In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24885, 27 October 1942, Page 4

In the News

Loss of Potatoes The early Pukekohe potato crop was so seriously damaged by the gale a few weeks ago that the prospective harvest will be about 4000 tons less than what was anticipated. Before the gale the bulk of the crops looked in perfect condition. One stormy night so knocked about the haulms that they looked as if they had been suddenly devastated by severe blight. For the first time in many years the easterly gale drove salt spray far inland and this probably had a more deleterious effect upon the potato plants than any ether factor. Even hedges were “burned” by the salt spray. When the foliage is cut to pieces the tubers can make little further growth. Prisoner in Japan

One of the first letters to reach New Zealand from a prisoner of the Japanese has been received by Mr and Mrs M. Jones, of Waiuta, West Coast, from their son, Radio Operator John Messack Jones. “I am being treated quite well,” he says. “Our main food consists of soup, rice and bread. I am keeping well and not being bothered, so please don’t worry too much. We here think we will return soon.” Radio Operator Jones added that his work consisted of clearing rocks and scrub on a hillside. An issue of 30 cigarettes a week was made, and prisoners would be able to buy their own soon. He said that he had seen “quite a bit of Japan,” which was very picturesque with cherry blosssom and kimonos. The letter was written on thin ricepaper of nearly foolscap length, and corrections and a postscript were in Radio Operator Jones’s own writing. It was written in June. Betting in War-time Considering the racing year of 194142 as a whole in comparison with the previous year (states the Abstract of Statistics), totalizator investments showed a reduction of 17.6 per cent., against a reduction of 30.5 per cent, in the number of racing days. For 308 days of racing in 1940-41 the totalizator aggregate was £8,769,917, and in the following 12 months, which ended on July 31, the respective figures were 214 and £7,224,203. In the first quarter of the last racing year, August to October inclusive, totalizator betting amounted to £1,842,986, and the succeeding quarterly totals were £2,517,881, £1,853,618 and £1,009,718. Living Wage for Clergy “The lowest stipend should at least be a living wage. This is not the case at present,” declared the Rev. W. E. Southward at the Anglican Synod in Christchurch. It was decided to ask the president (Archbishop West-Wat-son) to appoint a commission to report on a proposal to abolish the distinction between parishes and parochial districts, and to equalize the stipends of the clergy, with additions according to family responsibilities and local administrative costs. Mr Southward said that out of 57 cures in the diocese, 43 | vicars were paid £350 or under. Of that number 29 (or half of the total of 57), were paid the minimum of £3OO. Only six out of the 57 were receiving more than £4OO a year. Appeals for E.P.S. Men Appeal Boards will give special consideration to men occupying key positions in emergency precautions services, states the Associate Minister of National Service (the Hon. D. Wilson), in reply to the representations of the Christchurch Metropolitan E.P.S. about the loss of trained personnel. Mr Wilson says that the boards are well aware of the necessity for maintaining efficiency in the emergency precautions services, but it is for them to decide on the evidence whether postponement of service is warranted or not. The Government | has had the matter under close atten- | tion and consideration has been given Ito the question of exempting trained personnel from military service, the letter states. “It is not, however, anticipated that even key men should have their service indefinitely postponed, particularly at present, when men are being called up in age groups and when it ought to be possible to train understudies.” Warrants of Fitness

His reasons for considering it necessary to continue six-monthly periods of inspection of private motor-vehicles for the issue of warrants of fitness were stated by the Commissioner of Transport, Mr G. L. Laurenson, in a letter received by the South Island Motor Union’s executive. The commissioner’s statement was in reply to a request that private car warrants of fitness should be renewed “in respect of 5000 miles'of travel or once in a year,” because of the restricted use of vehicles. The commissioner stated that returns received from testing stations throughout the Dominion indicated that the percentage of vehicles with faulty brakes and steering had increased during the last year from about 25 per cent, to 60 and 70 per cent. It had also been found that electric equipment and vacuum-operated windscreen wipers deteriorated to a greater extent when the vehicle was not in regular use. It was decided to request the secretary of the Canterbruy Automobile Association to obtain local figures to make a check.

Maori Battalion Appointed to command the Maori Battalion with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Temporary Lieu-tenant-Colonel F. Baker succeeds the late Lieutenant-Colonel E. T. W. Love, who was the commander of the battalion after Brigadier (then LieutenantColonel) G. Dittmer, D. 5.0., M.B.E. Before going overseas with the Maori Battalion Lieutenant-Colonel Baker held a commission in the Waikato Mounted Rifles. He joined the Maori Battalion as a lieutenant and was promoted to captain in 1941. For distinguished service in the Middle East he was mentioned in dispatches, and he was subsequently promoted to the rank of major. The battalion’s second-in-command, Major I. A. Hart, is a member of the legal firm of Daniell and Hart, Masterton. When at Victoria University College he played for the University Rugby team and represented Wellington as a half-back. One of his team-mates in Wellington football was the late Lieutenant-Colonel Love. Major Hart also gained Rugby representative honours in the Wairarapa. He held a Territorial Force commission in the Hawke’s Bay Regiment and went overseas with a Wellington battalion.