General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 14

General News

Main Problem One of the main problems of governments was summarised by Mr B. E. Taiboys, Parliamentary Under-Secre-tary to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, when he spoke at the opening of the poultry farmers’ refresher course at Canterbury Agricultural College yesterday. "I have not yet met the man or woman who does not want more funds from the Government or who wants to pay more money into the Government,’’ he said.

Elderly Drivers More than 800 Wellington drivers, aged 70 and over, are expected to be tested for renewal of their driving licences this year. This is the greatest number in this age group yet recorded in Wellington. If the rate of increase of about 100 a year continues, the number is expected to reach 1000 by next year.—(P.A.)

Blue Peter Puzzle The Blue Peter is a common sight at the masthead of ships about to sail; but the sight of this flag flying on the freighter, Palamcotta, at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, when it was known that the vessel would not sail until this morning, puzzled many persons. According to an officer of the ship, it is normal practice in the British India Company, the ship’s owners, to fly the Blue Peter 24 hours before sailing. Recently, another British India Line ship, the Ordia, observed a similar 24 hour custom at Lyttelton. Hazards For Farmers

Praising courses such as the’ poultry farmers' refresher course now being held at Canterbury Agricultural College for the part they played in helping farmers to apply science to their industry, Mr B E. Taiboys, Under-Secre-tary to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, said at the opening of the course yesterday that there were also some hazards associated with attending these courses. "I attended a similar course here on dairying,” Mr Taiboys recalled. "It was so complete that shortly afterwards I took up sheepfarming and since then I have moved into politics.” Feed For Ducks Lake Ngakawau, in the Waitarere dstrict, has been closed to duck shooters by the Internal Affairs Department after the finding of barley scattered on the lake verges. The closure was made a week before the opening of the shooting season on May 6. Notices have been erected in the area saying that shooting is prohibited. Regulations say that lakes can be closed to shooters if feed is distributed in the area within a month before the season begins.—(P.A.) TV Set Out Of Hat Old people at St. Barnabas’ Anglican Home are anxiously awaiting the arrival of television in Dunedin. A television set, first prize in the Otago Amateur Athletic Association’s raffle; to raise funds for the allweather track at the Caledonian Ground, has not been claimed, and at a meeting of the association it was decided to present it to a city old people’s home. Names were put in a hat, and the Anglican home in Ings avenue was the winner.—(P.A.)

Lemon Prices The supply of Meyer lemons which reached Christchurch produce markets from Tauranga yesterday was the beginning of what is expected to be steady supplies for the next three months. Mever lemons sold at 25s to 30s a case yesterday. New Zealand lemons, which remain in good supply, sold at a set price of 50s a case. Tomato prices, which rose to 2s 5d a pound on Monday, dropped! by 4d yesterday to 2s Id.

Knot-Hole Plugger A machine which makes dowels for plugging knot holes in pine timber is now in use at the State mill at Waipa. The catalogue of suggestions adopted by the organisation and method section of the Public Service Commission says the adoption of the suggestion made by a mill worker has meant a great saving of time.’ When the knots were taken out of the timber, the holes were plugged with specially cut dowels. These dowels were cut by various means, none of which was entirely satisfactory. The mill worker devised an attachment to the band saw which will prepare these plugging dowels as required. Under trial, the machine in one hour cut 5301 dowels—a job which would have taken one man eight hours.

Church Centenary The centenary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand will be celebrated in March, 1964. In Christchurch, a tentative programme is already being planned by a sub-committee set up by the Christchurch Presbytery. At a meeting of the Presbytery last evening, the convener of the committee (the Rev. E. M. Rogers) said that celebrations in the city would begin on March 17 of that year —“and will not be celebrating the occasion of St. Patrick's Day,” he added, amid laughter.