General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24906, 20 June 1946, Page 4

General News

Centennial Exhibition A report op the action taken by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association in its plans for the Centennial Exhibition which, it is proposed, shall be held in Christchurch in 1950, was given by Mr A. M. Hollander at last evening’s meeting of the council of the association. “At least 95 per cent, of those approached about the project were wholeheartedly in favour of it,” said Mr Hollander, who added that the association was endeavouring to produce a prospectus of the exhibition before approaching the Government with its plans. Pioneers Honoured It was 100 years this week since the first white explorers set foot in Greymouth, said the Mayor of Greymouth (Mr F. A. Kitchingham) at a public meeting in the Greymouth Town Hall. Although there had been no celebration in the town, it was fitting that residents should pay tribute to Heaphy and Brunner, who took 70 days to fight their way from Collingwood to Greymouth, a journey which could now be covered in 70 minutes, he said. As a mark of respect, the meeting? stood in silence. Alternative Work Business had to be brought back into government, said Mr R. G. Gerard, M.P., in an address at St. Martins last evening, when he was asked if the policy of the National Party to abolish departments such as Internal Marketing would result in State employees losing their jobs. Mr Gerard said such staffs could be employed in other departments which were short of staff. Political appointees were in many departments, and if they did not have the ability to do the job they would have to look out for another. “There is no good having this continued muddling,” said Mr Gerard, who said his party had a policy of full employment. Carried Unanimously

In the opinion of the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, the number one priority Public Works job for Christchurch is the tunnel road. A resolution to that effect, moved by Mr A. E. Bartrum, was carried unanimously at last evening’s meeting of the council, without further discussion. School Leaving Age The school leaving age would be still further raised as soon as the supply of teachers and buildings permitted, said the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), reporting on education plans to the Labour Party conference. A vigorous school building programme to overtake war-time arrears and enable a much improved school accommodation standard at primary, intermediate, and secondary levels would be carried out. The Government would assist free kindergartens, and the training of many more kindergarten teachers would be promoted. “Further agricultural high schools will cater fofr north Auckland, the Waikato, the Bay of Plenty, and the southern part of the South Island,” said Mr Mason.—(P.A.) Air Transport from the Far East

Government officials and other British subjects in the Far East would receive great benefits if the proposed air services of the British Overseas Airways Corporation started, said Mrs E. Y. Walker, who is public relations officer of the corporation. Mi's Walker arrived in Christchurch yesterday afternoon. She said that the better air service would enable Europeans to spend their furlough periods in New Zealand, Australia, or Great Britain, and the quicker means of transport would obviate the necessity for the separation of families, as children of Europeans in the Far East could be sent to school in England or the Dominions and could spend their holidays with their parents in whatever part of the Far East they were located. Mrs Walker added that there was an evident desire throughout the British Empire that fares for air travel should be reduced, and she had no doubt that the authorities would reduce fares as soon as it was possible. Price Tribunal Decisions

“It is becoming increasingly apparent that Price Tribunal statements of policy, made from time to time in support of specific decisions, are becoming more and more arbitrary and illogical,” said a letter from the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation- to the council of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, at a meeting of the council last evening. The letter asked for specific details about anomalies, stating that the council might wish to meet the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). The meeting decided to refer the matter to its trade group committee. Motor-car Relicensing Although relicensing of motor vehicles in Christchurch is moving at a much brisker pace than at this time in June last year, the pace is still comparatively leisurely, considering the number of vehicles in the city area. The staff of the Chief Post Office dealing with motor licensing has been augmented to deal with the June rush, but at the moment it is not overworked. and the office is not yet open in the evenings. A warning has been issued by the Chief Post Office that if motorists do not wish to suffer undue delay in the last days of the month—when queues will be large—they would be well advised to register their vehicles for the coming year as soon as they can. in the next few days. Surplus Naval Craft

About 30 small war craft of the Royal New Zealand Navy, moored on the upper Waitemata harbour, will be formally taken over from the Navy by the Marine Department in the next few days. The transfer of vessels has been under negotiation for some weeks, and the change-over will Increase the number of surplus war vessels held by the department in Auckland to nearly 50. All the ships will be disposed of by the department as agent of the War Assets Realisation Board. Twelve Fairmile motorlaunches. built at a cost to the Government of about £55,000 each, are included in the naval craft at upper harbour moorings.—(P.A.) Short Sitting of Court

One of the shortest sittings of the Magistrate’s Court for many months was held yesterday before Mr G. G. Chisholm. S.M.. A deserter from an overseas ship was sentenced to imprisonment; and counsel for parties in a civil case applied for, and were granted, an adjournment. The business occupied about three minutes, Equipment from Noumea The rearguard of the once very large New Zealand Army establishment in New Caledonia, 25 engineers, will shortly return to Auckland from Noumea. They will be carried in the Public Works Department’s 205-ton auxiliary schooner Tagua. and the 94ton auxiliary ketch New Golden Hind. The Tagua, which has been absent from the Dominion for many months in service in the Pacific, is due at Noumea about the end of this week, and the New Golden Hind is expected to leave Auckland for Noumea on Friday. Both vessels will pick up a large quantity of equinment before sailing in company for Auckland, where they are due early next month—(P.A.) Brewing Industry

In the early stages of the war, with the alteration in the mode of living of so many thousands of individuals and families inseparable from the mobilisation of the country’s resources, opportunity was taken by some sections of the public to level undeserved criticism at the brewing industry, and to clamour for restrictions, said the chairman of directors of New Zealand Breweries. Mr D. W. Madden, at the annual meeting of the company yesterday. The public were now aware of conditions which tended to operate when a commodity was in short supply, but the directors felt that the company and the brewing industry, and the licensed trade generally, could feel proud of their record of production. distribution, and service to the public during the difficult period experienced— (P.A.)

Back Saturday Work in Mines As from next Saturday, the Dobson State coal mine will commence to work the back Saturday. The union reconsidered its previous decision because of the urgent demand for coal.