General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24899, 12 June 1946, Page 6

General News

. No Shortage of Candidates Having completed a tour of Otago and Southland, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) said in Auckland yesterday morning that there was no shortage of National Party i candidates, and in some South Island constituencies as many as eight had, offered to stand. Many of them were; former servicemen. A remarkable feature of the present situation was the intense interest of womenfolk, who undoubtedly would nlay an important part in the coming election.—(P.A.) Lancaster Park Controversy The controversy resulting from the Canterbury Rugby Union’s refusal to grant the Canterbury Rugby League the use of Lancaster Park for an international match was discusged in committee at last evening’s meeting of the management committee. It was announced after the meeting that the union would issue a statement about the matter in a few days. Shortage of Gas Coal at Wellington With shipments of coal held up at Greymouth because of rough weather, the Wellington Gas Company is seriously short of supplies, and has been forced to reduce pressures. One small vessel carrying 700 tens of coal left Greymouth yesterday morning, and is expected to arrive at Wellington tonight. Meantime, every endeavour is being m’ade to see that adequate pressures are maintained at meal times, the company stated yesterday.— (P.A.) Correlation of Traffic Records A suggestion that the Traffic Department of the Christchurch City Council and the police should correlate their records regarding convictions for traffic offences was made by the Magistrate, Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., at a sitting of the Court yesterday, when an offender against the traffic regulations was charged with not having a warrant of fitness ior his vehicle. Counsel for accused, who pleaded guilty, said that the man had been charged by the police for being without a warrant and had been convicted and fined. Four days later, while awaiting an apoointment with a garage to have his 6ar adjusted, accused had been apprehended by a City Council inspector. In imposing a fine of 10s, the Magistrate remarked that unless there was co-operation between the two departments it would not be known whether a man charged was a first offender-

Wool Publicity With the object of seeking co-opera-tion in its activities, the executive committee of the International Wool Publicity and Research Fund, which met in London recently, decided to extend an invitation to wool producers in the United Kingdom and South America, which are not represented. The South American countries which it is proposed to invite include Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile. The United States has already agreed to co-oper-ate. This information was received in a cable message by the New Zealand Wool Board. The cablegram added that the executive has agreed not only to continue its research programme, but to embark on a programme of expansion. The market prospects of wool in India are to be investigated.—(P.A.) “Reflection on Name of Ashburton” “It is rather a reflection on the name of Ashburton,” said Mr A. A. McDonald (Deputy-Mayor of Ashburton) at the meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council this week when referring to a statement made at a meeting of the Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee last week commenting on the small collection of coupons at Ashburton for the previous week. Mr McDonald, who is chairman of the Ashburton Famine Emergency Committee, added that an officer was on holiday and the returns had not been made up, so that the comment was made without full knowledge of the facts. Under the “Fat for Britain” campaign. 16cwt of fat had been consigned to Belfast last week, and the Methven district had reported a record coupon collection for any town of a similar size in New Zealand last week. In all patriotic efforts and national appeals the Ashburton town and district had done remarkably well, said Mr McDonald. Bravery Recognised Heroic achievements with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in Italy in April, 1945, were recognised in Wellington yesterdav when Lance-Sergeant Robert T. Walsh, formerly of the 6th Field Regiment. New Zealand Artillery, and Driver John G. Lee, of the Divisional Ammunition Company. New Zealand Army Service Corps, were each invested with the United States Bronze Star Medal. The citation stated that Sergeant Walsh showed coolness and courage in bringing aid to an endangered patrol, and that Driver Lee repaired a vehicle under heavy shellfire and extricated another in similar circumstances.—(P. A.) “Outlandish" Correspondent Wanted By every overseas mail the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews) receives from England requests to be put in touch with “pen friends,” or requests for information about this country and the prospects for immigrants. A letter received by Mr Andrews yesterday has a new twist to the familiar theme. The writer, a woman of 28 living in Cheshire, asks to be put in touch with “someone who lives m an outlandish plqce in either island.” She offers to send a regular supply of books and periodicals, and in return asks for full information about the New Zealand correspondent’s mode of life. She adds that she is interested in the Maoris and their origin, and would be glad to correspond with someone of Maori blood. Fire in Ship Fire broke out in the engine room of the cargo ship Baltannic at Wellingtoi. yesterday morning, when accumulated soot and oil were ignited presumably by the furnace fires. Firemen who were called to the outbreak had a difficult task because of the heat, but although all paint, woodwork, and insulation material in the room were destroyed, the fire was not allowed to spread to other parts of the ship.— (P.A.) Milk in Schools The West Coast Trades’ Council, in a recent bulletin, says that its attention had been drawn to the fact that West Coast schoolchildren ' have received no milk under the milk-in-schools scheme for the last 13 months, while school children in all other districts had received supplies of milk during this period. Consequently, the Trades’ Council executive decided at a meeting recently to forward a strong protest to the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) requesting the resumption of milk supplies to West Coast schools at the earliest possible date. It was pointed out in the Letter to the Minister that because of the fewer hours of sunshine on the West Coast, as compared with other districts, the West Coast children should be the last to be deprived of their milk issue. Local school committees and school associations are also reported to be taking the matter up with the Minister. Praise for New Zealanders “I recently received a copy of a book by Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery dealing with the activities of the Bth Army from El Alamein to Northern Italy,” said Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park when speaking at a civic reception in Christchurch last evening. “Among all the divisions he hc.d under his command he gives first place to the 2nd New Zealand Division, led by that gallant soldier, General Sir Bernard Freyberg ” Sir Keith Park, paying a tribute to Field-Marshal Montgomery, said that although some persons thought the Field-Marshal had no sense of humour, he actually had a great sense of humour, though it might be a little “donnish” in character. Norfolk Island Airfield “The airfield at Norfolk Island will continue to be operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force meantime on a much reduced scale,” an officer of the Air Department said in reply to an inquiry yesterday. “Norfolk Island,” he added, “is a vital link in our air communications with other Pacific islands, and for the R.N.Z.A.F. service to the New Zealand forces in Japan.” This officer said that the Government steamer Matai, which was expected to arrive at Wellington today from Sydney, would depart shortly for Norfolk Island with a load of petrol and stores and return to New Zealand with equipment now surplus to R.N.Z.A.F. needs on that island (P.A.)