News in Brief

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 14, 21 August 1946, Page 6

News in Brief

Coupon Collection Following are particulars of the Ration Coupons presented for cancellation for the week ending 17th August, 1946, in the Famine Emergency Food for Britain Campaign: Sugar, nil lbs.; tea, nil lbs.; butter, 51bs.; meat, £1 15s 4d. The following are the collections of the respective goods to date: Sugar, 121b5.; tea, 41bs.; butter, 134i1b5.; meat, £9O 4s Bd. The Legislative Council

“I often wonder who it is we are trying to convert,” said Mr T. Bloodworth in the Legislative Council in Wellington recently. Seated in the galleries were a reporter and one spectator, who was incidentally a regular reporter. Mr Bloodworth, in extending good wishes to new members, referred to “this muchcriticised and long-condemned chamber,” and added he hoped the presence of two new women members would do something towards reviving interest in it and making it a little more useful in the working of the government of the country than it had been in the past.

Sheep Flock A sheep flock is being built up at the Hamilton Soil Fertility Research Station, Department of Agriculture, and purchases have been made. The flock is for use in experiments involving the use of the grazing animal. Considerable preliminary work is still being carried out at the station, including the erection of suitable fencing. The old homestead at the station’s property at Hall’s Road is being used as the office for the staff but plans provide for the erection of a modern block of buildings.

Railways’ War Record “During the war years the annual total passengers carried by the New Zealand Railways rose from 8,000,000 to 18,000,000 in spite of a depleted staff and equipment which needed repairs,” stated Mr P. Johnson, national president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, in addressing members of the Wanganui branch at the twentyfirst reunion. This fine record, he added, was a tribute to the railwaymen. Although costs rose during the war, Mr Johnson said railways did not “pass the buck” and fares and freights did not go up. Furthermore, railwaymen’s wages were stabilised while everyone else “got away with the boodle.”

Rubber Golf Balls The New Zealand Golf Council has advised clubs that shipments of English golf balls are on the way to the Dominion. They are of real rubber. This will be good news to golfers, who so far this season have received only synthetic balls, of varying quality. The council states in a circular that its chairman requested the Council of Sport to make inquiries in London, through the Minister of Supply. A reply was received that three manufacturing firms had 1000 dozen for New Zealand, and that the manufacturers were sending 50 to 100 dozen lots by parcel post.

Praise From Opposition A nominee for National Party candidature made the following remark after the Minister for Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, had addressed a group of deaf people in Wanganui recently:—“After hearing the principles and sentiments enunciated by the Minister, the people can rest assured that while Government is in the hands of such men as these, they have nothing to fear.” This remark was made when the nominee in question was seconding a vote of thanks to the Minister for his address. After he had recounted this experience in Na*pier, Mr P&rry added: “That is not the kind of thing that goes into the newspapers.”