General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23967, 7 June 1943, Page 4

General News

Coal Mines to Work To-day The president and secretary of the State Miners’ Union, Messrs H. Johnson and F. Baxendale, stated on Saturday that, in accordance with the resolution of the last meeting, the mines will be working to-day, King’s Birthday, at double time rates, as requested by the Mines Department. The King’s Birthday The birthday of His Majesty the King will be honoured to-day. Actually, the Royal birthday falls on December 14; but the present arrangement has been in force since the present King ascended the throne. Consequently, there will be a full holiday in Christchurch for workers, except for those who have been directed .by controllers to remain at work in essential industries. A programme of sporting fixtures has been arranged. There will be a representative Rugby match, Canterbury v. Ashburton, at Lancaster Park. The Canterbury Hockey Association has arranged a flve-a-side tourney at Hagley Park. There will also be a Soccer tournament. Racegoers will haVe an opportunity of being present at a trotting meeting at Ashburton. Passengers on Midland Express Only about 150 passengers were on the Greymouth-Christchurch express train on Saturday morning, a decided contrast to the patronage accorded the Christchurch-Greymouth express today, the bookings on that train up to Friday night totalling 360 passengers. In the last few years the 1 number oi passengers from Christchurch to Greymouth has increasingly exceeded the number travelling from Greymouth to Canterbury. Two football teams, one Rugby Union, and the other Association, arrived on the West Coast from Christchurch on Saturday morning, by the rail-car, and both proceeded to Wgstoort. The Association team will return to Christchurch to-day, and the Rugby Union team arrived in Greymouth yesterday morning, and will leave on return to Christchurch this evening, after the match with West Coast at Rugby Park, Greymouth. Encroachment of Sea at Hokitika During the last few days the sea has made a considerable encroachment on Hokitika. With the spring tides and heavy seas a considerable quantity of the foreshore has been cut away. Many of the piles driven in along the foreshore at the time of the big encroachment 30 years ago are now showing. Between 60 and 70 of the piles are now up to five feet out of the sand. Excursions to Timaru In unpleasant weather yesterday two excursion trains took 491 passengers to Timaru. The first train carried 278 excursionists, and the second 213. The morning train from Timaru to Christchurch carried 201 passengers. * Vegetable Growing by Contract "That in the opinion of this meeting the prices offered are below the cost of production for the district and that in the meantime growers should not enter into contracts,” was a resolution adopted at a meeting of vegetable growers in Hastings. More than 100 market gardeners were present. Mr A. H. Walerson presiding. Representatives of the Internal Marketing Division addressed the meeting and outlined the Government's proposals for contract prices for basic vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, swedes, and cabbage. It was pointed out that the aim of the Government was to stabilise vegetable prices at no higher levels than the average for 1941-42, and also that growers’ costs would be stabilised. The meeting was not open to the press. The meeting also decided that the Hawke’s ’ Bay Commercial Gardeners’ Society should negotiate with the Government with a view to having the prices offered brought more into line with the cost of production. Better Quality Cheese The opinion that the less extensive use of artificial fertilisers was a factor contributing to the higher quality of cheese produced in the Auckland Province last season was expressed by the president, Mr A. Meharry, v/hen addressing the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association. Although cheesemakors had experienced a poor season compared with the previous me, there had been a decided improvement in the quality. While many reasons had been advanced as the cause of this most makers agreed that the decreased use of fertilisers owing to war conditions had made manufacturing easier.

Seals Near Wellington The unsual sight of seals sporting on and round the rocks was seen at Karehana Bay, near Plimmerton. last week. There were several seals there together, and they did not appear to be in any way sick or injured, "They seemed to be there just for amusement,” said one resident, who added th'est such visits were very uncommon. Absentees from Freezing Works "It is a big job to keep track of our absentees, and at present we are about three weeks behind with it,” said Mr E. K. Baxter, employment officer at the Westfield Freezing Company’s works, when giving evidence at a sitting of the Auckland Mannower (Industrial) Committee. Mr' Baxter said the average daily number of men away from the works for various rdasons was 200. Pensions by Post In the opinion of the committee of the Auckland Returned Services’ Association, all pensions, military and civilian. should take the form of a negot'able instrument and should be posted to the recipient. Mr A. P. Postlewaite, the president, supported the statement of a member that the present system of queueing up was a waste of time and manpower, as well as an affliction for the aged and disabled. The Dominion headquarters of the association is to be asked to take the matter up with the Government. Shortage of Fish in Auckland Because of several factors, the usual seasonal shortage of fish in Auckland ha. been accentuated during the last few days, although it is expected that normal supplies for this time of the year will soon be available. Unfavourable weather last week-end was partly responsible for the shortage, but a series of minor mishaps causing several boats to be laid up for repairs have also had their effect. These boats should be in service again within the next week or 10 days. Labour for manning the fishing fleet has also been particularly short lately. The manager; of an Auckland fishing company said that supplies of all types of local fish were affected. The seasonal shortage would soon be past, however, and the market should be receiving normal quantities in about _ a month to six weeks. Lights Out at 3 A.M. In future, the street lights in Gisborne are to be extinguished at 3 a.m. This has been agreed on as part of a policy to conserve electricity. The town clerk. Mr W. M. Jenkins, said that he had been advised by the Poverty Bay Electric Power Board that a saving of 80 per cent, had to be made in street lighting, been agreed that the street lights throughout the town should be extinguished at 3 a.m. The matter of the council s payment for street lighting as a result of the reduced period of lighting was to be discussed between the council and the board. Cabaret Worker’s Appeal Appearing for a cabaret manageress who appealed to the Wellington Industrial Manpower Committee against an order directing her to take up duties as a nurse at the Porirua Mental Hospital. Mr J. Meltzer said most persons were familiar with the difficulties of the municipal authorities and other organisations in catering for servicemen on leave, and there was an undeniable shortage of places of entertainment. Mr B. L. Hammond, employers’ representative on the committee. said the main thing was to prove that the services of the person appealed for were indispensable. They had still to be convinced that the cabaret would have to close down if she were transferred to other work. Mr Meltzer said that on present indications there would be no alternative to closing down the cabaret In such an event.