NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Termites Wiped Out

Following tne treatment of infested houses in Manukau Road with arsenic, the indications are that the method of destruction of termites is efficient, according to the report of the building inspector submitted at a meeting last night of the One Tree Hill Borough Council. Routine inspection work was being carried out in the Manukau Road-Gladwin Road area, and no further manifestations had been found. More Driving Licenses Despite the petrol restrictions, numbers of driving licenses are still being issued. It was reported by the One Tree Hill traffic inspector at a meeting of the council last evening, that 13 persons were taken for driving tests during the month of April, licenses being granted to nine of them. This showed an increase of four compared with the corresponding period last year, and made a total of 55 since the beginning of last year. More Monkeys Wanted One of the shortages caused by the war affects seriously the development of new synthetic drugs, states the American magazine "Rotarian." Monkeys are required for testing many types of drugs before they can be safely used on human beings, and the variety of animal required comes from India. Shipping restrictions have prevented the normal importations to U.S.A. Although one usually associates monkeys with zoos and organ grinders, only about one in eight goes on exhibit, the rest being used for scientific test purposes. A Propaganda Twist The manner in which figures published in New Zealand were twisted for propaganda purposes in Berlin broadcasts was mentioned by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, in an interview in Hamilton. "A few days after I had quoted some figures in Christchurch relating to the farming industry" said the Minister, "the Berlin radio broadcast my figures with a lot of misinformation, indicating ' that there was a critical shipping dislocation and consequent food shortage in Great Britain. I was referred to as the 'Minister of Economic Services in New Zealand.'" Cars Parked Without Lights The attention of the traffic inspector should be drawn to the practice of leaving motor cars parked without lights in the streets at night in view of the possibility of accidents said Mr. C. L. Slyfield at a meeting of the One Tree Hill Borough Council last night. He was emphasising the danger of such a practice The Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, stated that the police were taking definite measures, and a number of motorists had been prosecuted already. In this connection it was reported that the painting of kerbs had been completed, and that this week would see the completion of the painting of poles. Britain's Shattered Windows "There t isn't a pane of glass in most of the shop windows," stated Mr. W. Holmes, past president of the Trades Union Congress of Great Britain, when describing air raid effects at a meeting at Christchurch recently. "The window display is there, and it is all lit up, but there is usually just a peep hole of glass about a foot square, and you look through that. We just board up the windows," he said, "and the King himself is in the same position as the rest of us. When I was with others meeting him in Buckingham Palace, I-saw that all his windows were gone and had been boarded up." Easter in Cairo Obviously a considerable "section of the New Zealand overseas troops was not in the Greece venture last month. The N.Z.E.F. official news service intimates that Easter, which marks the end of the official winter season for the army and the change from battle dress to drill uniform saw a considerable body of men in training at the base camp. It was a bright Easter, and men who could be spared from essential duties had a holiday, attending church services sightseeing in Cairo and Alexandria and at sports meetings. The army eleven beat the Gezira Sporting Club at cricket, and Sharpley, the wellknown Hawke's Bay athlete, won the 110 yards hurdles at the stadium, Cairo, against a fairly strong opposition. Full Board Unopposed As the result of the withdrawal of Mr. R. Hoppy as a candidate for the Mount Roskill Road Board, the requisite number of nominations to fill the nine vacancies has been left. This eliminates an election for road board members, but electors will require to go to the poll to return a district representative on the Auckland Harbour Board and the Auckland Hospital Board. All the : sitting members of the road board Retain their seats, Mr. Hoppy having been the only candidate outside those already on the board. Of the 3077 electors on the Mount Roskill roll, there are 450 State tenants. Special provision was made by legislation last session of Parliament for these householders to exercise the franchise. Control by Boards Drainage was one of the major problems confronting local authorities in the metropolitan area, said) the retiring Mayor of Devonport, I Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, in a farewell speech at last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council. He advocated the establishment of a 1 metropolitan board of control, not ; only for the general drainage scheme, but also for such facilities i as electricity, transport and water j supply. A scheme under which the cost of drainage was shared by the community as a whole would be in the financial interests of Devonport and all other small boroughs. Mr. ; Meikle is relinquishing the Mayor- ' alty after ten years in office. On the motion of Mr. E. Aldridge, the council placed on record its warm appreciation of his services to tht borough. j