In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24837, 1 September 1942, Page 4

In the News

Tea and Sugar Coupons The Rationing Controller, Mr J. E. Thomas, announced last night that the surrender value of tea and sugar coupons for September remained unchanged.—P.A. Dangers of Tetanus After a case of tetanus, which resulted in the death of a child in New Plymouth recently, a warning was given to the public by Dr J. H. Blakelock, medical officer of health for Taranaki. Tetanus was not infectious from person to person, Dr Blakelock explained. The germ was in the soil or anything contaminated with soil, especially when the soil was manured. When horse manure was used the greatest number of tetanus germs was found. Any wound contaminated with soil was therefore likely to be a seat of infection, said Dr Blakelock, particularly if it was a deep and penetrating one. When this was so, and the soil could not be washed out, if was wise to consult a doctor for an antitetanus injection. Minister’s Warning A warning that non-compliance with the bicycle tyre and tube control notice, gazetted on July 23, may lead to heavy penalties, has been issued by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The notice requires a written return from persons possessing any new tyres or tubes under their control or on orejer if they are not affixed to a pedal bicycle.—P.A. Only One Son Left Exemption from overseas service granted by the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Wellington to a soldier whose two brothers were killed in action in the last 12 months, and who was the last remaining son. The appellant said that his parents had no relations in the Dominion, and in view of their grievous loss he felt it desirable to be as near them as possible. He said that in the last war the fact that a soldier was the sole survivor of a family was regarded as sufficient grounds for undue hardship, and in Germany there was provision,according to a recent report, that where there was only one son of a family surviving, as in his case, the survivor was removed from the danger zone. He added that he was anxious to do ' all\he could for the Army in New Zealand, but he wanted to be able to visit his parents occasionally. Church Union Disapproval of the proposed basis of union with the Presbyterian and .Congregational Churches in its existing form, was indicated by voting returns from Methodist local official courts throughout the Dominion. Meetings were recently held in each district (says The New Zealand Herald). Of a total of 2782 votes cast, 275 voters were in favour of the basis, 1204 disapproved it and 1268 approved the basis with amendments. There were 35 neutral voters. In the case of approval with amendments, a large proportion of the meetings carried amendments so fundamental as to create practically a new basis. It could therefore be assumed that many who voted against the basis were not averse to the principle of union but only to the constitution proposed. The reports of local courts are to be presented to synod sittings in November. Public Servants in Forces The large proportion of Public Service officers and employees who are or have been on active service with the armed forces is mentioned in the annual report of the Public Service Commissioner, Mr J. H. Boyes. Although at the outbreak of war the number of men in the Public Service was not more than .14,000, there are at present 6054 officers and employees away and 623 have returned from military duty. To meet the position, the report states every form of work which cannot positively be classed as essential is being discarded. A total of 3200 women has been employed so far for war-time duty. The impressive part played by them in carrying on the State services had made possible the release of such a high proportion of the male officers. Theft in Camp The statement that two-thirds of his time was spent in going round camps trying to detect crime was made by Detective Sergeant Kane when a charge of stealing £6 was preferred against Maurice Kininmont Lee in Masterton. Detective Sergeant Kane said the accused was a member of the New Zealand Air Force. He took the £6 from a wallet in a hut He admitted the offence and handed back the money. There were three other men in the hut who might have been suspected if this man had not been found out. Although he did not accuse this man of other thefts, some of a similar nature had occurred and the authorities were very concerned about it. The accused was fined £lO. Suppression of the name was refused. Coal Stocks Improved Over the past four weeks railway stocks had improved at the rate of 1400 tons a week, stated the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, at Wellington. As a result the Mining Controller had released an additional 1200 tons weekly from the Waikato mines for the household trade, and a further 800 tons had been released for a like purpose in the South. Island. The Minister said it was still imperative that production be maintained at the highest possible level as there was a lot of leeway to be made up before stocks were restored to a normal basis.