NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24399, 10 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

A LTHOUGH a mild outbreak of measles in the north has made it necessary to postpone mobilisation of the Fourth Reinforcements, there is no sign of this disease to any extent in Dunedin. There is a certain amount of influenza in the city at present, but it is not of a serious type, and is described by the health authorities as being more of a nuisance than anything else. During the past few months there have been fewer instances of notifiable diseases than is usually the case, and this is attributed, to some extent at any rate, to the extremely mild winter. The official public health returns shows that one case of scarlet fever was admitted to the Logan Park Hospital during the past week and two patients suffering from that disease remained in the institution at the close of the period. One person who had received treatment for rubella was discharged. No cases of notifiable infectious diseases were admitted to or discharged from the Dunedin Hospital during the week. Sale of Motor Spirit From yesterday oil companies throughout New Zealand will sell motor spirit only on a cash-on-delivery basis. Drivers of tank wagons are to be authorised to receive payments, and customers, whose purchases are placed f.o.b. or on rail or road transport trucks, must remit cash with order to ensure prompt despatch. Notification of this alteration in trading terms is being advised to the trade by circular letters, now in course of post.

" Through the Skies to Glory " An official summary of Air Force history, law, organisation and administration is contained in a pamphlet issued by the Royal New Zealand Ai f Force to recruits who have some time to wait before being posted to training schools. The articles are prefaced by an appreciation of the records and traditions of the Air Force and an explanation of the motto, " Per Ardua ad Astra," interpreted in the service as "Through the Skies to Glory." Radio Garden Talks . The instructions given by gardening experts over the radio should be censored by the Department of Agriculture before being broadcast, said Mr R. A. Kinnaird, Otago, at the annual conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation Some of this advice was most misleading, said Mr Kinnaird, and if backyard orchardists paid full attention to it they would not get very gdtid results. He referred in particular to instructions regarding the spraying of trees. Conference Humour

This Otago remit brought some humour to the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation conference in Wellington—" That it be a recommendation to the directors to consider making weaners available to growers." The president, Mr T. C. Brash, asked for a definition of "weaners." He had had one proposition put to him to keep the "bores" from the various district conferences. Mr Michelle supported the remit as a means of increasing pig production. One stud pig farm could raise enough weaners for a district, he said. The remit was carried,

German Subject Interned A German subject, who has been living in New Zealand for some years, was arrested by detectives at Arthur's Pass on Thursday and has been ( interned. It was stated officially that 'he had been under observation for some time. When questioned he admitted being a German subject. The arrest was made by the Greymouth police, Arthur's Pass being in the Greymouth police district. The internee was taken by detectives to Christchurch, handed over there to the military authorities, and taken-to Wellington for internment on Somes Island. Gifts of Produce

" There is a considerable amount of incongruity in this country's offering produce to the United Kingdom when at the same time we are borrowing millions of pounds from Great Britain for carrying on the war," stated a letter from the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), received at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The letter was forwarded by the secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which had written to the Prime Minister asking the Government to act in the matter of making a gift of produce. The letter was received.

Munition Making

Auckland employers state they have no knowledge of any move by the Government to send skilled workers to Australia to assist in the manufacture of munitions there, as was suggested as likely by the Minister of Supply (Mr D. G. Sullivan) on his visit to Australia some weeks ago. They point out that when Mr Sullivan's statement was made there was little idea the New Zealand engineering industry could manufacture certain classes of munitions. Since then, however, investigations show the capabilities of the industry are much greater than was previously supposed, and there have been developments in the manufacture here of munitions.

Excess Profits Tax

A motion asking that tne excess profits tax should not apply to farmers and that the Dominion executive should be requested to watch the position carefully was carried at a meeting of the Timaru-St. Andrews branch of the Farmers' Union. It was claimed that it would be difficult to arrive at an equitable basis on which to assess the tax if imposed on farmers, because of variations in prices and yields from year to year and because any surplus made by a farmer was generally puc back into a farm. It was also stated that the application of the excess profits tax to farmers would not help the campaign for increased production, since fear of the tax would tend to discourage a farmer from increasing his production.

