NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 56, 3 September 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

WEATHER FORECAST

Fresh to strong southerly winds. Weather cloudy and cold, with occasional showers. The further outlook is for cold and changeable weather. The Moon.—Full moon, September 14. High Water.—Today, 7.43 p.m.; tomorrow, 8.5 a.m., 8.32 p.m.

Freak Lamb. A freak birth is reported from Te Anga, King Country, where a ewe gave birth to a lamb with a normal head, two perfectly-formed bodies, eight legs, and two tails. The lamb lived only two hours. State Housing" Preference. j The New Zealand War Amputees' Association conference in Wellington yesterday adopted: a resolution expressing the opinion that in all State housing allocations special preference should be given to returned soldiers with a 70 per cent, disability or over. Powers of Attorney. Servicemen outside New Zealand are given the right under regulations gazetted last night to execute powers of attorney even if they are under the age of 21 years. They are the Servicemen's Powers of Attorney Regulations, 1943. The present law stipulates that a minor cannot execute a power of i attorney, but the new regulations amend this so far as servicemen overseas are concerned. Fewer Egg's for Auckland. The supply of "eggs to the Auckland public has been reduced to 65 per cent, or normal requirements, according to a statement made by the chairman of the Auckland Egg Marketing Committee, Mr. G. Elley. It was announced in August that as there was an ample supply of eggs up to 100 per cent, of the normal peacetime turnover was to be released for civilian consumption. The remaining 35 per cent, of available supplies consists of priorities. To Restore Churches. Archbishop We"st-Watson announces that the dioceses constituting the province of New Zealand have raised subscriptions totalling £2810 odd to forward the work of restoring English churches ruined or damaged by bombing, states a Press Association message from Christchurch. He has written to the Archbishop of Canterbury asking when and how the English authorities wish this money to be forwarded to England. London Blitz Pictures. The exhibition of pictures sent to New Zealand by the British Ministry of Information depicting the damage done in London by enemy raiders and the courage of the people of Britain realised £390 18s in aid of the Wellington patriotic funds. This outstanding series of big-scale pictures was displayed in the showroom of Tqdd Motors in Courtenay Place. Admission was free, but the public were invited to leave contributions in a collection box. The Hon. Vincent Ward, honorary secretary of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council, said that he was delighted with the response, the contributions including a number of £1 and 10s notes. The pictures are now in the South Island, but it is hoped later to arrange for the pictures to be exhibited again in Wellington, this time at the other end of the city. A Universal Language. The visit of America's "First Lady" recalled to a member of the Karon Esperanto Society a statement made a few months ago by Mrs. Roosevelt concerning her experiences at a gathering of Soviet and Dutch delegates to an international students' group in America. Mrs. Roosevelt is reported to have said: "I never before had realised what a help it would be if all of us learned, in addition to our.own language, one universal tongue. I think I shall work more enthusiastically in the future for a common language as one of the contributions to a peaceful world." Gratification was expressed by several members at this week's meeting of the society at the fact that so eminent a speaker and worker'as the wife of the American President considers the use of an international or universal language of such importance. Fettered Enterprise. Expressing the conviction that the licensing of industries under the Industrial Efficiency Act discouraged initiative, curbed enterprise, discounted ability, and fostered the growth of monopolies, the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce resolved to approach the forthcoming conference of chambers urging repeal of these provisions in the interests of the community and especially in the interests of returned servicemen. It was suggested that overhaul of the Act might meet the situation. Mr. L. A. Eady said the licensing of industries had already shut returned men out of new enterprises, and some had even been denied the opportunity of resuming their occupations because they came within the ambit of licensed industries. ■ It was agreed that the economic interests of the country would be best served by the retention and democratic development of free private enterprise and the fostering of closer co-operation between employer , and employee. Ship Surveys and Cargoes. Several amendments to the peacetime shipping survey and deck cargo regulations are contained in a new set of emergency regulations dealing with these mitters published last night. As regards the survey of cargo ships, the regulations provide in effect that a certificate, by Lloyd's or other similar corporation will be accepted as a valid certificate of survey, subject to certain conditions and. the inspection and survey of life-saving appliances and certain parts of the ship such as the machinery, to ensure that the ship is being adequately maintained. Power is taken to withdraw ■ a certificate at any time and to require the owner to do any work which is considered necessary to bring the ship up to standard. The whole effect of this modification is to reduce the time usually taken in the actual survey of a ship. With regard to deck cargo, the existing regulations are much restricted in their application, and in order to give greater carrying capacity, consistent with safety, power is taken in the new regulations to issue special deck cargo licences for any ship or any voyage after a surveyor has examined her and considered her individual characteristics, stability, and construction, and her suitability for the type of loading on any particular voyage for which the licence is required.

AUCKLAND, September 3,

As the days go by I realise that a diary such as I have been writing has in it many repetitions. Wherever I am there are military hospitals, rest homes, Red Cross clubs and canteens, hospital services, and handcraft work, but if I did not tell you about these things I would not be giving you a picture of one part of the life which I am seeing in this area. On the other hand, there are many fine-looking boys, both from the United States and New Zealand, who are strong and healthy and undergoing most strenuous training tor future encounters with the enemy. The countryside is suitable for this, since what they call here the "bush" they tell me is a good training ground for any jungle.

Every now and then I have to smile when I think of people who thought that a younger generation was growing up at home, and, in fact, in many countries, who could not meet physical hardships. Let me sxoire you that no pioneers ever were sturdier than this generation. In addition, I must pay tribute to their "fortitude in pain and discomfort. Invariably, a sick boy will say, "I'm getting on fine." He'll be lying on a thin cotton mattress, sometimes over wooden slats. Springs are made of strategic material, and I've come to count springs on beds as a luxury, which they really are up in the islands at least. I thought the cheerfulness might be put on for me, so I asked one of the nurses last night, and she said they were so glad to get here that she never heard a boy complain.

My admiration for the navy and army nurses grows daily, and for the Red Cross personnel. A young woman who is a club supervisor in New Zealand, Miss Leota Kelly, I felt quite sure that I had met before, and she tells me that I met her in Dcs Moines, lowa. She seems to me very capable, and I think she could be very persuasive, and that is important, for she must get the co-

operation of the army and navy and the Marine Corps officers to do a good job for the men.

In one hospital yesterday I saw a boy who is recuperating well, although his foot is still bandaged and he uses a cane. He is a son of Captain Edward MacCauley, of the Maritime Commission. .Mr. Maury Maverick's son also spoke to me! as I was coming out of a meeting the other day, and he lopked well and happy when I promised to tell his family that I had seen him. I am constantly finding people who are Jimmy's friends out here, and yesterday I saw in hospital three of the boys from the last group of raiders whom he had commanded, and they at once asked about him and were pleased to hear that he was back on duty in another area and had taken part in some of the recent activities there, which have been successful. In talking to one of the men yesterday I asked if there was anything he would especially like to know about in the U.S.A., and he answered, "Yes, I wish you could tell me about my girl. I think about her more than about anything else out here." I wish I could bring.this particular kind of news, but since I can't I am telling you girls at home so you won't forget what your letters mean out here and how hungry the boys are for news from you.

I saw a wonderful army hospital today which has the light and cheer one always likes to find in any hospital. We also visited a hospital for New Zealand ,' soldiers. . A service club for the women's military services was on our itinerary, and I found that they also entertained many of our men as well as their own. We visited a navy.yard and canning factory, where some 400 girls are at' work. Much of their production now goes to our armed forces, and they confided in me that they were making corned beef hash with potato and onion just to please our "taste. \ ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.