News of the Day

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1942, Page 2

News of the Day

Flags Half-Mast. Flags wefre flown at half-mast on Government buildings at New Plymouth from midday yesterday for the death of 1 the Duke of Kent. Employment of Girls. An allegation that, under emergency legislation, young girls were now being compulsorily employed as attendants in mental hospitals was made at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council at Auckland. Concern was expressed by several members that such a step had been considered necessary, and the council decided to communicate with the Auckland Manpower Committee, expressing its disapproval of the compulsory drafting of girls to unsuitable employment. More Women Police. "I have to inform you that 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 Minister's 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 he appointed to Auckland to deal with certain conditions regarding which complaints had been made to him. Munition Workers' Record. An outstanding record of patriotjc eervice which have been established by the Auckland Amalgamated Engineering and Related Trades Union is described in an illustrated booklet called "Metal and Munitions" that has been published by the Northern Engineering, Coachbuilding and Related Trades Union. It states that over one-third of the union's peace-time membership is eerving with the forces, more than half the munitions made in New Zealand of metal are produced by its members, and 90 per cent. of the liquid assets of the union, amounting to several thoueand pounds, have been lent to the State for war and development purposes. It adds that no grave industrial dispute had ever marred the union's progress, it had agreed to admit over 1000 female workers in the national emergency, and considerable sacrifice had been conceded in wages, overtime rates, holidays, freedom of movement and hours. In one factory, by agreeing to shifts, the workers had voluntarily conceded £40,000 a year in wages to the State. Hundreds of new buttons are available at' Scanlan's Melbourne Corner, New Plymouth, in all sizes and colours. No frock is complete these days without button trimmings — they are simplicity and smartness combined.*