In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24832, 26 August 1942, Page 4

In the News

Banned Periodical An appeal has been lodged at the Supreme Court in Auckland by Mr John Hogan against the banning of the periodical, “Democracy,” of which he was editor and publisher. The order, which was issued by the AttorneyGeneral, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, on May 12, prohibited Mr Hogan from publishing or being concerned in the publication of any periodical in New Zealand for a period of three months. No date has yet been fixed for the hearing of his appeal. Payment of Rates There was a steady stream of ratepayers to the Town Hall yesterday to pay their rates for the year 1942-43. The amount collected during the day was £5731. This is the highest daily total since the collection of 1942-43 rates began on August 3. The previous highest daily total was £4223, collected last Friday. The total amount collected to date is £34,112, considerably more than one-third of the total levy. The amount collected at the corresponding date last year was £22,281. Ratepayers who wish to benefit from the 2J per cent, statutory discount must pay their rates by Monday. Family in One Room A result of the shortage of houses was brought before the No. 2 (Auckland) Armed Forces Appeal Board when an appellant outlined her domestic difficulties. The woman, who was appealing against overseas service by her husband, said she had found it impossible to get a house. She and her husband, whose military duties permitted him to live at home, and her four children, were living in one subdivided room. The board reserved its decision. Zoning of Deliveries It is expected that a zoning system for the delivery of household necessities and other goods in Invercargill will soon be introduced. There will be a separate scheme for each trade or business. At the last meeting of the City Council the Deputy-Mayor, Mr A. W. Jones, was appointed to act with the Mayor, Mr A. Wachner, as a zoning committee. When they are considering a zoning scheme for any particular business, such as grocery or bakery, they will have the assistance of a representative of that business. It is expected that the names of the representatives of the various businesses concerned will be announced shortly. It is also expected that Mr T. H. Langford, zoning controller for the South Island, will visit the city in the near future. Barbed Wire Supplies With the arrival of substantial shipments of barbed wire from overseas (states The New Zealand Herald) the requirements of the Army have been met and the requisition of this material from farmers has ceased. The Auckland Farmers’ Union has been asked by the Army to forward returns of collections to complete area figures for payment. It was stated by members of the executive that in many cases no proper record had been kept and no receipt had been obtained by farmers for the wire secured from them. Turnips and Swedes Turnip and swede crops grown in Southland for winter feed for stock have not been required to the extent expected as a result of the mild winter experienced in the province. Many farmers report that stock have been put on to swede crops, but have eaten very few of the bulbs and have apparently found sufficient subsistence ,in grass and hay. Farmers with an excess of turnips have endeavoured to sell them, but there '.has been little demand. Industrial Disturbances

There were 111 industrial disturbances in New Zealand last year, compared with 49 in 1940 and 70 in 1939. This is revealed in the annual report of the Labour Department, which has been presented to Parliament. Of these disturbances 52 were in the mining industry, 11 in the shipping and water front industry, and 36 in the freezing industry. They involved lost time equivalent to 45,759 working days, compared with 24,082 working days lost in the previous year.

More Women Police “It is proposed to increase the number of women police,” states the Minister in charge of Police (the Hon. P. C. Webb) in a letter received by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. A. C. Allum. “Candidates are now being selected for a course of training, upon the conclusion of which the strength at Auckland will be increased. The question of placing women police in uniform is under consideration.” The Ministers letter is in reply to one which the Mayor wrote to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon P. Fraser) in June, urging that uniformed women police should be appointed in Auckland to deal with certain conditions regarding . which complaints had been made to him. Fingerprint Evidence

Since the fingerprint system was introduced to New Zealand in 1903 it has been responsible for the identification of 7887 persons, states the annual report of the Commissioner of Police (Mr D. J. Cummings). The report adds that during the year ended March 31, 1942, fingerprints left by offenders when committing 19 crimes were identified as belonging to 17 persons, who were prosecuted. Eleven pleaded guilty, one pleaded guilty to two charges of breaking, entering, and theft after the hearing of evidence at the Lower Court, one committed suicide while awaiting trial, and the remaining four were found guilty in'the Supreme Court.

Woman Disobeys Warden When a woman named Mary Anderson, of Willis street, Wellington, was approached by a warden during an E.P.S. trial on June 20, and told she would have to take shelter, she said she was out for a walk and would continue it. She refused to give her name. She was stopped by another warden, then a third, later by a traffic inspector, and finally by a constable. Still she refused to give her name, but after she had been taken forcibly to the Mount Cook Police Station she expressed regret at refusing to obey instructions. In' the Magistrate’s Court last week she was fined £2 and costs by Mr A. M. Goulding, - S.M. Senior Sergeant G. Paine said the wardens were not out for their own amusement, but for the protection of the public. Counsel said the woman had mistakenly thought the first warden was trying to be fresh, and unfortunately she later became stubborn about the matter. Whirlwind Wrecks Shed When a whirlwind struck a milking shed at Tariki, Miss E. Bowling, one of three persons sheltering in it froni the storm, received a blow on the head which necessitated her admission to the New Plymouth Hospital. Her condition is not serious. The other two persons escaped injury, but the shed was destroyed. Part of it was found nearly a mile away.—P.A. No More Towels

When the present supply of towels at the Auckland City Council’s baths is exhausted patrons will have to bring their own (says The New Zealand Herald). It was reported to the council last week that an order for 500 towels had been placed some months ago, and the Ministry of Supply had been asked to sponsor it. However, this request had been declined on the ground that no orders were sponsored unless they were related to the war effort. Since then it had only been possible to purchase two lots of 50 towels of various qualities at retail prices in the local market, where rationing had operated for some considerable time.