In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24881, 22 October 1942, Page 4

In the News

35 Tons of Paper Since the waste paper depot was opened in Esk street 35 tons of paper, 203 bales in all, have been sent to the Mataura paper mills. This week 34 bales of paper weighing more than six tons were sent to the mills. In addition 25 bales of paper are stored at the depot awaiting shipment to Sydney. Married 70 Years Probably the oldest New Zealandborn married couple, Mr and Mrs John George, of George street, Onehunga, celebrated the seventieth anniversary of their wedding on Monday. As both. Mr and Mrs George were bom in Auckland 97 and 88 years ago respectively, the occasion is claimed to constitute a record for the longest partnership of the oldest living New Zealandborn couple.

The Meat Board The electoral college system of election used by the Meat Producers’ Board was criticized by Mr H. G. Dickie (Nat., Patea) during the second reading debate on the Statutes Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives. A clause in the Bill provides for the representation on the board of producers engaged in the dairy industry. Mr Dickie said he would like to have seen provision made for a more democratic method of election to the Meat Board. Under the present “stupid college system” once a person was on the board he was there for life. He hoped that before long the ward system of election would be adopted, as was used for election to the Dairy Board. Representatives of the producers of beef, pork or veal could not be elected to the Meat Board, and there should be “a decent system of election,” so that there would be a board truly representative of the producers. The cost of the Meat Board was also referred _to by Mr Dickie. He said that the election expenses of members of Parliament were restricted to £2OO, but nearly £7OO of the meat producers’ money was used to elect a member of the Meat Board.

Maoris in Action “They are real devils in action, and it is glorious to be with them,” said Lieutenant A. C. Wood, of Nelson, formerly regimental sergeant-major of the Maori Battalion, when referring in an interview at Wellington to the fighting qualities of the Maoris. He laughed heartily when informed that German officers had reported them as scalphunters. He commented that the German hated the bayonet in close fighting and ran squealing like a rabbit. During the fighting at El Alamein, the Maoris were ordered to attack the Germans to relieve the pressure on another part of the line. They did it so effectively that they swept all before them at the point of the bayonet right past the objective set for them and into the enemy B echelon (transport). They had to withdraw when British planes started to bomb the German transport. During the attack they killed 600 of the enemy, took 150 prisoners, and destroyed four tanks with their two-pounder anti-tank guns. They suffered only 84 casualties themselves, including about 10 killed. Subsequently, it was reported, the Commander of the Bth Army wrote congratulating General Freyberg on the wonderful attack.” Essential Industries

The consolidated amendment of the Industrial Man-power Emergency Regulations provides that no employer or worker in an essential undertaking may terminate employment except with the written consent of a district manpower officer. If the position in which a worker is usually employed is abolished, by completion of the work or otherwise, the worker may, with the permission of a man-power officer, be transferred to a lower-paid position. In other circumstances, a worker transferred to lower-paid work must be paid not less than the rate of wages he was receiving at his usual work at the time the undertaking was declared essential. The regulations give man-power officers or persons authorized on their behalf the right to enter and inspect premises, interview workers and demand the production of books and documents relating to working conditions covered by the regulations. Erosion Control

“Forest clearing and grassing have ceased on all State-owned hill lands, states the annual report of the State Forest Service. “Attempts to grow one blade of grass where two trees grew before are now recognized as the root cause of the Dominion’s erosion problem. Should further forest clearing be allowed on any lands, private or native, if it contributes to accelerated erosion? In the belief that the public is convinced of the necessity for controlled clearing of all forested lands, irrespective of ownership, appropriate recommendations are being drafted for consideration by the Government. ’