General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24896, 8 June 1946, Page 6

General News

Reporter* *! Formers’ Meeting* A remit from the Amberley brangh, proposing that reporters be debarred from attending provincial conference and provincial executive meetings, was discussed in committee at the annual cpriterence yesterday of the North Canterbury District qf Federated Farmers. The remit further proposed that a committee he set up to hand reports to the press tor publication- The remit was heaviiy defeated. Tea Batinning The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said yesterday that until Java an 4 China were again pror dueing sufficient tea to meet the present. world consumption, rationing would continue to be necessary.—

Minimum W»ge Ael “Unlessstabilisation te applied alj ihe B aituafian°will STbft worse and the farmer will be frustrated izi his efforts to the call for increased food production,” stated the report presented to the annual conference of Federated Farmers, North Canterbury district, ypstepday. The report said that tjie Minimum Wage Act had set the minimum wage for adult male workers at £5 5s a week, and for adult female workers at £3 3s a week. Although, comparatively speaking, these were not high wages, a problem had been created for many farmers because the act of increasing wages did not automatically increase the ability to pay them. The stage was being reached when the question was not what help could be done with, but what help could be done without. Appeal of the White Stick An appeal to and cyclists to give all possible consideration to “white stick users”—the blind, extremely short-sighted persons and others with failing faculties—was made yesterday by the Chief City Traffic Inspector (Mr C. S. Nicholson). On several occasions recently such persons have had narrow escapes from being run down by traffic, apparently because the drivers of vehicles or riders of bicycles bad not jioticed the warning —or the appeal for help—which was implicit in the white stick. He also urged persons unable to take care of themselves in traffic to avoid conr gested areas as much as possible unless escorted.

Main North Highway Tunnels Among ' highway improvements planned for the Christchurch region is duplication of two highway tunnels near Kaikoura. Explaining this project to the planning conference at Christchurch yesterday the AssistantCommissioner of Works (Mr T. G. Beck), said the tunnels were short but were an obstruction to traffic and had led to accidents, because, although they were one-way tunnels, traffic tried to pass in them. The intention was not to widen them but to duplicate them. Wheat Productipn

Numerous references to the world food shortage were made at the annual conference yesterday of the North Canterbury district, Federated Farmers, tri the annual report, it was stated that much had been said and written around and about the wheat question, and resolutions and deputations had done their best. “The facts are plain,” the report stated. ‘‘The acreage is down and there is little likelihood now of any more autumn wheat being sown except in favoured localities, so that the only hope for additional acreage must depend on the spring sowing. The Minister of Agriculture was reported about the middle of May to have stated that the Government aimed at producing 250,000 to 300,000 acres of wheat next season. Giving these figures out to the starving world without supplying a timely incentive to have the acreage sown will be as helpful to the famine stricken as the desert mirage is to the thirsty traveller.” Motor-Drivers’ Licences The expectations of the traffic department of the Christchurch City Council that this would be a record year for the issue of motor-drivers’ licences have been fully borne Out by the first four days’ licensing. Up to last evening the department had issued 1832 licences compared with 816 for the corresponding period last year. The department hopes this is a sign that the total issue will be spread more evenly than usual over the whole issuing period, and that the customary rush of the last few days will therefore be eliminated or greatly reduced. Assurance, in advance, of the availability of adequate petrol supplies is considered the main reason for the early relicensing by so many motorists. Ashley River Control Further work on the Ashley rivercontrol scheme was approved by the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday afternoon, on the recommendation of the drainage and river control committee, after an inspection last Saturday. Work on the Taranaki creek, estimated to cost £l6OO, was the major item, this including a new culvert system and improvements at the outlet. At the mouth of the Ashley river, work estimated to cost £l5O, will be done to relieve pressure on the bank near Waikuku. To divert a creek near the Makerikeri stream, an outlet will be made so as to create a new channel to the main stream. Money Returned From Denmark

Warrant Officer Douglas Hill, an Auckland schoolteacher, while serving in the R.A.F., made a parachute descent over Denmark dangling by a foot from his harness. He had £22 which he gave to the Danish farmer before being taken by the Germans. Mr Hill has just received a letter from the farmer returning his British Treasury notes, which the farmer buried rather than let it fall into German hands. — (P.A.)

High-Country Vegetation The appointment of a special officer of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch to carry-out a long-term investigation of vegetation in the highcountry, was reported to the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday afternoon. Professor George Jobberns, chairman of the soil conservation and erosion committee, said that “world-shaking” results would not occur immediately, but very useful information was expected over a period of years. The board’s soil conservation staff would offer all co-operation in Lhis work.

World Shortage of Food Reference to the world shortage of food was made in the report presented yesterday to the first annual conference of the North Canteroury of Federated Farmers. The shortage, the report stated, was far and away the most urgent question before the nation at present. It would be remembered that farmers’ organisations and others had pointed out again and again during the war that famine and pestilence followed in the wake of wars, and that New Zealand should be producing to capacity, so that ships, as soon as they were available, could be filled and turned round quickly, and speeded to the stricken countries; yet New Zealand, untouched by the ravages of war, had been allowed to drift into the position where vital food supplies, which should be going to relieve famine stricken peoples, were being imported to make up production deficiency here. Production of foodstuffs could and would be stepped up when the factors militating against it, not the least of them being the Government’s apparent apathy, were removed. Railway Waggons from England The first of an order of 3000 railway waggons of the LA type are expected to reach New Zealand from England early next year. This information was given to the Christchurch regional planning conference yesterday by the Assistant-General Manager of Railways (Mr C R. Riesop), Mr Riesop said the waggons would be of great value in the transport of fertilisers. Stock in Riverbeds

Because of damage by stock to protection works in riverbeds, the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday authorised its officers to prosecute in cases of trespass. Consideration will be given to refusing any .urther grazing rights in such areas. It was also decided to obtain the findings of the Rabbit Boards’ conference on damage done by rabbits. Advice was received that harbour boom-defence nets, for use on river protection works, would be made available from Auckland and Wellington.