HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 297, 30 November 1936, Page 6

HERE AND THERE IN NEW ZEALAND

GLEANINGS OF DOMINION NEWS.

London “Colony.” London has been a surprise to Mr. W. J. Jordan, New Zealand’s High Commissioner. He made this admission when he was entertained by the New Zealand group of the Overseas League, and appointed president (states ‘‘The Post’s” London representative). He has been surprised at the friendliness and the kindness that had been shown to him and to Mrs. Jordan, and by the size of the “colony” of New Zealanders who live in or near the city. ‘‘lt is delightful to find this tine body of New Zealanders who gather together when one of! their number has been appointed to the position which I hold, and it is surprising the number of people I meet who say they 'have relatives or friends in New Zealand,” he said. “There are many New Zealanders working in London. The name New Zealand stands high, and is itself a recommendation.” He expressed the hope that all New Zealanders in London would regard New Zealand House as their headquarters.

To Fight Dog Distemper. A donation of £l/1/- was made by the Mount Albert Borough Council to help on the work of experimenting to discover a serum immunising dogs against distemper. A letter from the secretary of the New Zealand Kennel Club stated that shepherds had suffered serious loss through the disease. The sum of £l4O had been spent by the North Island Sheep Dog Trial Association in experiments. The letter asked that the council make a donation from the fees collected for dog registration. The Mayor, Mr. 11. A. Anderson, explained that the council was unable to allocate part of those funds as asked. He knew that no member of the council would do other than support a move to alleviate suffering in dumb animals, but it was a question of whether the council as a body should make a donation. To test the feeling of the meeting, he moved that £l/1/- be given. Mr. P. Floyd dissented, and on a division being called the motion was passed on the casting vote of the chair.

Geyser Activity at Rotorua. For the first time since October 29 Pohutu geyser, in the Whakarewarewa thermal reserve, again played yesterday, eight shots being given between 8 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. This' was the longest period during which the geysey had been inactive for some months, Last month a record was created, when 201 displays were given, the geyser being active every day until October 29. The Waikite geyser, which for years gave displays every few minutes during the time when Pohmutu was quiet, has played very little during the past two years. Papakura geyser, which still plays continuously, is the most consistent in the reserve, although Waikorohihi is generally active when Pohutu is quiescent.

Motor Speeds. The fact that there are over 30 different speed limits for the area surrounding Auckland, and including the city, was pointed out in a communication from the Transport Department which was received by the Mount Eden Borough Council last week, and it was stated that the aim of the Government was to simplify motor laws. In the opinion of the Minister the following provisions should apply:—Reckless or negligent driving; careless or inconsiderate driving; 30 miles an hour maximum in built-up areas; speed to be such that a motorist could stop in half the distance of a clear road ahead. It was stated that three of the provisions were statutory, and that the fourth was contained in a regulation. The communication added that the Minister had power to disallow wholly or in part any local by-law relating to traffic, but the Minister would be pleased to have the views of the. council on the subject. The traffic inspector was instructed to make a report.

More Factory Workers. Figures quoted by the retiring president of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, Mr. J. A. C .Allum, at the annual meeting indicate that the number of persons employed in factories in the Dominion at the end of March last was almost equal to the high figure of 1928-29. Mr. Allum said that at March 31 there were 79,358 factory workers, compared with SO,CIS in 1928-29. The present figures showed a substantial improvement on the low figure of G8,G97 engaged in 1931-32, which, said Mr. Allum, was probably the depth of the depression. Value of the Right-Hand Rule. An instance of four .vehicles coming to a stop on reaching an intersection from different directions was quoted before Mr. Justice Callan in the Supreme Court at Hamilton on Wednesday, during the hearing of an appeal against a conviction for negligent driving. Counsel was illustrating the value of the right-hand rule. “A rule that brings all these dangerous implements to rest must be a beneficial one,” said his Honour. He added that a rule that would bring them to rest permanently might not be a bad one, either. Penny Call Revenue Up, Too.

Public telephone call offices distributed at convenient points in their scores throughout New Zealand are showing the same improved financial results as all other branches of the many-sided activities of the Post Office. Revenue from these slot telephone devices for the seven months ended September 30 amounted to £24,443, an increase of £2934, compared with the corresponding period of last year. As the Post Office collected in the last financial year £54,433 for this service, the latest figures suggest that the current year's revenue will reach £50,000. New Zealand is almost the only country in the world where calls from public telephones are available for a penny, the lowest charge in Australia and Great Britain being 2d.

Sunday Cricket. Gratification at the action of the Christchurch City Council in granting an application from the Christchurch Railways Goods Sheds Cricket Club for the use of the Spreydon Domain for Sunday cricket, was expressed last week by the chairman of the clun, Mr. T. Bryce. Mr. Bryce said that in his opinion the granting of this privilege did not create a dangerous precedent, as a member of the council had pointed out, because any other club wishing to apply for permission to play cricket on Sundays would Eave difficulty in putting forward the same solid arguments as had been done in this case. It was impossible for goods employees to play cricket on a Saturday', he said, because the men only bad one free Saturday in three and this precluded them from joining a club.