NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26623, 20 November 1947, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

City’s Gift to Princess The wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten from the citizens of Dunedin, a Roslyn rug, has been sent to London by air freight. The Mayor, Mr Cameron, commented yesterday that employees of the Roslyn mill had worked on the rug a handsome design embodying Dunedin’s new coat of arms, together _ with the lettering, “ With best wishes from Dunedin.” Visit to American Surgeon With funds raised by the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, a veteran of the First World War, Mr Wallace Dickson, of Papamora, near Te Puke, left Whenuapai by the PanAmerican Airways clipper on Tuesday on the first stage of a journey to St. Louis. Mr Dickson is suffering from creeping paralysis, and he will be taken to Dr Roland M. Klemme, a St. Louis surgeon, who has operated on this type of case during the last few years. Slogan for Queenstown Referring in an interview at Queenstown to the need for sports facilities at tourist resorts, Mr E. F. Sier, of Melbourne, emphasised the importance of golf links. When informed that Queenstown had little to offer in this respect, Mr Sier stated that „since World War II Australians had become more golf-minded. He thought that golfing facilities should be established immediately, and thtit Queenstown’s winter slogan should be “ Ski, skate, and play golf.” Night Drinking Hours “At. the end of the second year of its operations the members of the trust are becoming more satisfied • that its policy is proceeding along the right lines,” says the annual report of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, which has been tabled in the House of Representatives. It states that the trust is inclined to think that evening drinking hours would at least restrict drinking in homes. It notes in connection with 6 o’clock closing that “ hectic drinking on an empty stomach ” between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. is assumed to be the cause of a large amount of drunkenness.

Raised Eyebrows? Scotland has already begun to take notice of the introduction in New Zealand of women’s marching teams at Caledonian gatherings. The People’s Journal, which circulates north of the Forth, states: “ Something new at Scottish gatherings has been introduced by Scots in New Zealand. The women have taken up drill teams, or matching parties, competing against other teams at Highland games. Groups of 12 to 14 women comprise a team, marching in prescribed military fashion. The idea has caught on so well that over 300 engage in this pastime.” Employment Statistics Complete agreement has resulted from discussions between representatives of the Manufacturers' Federation and the Department of Labour and Employment on the collection of employment statistics. The Minister of Employment, Mr McLagan. said in Wellington a few days ago that it had been unanimously agreed that adequate statistics on employment were necessary. On three points, however, it had been found desirable to amend the present form in the direction of simplifying it without impairing the value of the information collected. The amended form would be used for the next half-yearly survey of employment next April. Horses Still Wanted

Though during the past 10 years tractors have largely ousted draught horses for farms, there has recently been an increased demand for draughts in Southland. At a recent clearing sale a team of five good working draughts made £ls to £3O each. A few years ago they would probably have had to be sacrificed at £2 a head. The explanation is that to-day no one is breeding horses, though there is still some demand for them. Horses are regarded as being more economical than tractors for very small farms, ’and many farms require at least one horse for the dray. The demand is admittedly small, but there are not enough horses to meet it.

Death Before Sentence When the name of a man who had been committed for sentence was called before Mr Justice Gresson in the Supreme Court at Wellington on Tuesday, his counsel, Mr A. J. Mazengarb, announced that the prisoner had died in hospital since his committal, and counsel’s appearance was to ensure that the court’s record be properly in order. His Honor: “Is there any practice established for such a case? ” Mr Mazengarb: “ No, sir. Not that I know of.” After a brief discussion, his Honor said that subject to the production of satisfactory proof of death, he would order that the committal for sentence be struck out. Powers of Fire Officers Power for fire officers in any district to order the cleaning-up of building sections to the satisfaction of the local fire authorities is provided in an amendment to the Forest and Rural Fires Bill. The amendment was made in the Legislative Council and approved in the House of Representatives last week. The Minister of Lands, Mr Skinner, said the amendment was in effect the. same as had been proposed by Mr W. Sullivan (Oppn., Bay of Plenty) during the committee stage of the Bill in the House of Representatives, except that the maximum area affected would be two acres instead of four acres.' Mr Sullivan had withdrawn his amendment on being assured that it would be examined and if practicable would be incorporated in the Bill later.