Sports Grounds Supervision An intimation that should be of interest to sports bodies generally was made at the meeting of the City Council last night in respect of the supervision of sports grounds. The Reserves Committee recommended that Mr H. McKay be appointed to the position of foreman in charge of sports grounds at a salary of £312 per annum. Mr McKay has been in the employ of the department for the past 20 years, and for the majority of this service has been engaged on sports ground work. The duties involved in the position consist of the supervision of all sports grounds and of the men engaged on that work, and will also include the supervision of all childrens' playing areas, the maintenance .of sports pavilions in good order and the control of all plant and machinery employed on the work. The recommendation was adopted. Increased Cost of Goods

The secretary of the Otago Clerical Workers' Industrial Union of Workers, while notifying members of the quarterly meeting of the 1 organisation, informs them that "it is opportune to point out that if the clerical wotkers had not been organised into a, trade union" they would not have received the 5 per cent, increase in wages ordered by the Court of Arbitration. Then follows a subtle suggestion to the members of the union: "It is for us now to see that the cost of living (sic) is not swallowed up by increased costs. We know that certain goods are being increased in price without reference to the Price Tribunal. Many of our members must have come across cases where the cost of certain articles has been increased without authority. If, when you are purchasing goods, you strike any cases where you think the articles purchased have been increased without the authority of the Price Tribunal, we should be glad if you would refer it to the union office and we can, promise that such cases will be investigated immediately."

Housing of Aged Persons Municipal housing for aged persons and pensioners on the lines of dwellings at a rental of approximately 10s or 12s 6d a week was urged at the meeting of the City Council last night by Cr D. C. Cameron, who commended as an example the work of the Christchurch City Council. In the Canterbury scheme, the speaker said, 52 units had been erected, housing 88 tenants, both single and married, and the plan had been so successful that an application had been made for a further loan of £25.000 from the Government, There had been 190 applicants for the houses. Why could not Dunedin do the same? The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) said the lay-out of Dunedin was different from that of Christchurch, but if suitable land could be found he hoped something would be done. All councillors would agree with the principle involved. Cr W. B. Taverner said the question of an economic renlal covering the cost of the houses or a low rate subsidised from the general account would have to be decided as a matter of policy. Such considerations would, however, be no hindrance to the adoption of a suitable scheme.

Aeroplane Fund A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the New Zealand Herald's Aeroplane Fund has now been closed. The total subscribed was £33.687. Gardens Improvements

Improvements now being carried out at the Botanic Gardens and the Woodhaugh Gardens under the direction of the superintendent of reserves, Mr M. R. Skip worth, were referred to at the meeting of the. City Council last night by CrJ. W. Munro, M.P., chairman of the Reserves Committee. Cr Munro said he had been approached by many people, mostly unknown to him personally, who had expressed appreciation of the work being done, especially on the track leading into the Gardens from Dundas street.

School Children's Offer When the Levin School of 690 children reassembled after the vacation a mass meeting was held to see in what way the children could help in the war effort. The children's decision was to forgo the daily allowance, of milk so that it could be used for butter or cheese making. This fact was conveyed to the headmaster, Mr H. McClune, by one of the senior pupils. Mr McClune referred the matter to the committee, which, while appreciating the spirit in which the offer was made, thought that the good being derived by the children from the daily milk ration was greater than the help its conversion into cheese would be • to Britain. Good Whitebait Season

Reports from southern ■ rivers indicate that whitebait are running well and are much earlier than has been the case for a number of years. Individual catches reported include some of up to 801 b for a day's fishing. Consequently the market is well supplied, so much so in fact that a story is told of a catch being fed to the hens. This waste might be excused owing to the ever-growing confusion of regulations giving rise to the belief by some people that whitebait may not be sold privately. This is not so, however, and anyone fortunate enough to secure a good catch should certainly see to it that no waste of good food is allowed. A few inquiries will elicit the means of disposal available, by which the fisherman will be able to turn his pastime to profit.

Coffee for breakfast. Order from your grocer a tin of "Bourbon," the coffee of quality. Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie's, Coffee Specialists. 32 Octagon, Dunedin.— Advt.