General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24902, 15 June 1946, Page 6

General News

' Issue os Drivers* Licences More than 2000 motor drivers’ licences were issued by the Christchurch City Council traffic department this week, bringing the total issue for the licensing period to 4944. To the same date last year, the number of licences issued was only 2092, Licences expire at the end of this month, and the department expects to have to deal with another 10.000 licences in the next two weeks. Bee-ption to Service Peseonnel

Expected to be the last welcome home function to Christchurch servicemen and women, the gathering arranged by the Christchurch City Council at the Wentworth pn Tuesday, June 25, may also be the biggest. The famous cruiser of the Royal New Zealand Navy. H.M.S. Achilles, will be in Lyttelton for her final visit; and it is expected that at least 400 of her complement—almost as many as attended some or the earlier receptions—will be present, so that the total attendance is expected to be about 1000. The gathering is for all returned Personnel in Christchurch City and Heathcote County who have not yet attended a welcome home. The official reception, at 7.45. will be followed by a smoke concert and variety entertainment. To simplify as far as possible the big catering task, returned servicemen and women are asked to call at the City Council Chambers for their tickets as soon as possible.

Buying of Cream "I have been asked what the position is about people who seem to be able to buy cream,” said the secretary of the Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee (Mr E. A. Chivers), yesterday, "The position is that there is no cream these days, except for invalids, because the making of butter is so much more important in a world facing famine If someone else does not play fair, and somehow buys cream, that does not excuse us for doing the «ame.” The “black” market always required a buyer to make It work, Mr Chivers said, and when people bought cream, someone else had to go without food.

Strongman Mine Idle There was no work at the Strongman State mine yesterday. The men returned home when the buses in which they were travelling were unable to negotiate a wash-out half a mile from the mouth of the mine. A wash-out occurred at the same place some time ago. but during the dry weather the irea remained stable and work was not interrupted. With the wet weather, however, the earth began to move again. The road is the property of the State Mines Department. Last night’s back shift at the mine did not work either, though it is hoped that repairs will be carried out at the week-end In time for recommencement of work on Monday. In a statement on the position, Messrs J. Harrington (check inspector) and J. Guy (union secretary) said that the road was not safe for the buses to go over it. The owner refused to take the buses over the affected section. The slip occurred four weeks ago and insufficient effort had been'made to get the road into suitable condition for the buses to use it. The only effort that had been made was the building of a concrete wall 10 feet high, and some work by two workmen using a wheelbarrow. The union had not interfered in the matter before because the management had always claimed previously that its plans have been upset by the union’s interference. In this case the union was disclaiming all liability, but. unfortunately the persons responsible for the stoppage still received their pay while the members of the union had to make sacrifices. Raw or Pasteurised Milk “If I had my way, with diseases in the cows to-day, I would not drink a drop of raw milk,” said Mr J. R. D. Johns, when making representations to the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board last evening on the Central Milk Council’s proposals for the public ownership of milk-treating plants. Mr Johns said he was surprised to learn from previous speakers, representatives of the Fresh Milk Association, that 95 to 99 per cent, of their customers favoured unpasteurised milk. About half his customers asked for fresh milk end the other half for pasteurised milk. Mr M. E. Lyons, chairman of the board, said the high percentages quoted by the Fresh Milk Association were the result' of a poll taken among the customers of the associatlon’s members. “If someone else had sent out the Circular and framed it in a different way the answer might have been different” he added. Sealing Industry Revived Interest in the sealing industry was revived at Bluff by the announcement that after a lapse of 22 years seals may be taken legally during the next four months. The fur from seals was once an important part of New Zealand’s export trade. No preparations for sealing expeditions are likely to be made until an indication has been given of the cost of licences and the value the skins can be expected to bring. Inquiries were made in Invercargill by interested persons about these points, but it is understood that no definite information was available. One party proposes to set out for the West Coast Sounds area as soon as possible after the required information has been received. Before the restrictions were imposed fishermen used to go sealing when the weather was too bad for fishing. They/have been waiting for years for the restrictions to be lifted. Seals are reported to have multiplied considerably during the last 22 years.

A special fishing boat for the blind men of the New Zealand St. Dunstan’s is being built ih Auckland as a gift from the Auckland Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association. The boat is being constructed with broad beam and a flat floor, and will have an outboard motor, so that there will be no obstructions. A trailer is also to be provided to allow the boat to be taken from the Waitemata to the Manukau Harbour. Some men from St. Dunstan’s have already been fishing and are able to handle lines and bait hooks. Maori Bible The joint committee of churchmen and laymen which is to draft the revision of the Maori Bible has begun its sessions in Gisborne The main objective is to produce a version in the Maori language presenting the Scriptures in a form easily assimilable by the native race without altering the substance, spirit, or sanctity of the Book’s message. The original Maori Bible was translated from English to the Ngapuhi tongue, one of seven major dialects of the race, and this caused a difficulty which the committee hopes to remove by conversion of the Word into pure Maori.