General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21941, 16 November 1936, Page 8

General News

Newspaper Publicity The view that newspapers are still the basic vehicles for the dissemination of information was expressed by Mr I’. C. Spratt, at the meeting of the New Zealand Road Safety Council, Wellington. “There is an impression that other methods are superseding the newspapers, but the adult education and propaganda committee feels that newspapers . are still the basic vehicles for the dissemination of information,” he said. “Newspapers are the public’s library.” Traffic in Carnival Week Chief-Inspector J. Bruorton, of the Traffic Department, reports that in spite of the unusual conditions accompanying race and show week, there were no serious traffic accidents. Apart from a few country drivers who seemed bewildered by the thick traffic, there was nothing to complain of. Drivers were on their best behaviour all the week. Vindictive Statement • The opinion that the majority of taxi-drivers wqre excellent citizens and did not deserve to be singled out for adverse comment, was expressed at Napier by the chairman of the committee of enquiry into the taxi business, Mr P. M. Butler. A witness, Mr S. Cross, said in evidence that there had been no opportunity in Napier for drivers to sleep in their cars or to cook in them. “We have heard it said that we even wear our pyjamas in our taxis,” he added. “We have had no proof that taxi-drivers have been cooking in their cars,” said Mr Butler." “I think that was merely a vindictive statement. As a matter of fact, we think the majority of taxi-drivers are decent citizens trying to eke out an honest existence. Why they should be singled out for adverse comment is more than I can say.” New Zealand’s Exhibit Scathing comment on New Zealand’s representation at the Empire Exhibition in Johannesburg is contained in a letter received in Auckland from a New Zealander now visiting Africa. • “We are very disappointed with the New Zealand exhibit,” the writer says. “Some pictures, rugs, fish, and that was all. No New Zealand woods or fruits or ferns. It is very poor, indeed. The other Dominions knock New Zealand into a cocked hat. We are positively ashamed of our exhibit.” Film Publicity Proposed A movement is being made in the western part of the North Auckland peninsula to promote through the Government Publicity Department a scheme for bringing the scenic and other attractions of this area before the people of 'other parts of New Zealand, as well as overseas tourists. The potentialities of the area from an agricultural, pastoral, and orchardists’ point of view are also to be brought forward. It is possible that a small size film will be reproduced for showing at schools and by travel organisations. The cost of this film would be approximately £IBO, and as the department, who would be taking the.film, would find half of this expenditure, the district would have to find only £9O. The movement is meeting with enthusiastic support, and a conference of all the delegates from local bodies in the area—the counties of Otamatca, Hobson, Hokianga, and Mangonui, the Dargaville borough and the Kaitaia Town Board—will soon be held to arrange the finance,, so that the work can be done this summer. Trout Ova Lost Flooding which took place recently in the area covered by the trout hatchery at Ngongotaha, near Rotorua, resulted in the destruction of between 40,000 and 50,000 trout ova being prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs for liberation in various lakes and rivers in the Rotorua district this month. Had large liberations not been made recently, the loss would probably have been considerably heavier. The hatchery reservation, which is beside the main highway at the foot of the Ngongotaha Mountain, was at times partly covered by several feet of water, ova cans being swept away for several hundred yards to the railway embankment. Silt deposits mounted against the walls of the hatchery building to a depth of two feet. City’s Rights Jeopardised? An emphatic protest will be lodged for the Wellington City Council with the New Zealand Road Safety Council against the provision in the proposed new motor regulations for traffic inspectors’ appointments to be subject to the approval of the Minister for Transport. The Mayor, Mr T. C. A. Hislop, said that in the opinion of the council the proposed action was contrary to the basic principles of local selfgovernment. The Wellington City Council was elected by the people of Wellington to manage the affairs ctf the city, and objected to this prerogative being infringed by ■ any Government department. “I have very little doubt,” said Mr Hislop, “that the city authorities have far more knowledge of the requirements and qualities needed by traffic officers in the city of Wellington than any Government department. Legislation and School Rolls “During the last month,” said Mr J. N. Millard, principal of the Hutt Valley High School, Wellington, in a report to the Board of Governors, “I have received many requests from employers for both boys and girls, and I have found it impossible to find pupils to fill the jobs offering.” Mr Millard said that it was difficult to forecast to what extent the new legislation and the new awards would affect the number of leavings at the end of the year, but even if the effect was not great, there had already been such an exodus of pupils to jobs that theie would need to be a big enrolment of new pupils if the school roll was to be maintained. Gum Trees Dying The death of a number of flowering gums in various parts of the town was reported at the fortnightly meeting of the Hamilton Beautifying Society. Mr E. Phillips-Turner said that most gums, and particularly flowering varieties, were susceptible to disease. It was decided to send a branch of one of the diseased tre.es to the research department at Palmerston North for examination. One Way of Escape ' A novel, if somewhat risky, method of avoiding being run down by a motor-car was adopted by an extraordinarily agile Wellington pedestrian who, seeing too late for escape the approach of a small motor-car, leaped on to the bonnet. The driver of the car, however, fortunately retained his poise, and immediately brought the car to a standstill. Few pedestrians will feel competent or willing to follow the example of this man of infinite resource and sagacity. Technological Library Proposals by the New Zealand Technical Education Association for the establishment of a technological library for the use of technical schools throughout New Zealand were considered at a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Hamilton Technical High School. It was said that if each school contributed 2d a pupil and the State 3d, about £4OO would be available each year for the purchase of books and the administration of a postal library. Several members expressed the opinion that the levy might be applied to better advantage in the individual school libraries. Australian Aerodromes “When it is completed Milson will not have to take second place to the aerodromes at Mascot, Sydney, or Essendon, Melbourne,” said Mr D. F. Smillie, president of Milson Aerodrome, Incorpdrted, who has returned to Palmerston North after a trip to Australia, in which he % took special notice of aviation development in the Commonwealth. Milson was far ahead of either of the two big Australian aerodromes, both in situation and general appointments, said Mr Smillie. The hangar accommodation of Union Airways was better than anything he t had seen in Australia. Art Union to be Drawn The drawing of Win-a-Lot Art Union is to take place at the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, this evening, commencing at 6 - o'clock*