General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 6

General News

Sheepskin Control “It has been found necessary to continue the woolly sheepskin control for I at least several months beyond June 30, 1946,” said the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts) yesterday. "It had been hoped that the control could be cancelled,” continued the Minister, “but, it has been announced from the United Kingdom that the wool standstill agreement is to apply until September 30, when auctions will commence. In view of this position, combined with arrangements governing pickled pelt ceilings and supplies required for local manufacturers, it has been decided to continue the control for a limited period. Interests affected by the continuation should confer with the Sheepskin Controller on any matters connected with the purchase and disposal of woolly sheepskins.”—(PA..) Six-monthly Warrants of Fitness Inquiries made by the Chief City Traffic Inspector (Mr C. S. Nicholson) during a recent visit to Wellington suggest that the Transport Department propbses at an early date to’ revert to six-monthly warrants of fitness for. all motor vehicles. During the war the period of currency of the warrant for cars used only for private purposes was extended to 12 months. Mr Nicholson pointed out yesterday, that after the end of this month, when new registration plates would replace both the old plates and the windscreen registration transfers, there would be no outward indication to traffic officers as to whether a vehicle was a business or a private car. This would make for difficulty of enforcement if different periods of currency of warrants were retained. ' ' .

National Savings A total of 256 places obtained their national savings quotas last week, and with the aid of surpluses recorded at these places every postal district in the Dominion succeeded in attaining the full district quota for the week. In the Blbnheim, Greymouth, Invercargill, Nelson, Oamaru, and Westport districts all towns obtained their individual quotas. With only 12 weeks elapsed of the current financial year, 35 places have already recorded the attainment of their full year's quotas.— (P.S.S.) Aeroplane Forced Down at Ashburton Fog over Wigram caused the de Havilland aircraft carrying the Hon. F. Jones from Dunedin to Wellington yesterday to land at the Ashburton aerodrome. After having morning tea with the officers engaged in radar research work Mr Jones was flown to Christchurch on receiving word that conditions had cleared over Harewood, where the aircraft landed for refuelling before continuing the journey to Wellington Invested with Netherlands Order “In these calamitous days there is a tendency in some quarters to forget oqr old comradeship and our old alliance,” said the Consul-General for the Netherlands, Jonkheer Dr. W. E. van Panhuys, before investing MajorGeneral Sir Fred Bowerbank with the insignia of a Grand Officer of the Order of Oranje-Nassau. , The ConsulGeneral was referring to the links that bound the Dutch people and the British during the recent war, and particularly to the association between his own Government and that of New Zealand in the hospital ship, Oranje. The ceremony took place at the Con-sul-General’s home yesterday,—(P.A.) Shortage of Suita in Australia Australian former servicemen are faced with two different regulations when they are unable to obtain civilian clothing. The Army authorities announced that discharged servicemen who were unable to buy suits would be allowed to wear their uniforms for six months after discharge, says the “New Zealand Draper and Allied Retailer.” However, the police took the View that the Army Act forbids the wearing of uniform 'and badges after discharge, and recently they charged a man with illegally wearing a uniform. A sympathetic magistrate fined the offender Is and adviseb discharged servicemen to remove badges and buttons from their uniforms. Latsr the Army Department said that when discharged men wore uniform they should wear it complete with buttons badges, unit patches, and decorations, and treat it with’ the respect that its history and traditions deserved. At present former servicemen with permits can obtain a cheap suit after a delay of three months, or a better quality suit in from six to eight months.

Big Produce Cargo The loading of one of the largest produce cargoes to leave New Zealand was completed at Auckland in the New Zealand Shipping Company’s 14,000-ton motor-shij> H orora ta yesterday. The Hororata is one of the largest cargo \ carriers in the refrigerated trade. She was due to leave for Liverpool via Panama and Curacao early in the morning Her “turn round” on the coast since she arrived at Auckland from Liverpool on April 1 has taken just over 12 weeks.— (P.A.) * Doctor Wanted at Millerton The Millerton mine was idle yesterday as a protest against the failure of the doctor appointed by he Health Department to arrive on Monday. District miners, at a recent meeting, made strong protest at the unsatisfactory position concerning medical officers appointed for the district, and it was suggested that because of the need for urgent attention to injured miners that no worlf be done at the mines until a permanent appointment was made, and an assurance was given by the department that a doctor would arrive on Monday. Then the men went to work, but yesterday when the doctor had not arrived a work meeting decided not to work until a medical officer arrived It was understood that a doctor was to come last evening. Campaign Against Blackbirds As the result of a request made by the Waimate Raspberry Growers’ Association. the Waimate County Council hag decided to subsidise to the tent of 3d a dozen the purchase of blackbirds’ eggs. The eggs are to be collected in a defined area adjoining the borough, and the council's action is conditional upon receiving the cooperation of the Waimate Borough Council. The Raspberry Growers’ Association initiated a campaign against blackbirds and thrushes two years ago, offering 3d a dozen for eggs, but collections were negligible “Suburb of Christchurch” The. statement that Greymouth was to-day just a suburb of Christchurch was made by Mr J. Corcoran, secretary of the Road Transport Alliance at a sitting of *he No. Transport Authority (Mr S. V. Raines) at Greymouth yesterday. Every morning, he said, carriers had to take delivery from the goods sheds of milk, meat, fish, vegetables, and many other perishable commodities consigned from Christchurch to Greymoutn householders.

Drainage Board Equipment A 86 h.p. tractor, with angiedozer and winch, has been purchased by the Christchurch Drainage Board at a cost of £4507, The machine’ was guaranteed by the agents as new while all other machines offered to the board had been in use. The cost of a 15cwt truck for use by the foreman flusher was £slg. Colombo Street Bridge “They are holding up the work and causing flooding in properties in our district,” said Mr R. Jones when a letter from the Christchurch City Council asking when the Christchurch Drainage Board proposed carrying out its river deepening work so that the new bridge over the Heathcote river at Colombo street could be widened, was read at last evenings meeting of the board. The acting-engineer (Mr E. F. Scott) said the river work could not be done until the bridge was widened. The board decided to inform the council that it would begin work immediately the construction of the new bridge was begun. Old Vessel as Home jitter lying at Kawau Island for the last 15 years, the 45-year-cld vessel Manuwai is beipg converted into a houseboat by a Whangarei shipwright. The craft was towed to Whangarei from Kawau Island and after being slipped is now being made into a residence for the shipwright, his wife, and two children.