NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

Royal Mail Aircraft

'The inauguration of the commercial air service across the Tasman has resulted in the flying-boats Aotearoa and Awarua receiving the designation generally applied in other parts of the Empire to aircraft regularly carrying mail. They are therefore being called R.M.A., or Royal Mail Aircraft. Aotearoa and Awarua.

Science and Imports. Even scientific means are called in to determine the oft-vexed question of classification of ijliports. It is recorded in the annual report just presented by the Dominion Laboratory that analyses are often helpful and sometimes necessary in determining correct classification of imports and, when required, are madebv tlie laboratory. A great variety of samples was submitted; these totalled 183 for the annual period covered in the report.

Military’ Age Group. According to the summary of age groups in New Zealand based on the census taken in 1936. details of which have now been published, there were 238,163 males in 1936 between the ages of 20 and 40. A further analysis shows that in the age groups 21-40. there were 109,879 single men and 110,775 married men. Almost half the single men in this age group were between the ages of 21 and 25.

Females Older. For the first time in the census history of New Zealand, the average age of females exceeds that of males. This is revealed in the review of the Census and Statistics Department of the 1936 census. In 1896 the average male, on the basis of tlie arithmetic mean, was 2.44 years older than the average female, but this gap diminished with the vears till in 1926 it was 0.39 years, and Tn 1936 had changed to a female seniority of 0.16 years.

Strange Bag of Ducks. The best bag of ducks reported from the Whangarei district during the weekend fell to a man who is said to have had neither gun nor dog. Heavy rains on Friday night resulted in such swift floodwaters that many birds shot floated out of roach before they could be retrieved. This man stationed himself at one point of tlie Mangakahia River and recovered the birds as they were swept down toward him. His bag in a very short time was nine birds. Australian Court Verdict. The general manager of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd advises that in a legal action by the Commonwealth versus the company, a majority decision was given in the High Court recently in the Company’s favour. The case related to the delivery by A.W.A. of drop copies of Press telegrams received by beam wireless. The judgment awards costs to the company but is without prejudice to any separate action the plaintiffs may bring under the International Telegraph Regulations.

Hunter Street Footpath. When the new Mutual Life and Citizens’ Assurance Company’s building was erected at the junction of Hunter Street and Lambton Quay, Wellington, its frontage to the former street was set back 10 feet under an existing proclamation. Now that the building has been completed the footpath is being set back 10 feet as far eastward from Featherston Street as the Bank of New Zealand’s property in Hunter Street. The full benefit of this widening scheme will not be realized till the bank building and the National Mutual Life Association’s premises have been set back to the new street alignment. New Parking Method. To compare the merits of the existing systems of tail-in angle parking on Lambton Quay with head-in parking, which it is proposed should be adopted, the city council has marked out some places for head-in parking near the D.I.C. For head-in parking lines have to be painted at an angle different from those for tail-in parking. It was stated in a report presented to the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington) last night that there were advantages and disadvantages in both methods, but drivers were asked to co-operate to the greatest possible extent with the traffic department of the city council and to drive into the centre of each marked section, which would facilitate backing out with the least, possible interference with passing traffic.

Confusing Corner for Traffic. There appears to be a good deal of confusion on the part of vehicle drivers at the junction of Taranaki and Wakefield Streets, an intersection which is controlled by traffic-actuated lights, it was stated in a report submitted to the executive of tlie. Automobile Association (Wellington) last night. Probably the confusion is due to the fact that' motorists are not altogether familiar with the Motor Vehicle Regulations as they govern traffic at intersections controlled by lights. Where an intersection is controlled by lights drivers of vehicles making a turn shall always yield the right-of-way to approaching vehicles not making a turn, and the City Council proposes to erect notices warning drivers who are making a turn that they must do. so with extreme caution.

Education And The War. “Education, which is so much concerned witli the future, has its roots in tile present,” stated a clause in the report of the executive read at the annual conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute in Wellington yesterday,” and while so much of the adult world is immersed in the effort and confusion of war, tlie need to stand fast for the rights of childhood becomes even more pressing than _ in peacetime. The greatest contribution that teachers can make, except when called on for other, special duties, is to maintain and intensify their professional work on behalf of the children. With this in mind, the executive has continued its normal functions during the past year, at the same time planning as far ahead as possible in order to ensure concerted and continued effort.”

Long-Locked Gates to bo Opened. The ga'tes giving access to the roof of the "Oriental Bay bathing pavilion are to 'be opened to the general public, it was announced by I lie chairman, Mr. E. A. Batt, at a meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wellington), las't night. Mr. Batt said he mentioned the subject there because many motorists went, to Oriental Itay for a short run. Since the pavilion" was built the gates had been locked and notices had prohibited the public from using what was like a pier. It had always annoyed him, and lie had mentioned it to the mayor, the city engineer and to Or. R. L. Macalister, and though they had tigreed that the gates should Im? "opened nothing had been done. That day he had spoken about it again to Cr. Macalister, and just before the meeting Cr. Macalister had told him that the reserves committee had decided during the afternoon that the gates should be opened. Seats were to be placed on the roof. I't was resolved that Cr. Macalister be congratulated.