LOCAL AND GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 123, 9 March 1950, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Address at Rotary Luncheon The address at the weekly luncheon of the Ashburton Rotary Club to-day was given by W. L. Jolly, principal of the Ashburton High School. His subject was “The Political Organisation of the U.S.A.”

A Sign of the Times A new sky sign in Cape Town (South Africa) can be seen 50 miles away. It is a neon fluorescent, and. measures 92 feet by 32 and the letters in the top row are 15 feet high. It belongs to a cycle and motor company.

Hard Currency A definition of hard currency was given by the Governor of the Reserve Bank (Mr E. C. Fussell) at the opening of a tourist conference* at the Chateau Tongariro on Saturday. Mr Fussell said hard currency was “hard to earn, hard to borrow, and hard to do without.” —P.A.

School Journals The primary school journals for February present a varied and graded quota of children’s reading, ranging from the familiar “Two Little Kittens” to’ a radio play. The crossword puzzles are, appropriately, a Holiday Crossword and an “Anniversary” exercise with special reference to Canterbury’s centennial.

Ministers 111 at Home • Two members of Cabinet, the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr C. M. Bowden) and the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie), were away yesterday from their offices at Parliament Buildings suffering from influenza. They hope to "have recovered sufficiently to be able to leave their homes ‘to attdnd a Cabinet meeting called for to-day —P.A.

Costly Privilege Although the Corrupt Practices Act, 1883, put a stop to the buying of votes, it still costs a lot to be a member of Parliament in Britain. At this last election it cost more than ever, as printing costs and the hire of halls were both up. The member’s salary is £IOOO, but after paying income tax and expenses have been paid the average member without other means has about £30,0 to live on.

Mayoralty of Auckland The Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. A. C. Allum) will stand again for re-elec-tion when the municipal elections are held in November. He gave that reply yesterday when he was asked if he had yet decided whether he would offer himself for another term. Mr Allum said there were so many important works now in hand or about to be started that it appeared desirable to him that he should offer his services to the citizens. —P.A.

Mid-Week Racing Opposed The executive of the Baptist Union of New Zealand (meeting in Wellington yesterday), carried a resolution protesting against mid-week racing. It read; “That this executive convey to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs its regret at the decision to allow the resumption of midweek racing in certain areas. It believes that in addition to a lowering of moral standards, this will tend to decrease production and increase absenteeism, and lead to general unsettlement in industry on race days.” —P.A.

Fine Gesture by Brown After rain in Timaru yesterday had caused play to be cancelled for the afternoon and certainly saved the combined South Canterbury-Ashburton team from defeat the Australian captain (W. A. Brown) took the opportunity of giving local players valuable hints on cricket. To the members of the combined team and the many enthusiasts who were privileged to listen to his talk on tactics given in a pavilion under the main stand at Fraser Park, the experience was unique in their sporting experience. The gesture by such a prominent and capable captain as Brown was proof of the value to be derived from visits from overseas teams to the smaller centres in New Zealand.

Takahe Valley Expeditions There appears to be little likelihood of another expedition going into Takahe Valley this month. Towards the end of last year it was stated officially that the Department of Internal Affairs planned to send another expedition to study the small takahe colony beyond Lake Te Anau “some time next March.” Since then there has been considerable criticism of disturbance of the birds and on February 14 the Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett) said that no one . would be permitted to enter Takahe Valley in future without the permission of the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Invercargill, Mr A. C. ;Haase. So far no permits have been granted for anyone to enter Takahe Valley. One private application was not granted.— P.A.

“Blue Baby” Operations A machine that will further increase the efficiency of the “blue baby clinic at Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, has been ordered by the Auckland Hospital Board, says a Press Association message. It is a resuscitator which “breathes” for patients whose lungs have collapsed. The machine sends a pulsating stream of oxygen into the lungs at the rate of normal breathing. It will help destroy the danger caused by breathing difficulties during “blue baby” operations. One resuscitator of this type is in use in the Auckland Hospital. It was designed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Doctors believe that the machine, which is relatively small, could be used as a mobile unit, particularly in ambulances. It would give people rescued from drowning a higher chance of recovery.