NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

National Flags. • A correspondent in yesterday's issue stated that the South African and Irish Free State flags were,not on view during the Coronation. "The Post" is informed that at least two flags of the Irish Free State were included in the flags to be seen in front of the Government Buildings, and also several South African flags. ■ ■ Electricity Charges. At a conference of local body representatives in Pahiatua this week it was decided to urge the Government to equalise the bulk supply charges for electricity to all supply authorities. The meeting was actually called to consider the question of nationalising the Tararua 'Power Board's services, but this was not favoured, and it was agreed to move towards* seeking a reduction in the bulk supply charges of electricity to all boards. Tight Finance. After-applying to eleven leading financial institutions the Morrinsville Borough Council finds that it cannot obtain a loan of £10,000 for a twentyyear term at 3J per cent., states an exchange. The money is needed for tar-sealing roads, forming footpaths, and doing other permanent work. World-wide Movement. , Details relating to the foundation, organisation, and the operations, of the 62 national Red Cross societies recognised by the international committee, are contained in the International Red Cross Year Book for 1937. According to the statistics at the end of 1936 the world membership •of y the Red Cross totalled, 35,569,223, comprising 16,910,316 adults and 17,658,907 juniors. Automatic Fireman; * An automatic sprinkler forestalled the Fire Brigade when an outbreak of fire occurred on the second floor of the D.I.C. Building, Lambton Quay, shortly before 1 a.m. today. The alarm was heard ringing inside the building, and by the time the. brigade arrived the sprinkler system had extinguished the blaze. Apparently the fire started in a sack of papers in the reaf of the building, but the sprinkler went into operation befOre the blaze had gained any hold. Little damage was done. South Makara Road. An application was again made to the Main Highways Board during the past year to have the South Makara Road declared a main highway, said Mr. R. G. Mexted at the annual meeting of the Makara County Council yesterday. The Main Highways Board stated in reply that, consequent. upon the recent passing of legislation and the introduction of the state arterial road systems, involving extra financial commitments against thehighways account, it was not possible to approve of additional highways this year. The board further stated that the question of declaring further highways would receive consideration next year according, to the position which then obtains. Therefore, it would appear that the only thing the council could do would be to make a further application to have the South Makara Road declared a main highway. A Popular Blafcer. • The national summer dress of New Zealanders, .it has been stated, is a blazer and a pair of flannel "bags"— for women as well as men—but it is unfortunate for the old boys of Wellington College that their blazer' is of popular cdlour and design. In their travels old boys have seen it worn by other than old boys, and it was stated at the annual meeting. Of the-Old Boys' Association last evening, thai, it was exceedingly popular with King Country Maoris. The suggestion that the blazer be altered met with support. Trade of the Port. ' Reporting to the "Wellington Harbour Board last evening on the shipping and cargo statistics tpr the month of April compared With those of April last year; the chairman (Mr. D. J. McGowan) said that the return showed an increase in the tonnage of shipping arrivals and a decrease in the tonnage of goods handled. The increase in shipping arrivals was 5901 net tons on a tonnage of ' 365,712 tons. The decrease in tonnage handled was 5271 tons on a tonnage of 181,030 tons. Imports from English, and foreign ports decreased from 30,952 tons to 23,456 tons, or by 7496 tons and imports from coastal and Australian ports iricreased from' 24,085 tons to 33,291 tons, or by 9206 tons. Transhipments increased by 1446 tons. Exports to coastal and Australian ports increased by 8134 tons. Exports to English and, foreign ports decreased by 2692 tons, principally in butter, cheese, and frozen meat; wool ■>dso showed a decrease. Pursuers Eluded. > . After drawing away from a party of police in a taxi who pursued, him along the main road to Cambridge at 70 miles an hour, the occupant of a stolen motor-car eluded his pursuers by dodging about the streets of Cambridge, and abandoned the car in CollingwOod Street, Hamilton, early on Tuesday morning, states a Hamilton correspond' ent. The speedometer showed that the car had been driven over 300 miles since it was stolen. The car was owned by Mr, F. Herbert, of Killarney Road, FranktOn, and was taken from the back of his house, down the drive past a bedroom window, and driven away. The matter was reported to the police, who saw the car passing along Victoria Street after 4 O'clock in the morning. A taxi was commandeered, and the stolen car was followed out through Hamilton East and along the road to Cambridge, When nearly overtaken the thief apparently realised that he was being pursued, and he accelerated out of range, later abandoning the car.

