NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Art Union Drawing The drawing of “Don’t Pass—Buy'’ Art Union is to take place at the boardroom. second floor, Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Association Building. Customhouse Quay, this morning, commencing at 9.30. Thieves Drop In. „ During the past week two cars have been stolen from Auckland garages by thieves who have forced an entrance through skylights. They have just dropped in. National War Savings. Last week National War Savings quotas were attained by 198 towns, the same number as for the preceding two weeks. Each of the 18 principal centres was successful, and in all postal districts the full district quotas were obtained. Art Union Profit. The motor-car art union conducted recently by the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council will result in a net benefit to provincial funds of slightly more thaQ £7OOO. More than -S.OOG tickets were sold. —P.A. Shooting Opening. Conditions were too fine to make an ideal opening for the shooting season ou Lake Wairarapa, but a party of nine on Mr. Crawford’s property “Te "U n ? a ', on the west side, got 75 swan, oi duck and some pukeko. There were plenty of ducks out on the lake, but the weather did not favour sportsmen. Price of Wheat. A meeting of representatives of the, Primary Production Committee. Farmers Union, and wheat growers of the Ashburton County decided to press strongly for a straight-out increase in the price ot wheat as the only method of obtaining the greater acreage desired- by the Government. It is stated, however, that if a greater price is obtained the acreage would not increase till next year. P.A. •‘H.M.S. Pinafore.” “H.M.S. Pinafore,” the undying Gil-bert-Sullivan operetta, is to be performed bv.the students of the Wellington Technical College later on in the year. Many will remember the jolly performance o! “The Pirates of Penzance” given by th« students some three years ago. a success which has encouraged those interested to exploit further the humour and melody ot the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Taxi Licence Goodwill. Evidence was given by holders of taxicab licences to the Auckland Metropolitan Licensing Authority that they considered £2OO a fair figure for the goodwill of a -licence. Their net profits ranged from £504 to £373 for the year ended March 31 last. The authority ruled that £lOO would be the (naximum figure for goodwill. Christchurch Milk. Supplies of milk to Christchurch during the winter are now expected to be sufficient to‘avoid rationing. This information was given yesterday by the stock superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. E. Elphick, who said that no need had arisen yet for stock to •be fed on hay and other stored winter feed, as the autumn weather had been highly favourable for strong pasture growth.—PA. Paper Saving Record. , . , A record in saving paper is claimed by a Christchurch resident who possesses a wrapper that has made four return journeys to England on posted -packets. The wrapper first came into use as the covering for periodicals posted to England 7n January, IMI. Despite its lengthv use and long travels, the wrapper is still in fair order and the owner anticipates giving it another trip this year. Presentation Gavel. At the Wellington Rotary Club ,uncheon vesterday. Sir Alexander Roberts, on behalf of the directors, presented the president, Mr. Hope Gibbons, wjth a handsome polished wooden gavel suitably inscribed. Sir Alexander explained that it was not a present from the club, but was something in the nature of penance on behalf of certain directors for harbouring wayward thoughts about the ability of the president. The gavel, the work of Rotarians H. Mayer and A. R. Christian, was made from wood grown on the Christian estate. Burglary in Kelbum. Burglars entered the Viaduct Service Station, Kelburn, on Monday night, by removing a pane of glass in the door and forcing two heavy bolts. Mindful or previous burglaries, the proprietor, Mr. J. O. Priestley, had displayed a card warning prowlers in jocular terms not to waste their time breaking in as no money or cigarettes were kept on the premises. Monday night’s intruders, having ignored this notice, found only a few pence in tb® till, but they stole a clock, tins of polish and other goods, besides doing considerable damage to the door. Competition From Margarine. A warning that New Zealand butter producers would have to face severe com- ■ petition from margarine after the wajwas given by Mr. W. Marshall, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Limited, at a social function at Te Kowhai. He said that the price received by New Zealand for hotter in 1943 was the same as they received in 1914. During the intervening period costs had increased enormously. A good quality margarine which contained vitamins and was very palatable was being sold in England today at lOd. a lb. it was made from a nut oil produced m North Africa. Watch the Straps'. An infallible guide to the condition of tramway tracks in Wellington is the swing of the overhead straps (provided for standing passengers in crowded cars) as a car speeds on its way. While the cars traverse the new tracks on the northern side of the line in Manners Street, 'between Cuba and Taranaki Streets, the straps hang straight .down with little movement; but as soon as the car moves eastward on to tracks the foundations of which are practically gone, the straps acquire such a violent cross action that they nearly touch the ceiling on either side of the bar from which they are suspended. Anniversary of Mr. Massey’s Death. Today is the nineteenth anniversary of the death of the Rt. Hon. William Fer- . guson Massey, who was Prime Minister of New Zealand for 13 years. He died at the age of 69, and waq buried on the headland at Point Halswell, overlooking Wellington Harbour, where a memorial to him now stands. Mr. Massey was a member of the House of Representatives for more than 30 years. He was regarded as a strong Prime Minister and sturdy Imperial statesman. Mr. Massey was first elected to Parliament as member for Waitemata. but at the general election in 1896 won the Franklin seat and held it to the time of his death. A son, Mr. J. N. Massey, is the present Parliamentary representative for Franklin. Incomplete Sports Grounds. • When a deputation to the Minister of Defence yesterday morning requested the release of Wellington city parks recently occupied by the armed forces, Cr. K. 1.. Macalister. chairman of the reserves committee, said that in view of the lani o areas made available without cost, the Public Works Department should meet the city by completing certain playing areas on which large sums of money hail been spent, 'but which had never «been brought to a state requisite for playing. ITe referred to Melrose Park, where £4-,* 500 had been spent, and* Cashmere Park, still incomplete, though £20,660 had been expended upon it. In view of the desperate condition of the city for grounds, iiua what the citv had done, he thought that the Government might -assist with those two reserves. The Minister said that tins was a matter which would be referred to the Minister of Works. Dead Airman Remembered. Dir. and Mrs. David Milligan, Wellington have received a gracious letter from their Majesties the King and Queen expressing sympathy with them on the death of their son. Wing Commander David Neville Milligan. D.F.C., who was killed in a crash on the hills of Northumberland last January. Wing Commander Milligan had a distinguished career with the R.A.F., having been concerned in "the evacuation of Singapore. Later he served in North Africa, Greece, Crete, and for some time was based on Malta. Their Majesties expressed the hope that the services so nobly given to his country would be some consolation to the parents. It was tragic that Wing Commatlder Milligan, who hnd seen so much action, should have lost his life while flying solo. Thick weather was the k cause pf the feJ&lVy-