NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 5, 1 October 1943, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

Angling Season

The angling season will open \in the Wellington Acclim itizacion Society's district today. It is expected that if tne weather is fair and warm, fishermen, should have a good day along the Hute River and its tributaries. Die Manawatu has been verv high and dirty, and will probably -be still considerably discoloured. but its tributaries and the smaller districts on the west coast to tlm north should be in good order. No indications have been received of conditions in the Wairarapa. Officer Assaulted. A New Zealand, officer who attempted to protect his sister from the attentions; of overseas servicemen in 'Wellington re-l cently 'was assaulted andi kicked. He is! now walking with rhe aid of a stick.

Maximum Rice Prices. Maximum wholesale and retail prices for rice are fixed by a price order issued; yesterday. The existing retail price re-, mains unchanged, that is, sd. a lb. in the main centres and 5 Id. elsewhere. Therefore the only change is the fixing of al wholesale price, which was not dealt with formerly. Citrus Fruit Market Better supplies of sweet oranges were offered in Auckland on Tuesday. The navel variety, grown principally at Kerb 1 keri, realized 38/- to 67/- a bushel, while mixed lines from,Avondale and Henderson and other local orchards sold at 21/to 27/- a half-case. The demand for New Zealand grapefruit improved and prices were unaltered. Board’s Difficulty. The recent difficulty in approaching the Minister of Health with certain re-1 presentations was mentioned at last night's meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board. An officer of the (board said' that the Minister was out of town during the election and, that finished,, there was . now 'Uncertainty over his position till the official recount of 'votes.

Liquor and Gaming Laws. Decisions to ask the Government to set up Royal Commissions to investigate and bring up to date both the liquor licensing laws and the gaming laws were made by the Federation of New Zealand Justices’ Associations at its annual conference in Wellington yesterday. It was remarked that the leaders of both the Labour Party and the National Party were agreed that action should be taken. Supply of Tennis Balls. Production was about to commence ot tennis balls in Auckland, said Mr. 8. A. Cieal (Auckland), to delegates from provincial councils of sport meeting in Wellington yesterday. Full production would not be in swing for some time, possibly by the cud of October, but by then the output would be about 100 dozen a day. The question of allocations was being taken up with the authorities. Long Wait for Reply. “It must be IS months since we wrote to the Government., So far we have not had a reply,” said Cr. M. E. Lyons, recalling at a meeting of the Christchurch City Council that the Government had offered the council control of hill reserves and buildings on the .Summit Road. The council had accepted the offer, conditional on the Government increasing a suggested grant to cover repairs to the buildings.

Rude Awakening Coining. “The ease with which young women can get employment and earn money has gone to the heads of some of them. There, will Ibe a rude awakening when the war, is over,” said' his Honour, Mr. Justice Callan, in the (Supreme Court, Auckland, in granting a hugband’s petition for an' order directing his wife to return to him. Petitioner said his 'wife had l told' him she would rather live her own life (by working. 'She left the only child of the marriage with her hugband'. Sydney’s Car Strippers. Car stripping in Sydney is fast increasing. Wheels, tyres, and rims worth hundreds of pounds are being stolen every week. Tyres are being sold on the black market for as much as £2O each. “Car stripping will grow even more when the demand increases for spare parts which have been frozen to help war needs,” the chief of the Criniinu l lnvestigation Bureau, Superintendent Keogh, said. "Police see the time not far distant when new and old cars will be stolen to be broken up for spare parts.”

Allotment Notes. Where domestic troubles arose, allotment notices given to a wife by a husband on active service should not be revoked by the service, concerned,, without the wife being advised, the Federation of New Zealand Justices’ Association decided at its annual conference in Wellington yesterday. It was stated that in some cases where men had declared that they were separated from their wives, allotment notes had been cancelled without the wife being given an opportunity to state her side of the case.

Depleted Trading Fleet. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Richmond' Yacht Club, iSir Ernest Davis deplored the gradual reduction of the one-time large fleet of trading vessels owned' in the port of Auckland. After the war, Sir (Ernest said, he hoped that some of the firms now engaged in (building naval vessels would turn their attention to larger craft and help to put Auckland (back as the home port of a large mercantile fleet, and so give scope for local men and youths with a love of the sea.

Disappointed Four Hundred. Four hundred prospective bidders assembled iu a Wellington auction room yesterday in anticipation of the sale of whisky. ■ brandy, gin and - other liquor which had been confiscated by ILM. Customs. However, they went away dispirited. Ten minutes .before the announced time of sale it was announced from the rostrum that, though one department was willing, the Price Tribunal was not, as there were ceiling prices on hard liquor. Consequently no business eventuated.

Sovereigns at Auction. Sovereigns are being bought at Sydney auction sales at almost double their cash value, which is £2/8/3. At one auction this week three sovereigns were sold for. £l4, or £4/13/4 each. Sovereigns are one of the few articles for which maximum prices have not been_ fixed. It is legal for anyone to hold £25 worth (that is, 10 sovereigns). Any number over that amount must be handed into the Commonwealth Bank, which pays £2/8/3 for them. It is suggested that they are being bought by refugees investing their savings iu gold and diamonds.

Gutta I‘ercha for Goll Balls. A suggestion that representations should be made to the Government tor tlie release of scwt. of gutfa percha to enable damaged golf balls to bo re-covered, was made bv Mr. A. A. Baker (Auckland). at yesterday's conference of delegates from provincial councils ol sport. Mr. Baker said lie bad been given to understand that the process lor recovering the balls was available. lhe sport required this assistance or it would, face serious difficulties in carrying on. On the recommendation of the chairman, Mr. W. A. Jenkins (Otago), the matter was left in the hands of delegates for suitable action.

Windows at Auckland Hospital. The removal of shatter-proof fabric from windows in the various institutions under the control of tile Auckland Hospital Board was decided on at a meeting of the board this week. A letter hadbeen received from the Director-General of Health stating that the Director of Civil Defence had advised that in view, of the present, more favourable situation in the Pacific, and bearing in mind the comfort and well-being of the patients, it. was regarded as rcasontible that boards shoulu remove window protection coverings which blackout or interfere with rooms occupied b.v patients.

Wellington Swimming Centre. Swimming certilieatcs issued by tlie educational officer of-ll'C 'Wellington centre of the Now Zealand Amateur Swimming Association during the P as J. o Tear numbered 3249, compared with 2331 in the previous season. The total is mane un as follows: Beginners, 936; learners, 1099 ; proficiency. 741; merit, 423 ; progress ("style”). 50: and life-saving, 28 (not included in the total). No fewer than 2291 school children, 70 per cent, of the certificate-holders, have progressed beyond the beginner stage, showing that the enthusiasm for swimming is maintained throughout the sehoyl years. Despite war conditions tile last season is looked on <is one of the best experienced in the history of the centre.