LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Over One a Minute. In a six-hour sitting, the Auckland Area Manpower Committee dealt with 376 cases, the average being over one appeal a minute. The committee has now dealt with 653 of the 2071 appeals listed. Petrol Ration. An announcement that the petrol ration for private cars and motorcycles for January and February would be the same as for November and December was made yesterday by the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan. For these two months, he said, five coupons would be available for use between January 1 and February 28. A Wartime Measure. A female clerk is now a member of the Magistrate’s Court staff at Palmerston North, this being understood to be the first such appointment in the history of the Court in that epntre. Owing to the shortage of staff in the Civil Service throughout New Zealand, appointments of female clerks are being made as a wartime measure in various departments. Accession Day. Today, December 11, is Accession Day, marking the fourth anniversary of the date on which King George VI ascended the Throne. He became King on December.il, 1936, after the abdication of King Edward VIII, and was crowned in the following May. Because of the war, the customary Royal salute, usually fired in Wellington at noon, was dispensed with, but flags flying from public buildings was a visual recognition of the anniversary. Extension of Hours Opposed.

The opinion that the master builders' and employers’ associations were using the war situation in an endeavour to extend the working week was expressed at a meeting of officials of 14 Auckland building trade unions. The question of extension of the working week was fully discussed and a resolution was adopted pledging the meeting to uphold the decision of the Minister of Labour in his refusal to a Wellington deputation to extend working hours in the building industry on a flat-rate basis. Police Conduct Inquiry.

The Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of police investigation in a case heard in the Supreme Court. Wellington, last month in which a young woman was charged with permitting the unlawful use of an instrument and attempting to conceal birth, is to sit in Palmerston North today, a Press Association message states. It is understood that police officers from Hawera will attend and that the inquiry is being held in Palmerston North because of the central position of the city. A Freak of Nature.

Marigolds growing in North Dunedin gardens are in some cases assuming a freakish form this season. The malformation of the blooms which has surprised gardeners takes the form of several stalks, each with its own bloom, growing from what at first appeared to be a normal bud on a thicker stem of the plant. To find six or eight blooms growing from what Nature apparently intended to be a single flower has in some cases been a common experience, and in one notable instance the number reached 16. Experienced gardeners say that no explanation can be given of the occurrence. It must simply be accepted as one of Nature’s freaks. Increases in Wages.

An increase in wages of 4s all round, in addition to the 5 per cent increase granted by general order of the Court of Arbitration, was volunteered by the employers in conciliation proceedings recently between the Colonial Sugar Refining Co.. Ltd., and the Birkenhead Sugar Works Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers. This was the first case in the past year in which an increase in pay had been offered, the reason stated being to bring the wage schedule into line with existing conditions. A complete agreement, with provision for slightly increased wage rates was reached in conciliation proceedings recently between the Wellington Match Factory Employees’ Union and Messrs Bryant and May, Bell and Co., Ltd. An all-round increase in wages, in addition to the 5 per cent granted by the Court, was agreed upon, the other working conditions remaining substantially the same.