General News

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21973, 23 December 1936, Page 8

General News

No Paper on Christmas Day “The Press” will not be published on Friday, Christmas Day. Governor-General’s Greeting Card A typically New Zealand Christmas and New Year greeting card has been chosen by the Governor-General, Lord Galway. It is in the form of a large white folder with a ribbon of royal blue and the Royal coat-of-arms embossed on the front, also in royal blue. Inside is a striking whole-plate photograph of “the towering range of the Remarkables, South Island, New Zealand.” This photograph, taken from the shore of the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu, at a spot a few miles out of Queenstown, shows the Remarkables at their finest, with a powdering of snow on their boldly-serratcd tops. Guide Book to Christchurch There is at present no guide book to Christchurch, a lack which was felt and commented upon by Australians who visited the city during the recent tourist cruise of the Maunganui. To provide for future tourist cruises, the South Islands of New Zealand Travel Association has decided to issue a guide book. Mr J. J. W. Pollard, director of the association, stated yesterday that the book would be available in January. Cricket Blazers With a desire of having a distinctive badge, the Wellington Cricket Association wrote to the Wellington City Council enquiring whether the council had any objection to the association using the city’s coat-of-arms on its blazers. The Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) replied that while he understood the aim of the association, he thought that if the use of the coat-of-arms were permitted in this case others would want the privilege too. “I think it wiser that the city’s coat-of-arms should remain the city’s coat-of-arms,” he added. It was decided to reply to the Cricket Association along these lines. Encouraging Foreign Tourists The requirements placed on visitors from foreign countries to put down a deposit of £ 10 on entering New Zealand, which has been the subject of complaint recently, was referred to the Government last month by the New Zealand Tourist League. In the replies which have been received the Prime Minister (Mr Savage) states that suggestions for the relaxation of the existing customs restrictions will receive careful consideration, as the Government is anxious to encourage the growth of the tourist traffic. The Acting-Minister for Customs (the Hon. M. Fagan) has stated that the matter will receive attention when the whole immigration restriction policy comes under review. Efficiency of Transport Propaganda The more intensive propaganda for road safety which is being conducted by the Minister for Transport is already having its effect on motorists, according to statements made yesterday by the South Canterbury Main Highways traffic inspector, Mr W. R. Ashwell. Mr Ashwell said that the Hon. R. Semple’s intention of giving greater publicity to traffic regulations was a very fine thing. It was already noticeable that motorists and road-users were paying more attention to the regulations, and where they merely drove before, they were now thinking more of what they were doing. People, too, were now asking more questions about road rules and traffic regulations, and it was his opinion that this was the direct result of the campaign for transport publicity. Paralysis Caused by Bee Complete paralysis of the nervous system caused by a bee sting was the unfortunate experience of a seaman on the cruiser Dunedin, Ernest Moreland Groube, aged 18 years, when riding in a friend’s motor-car along Robertson road, Otahuhu, this week. The bee flew in through a window and stung him on the temple. He was treated by Dr. E. P. Spencer, who gave him an injection and sent him in a St. John ambulance to the Auckland Hospital. Pastoral Research Work “I can say nothing until I have seen the Prime Minister. I have come over here to carry out pastoral research work, because there is no doubt whatsoever that in this work New Zealand is the foremost country in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Professor J. K. Murray, an eminent Australian authority on agricultural and pastoral subjects, who recently arrived at Wellington. Later in the day Professor Murray stated that the Prime Minister had offered to place all possible facilities at his disposal, and had arranged for him to have the co-operation of various Government departments. He expected to be about six weeks in New Zealand, and would travel widely throughout the country. He was engaged in general pastoral research, in which valuable scientific work was being done in this country. Wellington Building Figures December is never a vital month in new building enterprise in Wellington, but this year the recorded value is unusually small. The value of new buildings and alterations for December last year amounted to £33,449, according to the contract figures supplied by the office of the city corporation building inspector’s department. Up till December 20 the estimate for new buildings this month amounted only to £24,000, and it is not anticipated that during the remaining days of the year the figure will be increased materially. For the 11 months ended November 30, the total amount invested in new buildings, alterations, etc., was £763,219. With £25,000 added to that for December the total is £738,219, a substantial increase on the total of the previous year, which was £636,844. Another Tourist Cruise Arriving at Auckland to-day from Brisbane, the Orient liner Orford will spend Christmas in New Zealand waters, on a holiday cruise. She is expected at Wellington on Saturday morning, and will leave the following morning for Sydney. As usual, a great many tourists travel overland from Auckland, although no doubt many will wish to enjoy the Christmas festivities at sea. Sightseeing expeditions and other arrangements for the visitors’ reception in Wellington are being planned by the New Zealand Tourist Department. Offensive Trades Under regulations issued last night, the slaughtering of animals for any purpose other than human consumption, fish-cleaning, carpetbeating, wood-pulping, and flax-pulping have been declared offensive trades under the Health Act.—Press Association. English-Speaking Union The New Zealand headquarters of the English-Speaking Union has received a cablegram from London headquarters as follows; “Delighted inform you his Majesty King George Sixth is graciously pleased grant patronage.” King George VI. therefore replaces the former King Edward VIII. as patron of the union. Far-Reaching Recommendations The Committee of Enquiry into the taxi-cab and town carrying business has concluded its work and disbanded. The report is being typed, and will be submitted early in the New Year. “The recommendations,” said the Hon. R. Semple (Minister for Transport) in a statement yesterday, “are far-reaching, aiming at complete reorganisation of these two important branches of the transport system.”—Press Association. National Housing Scheme Mr J. A. Lee, Under-Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Housing, said yesterday that there would toe no difficulty about any local body securing a reasonable extension of time for depositing the plan necessitated by the housing survey regulations. Some local bodies were concerned lest they should be unable to complete the survey before the end of January; but it was not intended to operate the regulations harshly. They were merely to ensure a survey being undertaken with reasonable expedition. The statement was made at the request of the secretary of the Municipal Association.—Press Association.