LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Leaving Japan Soon The section of the New Zealand Division which went straight from Italy to Japan as the original draft of New Zealand's contribution to the Commonwealth Forces of Occupation will probably leave Japan on j June 25 for New Zealand. They are due here on July 15. This information has been obtained from letters received from members of the Force. Conference Ends with Red Flag After sitting for four days, during which 80 remits were considered, the annual report was discussed, and an address was given by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), the annual conference of the New Zealand Federation of Labour concluded in Wellington yesterday. The conference closed with -delegates joining in the slnging of the "Red Flag." Funeral Benefits Funeral benefits under Social j Security have been proposed by the j Auckland Woollen Mills' Union, and j will be recommended by the Federation of Labour to the Government. The federation also endorsed a proposal from the same union that. surgical appliances, necessary _ to persons with physical disabilities. should be covered by Social Security.

Sea Scouts' Launch Trip The launch Nganui, en'"route from Auckland to Dunedin, arrived at Napier at 1 o'clock on Saturday morning from Gisborne. ■ Skipperea by Mr. A. J. Black, a New Zealand, Sea Scout Commissioner, the launch stopped at Napier to discharge 650 feet of kauri timber to be used for' the construction at Napier of two sailing dinghies for the Sea Scouts. Mr. Black will sail to Dunedin direct if the weather is suitable. .* Road Services Taken Over The New Zealand Railways Road Service will take over on June 23, # road transport between Gisborne and Opotiki now operated by Musgraves Services, Ltd. The department will take over the staff cars and the general organisation built up by the proprietary over a period oi 21 years and thus control the whole of the passenger transport from Gisborne. A fortnight ago the Railway Department took over the coast run operated by East Coast Motors. v A Lucky Escape One bystander at the scene of the collision between a car and truck on the Ohau Bridge on Saturday afternoon had a lucky escape. When the damaged vehicles had been renioved, and the cars neld up in long lines on each side of them were under way again, he was standing at one side of the bridge. The driver of a baby car which came on to the bridge applied his brakes, and the vehicle skidded on [ihe slippery surface towards the , man. In the nick _ of time he stepped up on to one side of the 12inch stringers which run across each side of the bridge at the base of the superstructure, and the hood of the car passed under his outstretched arm, missing his body by inches. It was further evidence of the dangerous nature of the surface of this bridge in wet weather, as the car was not travelling at more than 15 m.p.h.