LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 241, 13 October 1942, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL NEWS

Clarrie Gordon (Auckland) beat Clarrie Rayner (Blenheim) on a technical knock-out in the 6th round in a professional bout at Auckland last night. Gordon was warned for butting Rayner and opening a cut above the eye in the fifth round. Rayner was unable to see for blood in the sixth and the referee stopped the bout. Fair supplies of paper are Teaching the Waste Depot in High street daily, but more than fair supplies of dust come with it, too. It almost appears as if some folks collect the paper and throw in the dust as a make-weight. The voluntary workers packing the paper have not yet been provided with gas-masks, but certainly require £hem at present. At the annual meeting of the Blenheim Co-operative Dairy Company, held at the Borough Council Chambers to-day, there was a fair attendance of shareholders. In reelecting the retiring directors, Messrs W. Kennington and F. W. Pattie, unopposed shareholders took the opportunity to voice their appreciatlon of the untiring and efficient work of the directors. A resolution of sympathy with Mr F. W. Pattie, who is at present in hospital, was also passed. v Among those within the 51-59 age group who have to register for national service there are many who have taken exception to the fact that the registration form requires a declaration of one's annual income. Several correspondents have written to the Auckland Star in criticism of this obligation. They maintain that the income of a man withimthe age group is unlikely to bear any relation to his ability to perform tasks of a useful nature in the present emergency. Answering an inquiry following an address at Te Awamutu, Mrs A. N. Grigg said that the question of providing hostels for members of the Women's Land Service to enable them "to live their own lives" was being considered. In closely settled districts where groups of six could be guaranteed, hutments would be provided. Girls would be looked after by older women, equivalents of the English "housemothers," whose salaries were to be subsidised by the Government to the extent of £2 a week. That armed service might look like a happy holiday to some men on essential work was demonstrated in a case before the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Auckland. A representative of his employer, who made the appeal, stated in evidence that the reservist, a driver, had had 56 hours' overtime in one week. Twelve drivers, employed by the firm on essential cartage work, had each worked 96 hours in that week. Asked how the drivers could keep going without sleep the witness said that they had a doze now and again during hold-ups in loading. News from Auckland makes it clear that girls who have registered recently are being sent to do essential and essentially unpleasant work at meat canneries near Auckland and in the Waikato, and the perpetual atmosphere of steaming meat is being borne with resignation, but with no acclamation, because it is real war work. Work in hospitals is of equal importance, but far more pleasant, and it is eurious that there should be such disinclination to tackle it. Wairau Hospital's domestic work, for instance, is being carried on smoothly at the moment because the V.A.s are temporarily filling a gap, but the vacancies in the domestic staff still remain and the crisis, only temporarily averted, will have to be faced at a very early date. The fire alarm system connecting the Wairau Hospital with the fire station and gasworks was responsible for yet another false call just before five o'clock yesterday afternoon. On this occasion, however, it was really not the fault of the system. Alterations to certain electrical wiring had been in progress at the hospital throughout the day, and on a number of occasions the speciai bells at the fire station and also at the gasworks were set clanging. Steps had been taken to warn the gasworks of the likelihood of this occurring, however, and no notice was taken. Unluckily, similar information was not possessed by all members of the brigade, and when a brigadesman entered the station and heard the bell ringing he naturally acted with commendable promptitude and put through a general alarm. It was reported to the Board of Governors yesterday by the Principal (Mr J. Stewart, M.A.) that a unit of the Air Training Corps had been formed at Marlborough College. A great deal of the College work, particularly mathematics and science, and physical drill, etc., was exactly the same as that provided for under the scheme, he added. In the course of his report Mr Stewart stated that representations had been made by the Army sports authorities for the continued use of certain sports facilities at the College, including the swimming baths. It had also now been suggested that the grounds be made available for regular Sunday afternoon inter-unit cricket competitions. After a brief discussion the Board agreed to this proposal. Those present at the meeting were the chairman (Mr W. J. Girling) and Messrs R. P. Furness. W. D. Pike, D. Maclaine, W. E. Davies, H. Duckworth, A. F. Bent'and S. Hyndman. "Several complaints have been received by the Timaru Oil Fuel Advisory Committee concerning the irregular action of a number of business men in using their motor Vehicles for travelling home for lunch," the district oil fuel controller, Mr C. W. Browne, said recently. The matter had received publicity in other centres, and the controller said that he did not propose to issue any further warning. "Business men, who are provided with licences to draw oil fuel to enable them to carry on their business activities, are aware that by using their vehicles for travelling to and from their places of business at lunch time, they are committing a breach of the Oil Fuel Regulations," Mr Browne continued. "At the request of the committee, the traffic inspectors have been instructed to institute a periodical check of the main streets of the town and submit for the information of the committee a report on any appurent breaches."