LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Pukemiro Collieries Dividend. Pukemiro Collieries have declared an unchanged interim dividend of 6d a share, equal to 2J per cent., and payable on March 29. Power in Greytown. Mr. G. Brown, Secretary-Manager of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board was empowered by yesterday s meeting of the board to negotiate with the Greytown Borough Council in connection with the date of the change-over to electricity. India's Problems. In the report of an address on “India’s Problems,” by the Rev. M. J. Eade in yesterday's issue it was inadvertently stated that “the Governor of Madras had been interned along with other prominent officials who had followed Mr. Gandhi’s civil disobedience instructions.” The word “Governor” should have read “Premier.” Fatal Fall from Train. As the 5.31 p.m. Upper Hutt-Wel-lington train approached the Petone station yesterday the guard slipped and was killed instantly when he fell between the platform and a carriage. The victim was: Maxwell Lutton Cooke, aged, about 40 years, married with one child and living in Upper Hutt.’ It is thought that Mr Cooke was leaning from the carriage gate to give some signal, or was about to jump to the platform, when he slipped. Exclusion from Union.

The allegation that he had been excluded from the seamen’s unibn because the president feared that if he were admitted there would be a change in the office was made by Maurice Wall, seaman, when he continued to give evidence in the Court of Arbitration, at Wellington, yesterday in support of his appeal against the action of the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason, in barring him under’ the Public Safety Emergency Regulations from membership in the branches of the union. After several other witnesses had given evidence on behalf of appellant and counsel had addressed the Court, the Court reserved its decision.

Peace for Godwits. The executive of the Forest and Bird Protection Society has sent a letter to the Hon. W. E. Parry (Minister of Internal Affairs) congratulating his Department on the proclamation of complete protection for godwits. In the opinion of the society, which has long been a strong advocate of protection of these ocean-crossing birds, the Minister's action has an important international aspect, for the same godwits belong to several countries. They nest in northern Asia, but avoid the severe winter of that country by flying to New Zealand. They do good here, because their diet along the coast and in estuaries includes various pests that are troublesome to shellfish.

Vehicles for the Army. “Action has already begun in Auckland to get into touch with ownerdrivers and it seems likely that a number will find it possible to make their trucks available for the purpose of the forthcoming military manoeuvres,” said the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple, last night. The Minister said that the scheme of impressment was going forward, and the manoeuvres for which the vehicles were required would commence immediately. Action 'complementary to the impressment scheme was being taken to obtain, the use of vehicles for varying periods from owner-drivers who were willing to make their vehicles available for hiring under a scheme of temporary use. These owner-drivers were principally engaged on contracts in connection with various public works, and the field of possible supply for army purposes from this source was being investigated.

Ale to House Surgeons. The Wanganui Hospital Board, on the motion of Mr. D. G. Gordon, decided yesterday to discontinue from March 31 the supply of ale to the house surgeons of Wanganui Public Hospital. Mr. Gordon, in supporting the motion, said ale and efficiency did not go hand in hand. A small quantity could retard a man’s judgment. In no other institution was liquor supplied to employees, and liquor was prohibited on railways duty. A doctor was on call in a case of emergency and required all his facilities. The chairman, Mr. W. E. Brodrick, said that a bottle a day was supplied to house surgeons. Mr. R. Farley said that some medical students did not drink, and that might mean that others had two or three bottles a day. “It is not a good example to have liquor in a public institution,” Mr. T. C. Kincaid said. “If it is necessary for doctors to have ale they should pay for it, not the board.” .

Hospital Benefits. Hosnifnl benefits for outpatients are detailed in Social Security regulations, which were gazetted last night. Hosnital boards are to receive remuneration from the Social Security Fund for the treatment of outpatients at intervals of hot more than three months. Tn fixing the payments the Minister is to take into account expenditure or liability incurred bv boards for salaries, fees and costs of materials, and these nayments shall not be loss than half or more than two-thirds of the total amount expended under those headings. The Minister of Health, Mr. Norclmcyer. said hist night that the purpose of leaving the amount of the nayments indefinite at present was to enable him to secure additional information from various types of hospitals as to the cost, of outpatient treatment. After that information was collected the precise proportion to be paid from the Social Security Fund would be determined.