NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 10, 7 October 1943, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Highway Fatalities

Five persons were killed, in highway accidents in September, half the number killed in the same period last year. It is the lowest figure for the past six years. Three of those killed were drivers of motor-vehicles, one a passenger and one a pedestrian.

Broadcast by Cliief Rabbi. Jewish circles in Wellington have received advice by cable from London that the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hertz, will broadcast in the 8.8. C. Pacific service from 7.45 p.m. to 8 p.m. today (New Zealand time).

Butter Rationing. “In my opinion we should be ashamed of ourselves for every week we fail to put butter rationing into effect,” said Mr. A. Leslie Wall at this week’s meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. “It is our plain duty to see that the British ration of two ounces a week is not only maintained but increased if possible.” Canterbury- Lain!) Losses. While there has 'been a slight improvement in feed conditions, official reports indicate that lamb losses in Canterbury continue to be' heavy because of the cold, wet weather. No accurate estimate of losses is yet available, but it is expected that they will average at least 20 per cent, throughout the province. Furlough Party. The medical re-examination of Wellington members of the N.ZJE.F. furlough ;pa.rty (began yesterday and ■will continue for another week. Those passed fit will ’be posted to camp shortly, and in due. course return to the. Middle (East. Exceptions, broadly speaking, are married men with children and men of 41 years or over.

Fruit Prices. The recent increases in thd prices of apples and pears were fully discussed at a meeting of the Christchurch Consumers’ League on Monday. Members alleged that while apples and pears were being sold at unwarranted prices deterioration was taking a heavy toll of. stocks held in cool storage. It was decided to make representations about the position to the Minister of Marketing. 'Cause of Dredge Sinking. The Lyttelton Harbour Board has found that the dredge Canterbury sank at her moorings on. June 11 because of water coming into the engine-room through the cover of the starboard hopper valve being left off owing to an error of judgment. The special committee which reported to the board on the matter added that there was no evidence to show that ■the accident would not have happened if a nightwatchman had been on board. —P.A. P. and T. Salaries. An instruction to the national executive immediately to approach the Government with a view to increasing the salaries of the lower-paid employees in the department was. decided upon by a largely-attended meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand . Post aud Telegraph Employees’ Association and Officers’ Guild. The meeting was of the opinion that action in this matter has been long overdue and the Government should be pressed immediately to remedy the position.—P.A.

Auckland Aero Stub. The report of the president of the Auckland Aero Club, Mr. F. L. Cadman, shows that 180 members of the club are on active service. Mr. Cadman asks members to support proposed representations to the authorities for all commercial flying interests to be consulted when the appointment of a controller of civil aviation is made. Assets of £20,076 and liabilities of £42So are shown in the balance-sheet. The accumulated funds total £15,791. Chinese Bettor’s Honesty. An example of honesty was provided at the Hastings races on Saturday. A Chinese was paid out £2O more than he should have received on one investment, and on noting the excess he returned to the window and intimated that he had been given too much. His offer to refund was not accepted, but when a check up was made on the pay-out it was found that £2O had been overpaid. The Chinese had waited by the pay-out window, aud when the deficiency was noted he was right on hand to make a refund.

U.S. Women War Workers’ Wages. An indication of the wages paid to .women on war wonk in America is given by a young Denver (Colorado) woman, cousin of an Aucklander, who writes that she is earning 45 dollars for a 48-hour week. Nine dollars are taken in taxes and five dollars more for the compulsory purchase of war bonds. This leaves a balance of 31 dollars, equivalent to about £9/6/- in New Zealand money. Ihe young woman does not regard this, as a high wage 'based on the cost of living, which is much higher in American than in this Dominion.

Good Catches of Whitebait. Buller fishermen had the best run ot whitebait for the season on the Bullet River on Sunday. One fisherman caught six kerosene tins of whitebait and others caught up to lour tins. The price ruling in Westport is now 3/- a pint. Good catches of whitebait were also reported from South Westland, and three and a half tons were consigned from the railhead at Ross to Christchurch by one evening’s train. Plentiful supplies were also obtainable in Hokitika. The retail price of 2/6 a pint at Hokitika is the cheapest this season.

New Zealand’s War Effort. Regret that up-to-date material about New Zealand’s war effort available m London was meagre is expressed by Mt. 11. T 18. Drew in an article in the “News-Detter.” The writer,, who edited the fourth volume of the New Zealand Official War History, 1914-09(18, states that by comparison with Australia, whose war effort was explained to the British people by Dr. H. V. Evatt, New Zealand is lagging in this respect, -i-.he full story of what the Dominion is doing to help win the war, he adds, has never been told in Britain.

Education Board Vacancy. Colonel T. W. McDonald, previously a member of the Wellington Education Board for 12 years, has agreed, at the request of some school committees ot the Hutt-Horowhenua ward of the board s district, to stand for election to the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. L. McCaskill. Colonel McDonald also represented the Wellington City Council, the Makara county and Johnsonville town district on the Wellington Technical College Board of Governors, and is still a member. He is a member of the School Committees Association. -

Funds for Rehabilitation., To assist the economic stability of New Zealand in the present and to provide funds for the rehabilitation period, tlie Christchurch Synod has decided to recommend the standing committee, vestries, controlling bodies and old pupils associations of Anglican schools, also diocesan charities and other bodies, to formulate schemes for the investment of funds in National Savings Accounts or future Government loans. This wa» decided on the motion of the Rev. A. H. McC. Acheson, Waimate, who remarked that several parishes had already moved on the lines he had proposed. Danish Gift Ambulance. The ambulance wliich is being presented to the RJN.Z.A.F. by the Danish Association of New Zealand is to be handed over at . a ceremony in the grounds of Parliament House at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, will receive the gift and will in turn hand it on to a representative of tlie Air Force. Among those speaking at the ceremony will be Mr. Johannes Andersen. Wellington, and Messrs. Hadrup aud Langkild. Auckland. The Prime Minister and the consuls for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and many others have been invited to be present. Members of the Danish Association from other parts of the ‘ Dominion, including 30 from Auckland, arc expected to attend. Demand For Chickens. Poultry producers in Canterbury are experiencing great difficulty in meeting the keen demand- for chicks and pullets. According to the Poultry Instructor to the Department of Agriculture, Mr. L. W. Cocker, the recent lack of sunshine is having an adverse effect on chicken production and is likely to be reflected iu the health and physical condition ot poultry stock later. In spite of those difficulties, said Mr. Cocker, there were indications that egg production would increase next season, as many applications were being received for permits to purchase materials for building additional foAvl-houses. He pointed out that priority was being given to poultry producers . who desired such building materials.