claims Preliminary inquiries with a view to arriving at a, definite and early settlement of the Native claims are in progress, according to a statement made by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in the House of Representatives last evening. "Steps are being taken in an endeavour to reach agreement of a nature that will ensure continuing advantages and benefits to the Maori people in full accord with the merits of their case," he said. —(P.R.) Campaign Against Rats Satisfactory negotiations have been opened between the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Christchurch City Council for a campaign against rats. At present materials to be used are not available in sufficient quantities for an effective sweep of the city, but they are expected to be in hand soon. King’s Birthday Holiday All shops subject to awards would observe the King’s Birthday holiday on Monday, said the secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association (MrH. F. Butland) yesterday. All factories, except the few which had received notices from the factory or other controllers requiring them to work, he said, would observe the day as a paid holiday. Lcase-Lend Act “Lease-lend is a great conception and should go a long way to achieve the second objective of the act—the provision of goods and services for use in the war effort without the cruel shadow of debt which has blighted the trade and relations of the world after wars of past decades,” said the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in the House of Representatives last night. The first purpose of the act and its amendments was to enable each country to make the maximum use of its resources for the war effort, irrespective of the particular country using the supplies, ammunition, or equipment, or the place in which they are used. In like manner and in the same spirit New Zealand in turn was making available to the United States forces the maximum facilities from its resources.—(P.R.) Pilfering of Cargo The Associated Chambers of Commerce have asked business houses suffering losses from pilfering of cargo to supply details to local councils, so that they may be collected and collated for use as publicity in the campaign to eliminate the trouble. It was explained to the council of the Canterbury Chamber last evening that the detailed information would be treated as confidential, and only the total losses and broad classes of goods quoted in propaganda. State Mines Idle Because of the action of the management in witholding the deficiency payment (to make up the minimum wage) in the case of three pairs of miners in the Strongman mine, the Strongman and James State mines were idle yesterday. The management considered that the three places were not deficient. About 230 men are affected, and the output of the two mines is approximately 450 tons. Representatives of the union met the management yesterday afternopn to discuss the dispute, and the matter was discussed last evening at a meeting of the union. It is reported that the dispute is being referred to the Coal Council, and that the mines will resume production today. Apple Supplies An assurance that there would be no shortage of apples for the next two or three months was given yesterday by Mr W. Benzies, the Internal Marketing Division’s officer in charge" of apple and pear marketing. He said that under the scheme to regulate supplies the Dominion market for some weeks would receive 60.000 to 70,000 cases a week, instead of 90,000. The quantities would be tapered off later, but his programme would allow about 14,500 cases for the Dominion’s December market. The latter was, of course, subject to the possibility of some storage waste, but every safeguard was being taken. Maximum Price for Hair Cutting A price order fixing the maximum prices that can be charged for cutting hair and for shaving males was issued last night with the Gazette. The order, the Price Tribunal states, has been issued to secure uniformity in the prices charged for cutting the hair of youths, as these prices have varied throughout New Zealand. The prices fixed are:—Haircutting, males under 16, Is except after 4.30 p.m. on Friday, or any time on Saturday, when the maximum of Is 6d for those over 16 will apply to youths as well. Shaving is fixed at Is. The tribunal states that these are maximum prices, and hairdressers may charge less if they wish to do so.—(P.A.) Engineering Research Addressing members of the New Zealand Institution of Engineers in Wellington, Sir John Madsen, of the University of Sydney, who recently visited Christchurch, stated that the Commonwealth Government had established a research fund of £30,000 annually for six universities. In addition, the New South Wales Government granted 200 fellowships per annum, each covering a five-year period of study. The Institution of Engineers similarly encouraged research by granting prizes for theses, and publishing reports of original research. "This practical form of assistance,” said Sir John Madsen, "made possible the execution of research work which proved to be of considerable value in its application to certain local body and industrial problems.” Immigration to New Zealand Careful consideration of the opportunities of immigration to New Zealand after the war for the maximum development of the Dominion’s resources was advocated to the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce by Mr J. Boyd Clark. He said in a letter that young people should be given preference, and to that end types and sources of immigrants should be investigated, educational facilities provided, and avenues of employment explored. The rehabilitation committee of the council will consider the proposals in conjunction with other suggestions for post-war development. Address by Mr Nash Christchurch businessmen, headed by the' Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers’ Association, and the Employers’ Association, have invited the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) to speak to a combined meeting within the next fortnight on New Zealand’s war expenses in conjunction with the third Liberty Loan. No definite advice as to whether this can be arranged has yet been received. Flights For Air Cadets A new system for the training of members of the Air Training Corps is to be inaugurated in the South Island when a touring flight of three R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft will visit various centres to give cadets flights as an aid to their ground studies in aeronautics. The cadets will have to produce the written consent of their parents before making flights, which will not be of an instructional nature, but what the R.N.Z.A.F. calls "air experience” training. A fully-equipped ground crew will travel with the machines, and will lecture the cadets on the practical aspects of flying and servicing aircraft. State Mines A total of £13,000 has been placed on the State Coalmine Estimates for the purchase of the Dobson colliery and the purchase and installation of plant, the estimate for the plant being £2500. The sum of £IOOO appears in the estimates for plant for the Blackball colliery. Last year £3367 was spent for this purpose. Provision is made for the expenditure of £12,000 on the development of the Strongman colliery, on which £8202 was spent last year, and for the expenditure of £9500 on plant for the Wallsend colliery.—From Our Parliament-