General News

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20989, 18 October 1933, Page 8

General News

.— ® Nudism Among Rowers. A suggestion that the cult of nudism has spread to rowing was made at the annual meeting of the Can- I terbury Rowing Association last | evening, when a member, Mr A. C. Stiles, mentioned that one or two members of clubs had been seen out on the river in a "rather nude state." "I think that we might be getting complaints if it is continued," said Mr Stiles. "One or two have been on the river without singlets. I am a lover of the sun myself, but I do not think that it can be done in the heart of the city." "It must not be done," replied the chairman, Mr F. D. Kesteven. "It might be all right for ladies bathing, but we cannot do anything like that as rowers." The chairman suggested to members that they should warn clubs against the practice. No Rain Since 1925. "If rain fell on the coastal region of Peru it would be as disastrous to the people there as an earthquake would be in New Zealand," remarked Dr. Herbert Money yesterday on his return to Christchurch after teaching in Lima since 1927. "The houses are built of sunbaked brick, and the roofs are of dried mud supported by beams, so that rain would cause the house to dissolve. The last time it rained was in 1925, and then many persons were made homeless, the railways were washed away, and tremendous damage was done to power houses and other works. The people' are not anxious for a repetition of such a disaster."

Inaccurate Geography. The lack of detailed knowledge of the geography of the world among the people of America was particularly noticed by Mr A. L. Cropp, a prominent Christchurch business man, who lias just returned from a three months' trip to the Pacific Coast of the United States. An American remarked to him one day that Australia must be a great country, but it was a pity the "darned Gobi desert spread itself right across the middle of the continent." New Zealand, he found, was by many people believed to lie off the coast of China. The "Church News." When speak; j to a motion asking for support for .church institutions at the session of the Anglican Synod yesterday, Archdeacon P. B. Haggitt pleaded particularly for added support for the "Church News." The [value of the articles published in it was shown by the attention they received by "The Press," whose motto was "Nihil utile quod non honestuvn," which, freely translated, meant "We have no use for anything that is not honourable." The "Church News," lie said, was barely meeting expenses, and he appealed to church members to assist in doubling its circulation.

Missionaries and Communists. The effect of the interference of communists with the missionary work in China was referred to by Miss B. Tobin, who is on furlough from China, in an address to the Anglican Synod last night. Some years ago, she said, the Chinese Government had Russian advisers who did their work thoroughly, and now the missionaries had to overcome the prejudice that had been set up by communist teachings. Thinking students were coming to realise the true value of those communist teachings and were beginning to | think that communism, as practised in China, was merely educated banditry.

Street Improvements. The programme of street tar-seal-ing and improvement authorised by the Christchurch City Council at its meeting on October 9 is to be put in hand almost immediately. Cr. J. \V. Beanland, chairman of the works committee, told a reporter yesterday that Forfar street and Madras street north are being prepared at present f ov tar-sealing, and the other streets will be put in hand without delay.

Boating Season. in preparation for the boating season on the river Avon, which is to open on October 28, it will be possible for crews to start training immediately. Mr J. Cullens, engineer to the Christchurch Drainage Board, told a reporter yesterday that operations at the Linwood avenuestorm water sewer under construction at present have reached the stage that the raising of the level of the water in the river by closing the weir will not interfere with the excavation and pipe-laying work. This will permit of the level of the water in the river being raised to the full extent to allow of training operations. Whey Butter. There is a good deal of concern amongst cheese factory suppliers in Taranaki about the proposal to prohibit the export of whey butter. A leading factory director stated that he had been informed that regulations to deal with the matter were now in contemplation. He said he believed that a suggestion might be j made by the Government that butter companies should make a grant to the cheese factories in consideration of the latt_r refraining from exporting whey butter to the British market. The directorate of one dairy factory had made a counterproposal that the importation of margarine to the Dominion be restricted, and whey butter used in its stead. This would enable whey butter still to be manufactured and sold in the Dominion market instead of being exported. More than 2000 tons of margarine were imported into the Dominion each year, being chiefly used by pastrycooks. There was about 1400 tons of whey butter manufactured, and lie was convinced it could be sold, if not cheaper, then at least as cheaply as the imported margarine. Dehorning of Stock. At a meeting of the New Plymouth .Jersey Cattle Club attention was drawn to the fact that a bill 1 was coming before Parliament mak- | ing dehorning of stock compulsory. The president, Mr H. C. Sampson, and other members said they did not think this would apply to stud stock. Mr P. J. Petersen said that if it did any export trade the Dominion might enjoy would be ruined.

"Undoubtedly the best hay and ensilage making machine I have yet seen," was the opinion of an experienced farmer as he witnessed the Duncan Hay Sweep attached to a motortruck working in a heavy, newly-cut lucerne crop The Duncan special sweep can be fitted to any motor-car or truck, and,will do the work oi: any two-horse sweeps or six hay rake., and only costs the price of one raki\ P. and t>. Duncan, Limited, lflli Tuam street, Christehurch, and at Ashburton. ~~'°