NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Physical Welfare Committee. A district committee under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, 1937, has been set up for the borough of Birkenhead with the following personnel, appointed by the Minister, the Hon. W. B. Parry:—Mrs. J. Prickctt, Mrs. \Y. Williams, Mr. F. Schorman, and Messrs. J. Macdonald, N. R. Stewart ;ind W. S. Garrett, representing the Birkenhead Borough Council. Radio License Fees. Following the announcement by the Government that in future only halfyearly and yearly radio licenses would be obtainable, the United Listeners' Club has decided to make strong representations for the retention of quarterly payments. The president of the club, Mr. H. B. Arthur, stated yesterday that the New Zealand radio fee was the highest in the world. "If listeners are compelled to pay six months' license in advance, it will mean severe hardship for many who have small incomes, who are struggling with the high cost of living," he said. Port's Tonnage Figures. Apart from British ships, two American, two Japanese, one Norwegian, one Creek, one Swedish and two Dutch ships arrived in Auckland during January, the gross tonnage being 326,828. In addition 444 local provincial coastal vessels arrived, 12 intercolonial ships and five Government vessels. As compared with the corresponding month last year, the returns for oversea merchant shipping show a decrease of three vessels, but an increase of gross tonnage of 663. There was no falling off of intercolonial or coastal shipping. Compared with December last, imports last month showed an increase of 29,002 tons, transhipments a decrease of 538 tons, and exports decreased by 9262 tons, the total being an increase of 19,202, reported Mr. W. R. Golden, traffic manager, to yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board. Road Board Street Crossings. The power of a road board to authorise pedestrian street crossings was reported on last night to the Mount Roskill Board by the clerk, Mr. J. H. 'Reich. This report stated that the board must procure the consent of the Minister of Transport to such street crossings before they could be legally authoritative. This arose, he said, from the manner in which the regulations had been drawn to embrace borough and town districts only as having power to establish crossings. An officer of the Department reviewed the crossings in the district last week, continued the report, and had agreed to them with some minor adjustments, which would not affect the positions chosen. The practice of tramcars parking on ' the Three Kings Road crossing must be discontinued as an offence against the regulations. Pending formal approval, the renewal of the white lines to the crossings could'he taken in hand. Most Efficient Cadet. The result of the 1939 competition for the William Robert Friar Memorial Prizes awarded annually to the senior cadet adjudged the most efficient in each military, district is announced in New Zealand Army Orders as follows: Northern Military District, Regimental Sergeant-Major T. Savage, Ist Cadet Battalion, Auckland Regiment (King's College Cadets); Central Military District, Company Sergeant -Major K. M. Kelly, 3rd Cadet Battalion, Wellington Regiment (St. Patrick's College, Silverstream) ; Southern Military District, Company Sergeant-Major D. G. Coster, Ist Cadet Battalion, Southland Regiment (Southland Boys' High School). The winner of the Islington Challenge Cup for 1939 is A Company; 3rd Cadet Battalion, Otago Regiment (Waitaki Boys' High School), with an average score of 82.46. This unit will hold the cup for this year, and will receive a cash prize of £10. Battery of Big Men. The 2nd Medium Battery, New Zealand Artillery, with headquarters at Hamilton, which was inspected by Major-General J. E. Duigan, Chief of the General Staff, along with other Territorial units at Waiouru toward the end of last week, was the subject of a specially favourable reference by him in an interview in Wellington. Other units inspected by Major-General Duigan on his visit to Waiouru, where they spent last week holding annual camps, were the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own), Ist Battalion, Wellington-West Coast Regiment, and 2nd Composite Company, New Zealand Army Service Corps. "The physique of the men in the 2nd Medium Battery is remarkable," Major-General Duigan said. "It is one of the finest Territorial units New Zealand has ever produced. Officers, non-commissioned officers and men are outstanding, both in physique and in their technical work." In an address to territorials in camp, Major-General Duigan stressed the necessity for maintaining the standard and efficiency of the territorial units for the purpose -of home defence. library Development. Reference to the invaluable assistance given the library movement in the Dominion by the Carnegie Corporation of New York was made to-day by Mr. John Barr, of Auckland, in his presidential address to the annual conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Library Association. The beginning of developments in the library system in recent years, said Mr. Barr, was due largely to the interest shown by the Carnegie Corporation. From 1932 onwards the librarians of the principal city library Systems and of the university college libraries had all benefited by study overseas. This had resulted in equipping the men and women in key positions with a first-hand knowledge of library development abroad. The benefits they had received had percolated through the whole library service in the Dominion. It had raised the standard of work and engendered enthusiasm to an unparalleled degree. Mr. Barr referred to the contribution to the advance of libraries in New Zealand as the result of the survey undertaken at the association's request by the Carnegie Corporation. There had been improvements in many directions. "The crisis through which the world is passing is a struggle of ideas," added Mr. Barr. "In this struggle public libraries have an important duty to perform, and they can only perform it if they are established on right lines. The duty of public libraries in those days is to provide the means of education on disinterested lines, so that the truth may prevail. This is no light task, for it requires knowledge and courage to carry it out."

