LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

County Workman Killed. When a face of shingle collapsed, John Arthur Bistles, aged 57, married. Taieri County serviceman, was killed instantly on Wednesday afternoon. A companion in the pit with him was buried to the hips, but was uninjured. Price Fixation. Inspectors of the Price Tribunal were busy in Wellington yesterday checking up on what appeared to be open breaches of the new retail price orders announced for fruit and vegetables. A quick survey disclosed that in 11 shops which were inspected there were breaches in each case of the price orders. It is stated that Wellington is one of the worst centres in New Zealand for compliance with price orders, and constant policing is necessary. Gramophones and Records. If in any homes there are portable and table model gramophones that are not wanted particularly, great • use of them can be made by the National Patriotic Fund Board. Gramophones of these types are required to help brighten the existence of New Zealand forces in parts of the Pacific area, and for the personnel of small naval units. Difficulty is being experienced by the board in providing them. The Board will be glad to receive any .that are available; also fairly recent recordings in good condition, and any unused gramophone needles. They should be given to the local patriotic committee. Fire in Post Office. Slight structural damage was done by a fire which broke out in the Wellington East post office last night, but no mail matter was lost. The brigade received the call at 8.48 p.m. from an automatic alarm installed in the building, and two engines from the central station went the short distance to the scene. It was found that a big wooden box used for the temporary dumping of rubbish was blazing strongly, and a lead of hose had to be brought into action to extinguish the flames. The reflexion of the fire, which was at the rear of a counter in the sorting department on the ground floor, could be seen from the street. The outbreak was soon under control, but the heat shattered a large glass window. Water Shortage. Drastic action was taken yesterday by the mayor of Auckland, Mr J. A. C. Allum in his capacity as chief warden of the E.P.S. to conserve the seriously depleted water supply of the city. A state of emergency was declared and an order was issued that consumption must be reduced to not more than eight gallons per person daily. In cases of proved waste, supplies would be cut off and the persons affected would have to carry water to their homes from street standpipes. E.P.S. officers are authorised to check consumption of residences and will man any standpipes put into use. Mr Allum said: “No matter what inconvenience the general public might suffer, the needs of hospitals, and essential war industries and the Services must be catered for. The general public must voluntarily submit to the rationing of water or be disconnected from the supply.”

Seaman Fined. Thomas Victor Nelson, aged 30, able seaman on an overseas ship, who mentioned in a letter the sinking of a ship in a convoy some months before, was fined £2 with costs by Mr Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court. Wellington, yesterday for a censorship regulations breach. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan said Nelson was a highly respectable man, but had been indiscreet. Mr F. W. Ongley represented Nelson. Absenteeism Among Girls. The serious position in industry arising from absenteeism among girls was revealed by Mr J. Collinson when representing his company before the Armed Forces Appeal Board in Auckland yesterday. He stated that since Christmas a third of his staff had been absent continuously. He attributed the absence of girls to the presence in town j of members of the armed forces. The firm applied for the exemption of a machinist who had enlisted in the Army. The case was adjourned sine die. If full time were worked by the staff, said Mr Collinson, a dozen girls could be spared. --v, "--r-- ALLZurinu. .. Crematorium for Hastings. The establishment of a Hawke’s Bay crematorium at Hastings Cemetery, at a cost of about £7OO, was agreed upon at a conference of local body representatives at Hastings on Wednesday. Eleven local bodies were concerned and the'only objection raised was that of the Waipukurau and Waipawa Borough Councils on the score of increased costs. No opposition to its establishment was recorded. Mr Rainbow said the site would be well away from any residences and would be made a separate enclosure in the cemetery. Authority was given a sub-committee to declare Hawke’s Bay a crematorium area and consider tenders. Accrediting System. The accrediting system is to be introduced definitely to secondary schools next year, said the Director of Education, Dr Beeby, in an address to the New Zealand Educational Institute in Christchurch. Another point he mentioned was that closer contact between teachers and parents was a subject to which attention was to be given. Already approval had been given for the appointment of two or three visiting teachers. Their duty would be to maintain contact between the schools and the parents, and to discuss with the parents problems arising with their children. Touching on the raising of the sphool-leaving age, Dr Beeby said this would mean 3000 additional pupils throughout New Zealand. Coal Distribution. It was announced last evening by the Minister of Industrial Manpower, Mr McLagan, that the retail distribution of coal had been declared an essential industry. The declaration becomes operative as from today and applies to all concerns which employ labour in connection with the retail handling and distribution of coal. It imposes the conditions laid down in the Industrial Manpower Emergency Regulations, 1942, on all employers employing labour and on all persons employed by them. It is stated that employers affected should get in touch with the manpower officer in their locality for information concerning these conditions and for notices of declaration.