"Silent Policemen." "If we are going to have any police witness in this case, don't call it a 'silent policeman'—they don't like, it," said Mr. Justice Callan in the Auckland Supreme Court on Tuesday, reports the "New Zealand Herald." "Iknow from experience. Call it a traffic dome." Counsel suggested that the familiar sign was widely known as a "poached egg." "I have been put in my place by a constable for speaking of it as a silent policeman," continued his Honour, smiling. He added that he thought they were quite right to object to the term. As the case proceeded counsel made a determined effort —not always successful—to avoid the use of the questionable name. Imported Oranges. The importation of oranges was.discussed briefly at a meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night when the following motion, sponsored by Mr. M. G. C. McCaul, was carried unanimously:— ''That this chamber expresses the hope that success will soon crown the efforts of our Government in its negotiations with the Commonwealth Government to promote a greater flow of trade between Australia and New Zealand." One or two members expressed the hope in the interests of public health that the importations of oranges would be increased, but all-agreed that the Government should use its best endeavours to gain a better balance Of trade for New Zealand. Value of Red Cross Society. In the interests of the community as a whole it' was necessary that the young "people of New Zealand should interest themselves in the .work of the Red Cross Society, said the president, Mrs. T. H. Lowry (Hawke's1 Bay) at; the annual meeting of the Dominion Council today, Mrs. Lowry said - that those at present engaged in the work could not carry on for all time, and it was desirable that the children of today Should be educated to take their place. As was proved by the Napier earthquake, there was a need for such an organisation in peace-time as well as during war, and' one never knew when another/1, disaster similar to that which occurred in Hawke's Bay would happen again in the Dominion. Film of Coronation. Providing the Maunganui arrives from Sydney on time tomorrow, films of the Coronation will be shown at the Plaza and King's Theatres at 11 a.m. The speedy transport of the newsreel is claimed to be a world record, for audiences will see the film fifteen days after the event The film will be first shown at a private screening at 10 a.m. The newsreel reached Sydney ten days after the Coronation, this being made possible by the use of a speciallyehartered aeroplane^ which flew from England across Europe to overhaul and connect with the regular England-Australia mail machine. Of the nine copies of the film due at Wellington tomorrow, eight will be distributed throughout the country by aeroplane. It is expected that screenings will take place in the other main centres at 2.15 p.m.-' County Amalgamations, County amalgamations were referred to by Mr. E. Windley at yesterday's meeting of the Makara County Council. Mr. Windley!said he failed to see any advantage in such amalgamations. No explanation had yet been given_ of the benefits likely to be gained. The question should be .submitted to the county ratepayers whose verdict, he was prepared to accept. Councillor Purchase said that most <of the advocacy •. for • county amalgamation came from bodies such as chambers of commerce which had no knowledge of the conduct of County affairs. , Minister Adrift s The Minister of iFublie Works (the Hon. B. Semple) and his party found themselves adrift on Monday, in a broken-down launch on the swift and turbulent Tarawera River, in the course of an inspection Of the western end of the Whakatane County,. (states a Whakatane correspondent). About 11 a.m.' the party was met at the Tarawera Bridge by a ■settler, who pointed out the detrimental effect on pasture land of .the recent flood, and invited the Minister to take a short trip on the river, so that a closer inspection could be made. , The, party motored some miles up. the Awakaponga-Onepu KOad, and boarded, a large launch. In mid-stream the engine failed and the uncontrolled craft raced down the river, which is always fast-flowing, and was still inflight spate on Monday. The party were never in danger, fortunately, and after an enforced cruise of some three miles their craft came inshore close enough to be moored to a dredge near the bank. A rough cross-, c6untry trek followed until the waiting cars; were reached. :