The Home and Architects.

_ It was reported at the annual meeting of the council of the New Zealand Institute of Architects yesterday that an increasing number of local bodies throughout the Dominion were providing in their by-laws that plana and specifications for buildings of a value in excess of a certain sum must be prepared by a registered architect or engineer. In Christchurch, it was stated, the figure was £4000, but in Auckland city it was £2000. In some boroughs the figures were lower, particularly in Newmarket, where the by-law applied to buildings valued at £800 or more. When Achilles Comes Home. Owing to the comparatively short notice, local authorities and city firms were engaged to-day in .rapid preparation of decorations to greet the men of the Achilles on their triumphal march. Indications point to unprecedented scenes in Queen Street as thousands line the beflagged route to the Town Hall. Among the more ambitious displays will be that of the Auckland Electric Power Board, which, at its meeting this week, decided on an expenditure up to £70 for decorations. The main feature will be a 30ft model of the Achilles lit from behind, while the building will be lined with floodlit signal flags bearing a message of welcome that the sailors will understand. Bunting, flags and illuminations will complete the scheme. Orakei Boat Harbour. Tenders are to be called by the Auckland Harbour Board for the supply of rubble and other materials required for the construction of an embankment for the Orakei boat harbour. In a report to yesterday's meeting of the board the superintendent and engineer, Mr. D. Holderness, said _it was proposed to enclose approximately eiprht acres of land for reclamation from the sea to provide hauling up areas and sites for clubhouses, in accordance with plans already approved. In reply to a queption by Mr. E. J. Phelan, the superintendent said that it would be uneconomical for the board to open up its own quarry to provide the rubble, as less than 20,000 yards were required. It would be necessary to take 50,000 yards to make the proposition pay. If contractors "stung the board too much," it could consider the alternative of supplying its wants from its own property. Mt. Roskill Municipal Buildings. The proposed municipal buildings at Mount Roskill were the subject of a recommendation to the Road Board last night by the works committee. In view of the present war conditions the board was recommended to take in hand the erection of office premises on the site at Three Kings to the approved design of. Mr. Draffin, architect, out of revenue, :to be spread over two years. It is suggested that a penny rate be levied for the; purpose, and that the intention be publicly made known to' the' district ratepayers for discussion at the next general meeting in, May. The remainder of the scheme (hall, etc.) could be developed as a loan proposal at" a more suitable time. With a view to providing some temporary premises for office use as required, the clerk and inspector are to confer on the proposal to use the adjacent building and report to what extent funds would be required for that purpose. Secrecy Demanded. A circular letter was read at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board. It was from the deputy-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, and urged the necessity of the exercise of every possible care to prevent the dissemination or publication of confidential information relating to the war. "In certain cases considerable numbers of people must be entrusted with information which, if divulged, might be useful to the enemy, and I appeal to all concerned to exercise every possible discretion," said the Minister. "It is the duty of all those to whom such informa- ' tion is entrusted to keep it entirely to themselves, and to pass it on to nobody unless their duty clearly requires them to do so, and even in that case only to those who are strictly authorised • to obtain it." The letter added that the Government did not believe that there was any necessity to warn citizens against the malicious transmission of secret information, but idle talk had to be guarded against. In times such as the present, especially since the introduction of short-wave wireless telegraphy, it was impossible to exercise too much care. It had to be made plain that there would be no hesitation in prosecuting in any case of a breach of the' law. "Any employee of the Government found guilty of a breach of secrecy is liable to instant dismissal, and will be summarily dealt with," concluded the letter.