RUBBISH ON COUNTY ROADS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 245, 13 September 1940, Page 6

RUBBISH ON COUNTY ROADS

It is a matter for regret that people in this country lack the appreciation • of rural beauty shown in other places. On many country roads may be seen a litter of rubbish that spoils their attractiveness. Reference to this matter was made by the Kairanga County Council, when it was stated that on one road alone- were to be seen the remains of au aeroplane, motor-cycle parts, and other rubbish. It is not uncommon also to find the remains of old motor-cars left to rust away on rural roads. In England a few years ago, in order to prevent people from leaving rubbish or litter around the countryside, special laws were introduced, and within a short space of time action was taken against offenders with the result that the practice was speedily discouraged by fines. These laws had special relation to picnickers, but were wide enough to bring other offenders within their sphere. Something of a similar nature is required in this country. In some Continental cities it is an offence to discard anything, no matter its size, when on the streets and their attractiveness is preserved. The removal of rubbish left on qountry roads should be thoroughly insisted upon by all local authorities. At the same time the Government should make it an offence to disfigure the countryside or city streets with hoardings. This matter has been long advocated without the success its sponsors hoped for.

Economic Investigation. After its meeting yesterday tlie general working committee appointed by the Economic Stabilisation Conference adjufirncd till next week to enable the preparation of further material by departmental officers and others. Thefts of Flowers. t

“Some people, especially women, just, cannot keep their hands off,' 1 commented the chairman (Mr F. A. Swarbrick) at a meeting of the Hariiilton Domain Board, when the subject of the indiscriminate picking of flowers on domain lands was being discussed. A report made by the ioremaii stated that lie had caught a woman picking daffodils. Notifiable Complaint.

All types of tuberculosis come under the list of notifiable diseases as from October 1 this year. The necessary provisions in this connection are made in the Notifiable Diseases Order, 1940, gazetted last night. Hitherto only the pulmonary type of tuberculosis has been notifiable, but under the new order this is extended to include all types of the disease. Maoris and Home Guard.

“Maoris will be in the Home Guard on a 50-50 basis,” said the Minister of National Service (Hon. It. Semple) at a meeting in Hamilton to discuss the formation of a Home Guard. “They have their kumara patches to defend, and they will fight alongside their pakeha brother,” he continued. Mr Semple was replying to a question as to whether Maoris could join the movement. Mounted Nurses.

Believed to he the first unit of its kind in New Zealand, the Gisborne mounted auxiliary of the Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Association is performing intensive training for work as mounted nurses. The members are trained in first-aid and general nursing work, and by means of horses will provide their own transportation to inaccessible parts of the district in time of emergency. Miners Refuse Mutton.

Welsh miners’ objection to New Zoa- ' land mutton led to a strike during the Great War, according to Mr W. Machin, in an address to the Canterbury Economies Society on economic organisation in war. When New Zealand mutton carcases, fat and weighing fccbetween 70 and 801 b., were sent to the Welsh mining districts, the men refused to buy the meat, he said. They went on strike till supplies of the lean, smallbodied sheep they had been accustomed to could be provided for them. Ring Fern Pest. A remit that the Agricultural Department should at once experiment extensively to find a cheap method of eradicating ring fern on hill country where it is impossible to plough was received from the Otaki committee at a meeting of the District Primary Production Council yesterday. The chairman (Mr J. Linldater) mentioned that neither cattle nor sheep would eat ring fern, and the only treatment was to remove the growth and resow the laud. It was a most difficult fern to remove. The matter was referred to the Agricultural Department. Fourth Reinforcements.

Surprise has been expressed in certain quarters that the next batch of troops to be called up for service with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force is officially referred to as “The Fourth Reinforcements.” It was supposed by many of the public that after the three echelons comprising the New Zealand Division, the next lot would be the First Reinforcements. It was explained yesterday by the Army authorities that each of the echelons sent overseas had been accompanied by a number of reinforcements, so that the First Reinforcements, Second Reinforcements and Third Reinforcements had already been provided. The title of Fourth Reinforcements was, therefore, the pro]>er one for the next body of troops to leave for the war.

King’s Birthday Holiday The King’s Birthday tin's year will be observed on November 25 according to the King’s Birthday Emergency Regulations, 1940, Amendment No. 1 which arc published with the Gazette. The regulations also provide that it be observed as a Saturday holiday. Petroleum Gas On Farm.

With a constant supply of petroleum gas, capable of propelling a car, pouring .from an old oil bore on his farm, petrol restrictions may shortly cease to worry Mr O. Foreman, of Tikorangi, Taranaki. Mr Foreman, who for some years has been drawing on this apparently inexhaustible source of gas for his lighting, cooking, and for the small motor driving his milking plant, is now turning his attention to overcoming the pet'rol problem.. Transport Regulations. That the present transport position mitigated against the interests of increased production, that the Transport Board should be abolished and that tile 'heavy duty licence paid by farmers should be abolished were expressions contained in a remit from the Levin branch received at a meeting of the District Primary Production Council yesterday. It was decided to inform the National Council that in the opinion of the local council the transport regulations greatly interfered with increased production. Honey Control Board. ,

Tho present personnel of the Honey Control Board will act as members for the duration of the war under regulations gazetted last night. The board was originally set up to control the export of all honey from New Zealand. This function has now been taken over by the Internal Marketing Division, but the board has been retained in ail advisory capacity and is a valuable link between producers and the department. In the ordinary course of events each producer member retires every two years so that an election would be required each year to replace a retiring member.