General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22424, 10 June 1938, Page 12

General News

The Government and Property “There have been all sorts of stupid statements that the Government is going to confiscate, socialise, nationalise, and_ revolutionise everything in the country, but it is not going to do anything of the kind,” declared the HonR. Semple (Minister for Public Works), when replying to the welcome extended to him by the Mayor (Mr T. Jordan) at Masterton. The Government is not going to interfere with the private interests of the people of New Zealand, except where vested interests conflict witn the general welfare of the nation. Press Association. Lighting in Schools That the lighting arrangements in the Ashburton Technical High School were the best he had seen in any school building on his travels in the world was the opinion of Dr. F. H. Spencer, until recently senior inspector of the London County Council Schools, who has been making a survey of technical education in New Zealand for the Carnegie Trust. This was reported to the Ashburton Technical High School Board last evening by the principal (Mr W. Crawford), who added that inquiries had recently been received for a plan of the school lighting system for the King Edward Technical College, Dunedin, and the Rangiora High School. Crippled Girl’s Work Some remarkable examples of needlework by a 14-yeap-old crippled girl in South Canterbury were displayed at the annual meeting of the Canterbury and Westland branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society last evening. The society’s welfare officer < (Mf B. H. Painter) explained that the girl did the work by holding the needle between the big toe and the next toe of her left foot. Both arms and her right leg were paralysed. Although she could not thread the needle or tie knots, she was able to blend the colours for her work, “These are examples of what can be done in overcoming physical disabilities, which is what the society exists for,” commented the president (Dr. J. Leslie Will). Milk Shortage in Hawke’s Bay The most serious shortage of milk in Northern Hawke’s, Bay for years is at present being felt, as a result of the floods. The shortage reached a peak in both Hastings and Napier yesterday, when children attending the primary schools in the district had to forgo their usual milk ration. The principal retailers in both towns have, since the flood, had to obtain supplies from southern Hawke’s Bay, and much of the delivery now comes from Dannevirke. These supplies were obtained only with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture.—Press Association. Draft Allowance on Wool A saving of £138,279 to the farmers of New Zealand in 1936 through the Government’s abolition of the draft allowance of lib in every lewt of wool sold was claimed by Mr H. E. Herring, M.P., in an address at Hororata on Wednesday evening. He said the allowance, which was for error, had been in existence for a long period. The Government of 40 years ago had failed in an attempt to have it abolished, but the Labour Government, in conjunction with South Africa and several state governments in Australia, was responsible for the removal of “this vexatious restriction.” New Zealand Roads That steeper grades' and sharper bends are to be met with on New Zealand roads than on Swiss roads is the opinion of Mr J. Gillitzer, who has been lent as a technical expert by Robert Bosch, of Stuttgart, to a New Zealand firm. Mr Gillitzer, who has competed in motor trials over the Brenner Pass, 1 said that the val•leys he had seen in New Zealand appeared to be narrower than those to which he was accustomed in Europe, with the result that the roads had to be cut into the hillsides instead of following up gently rising flats. He was astonished at the general industrial development of New Zealand, and particularly at the numbers of cars, many more than were to be found in Sweden, one of the most highly industrialised countries in Europe. The Charleston Hotel A report of a meeting of the Buller Licensing Committee published in “The Press” on June 2 may have created the impression that it was stated that the Charleston Hotel was in a state of disrepair. This, however, was not the case, as the word Charleston was intended to refer to the -legality, and the reference to the “state of disrepair” which followed concerned a hotel mentioned earlier. Actually the Charleston Hotel, which is a very old building of historic interest, was, states the licensee (Mr J. H. Powell), the subject of congratulation by the sergeant of police and the health inspector on their annual visit, when they commented on the good condition and cleanliness of the hotel. Preference for Air Travel Travelling by air is the way Mr Wilfred S. Tyzack, of Sheffield, England, prefers to move about. Mr Tyzack, who arrived in Invercargill on Tuesday night on a short business visit, said that since leaving Adelaide he had covered more than 5000 miles and only 140 ipiles—from Dunedin to Invercargill—had been done by train. He had been delighted with the air services both in Australia and New Zealand, and hoped'that the air service between the two countries would soon *be in operation. He added that he would have preferred to cross the Tasman Sea by air. Thousands of Goldfinches Wearied by a long flight, thousands of goldfinches alighted in the nine-acre paddock of Mr S. Y. Towgood, No. 1 Line, Wanganui, recently. The birds had little energy left, and could only flutter a short distance. “I have never seen anything like it,” said Mr Towgood. “There were thousands of them, and they were very tired. They reminded me of a lot of moths fluttering in the grass on a summer evening. The paddock chosen to rest in has been shut up for some time, and has long grass.” The birds stayed all one day, and when recovered they departed. The next day a flock of about 100 alighted in the same paddock, apparently stragglers, more weary than the main flock. r The Tunnel Road Further representations are to be made to the Government on the matter of a tunnel road between Christchurch and Lyttelton, according to a paragraph in the quarterly report presented to the meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce yesterday by the president, Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. Mr Mac Gibbon stated that the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) had agreed to receive a deputation representing the City of Christchurch, local bodies, and interested associations, and it was expected that the deputation would take place before very long. Erection of Radio Beacon Notice of intention to take land under the Public Works Act in Manurewa,- Auckland, for the construction of a radio receiving and direc-tion-finding station for the use of aircraft is published in the Gazette. The land comprises block IX, Otahuhu Survey District.—Press Association. V Production of Steel “It is difficult to see how New Zealand is going to absorb the output of steel from an economically-sized plant,” said Mr Wilfred S. Tyzack, of Sheffield, England, in an interview at Invercargill on Tuesday. It was not merely a question of the production of steel, but a wide variety of qualities and sections was required. Without any indication of the likely demand he could not say how such an industry would fare in New Zealand. Skilled Tradesmen Wanted “One of the big reasons for unemployment to-day is that many young men lost the chance in the depression years to become skilled tradesmen,” said the Minister for Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, at a conference of local body representatives in Auckland, which discussed means of providing relief work. Mr Webb ' said that there were 5000 men employed in various ways in the building of houses. The Government’s housing scheme was restricted through a scarcity of skilled tradesmen. It could absorb 10,000 skilled tradesmen.