NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26629, 27 November 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Invitation to Church Service

At the statutory meeting of the re-cently-elected Dunedin City, Council yesterday, an invitation was received from the Rev. L. B. Neale for councillors and their wives to attend divine service at the Methodist Central Mission. The invitation was accepted for December 14,

Price for New Apricots , New season apricots sold at 37s a case at an Auckland auction this week. Although new fruit has brought heavier prices at the beginning of previous seasons, the cases sold this week were particularly small and, with the small supply available, the fruit was keenly sought. Coupon-saving Scheme

Last .week 29,136 meat coupons were saved in the Auckland district, following the introduction of the scheme to encourage children to take coupons to school as part of the Aid to Britain movement. The number of coupons surrendered since the introduction of the scheme three weeks ago is 82,735.

Visitors to Bellona Although the visitors were not as numerous as might have been expected, a steady stream went aboard H.M.N.Z;S. Bellona yesterday afternoon, when the warship was open to the public. The Bellona will be in port until Monday and will be open again to visitors on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1.30 to 5.30 o’clock. ,

Return to Feudalism The need for an .educational consciousness in the people of New Zealand was emphasised by the director of the Wellington Technical' College, Mr R. G. Ridling, when presenting his annual report to a meeting of the college board of managers. If the general level'of educational attainment was not raised, he said, people would find themselves returning to feudal conditions. - - • ■ Prayer for Royal Couple

A prayer for the guidance and wellbeing of the royal couple, Princess Elizabeth and her husband, was offered by the deputy chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, Mr W. Cuthbertson, before the business of the board began. This was followed by the Lord’s Prayer being repeated by all members.

Tumround of Ships “ Why doesn’t New Zealand turn ships round quicker? ” was a question asked in shipping circles in England of Mr E. A. Millward, chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, who returned last week from a business visit to Britain. Mr Millward said that this question was more understandable when it was realised that 12,000-ton ships were on the New Zealand coast for six or seven weeks, whereas in England they were discharged and loaded in 12 days. / Parcels in Britain The fact that parcels weighing more than 15lb were distributed by rail and not by post in Britain was referred to in a letter received by an Auckland resident from a relative in Glasgow. The writer stated that parcels above this weight became rather a problem, as their carriage by rail left them more open to pillage. Another postage difficulty was that parcels were redirected only in the town to which they were consigned. If the consignee had left the town they had to be re-posted by someone at the address on the parcel. Derelict Planes for Sale

Made completely unserviceable for further flying duties as the result of a continued lack of maintenance and a piolonged exposure Vo the elements, the 443 former combat aircraft standing in long rows on the fringe of the Rukuhia aerodrome are to be sold by the War Assets Realisation Board, and tenders have been called for their disposal as scrap. Intending purchasers, who must be prepared to accept the aircraft “as it, where is,” with no guarantee of warranty about airworthiness or serviceability, and with all their faults, may tender for one or many aircraft, the board being anxious to give any amateur mechanics an opportunity to use the materials from them if they wish.

Truckloads of Coins Unknown to passers-by, two motor lorries parked in an Auckland street one morning this week held £123,500 worth of the new cupro-nickel issue in coins. A shipment of £126,000 from the Royal Mint was discharged from the Port Phillip earlier in the morning, and the lorries were delivering quotas to various city banks. Weighing a . little more than 16 tons, the consignment consisted of 252 boxes each containing £SOO worth of halfcrowns, two shilling pieces, shillings or sixpences. They are the first of the new variety for circulation in New Zealand, although cupro-nickel coins have been in use in the United Kingdom for some time. The coins are being introduced to reduce mintage costs.

Tourists From America “ The Government Tourist Bureau is providing an excellent service for visitors to New Zealand,” said Mr C. J. White, regional representative of the American Express Company, who has completed a three week’s tour of the Dominion. The American Express Company is one of the largest tourist and travel organisations in the United States and Mr White will open a permanent office of the company in Sydney shortly. Tourist facilities in New Zealand could be improved, he said. Tourists would pay well to ensure that they obtained the best. Mr White added that he had made arrangements with the Tourist Department for a complete information service, so that itineraries for New Zealand tours could be arranged in .America at a moment’s notice. More good shipping accommodation was needed before tourists would come out in any great numbers, he said, but this should not be a handicap for long.