General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24905, 19 June 1946, Page 6

General News

Married Quarters for Firemen Surprise at an apparent lack of enthusiasm for occupying the married quarters—flats—supplied for members of the staff of the Christchurch Fire Brigade was expressed by the chairman (Mr T. M. Charters) at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board last night. One of them was recently left vacant, he said. It was offered to five men, all of whom were given an option. All of them declined “for personal reasons,” but one of them finally changed his decision and took it. “it makes you think,” said Mr Charters, “considering all that was said in Conciliation Council proceedings about men living with their families.” Sinking of the Meerkerk

The news of the disaster to the Netherlands ship Meerkerk. which struck a mine off Walcheren Island, is sad for at least six New. Zealanders —the five members of the press delegation which went to England in 1943 and a member of the New Zealand Supplv Mission in Washington, who returned with them from New York in the Meerkerk in 1944. The Meerkerk was originally a German ship, which was captured. If Captain Wyker still commanded her on her last voyage it was the fourth ship he has had sunk under him in the last few years—the other three by enemy action. A Dutchman of vast bulk, he earned the British decoration of D.S.C. for carrying supplies to Malta under conditions of great danger. Several of his officers had also been on torpedoed vessels. Captain Wyker was well known in the Australian trade before the war. Wool Cargo for Germany A full cargo of wool for Germany will be loaded at Auckland early next month by the British steamer English Prince, of 7275 tons, which is expected from Japan on July 4. The English Prince will be the first direct sailing from New Zealand for Germany since before the war. Her port of discharge will be Bremen. The wool cargo, which will total more than 20,000 bales, has been arranged through the joint wool disposal organisation in England, and is believed to be part of an attempt io clothe the German people. An inferior type of wool will be sent on the ground of providing the most material at the cheapest cost.—(P.A.) Freight Charges on Bread

Railway freight charges on bread were discussed by the West Coast Trades’ Council, after a complaint had been made by residents at Otira, that they were paying Is 7d for a 41b loaf at the railway station. The freight charge from Greymouth, it was stated, amounted to Is 2d on two loaves. The council decided to take the matter up with the authorities with a view to securing a substantial reduction in freight charges on bread carried to country districts. Four Waggons Derailed Four waggons of the 1 p.m. Tane-atua-Auckland’ goods train were derailed at Rangiuru, a few miles south of Te Puke, at 4.40 p.m. yesterday. All but one of the waggons, which was believed to have broken an axle, were returned to the rails and the train was dispatched from Te Puke at 7 o’clock.*— (P.A.) Effect of Falling Birth-Rate The view that the present acute shortage of boy labour is directly traceable to the effect of the falling birthrate recorded in the early years of the depression is held by members of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. This year, they claim, is the first of a number of years in which the shortage will be felt. Official surveys, they say, have determined that it will be 1952 before the shortage from this cause is alleviated.

Pilfering from Samstrae Alarmed at the extent of pilfering from the Samstrae since the vessel reached the New Zealand coast, the Dunedin agents have arranged for closer supervision of cargo operations. In addition to the ordinary police patrol on the wharves, a constable has been posted at the gangway, and an apprentice in the hold. Should the latter suspect that cargo is being tampered with, a blast of the whistle will, summon the constable. Goods worth several hundreds of pounds have disappeared from the Samstrae in the north, and there has also been much wanton destruction. This was particularly marked at Auckland, where the ship’s officers consider that pilfering is organised on a grand scale.— (P.A.) A Stationary Procession? In a letter, to friends in the Dominion, a New Zealand naval officer gives a breezy description of the preEarations for the Victory March in ondon. Route marches were the order of the day for soldiers, sailors, and airmen alike, and at least some of the naval personnel found five-mile marches in heavy boots an unaccustomed ordeal. “After changing into light shoes at the end of the first hike I felt as if-1 would never touch the deck again,’’ he wrote. “The best suggestion that has been made so far is that the procession should stand still and the spectators file past.’’ Railway Coal for Auckland

The serious shortage of railway coal in the Auckland district will be relieved by the arrival of the collier Omana to-day with a shipment of Westport coal, 900 tons of which is for the Railway Department. The shipment will not reach Auckland in time

to coal any locomotives on Thursday, but will enable a small reserve to be built up. With the arrival of other colliers later in the week the present acute shortage of railway coal is expected to be eased for some weeks at least.— (P.A.)

Meat and Butter Coupons Saved The surrender of meat coupons in the Christchurch district which extends from Kaikoura V tne Rangitafa river, took a decided upward trend last week, states a report from the Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee. A total of 29,83 f coupons was handed in, an increase of 11,000 over the previous week, representing £372 worth of coupons. Butter coupons showed a decrease of about 300, the figure for the week being 1161, the equivalent of 580ilb of butter. Seed Testing Station “The admitted delay in the testing of seed samples by the North Island testing station is one of the best arguments for the setting up ‘ of a seed testing station in the South Island,’ said the chairman (Mr James Woodhead) at a meeting of the Temuka branch of Federated Farmers. “We are fighting for its establishment, but from ,the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts),

it seems to be a losing fight,” he added. “It is admitted that delavs in the testing of samples of seed 'have occurred, but this has been because of the tremendous increase in the number of jampies received during the last few years,” wrote the Minister, in a letter replying to a resolution Visit of Sir Keith Park Appreciation of the hospitality extended to them in Christchurch is expressed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park and Lady Park i the following letter to the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews): “I am.writing to thank you most sincerely, for tho grand welcome given to Lady Park and myself by you and your city. We were both honoured to be given a civic reception and wish to thank you and the councillors xor organising the reception. My wife is thoroughly enjoying her visit to New Zealand and has several times remarked on the hospitality and Sincerity of my fellow-countrymen. Thank you again for your personal share in making our visit to your citv a memorable and happy occasion.” Silencers on Motor-cycles

Concern at the number < f young men who were operating motorcycles without silencers was expressed by an officer of the Traffic Department of the Christchurch City Council who appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A number of clubs in the city had organised aotor-cycle races, he said, and it was necessary for t° strip their machines While it might be necessary t remove the silencer for a race, motor-cyclists should not ride their machines in thp city without the usual precautions against unnecessary noise, said the officer. In answer to a question from the Magistrate, the officer said that the prosecution brought yesterday was the first since the end of Lie war, and it was hoped that it would serve as a warning.