NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24406, 18 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

fpHE latest propaganda effort of the Berlin radio was referred to briefly in a broadcast from the Columbia Station NCBX, in New York, about 5.30 yesterday afternoon. Because of the air raids on the English capital, the German announcer stated, many Londoners were taking to drink, and the sale of narcotics, especially cocaine, had reached tremendous heights. "That's what the Germans say," was the American announcer's laconic addendum.

Italian Miners Placed The Italian miners who lost their positions in the State mines in the Runanga district when Ifaly entered the war are being placed on a landclearing job en a block of about 2000 acres of Crown land on the West Coast. The men will camp on the job, and about 14 have already been placed Most of them have been placed or. social security for some months.

Remarkable News Film A remarkable news film (says a Press Association message) is being shown in Wellington. It is called " London's Reply to German Claims," and is a pictorial record made by a neutral observer on tour in London on August 23. It was received by Sir Harry Batterbee, the United Kingdom High Commissioner, yesterday. Posted in London on September 5, it travelled by air mail' across the Atlantic and the Pacific, making the journey at the rate of 1000 miles a day.

Bureau System on Waterfront Only a few points in the agreement between the Waterside Workers' Union and the employers' representatives remain to be approved by the union before the introduction of the bureau system in Dunedin, and it is expected that a complete settlement will be arrived at' within a few days. The bureau system, which is really a system of equalising the hours of the workers in place of the former custom of free selection of labour, has been in operation in Lyttelton for some five years past and was introduced in Wellington and Auckland about three years ago.

Count von Luckner The coincidence that at a luncheo.i only two years ago Admiral Harpe; and Count von Luckner had been the joint guests of the Christchurch Businessmen's Club was mentioned by Mr S. G. Holland, M.P., recently. "It jusc shows how gullible we British are that we should entertain a man who was obviously a German spy," he said. " I remember that while he was at our table a telephone message came that he could go rowing on. the Avon or anywhere else, but that he must not go. to Ripa Island, because we were busy there. And now German bombs are raining on London."

Britain's Food Supplies A suggestion made at a meeting of the Whakatane Red Cross Society and St..John Ambulance Association Committees that a " Gift Ship " should be despatched to England carrying produce from this country, which was commended some weeks ago by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), has been described by the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) in a letter to the secretary, as inadvisable at the present time in view of numerous other appeals and the fact that the foodstuff supplies in Britain are now at storage capacity. In addition, a vessel could not be made available for a gift cargo without a serious dislocation of the shipping programme. Battle of the Somme

An anniversary of high importance to all men of the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force fell on Sunday. Twenty-four years ago their division entered the Battle of (he Somme, and in 23 desperate days fought the bes i . and most seasoned German troops to a standstill. It was in this battle, too, that the division won its first Victoria Cross in France, the award going io Sergeant D. F. Brown, of the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment, who was later killed while sniping the retreating enemy. The Somme operations had an incalculable effect upon the morale of the division, and engendered among all units and arms a mutual confidence which was never lost. Maori in Cablegrams

Representatives of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade were surprised recently to find that the woras "Kia ora" would not be aecep'ed <-is the conclusion of a fraternal message to the London Fire Brigade. In reply to an inquiry at the Chief Post Office, Auckland, it was stated that the Imperial censorship recognised only five languages for use in cablegrams, namely, English, French, Spanish, Afrikaans, and Portuguese. An arrangement had been made some month.* ago, however, for the acceptance of messages in Maori to or from members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force abroad. This exception did not apply to ether messages.

Eight Planes a Month The branch factory of the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Rongolai is now in full production, and is employing over 100 New Zealanders under the direction of experts from England The venture was well based initially by an order from the Government for 100 Tiger Moth aeroplanes for training purposes in the Dominion. The first batches of these machines came from England complete, and had only to be assembled. With each succeeding consignment more work has been left tc be done here, and the organisation at Rongotai has now reached the stage of building the complete Gipsy Mo'.h, except for the engine and metal fuselage. Between six and eight Tiger Moths are completed at Rongotai every month, as every section of the establishment is now running smoothly. The heaviest " crash" repairs can also be undertaken, and engine overhaul is another important phase of the work,

Girl Tram Conductor* Recently the general manager of Wellington tramways, Mr M. Cable, said that if the present drain on the service by war enlistments continued the board might have to consider engaging young women as conductors. Some months ago the manager of the Glasgow Transport Department reported to his committee that he would be unable to carry on unless he employed women. That committee approved the report, and 200 women between the ages of 25 and 30 years were called up. An attractive uniform was designed for them, consisting of a tartan skirt, a fawn tunic with buff cuffs, and collars, and a beret instead of «• cap. The first 100 commenced duty on June 1. " Lord Haw Haw " on New Zealand The opening of a New Zealand Forces Club in Charing Cross road last month by Mrs Winston Churchill, wife of the British Prime Minister, drew comment from Lord Haw Haw, the German radio announcer. " In England," he said, "New Zealanders are making a great fuss because their ' home' is in the building of the Italian Club in London. They are particularly proud of having replaced the picture of Mussolini by that of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Even if it is irrelevant, it is nevertheless noteworthy that the picture of Mussolini is known in all the world, while neither' the name of the New Zealand Prime Minister nor bis appearance are generally known. There are even supposed to be many people in England who do not know where New Zealand

A Council and Prayer Wide appreciation of the Riccarton Borough Council's decision to open aU its meetings with the Lord's Praper was reported to the council by the Mayor (Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P.). Mr Kyle said that on the morning after the last meeting, when the observance was first made, his telephone rang almost continuously. Every call brought a message of appreciation. Since then he had received more than 80 letters from all parts of New Zealand, including Auckland, Oamaru, Nelson, Wellington, and Hastings. The letters came both from private persons and from church organisations. Six letters had arrived in the last four days. Mr Kyie read to the council one of the most recent letters. It was from a woman in Wellington, who wrote:- "It was a great thing to do and a great exampie, and I trust that very many people will follow your lead." Mr Kyle added that he was replying to all the letters.

The Public Service Commissioner is inviting applications for the positions of physical welfare officers at various centres throughout the Dominion. Particulars are advertised Coffee for breakfast. Order from your grocer a tin of " Bourbon," the coffee of quality Instructions .in every tin. Prepared by Dunes, Coffee Specialists. 32 Octagon. Dunedin.For rings, watches and jewellery, try Peter Dick, jewellers. 59 Princes street. Dunedin.—Advt.