LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fatality at Quarry. While sheltering during blasting at the Waro limestone quarry, North Auckland, on Wednesday, Mr Walter Green, aged 53, married with four children, was struck on the head by flying rock. He was taken to hospital, where he died of shock. Internal Marketing. Defending the Internal Marketing Department, when he spoke in the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, the member for Wairarapa (Mr Ben Roberts) described the department as the salvage corps' of private enterprise, because when private enterprise got itself into a jam the department came to its rescue. He did not think the general public were as indignant with the department as Opposition members who claimed to be the public mouthpiece. As for the shortage of eggs and other commodities which the housewife wanted, it should be remembered that thousands of American troops were coming and going and supplying them was an excellent way to show patriotism, even though it meant New Zealanders had to go short. Soldiers and Harvesting. The employment of soldiers on harvesting was the subject of an urgent question in the House of Representatives yesterday by Mr Carr (Government, Timaru) to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, as acting-Minister of Defence. Mr Carr asked whether the Prime Minister was aware that in some cases members of the armed forces were asked to work a 10-hour day in the harvest field, even on threshing mills, on Army pay, and if they refused to do so were “put on the mat” and given C.B. The Prime Minister replied that he had no personal knowledge that the conditions as outlined by the member existed. He intended to obtain an immediate report from the Army authorities and would make a statement as soon as he was in possession of .the facts. “Generally speaking, the men are very pleased to go into the harvest field to get away from the monotony of camp life,” Mr Fraser added. Appeal Dismissed. The No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board, Wellington, yesterday dismissed an appeal by Mr W. H. Stevens, on behalf of Wellesley College, for the release from the Army of the well-known cricketer, Sergeant John Ryan Lamason. Mr R. L. Macalister appeared on behalf of appellant, who was advised to obtain, if possible, a medical regrading of Lamason, who did not appear. An Army report, read by Mr C. O. Bell, the Crown representative, said that Lamason was a platoon sergeant in a rifle company, and the unit was short of sergeants of the ability which Lamason possesed. Lamason had been responsible for organising all the sporting activities of the unit, and his loss would no doubt have a detrimental effect, particularly on crciket and football. Mr Bell said he doubted if appellant would ever get Lamason out of the Army, but thought that if they put in an application for the release of some grade 3 teacher they might succeed.

Social Security Tax. The Social Security Contribution (Companies) Regulations published with last night’s Gazette alter the basis of collection of social security taxation from companies from quarterly to annually. This will reduce clerical work for both companies and the collecting department. Enjoyable Dance. A most successful dance was held in the St?'Patrick’s Hall, Masterton, last night. There 'was a large attendance of members of the Armed Forces. Bright music was supplied by Mr Jack Barnes’s Rhythm Boys, and Mr B. Gollop carried out the duties of M.C. A savoury supper was served. Work of Parliament. The debate on the Address-in-Rgply occupied practically all the sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday, and when the House adjourned at 10.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. today speeches had been deliveerd by 17 members. The House agreed to the suggestion of the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, that sitting be from 2.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. today and from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow. The House will also sit at the usual hour of 2.30 p.m. on Monday. Congregational Church Conference. The 60th annual conference of the Congregational Union of New Zealand will be held in the Cambridge Terrace Church, Wellington, from Monday evening till Friday of next week. Delegates from all parts of New Zealand will attend. The present chairman of the conference is the Rev. Frank de Lisle, Moray Place, Dunedin, and formerly a resident of Masterton where he was a well known footballer over 30 years ago, and the chairman-elect is the Rev. Gordon Smith, Mount R oskill, Auckland. New Transport Regulation. Due to the necessity to conserve as far as possible the heavier class ci tires and avoid heavy consumption of petrol a new regulation came into force as from yesterday under the Transport Act. It applies to all ancillary vehicles, that is those bearing H number plates on trucks not carrying goods for hire or reward. Exceptions include users such as the Crown, the Armed Forces, Government Departments, local authorities, and trucks engaged e.ntirely in the carriage of the Commodities such as meat, bread, milk, groceries, drapery and firing. New Divorce Rules. “Will the Minister inform the House why the new divorce rules as prepared by the Rules Committee under section 3 of the Judicature Amendment Act, 1930, and sent to the executive in March, 1942, have not yet been gazetted,” asked Mr Harker (Opposition, Waipawa), in notice of a question to the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason, in the House of Representatives yesterday. In a note to- his question Mr Harker said the existing rules did not make provision for the amendments to the Divorce Act passed in recent years, and the failure to make the new i rules operative was causing great hardship to the judiciary, to counsel and to litigants.