LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Reservist Sent to Gaol. A sentence of one month's imprisonment with hard labour was imposed by Mr Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates' Court, Wellington, yesterday, on Alexander Noel Ross, hairdresser, aged 42, who pleaded guilty to a charge that being a reservist he failed to report to the military authorities when ordered to do so by notice in the Gazette. Overdraft Rates. A report that negotiations are proceeding between the Government and the Associated Banks to reduce trading bank overdraft rates, and that the banks are seeking a change in the method of taxation, was referred to the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, last night. “There have been discussions with the banks about the minimum rates for bank overdrafts, but the interest rate has nothing to do with the taxation paid by the banks,” said Mr Nash, who declined to make further comment. War Council. “The arrangements made for the supply of information about prisoners of war, the requisitioning of transport for use in emergency and the position regarding manpower requirements, both for the armed forces and for industry were discussed by the War Council yesterday,” said the ActingPrime Minister, Mr Nash, last night. “The council was informed of the detailed arrangements made by the Government for the continuance of pay, allotment, allowances and financial assistance for a period of three months after notification that a member of the armed forces is posted dead or missing. These the council considered were eminently satisfactory.” Threats of Strike Disappear.

Threats of a night-time strike by members of the Auckland Drivers’ Union against the motor vehicle lighting restrictions finally disappeared yesterday, when the union, at a special meeting, decided to comply with the request of the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple, to operate under the restrictions with a maximum speed of 20 miles an hour. It was agreed to approach the Munster should experience of the new conditions be found to result in difficulties for drivers. There was plain speaking at the meeting. Some of those present are reported to have announced that they had intended to carry on and maintain the services, in* spite of the union’s earlier decisions. Footwear School. The footwear trade school in Auckland received its first pupils this week, when ten trainees began their course. The official opening ceremony will be held next Monday afternoon, and the Minister for Labour, Mr Webb, will be present. A further 30 pupils will begin that day. The first of its kind in New Zealand, the school is regarded as an important experiment. It is expected that each course will occupy approximately four months. Spacious accommodation is provided in a modern, airy and well-lighted building in Eden Terrace. Machinery covering a wide range of operations has been installed, and it will be possible in time to supply a fairly steady stream of operatives for all branches of the footwear industry.

Carpenters’ Wages. An increase of approximately 5 per cent in wages and annual holidays on full pay are among claims which have been filed for a Dominion award for carpenters, joiners and joiners’ machinists. The dispute has been set down for hearing in conciliation council in Wellington on August 4. The principal wages clauses ask for a minimum weekly rate of £6 10s, plus 5s a week tool allowance. A casual rate of not less than 2s 6d an hour is sought. Carpenters and joiners are not paid for annual holidays at present. It is now asked that all employees covered by the award should be entitled to two weeks’ holiday on full pay for each completed 12 months’ service. Where the service is less than 12 months, the employee should be entitled to a pro rata equivalent.

Wanganui Queen Carnival. The Wanganui Patriotic Queen Carnival closed last night with a net result of £30,831. making the total contributed to the £1.000.000 all-purposes appeal £43,085, which is £23,000 in excess of the quota. The Wanganui zone has now contributed £70.449 to the patriotic funds.

Trotting to Continue. After careful consideration of the question of racing in wartime, the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference has decided that till it is agreed that racing is retarding the war effort, it will be continued in the normal way. Should the Government decide that a curtailment of sport is necessary, the conference will co-operate with it. These statements were made by the president of the conference, Mr H. F. Nicoll, in his annual address to delegates in Wellington yesterday. Air Raid Precautions. “It would be tragic to make the same mistake as other countries and say ’it cannot happen here.’ People must be convinced that precautions such as a black-out are very necessary,” said Mr H. A. Bland, AgentGeneral for New South Wales in London, who arrived in Auckland by the American Clipper from San Francisco. Mr Bland has been recalled from London by the New South Wales Government to give advice on every phase of air raid precautions and emergency services. He has been in London throughout the war and has had much experience of air raids. An American Gift. A sum of 11.000 dollars, to obtain a fully-equipped, motorised dental unit for the N.Z.E.F. has been presented by Mr Michael Lerner and others, of New York, to the Hon. F. Langstone, a member of the New Zealand mission to the United States of America. “This group of generous people have already assisted the ‘Anzac' cheque, amounting to 2350 dollars, of which 1350 dollars was devoted toward the purchase of one ambulance for the Anzacs and the balance toward a drive which is being made in New York by the Anzac War Relief Fund,” said the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, making the announcement last night. “Five ambulances for New Zealand and 15 ambulances for the Middle East have already been, provided.” Training Mechanics. A movement which the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association is keen to see go ahead is the training of mechanics, said Mr C. R. Edmond, secretary, at Nelson yesterday. The association is the new organisation which embraces all previous retail motor trade organisations in New Zealand. Mr Edmond said the motor trade had supplied practically all mechanics for the army and air force. The result was that staffs were becoming severely depleted. His idea was that organised training of youths of 16 and 17 should be undertaken now to fill vacancies still existing in civil work and to make them available in one or two years’ time for military work should the war continue. New Halfpenny Stamps. The new halfpenny stamp printed in light brown will be on sale today from those post offices having halfpenny stamp vending machines, and in sheet form from the stamps branch of the G.P.0.. Wellington. The new stamp will have on it the representation of the King. The colours of stamps in New Zealand are being changed gradually, as conditions permit, to correspond with the colours required by the Postal Union, an international body of postal administration. This has laid down green stamps for the first single rate on packet matter, red for international post cards, and blue for the first letter rate. Thus postal authorities in other parts of the world, can tell by the colours of the stamps affixed whether the correct postage has been paid. This does not affect British countries having an arrangement among themselves for reduced postage but it applies in the case of postal matter to foreign countries.