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Evening Star, Issue 24330, 20 October 1942, Page 2

“ How are you little savages? ” wrote Miss Clare Minims. a well-known Dunedin girl at present living in London, to friends here. “ Von have a great reputation. The other day while passing an antique shop between St. Martin’s Lane and Charing Cross road I saw the following notice on the door: 4 We buy old gold and silver antiques of all kinds, curios from New -Zealand and other savage countries.’ Can you heat that? ”

Although the Prime Minister told tho House of Representatives yesterday that be would like the promised discussion on man power to be as wide ns possible, lie also expressed his doubts whether it would be advisable to have a public debate. “ It is obvious.” said Mr Fraser, “ that since I made my previous statement about a man power debate the position in the Pacific has altered very considerably. At the present moment everything is very much in the balance. It is as well to face iiji to that.” Mr Fraser was replying to the Leader of the Opposition, who said, in connection with the remaining business of the session, that members bad been looking forward to an opportunity of discussing the man power position. Mr Holland added that be understood there was certain statistical information, and he hoped that members would have an opportunity of studying this before the man power debate took place. In the effort to strike a balance between the needs of the armed forces and of production, it was very important that members should fully understand to-day’s position. The Prime Minister agreed that the whole man power position was very important and required careful consideration. Whether he could get a condensation made in time of the voluminous reports that had been prepared was doubtful. “ I shnl 1 give whatever information it is possible _to give flic House in regard to the position.” added Mr Fraser, “ and J can indicate also that it is receiving the very earnest consideration of the Government for reasons that must be obvious to everybody.” —P ariiam ent ary reporter. Whether the council bad power to stop annoyance caused by a rooster crowing was debated at the Ashburton Borough Council meeting, when nothing could be found in the local bylaws to show that the council had any jurisdiction in the matter. A complaint was received from a resident that a rooster kept in a pen by a neighbour annoyed the neighbourhood by crowing in the (■arly hours of the morning. It was decided to reply that the council had no power to stop the rooster crowing.

Earlier this year in the town of Zgierz, in Poland, the whole population was rounded up and compelled to attend a public execution of Polish patriots. This is what an S.S. leader is reported to have said to the people of Zgierz: “ You will all have n spectacle free of charge. In 1939, for one German killed bv one of you, we shot 10 Poles. To-day for a single German, 50 Poles will be shot. And in future, in any similar case, 100 Poles will die. Tins will not be done at .random. The aim of each verdict will be to exterminate your leading class, the Polish intelligentsia,” Orchnrdists report bumper showings of apricots, peaches, plums, etc., in Clyde. Apple blossom is in profusion everywhere and makes a glorious sight. Should late frosts miss, there will be a wonderful harvest. A. letter from Air E. H. Batchelar, who is how working in England, which has been received by Mr S., K. Lungstone, secretary of the St. John Ambuliince Association in , Auckland, reveals the long hours of British munition workers.' Mr Batchelar. who is 80 years old, passed an “ anti-gas ” examination at the ambulance station while waiting for a ship to take him to England, where he wished to help with war work. He says: “1 am now employed in an aircraft factory in Buckinghamshire, working 70 hours per week. Oh, for Xew Zealand pre-war 40!. but peace with victory.” A police constable who has risen to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 2nd X.Z.E.F. figures in the latest list of promotions in the 1 Gazette.’ He is Lieutenant-colonel W. A. ’l’.' McGuire. Before the war he was stationed at Auckland, and in his spare time served in the Territoriafs with the rank of major. Members of the Police Force have to obtain permission before they are allowed to join the armed forces, but Lieutenant-colonel McGuire was lent to the Army because of his special qualifications. He went overseas as a captain in the Army Service Corps.

More complaints are being made about the increase of rats in Wellington, and they are said to be getting into buildings previously free of them and into new buildings where there is seemingly nothing for them to live op. When inquiries were made some weeks ago by a 1 Post ’ reporter he was told that carelessness about scraps from lunches and evening overtime meals was one of the reasons for more rats. Fire-watchers are also held to blame because of their carelessness in tbs same way. During recent inspections of watching quarters most were found to be well kept and tidy, but some were a long way below good housekeeping; food Was left on tables and shelves and in boxes and cupboards, and scraps were left casually about the quarters and on landings. There are penalties under the regulations for carelessness and failure to keep quarters in decent shape, but common sense should incline watchers to discourage rats and mice from fouling the quarters where they sleep and the food that they intend to eat. Inspectors have been asked to report cases of continued carelessness.

Attention to an article which appeared in a weekly journal recently was drawn by Mr Lee in notice of a question to the Prime Minister in the House. He said that the article alleged that a confidence trickster from Mount Mden was authorised by the National Security Department to stay in Rotorua. spend public money, and build up tiles against innocent people. He asked whether this was correct, and if so whether the person mentioned would he brought to trial, and whether the Prime Minister would state bow national security was controlled, also whether the estimates of expenditure would be presented to Parliament,— Parliamentary reporter. Judgment 'bv default, with costs, was entered for Butterfields Ltd, against K. R. MacDoiia’d for £4 2s lid. for goods supplied, by Mr H, W. Bundle, S.M.. in the Magistrate's Court this morning.

The trustees of the Auckland Savings 15a nk have decided to invest £IOO.OOO in the Liberty Loan, bringing the total invented to date in such loans tip to £>‘3oo,ooo.

Lending aircraftman John Robert Jones, a pupil pilot, received slight concussion and was admitted to hospital when he fell from an aircraft during flying training at a South Island .station yesterday afternoon. He descended by parachute and escaped with injuries. 1t is stated that his wife lives at Wellington.

Although the Government party held caucus meetings during the week-end it is not thought likely that there will he an immediate announcement of Ministerial reiinuiigemcnts duo to the resignation of the Nationalists from the War Administration. A further factor which may make for delay is the announcement from Canada of Mr Langstone's intention on his return to New Zealand to resign as Minister of Lands. It is therefore possible that the Prime Minister mav take no active steps to reallocate War Administration responsibilities until after the arrival of Mr Langstoiie. Meanwhile the War Cabinet is meeting regularly.—Parliamentary reporter.

'The patent medicine business had degenerated into a “ proper racket,” in which profits exceeding 1,000 per cent, wore sometimes made, sail! the Leader of the Legislative Council. Hon. D. Wilson, when moving the second reading of the Medical Advertisements Bill in the council yesterday. The Bill was supported by other speakers and passed without amendment.

I’llp position regarding .members of the K.F.S w’.o are called up for service with the armed forces lias been clarified by a statement by the Director of National Service. Mr J. S. Hunter, in reply to a question raised regarding the retention of men for (irefighting purposes. He pointed out that men who were physically fit and of age for overseas service wore not made ineligible for that service by being members of the E.F.S.

■ A cheque for £I.OOO from the Arawa tribe has been received by the National Patriotic Fund Hoard to be credited by the ißotonm Patriotic Committee. Handing over the cheque at the last meeting of the board. Major Vereoc, D. 5.0.. said that this was a time when tire Maori people felt they should try to do just a little more than talk about loyalty to the King. He explained that the money was part of the revenue From land controlled by the Arawa Trust Board. “We feel that since it comes from the soil of ouy ancestors it will he the more welcome to yon,” he added.

The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of train arrangements in connection with Labour Day, the Gore race- on October 24, ami the Oaanmi races on October 26,