LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 13 March 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Corso Street Day To-day CORSO is playmg a great part in meeting Europe's appalling need of desperate shortages of food, fuel and clothes, and of threatened pestilenee. Relief teams have been nghting a fine battle to bring relief to the peoples of the war-stricken eountries, and so that this work may continue fimds are urgently required. The Levin branch purposes holding a combined street and shop day on Friday, when the support of all residents of the district is solicited. i Goat Damage on Egmont Surprise at the apathy of the Government towards the serious goat infestation of the Egmont National Park was expressed ai a meeting of the Taranaki Council of the Roval Institute.. of Horti-

culture at New Plymouth on Satur!day. Members had just returned j from a visit to the reserve where 1 they had inspected the extensive j damage done to the vegetation by goats. The meeting passed a resolu- ; tion urging the Dominion ■ council j oi the institute to continue to work for Government assistance in the | eradication of the menace. Search for Mines A minesweeper flotill'a of the Royal New Zealand Navy, working out of Auckland, is at present sweeping the approaches to Waitemata Harbour, where the German raider Murmark sowed three barrages in 1940. The job is a necessary aftermath of the war, its purpose being to make absolutely sure that peace-time shipping will run no risk from any stray mines which might possibly have been left j in the area. So far the flotilla has jnot cut any mines and it is considI ered improbable that it will find any. Imperial Preference May be Lost "I would hazard a guess that, within the next 12 months, we will jiose Imperial preference," predicted j the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. |S. G. Holland), when addressing a meeting at Auckland on Monday evening. Mr. Holland added that, at the coming World Trade Conference, there was every possibility of Imperial preference going over- : board. "If the people do not know : much about Imperial preference 3 '• v/ould urge them to study if inten1 sively as soon as they can;" added Mr. Holland. "It. is .only .strong ; • public op'inibh -tpat^ah.riijfiuepce Governments ; ahd' if • Iriipef iai preference is lost permanently I believe great damage will be donp to New Zealand. Tyres Changed Daily "To such a pass has the tyre shortage come that we have to strip the tyres off one vehicle that is used at night, convey them some miles, and attach them to ancther vehicle, to enable iteto operate the . .next day," said the engineer, • Mr. K. M. Wright, at a meeting of the Raglan County Council. Asked why the tyres on vehicles at the Hopuhopu mifitary camp could not be made available, Mr. Wright said they were "untouchable, because of the delay in settling the lend-lease problem." Mr. Wright added that tyres made of synthetic rubber were so unreliable that carriers using them declined to accept orders for carrying goods over rough metalled roads.

Tyre Position in Australia The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Aust.) , Ltd., expects that tyre ra'tioning in Australia will be discontinued soon and distribution resumed through the normal trade channels. Production in recenf months has increased greatly, the directors' report states. Practieally all products are now going into civilian use. Although considerable quantities of syntnetic rubber are being used, it is expected that with the rapidly iricreasing production of natural rubber additional supplies will be available in Australia before the end of the year. Dipping units have been installed to process fabrics with synthetic rubber and also rayon, sliould this be used. The company's net profit of. £122,191 for the year ended December 31 is a decrease of £33,605 and the lowest since 1935. Shortages of material, labour and power caused the decrease, the report says. r i

Very Hot Day Yesterday Levin experienced probably its hottest day this summer. A warm north-westerly wind combined with a clear atmosphere. after the rain overnight, brought about this return to sultry conditions after a touch of autumn when the wind came off the hills last week. The thermomefcer touched 80 degrees in the shade yesterday. After a very successfuL season last year, the Levin Playreaders resume activities this evening, when A. A. Milne's bright comedy, "Sarah Simple," will be presented. in the College Hall at 7.30 p.m. Mr. A. Savell is the producer. Those who have. seen previous readings will know they can expect a very enjoyable Cvening. It you have not as. yet attended a Playreaders show, then come along to-night. You will • be very welcome, and you will see a class of entertainment which is isteadily gaining in popularity.