Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 34, 7 October 1946, Page 5

Local and General

Voters’ Mistake The fact that many Australian, electors on Saturday “voted” on the “how-to-vote” cards issued to them on entering polling booths instead of the ballot paper, was mentioned by a resident of the Commonwealth when speaking to a New Zealander by radio-telephone. In many booths, he said, ballot papers were to be seen strewn about the floors and at that stage it appeared that voters had made a mistake.

War And Publishing

“The effects of the war on book production, and especially of books . on specialist subjects, are still being' felt,” stated the Massey Agricultural College librarian in a report to the last meeting of the board of governors. “Books are going out of print very rapidly and the older books frequently cannot be obtain-, ed, either new or second-hand. Consequently there has still been no expenditure of the remaining portion of the Carnegie grant, and additions to this section have been made possible only of gifts,” Extended Outer Harbour Limits A request went forward from the last meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board to the Marine Department for extension of the Whakatane outer harbour limits, in order that fishing parties might continue to utilise the fishing grounds one

mile to seaward of Whale Island, and a similar distance to seaward of the Raurimas. The fact that the boundary ran only from the new outlet of the Rangitaiki River to the Raurimas, Whale. Island and OpSpe Point had only recently come to the notice of the Board, and these limits as they stood, cut out the best fishing grounds.

Standard Equipment : Intimation was received from the Marine Department, at the last meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board, that a specification of the standard equipment desired at all ports would probably be forwarded by the N.Z. .Shipowners’ Federation. In regard to the cost, the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister had mentioned at a conference that where Boards could not stand'the cost of installation favourable consideration would be given to a refund by Government. If the Board forwarded details of> the amount required, the port would then be included in the general financial approval.

White Island Trips At the last meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board, the question; of gaining permission to make trips: to White Island came to the fore once again. Thq secretary that the position had been made. clear to him on a recent trip to Wellington. Apparently if the Whakata’ne Board were given permission to make trips to White Island, it' would establish a precedent,' and other Boards would require - their limits extended also to take in certain islands at present barred-. Part of the trouble arose from the ’fact that every time any person who 1 ventured on these longer trips came to grief, the Government was forced to spend some four or five thousand pounds in searching for them. There was however, a solution. If - the next launch purchased by the Board were some five feet longer-' and contained water-tight compartments, it could be given a hometrade certificate, allowing trips to White Island to be made. • > k