LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 January 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Abattoir to Close. The Auckland municipal abattoir is to be closed down because of insufficient labour, stated the convener of the city council public health committee, Mr Ambler, today. Labour at the abattoir is on the customary voluntary basis, and not having been declared an essential industry, as is the case with the freezing works labour, so it is stated, little can be done to keep the men on the job. P. & T. Social Club Dance. The Masonic Hall was packed to capacity last night, when a dance was held by the P. and T. Social Club. There was a large attendance of men in khaki. Under the direction of Mr W. L. Butler as M.C., the proceedings were kept moving merrily, Jack Barnes’s, orchestra playing the dance music. Extras were played by Miss Pat Gilmore. Supper was served by a ladies’ committee under the supervision of Miss Watt. The P and T. Social Club intends to hold dances for soldiers every fortnight.

Maoris and Social Security. An emphatic denial of statements made by the chairman of the Whangarei County Council, Mr Mackay, to the effect that many able T bodied natives in Northland were content to receive sustenance instead of working, was mqde by Mr Paikea, Minister representing the Native race, at Whangarei yesterday. “I cannot understand why a responsible person like Mi’ Mackay should make such statements without being in possession of the facts,” said Mr Paikea. He had investigated the qustion, and information supplied by the Social Security Department revealed that in Northland only five Maoris were in receipt of sustenance, and they were absolutely unfit for work.

Source of Petrol Supply. Motor cars from a distance were observed by the authorities proceeding toward the race meeting at Trentham last Saturday, and inquiries are now being made of the owners of these vehicles as to the source of their petrol supply with a view to appropriate- action. Another check is to be made of cars travelling from a distance on the occasion of the second day’s racing tomorrow. The Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, stated last night that on January 17, between 10 a.m. and noon, a number of cars were noted on the approaches to Wellington and travelling in the direction of the Trentham race meeting. A number of these cars came from as far north as Danevirke and Wanganui, and would require from 10 to 12 gallons of petrol for the return trip.

E.P.S. Controller to Carry On. Complete confidence in Mr T. J. Macalister as controller of the Invercargill E.P.S. organisation, was expressed by the Invercargill City Council at a special emergency meeting held yesterday to consider his resignation. The council also unanimously decided to ask Mr Macalister to reconsider his resignation. Mr Macalister announced last night that he had decided to withdraw his resignation and carry on as chief controller. Notice of motion has been given to rescind the following resolution passed by the council on Tuesday night:—“That the Minister of National Service be advised that it is the opinion of the Invercargill City Council that as the cost of the E.P.S. must be met by ratepayers, too much control of the organisation is vested in persons other than councillors.”