General News

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22103, 27 May 1937, Page 10

General News

Apprenticeship Research "The apprenticeship system must be regarded as a legitimate part of the educational structure of the country," states the annual- report of the Director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (Dr. C. E. Beeby), "and an investigation has been started in three centres into its workings. The mam purpose is to work out a technique for examining the adequacy of trade training in New Zealand. Three typical trades were chosen. Mr A. A. Kirk (Wellington) has completed his survey of apprenticeship in the plumbing trades. MrG. E. M. Keys (Christchurch) is working on the electrical trades, and Mr T. Conly (Dunedin) on the iron trades." Traffic Control at Bank Corner Tenders for the installation of vehicle-actu-ated traffic lights at the intersection of Hereford and Colombo streets will be considered by the traffic committee -of the City Council at its next meeting, and a recommendation made to the council, which will meet again on June 14. This information was given yesterday by the chairman of the committee (Cr. T. Milliken). Three tenders have been received. It is intended to install these automatic traffic signals only as an experiment, and its success will guide the council-in deciding whether to continue them permanently. According to u. Milliken, it will be at least four months before the signals can be installed, for the apparatus has to be ordered from England. New Zealanders in the East New Zealanders can be found among ports and cities almost throughout the Far East, according to the' experience of Mr A. V. Prince, who described some of his impressions along the Chinese coast, in an address to the Christchurch branch of the Wellington College Old Boys' Association last evening. In Hong Kong, he said, 10 per cent, of the European population were New Zealanders or Australians, and an Australia and New Zealand Association was thriving there. He met quite a number of New Zealanders in various eastern ports. Shortage of Trucks A shortage of trucks has delayed the discharge of vessels at Lyttelton during the last two days. On Tuesday night the Narbada, Karetu, and Canadian Conqueror were unable to work overtime, and last night the Karetu, Canadian Conqueror, Port and City of Oran were able to work till 8 o cioclc only, instead of 9.30 as usual. Another overseas steamer with cargo to discharge, the Pakeha, is to arrive this morning. "Service" and Research The distinction between "service" to farmers by Government departments, and research work proper, was picturesquely illustrated by Mr Alan Leslie, formerly veterinarian at the Canterbury Agricultural College, in an address to the executive of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union yesterday. If a farmer wished to have the tails of his horses chopped off, said Mr Leslie, and called in a man to do it, that was service If, however, the farmer wished the tails of all his horses to drop off at a certain time of the year —that was a matter for research. This was an important distinction. Award of Honours "It is very pleasing to see that honours are being conferred on people who have given long public service and not necessarily piled up a stack of money and a name for themselves, said Mr J. K. Archer, speaking of the honour conferred on Miss Rose Muir, former lady superintendent of the Public Hospital, at a meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday. It has formerly been the custom to award honours-as a reward for political service or contributions, and I am glad to see that those who have given long service to the public are rvow bemg given more recognition." Stakhanovism in Waimairi There appears to be a follower of Stakhanov, the Russian coalminer who inspired a movement for high-speed production, among the employees of the Waimairi County Council. During a discussion at a meeting last evening the question was raised whether an area of 20 acres at Harewood should be planted by contract or by employees of the council. The County Clerk (Mr G. S. Cowper) said that on one occasion an employee had planted 6000 trees in a day. This statement was greeted with cries of "Cut that out" and "Not on your life.' The council finally decided to carry out the work of planting the remaining area at Harewood and fill in the gaps in last year's planting. Four men would be engaged temporarily to prepare for the planting. Quotations for 14,000 two-year-old pinus trees were being obtained and the trees would be inspected before the purchase was made. Bombing Practice at Lake Ellesmere Arrangements have been made by the officer commanding Wigram aerodrome for bombing practice to be carried out at Lake Ellesmere, starting next Monday, and continuing from Monday to Thursday of each week. The commanding officer referred the matter to the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, which offered no objection to the proposal. Election by Lot In the election of Cr. T. O. Newnham as chairman of the Waimairi County Council last evening recourse was had to lot, as the voting was even, five members voting for each of the two candidates, Crs. Newnham and W. G. Chapman. Representatives of the newspapers acted as scrutineers, and after the ballot was taken the name of Cr. Newnham was drawn from the two slips placed in a hat. This is the second time in succession that election by lot has been used. Four members declined nomination— Crs. C. E. Cross, F. S. Scott, W. J. Walter, and W. Price. Unusual Air Freights Uncommon cargoes seem to be the lot of air services throughout the world, and New Zealand's services, although so recently established, are no exception. Union Airways have been called on to carry dogs and various other kinds of household pets. The last fortnight has introduced an unusual feature to the daily freight records with the carriage of canaries. What has induced the different owners to have transferred from Christchurch to Palmerston or from Palmerston North to Christchurch five cages of the birds has, however, not been revealed. Anglers Interested in Research Anglers throughout North Canterbury are taking more interest in the conservation of trout, states Professor E. Percival, in his report on the Canterbury fishing areas included in the seventy-third annual report of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. Many inquiries have been received for information and 182 scale samples had been collected during the last season, compared with 74 in the previous season. Fishing diaries had been issued to anglers at the beginning of the season; but the returns of those diaries had been most disappointing. Australian Oranges A resolution expressing the hope that success will soon attend the Government's efforts in negotiations with the Government of Australia to promote a greater flow of trade between Australia and New Zealand was passed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. A letter received from the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce asked Wellington's support for an appeal to the Government for removal of the restrictions against the importation of Australian oranges. In moving the resolution Mr M. G. C. McCaul cautioned the chamber against taking a step which would embarrass the Government in its negotiations with Australia. Australian interests were sitting back, he said, hoping that the agitation in New Zealand for more Australian oranges would force the Dominion Government to give way when it was engaged in difficult negotiations. Describing the situation as farcical, Mr A. R. Hislop said the present Government, when in opposition, had continually criticised the Government for failure to remedy the position relating to the supply of oranges for New Zealand, but it had not shown that it could do any better. Other members emphasised the need for a cheap and plentiful supply of oranges and supported the policy of caution appealed for by Mr McCaul. The motion was carried.—Press Association.