LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 April 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Fatr.l Accident.

A road grader driver, Robert Cropp, aged 35, was killed in the Buller Gorge yesterday when the grader left the road. He was pinned beneath it. He leaves a wife and two children. Moa Bones Found.

The remains of 20 large moas, discovered in a deep limestone cave in the Golden Bay district of the Nelson Province, have recently been added to the collection of the Dominion Museum.

To Accommodate War Workers. Seven more buildings to accommodate war workers are nearing completion at Woburn. They will house 300, which is nearly as many as the hostels close to the Woburn railway station which were recently opened.

Family Allowance. A recommendation that the possibility of making the family allowance universal be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, was adopted by the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party in Wellington yesterday. Fifty-two remits in all dealing with health and social security benefits were considered by the special committee set up by the conference, the recommendations of the committee being adopted.

Labour Conference Resolutions. At the New Zealand Labour Party’s conference at Wellington yesterday it was recommended that the Government consider improving wages and conditions for nurses; that the time had not arrived for the abolition of hospital boards, but that they should include nominees of the Government; that the institution of adult dental clinics be referred to the Government for favourable consideration as soon as circumstances permit; that even when more dentists and nurses are available the operation of school dental clinics be extended to pupils of all schools; that State maternity homes be established in all centres wherever the need is evident; that residential nurseries be instituted where possible. Foxton Flax Workers’ Dispute.

Referring to the Foxton flax workers’ dispute, Mr F. W. Vickerman, managing director of New Zealand Woolpacks and Textiles, Ltd., stated that he had never refused to meet the men or their representatives. He added that he had not received a direct communication from the union secretary over the dispute. Mr Vickerman quoted a letter written to the union president on April 21 outlining the company’s views. The workers yesterday carried a vote of no-confidence in Mr Vickerman, and also decided to continue on strike till negotiations with the Ministers had been satisfactorily completed. It was also resolved that an endeavour be made to obtain State control of the industry. The Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, telegraphed to the union secretary, Mr Lemon, that the strike was being inquired into.

A Rubbish Nuisance,

A correspondent, Mr H. E. Hickson, writes complaining about the stench arising from a rubbish tip near the Solway Station. The complaint was referred to the Borough Sanitary Inspector, Mr T. A. Russell, who states that the matter is being taken up with the authorities concerned.

Prisoner of War Letter Cards. A reduction to Is in the selling price of the prisoner-of-war airmail letter-card formerly sold at Is 6d, was announced yesterday by the Postmas-ter-General, Mr Webb. The Ministersaid that the popularity of the cards with the public was illustrated by the fact that about 70 per cent of the airmail communications addressed to pri-soners-of-war were written on them. Gilyhound Racing. At the Wanganui-Dannevirke greyhound racing meeting at Dannevirke this week, Messrs James and Grey’s Stormy Footsteps (Masterton) was second in the Tramway Stakes. Mr C. Lusty’s Mac’s Worry (Masterton) was third in the Wanganui championship hurdles, Mrs W. Williams’s Lord Wilga (Masterton) was third in the Wanganui championship, and the same owner’s Backloop Slam third in the Anzac Stakes.

Water Sold as Whisky. “This man was seen to hand over to a marine a bottle which was represented to contain whisky. He was taken to the police station, the bottle was examined, and it was found to contain pure, unadulterated water,” said Senior-Sergeant Paine in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, when Richard Jones, a middle aged man, was charged before Mr Stout, S.M., with obtaining 10 dollars and 30s by falsely representing that a bottle labelled whisky contained whisky. Mr F. Ongley, appearing for defendant, said the latter had purchased a bottle of gin and a bottle of whisky. He handed over the whisky without opening it. “We can’t believe that,” said the magistrate, sentencing defendant to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. An order was made for the return of the money. Auckland Egg Supplies. Commenting on a recent report that a general distribution of eggs for civilians might not be possible in Wellington in the next few days, owing to recent heavy demands for firsttime priorities, an official of the Internal Marketing Division said that this was not the case in Auckland. There had been no marked increase here in priority demands such as had occurred in Wellington, and supplies were still being distributed to retailers. The lower production at this time of the year might, however, affect the position. The attitude of the grocers to the marketing of eggs under present conditions, said the secretary of the New Zealand Master Grocers’ Federation, Mr R. M. Barker, was that they could do nothing about it. The troops had to have eggs, though it was felt that they might be getting too great a proportion of the supplies.