POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 24328, 17 October 1942, Page 8

POLITICAL POINTS

— COMMISSIONS FOR HOME GUARDSMEN SUMMER TERM AT MEDICAL SCHOOL SUGGESTED (Special.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. At present Home Guardsmen over 30 years of age holding commissions were being cahed up tor service in the ranks of the Army, and, whatever their qualifications, were being given no opportunity of obtaining commissions, said Mr Roy in the House yesterday. He gave notice to ask the Minister of Defence wnether he would order that such men were retained in the Home Guard until it could be arranged for them to enter an officers’ cadet training unit, where they might have the opportunity of qualifying for commissions in the Army. “ Will the Minister of I’eienee take steps to abolish saluting by soldiers when off duly’'" This was a question of which notice was given in the House by Mr Lee, in conjunction with the member tor Napier (Mr Laniard). A note to ihe question slated that in the Australian forces there was no saluting by soldiers when oil duty, and (he application of this rule was being urged even in Britain. A sttmmei term for Otago University Medical School was advocated in the House by Mr Anderton, in conjunction with Dr McMillan. They gave notice of their intention to ask the Minister of Education whether he would take steps in this direction, thereby ensuring that the Otago Medical School fell into line with medical schools in other parts of the Empire, and as a result make additional doctors available for civil and military duties in shorter lime. They stated that one Canadian medical school vyas getting its graduates out 22 months earlier by this procedure. The Dominion’s scientific workers and equipment have been fully used during the year on a wide range of problems associated with the needs of the fighting forces and civilians, states Mr Sullivan, Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research. In addition it has also been found possible to provide help by way of scientific personnel loaned to Great Britain, Australia, and other parts of the Empire. The year has revealed the importance of scientific assistance to industry in a number of directions. Successful drying of low-grade butter, and the preparation of dried butter-fat of acceptable quality has enabled shipment in unrefrigerated vessels of quantities of valuable food material which previously could not be exported. Investigations in the drying of meat, have resulted in the preparation of a foodstuff acceptable to Britain, while dried vegetables, produced experimentally, have possessed a quality eminently suitable for service requirements. The value of New’ Zealand species of seaweeds has been demonstrated for production of agar of good quality, supplies of which from the original sources were cut off as the result of war. Valuable new information concerning the culture and curing of tobacco has been acquired, and will promote sound development of this industry. The introduction of new’ non-shrinkage treatment for woollen materials marks another noteworthy advance in methods for production locally. In bakeries throughout New Zealand supplies of yeast have eliminated potential dangers which would arise in the baking industry through interruption of communications. Coal surveys and investigations have helped greatly towards maintaining a high cutout and securing the optimum utilisation of New Zealand’s coal resources during this time of national emergency. Soil survey and grassland research are proving of direct advantage to the defence forces, through information relating to mapping, topography, aerodrome maintenance, and water supplies, while a magnetic resurvey of the whole Dominion is providing data of im T mediate value in connection with the war.