General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 10

General News

“Sixty Years Behind th(f Times” “We are only about 60 years behind the times,” commented Mr F. W. Freeman, chairman of the roads committee of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), when advice was received by the council of the association last night from the Lytteltqn Harbour Board that no more parking facilities were available at the Lyttelton inter-island steamer wharf. “This advice makes very sad reading, ’ added Mr Freeman. “More facilities must come, in the interests of the community, and it can only be a matter of time.” An Immigration Suggestion “British chartered companies, with British brains behind them, and heavily subsidised by the British Government,” was the solution for New Zealand’s immigration problems offered by Mr A. Leigh Hunt, of the Dominion Settlement Association, Wellington, in an address sponsored by the Christchurch Rotary Club last evening. Mr Hunt said he shuddered to think of the results of a Government planunder any government—for bringing 50,000 or 100,000 people a year to the Dominion. He considered that the colonising successes of chartered companies in the past were an argument in support of his suggestion. Rugby Without Boots Whether the backs in a Fijian Rugby football team which is to play a Maori team next month should wear boots or not was being discussed by the committee responsible for the team in Suva when a visit was paid by Mr A. D. Tench, who returned to Christchurch yesterday. He said that it had been decided that it would be necessary for the forwards to wear boots, but it was thought that if the backs wore boots they would lose speed, which would be their principal advantage over the Maoris, who had a better knowledge of the game. Actually, he said, the Fijians could kick better without boots than with them. Appeal for Orphanages As a result of the radio concert held at the Radiant Hall last evening, it is confidently expected that more than £7OO will be raised for the orphanages of Christchurch. Throughout the evening telephone calls were received from many places as far away as Waikato, Inangahua, and Oamaru. A gift of £5 to the fund and a challenge to others to give the same amount set the ball rolling, and before the evening was over 19 gifts of £5 had been promised. One of these gifts was received by radiogram from a well-wisher on the Monterey, which left New Zealand several days ago. Envelopes have been sent to listeners, and it has been arranged that members of Bible classes shall wait on them during the next few days. Listeners in the country are to send their gifts in by post. Opening Date of Shooting Season A proposal that the opening date of the shooting season be altered to the nearest Saturday to May 1 in each year was approved by the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society at a meeting last evening. It was stated that the change would involve an alteration of the act governing the date of opening, but it was decided that the society should support the suggestion, which was made by the Westland Acclimatisation Society, in an endeavour to bring about the change. Pony Dies at Age of Forty-three After reaching the remarkable age of 43 a pony, which had good claims to be called notable in Auckland, has died at the home of his owner, Miss Thorald Clerk, of Bassett road, Remuera. For years this pony, known variously as William Rufus, Rufie and Rufus, had defied the ordinary laws of longevity for his kind and had far outstripped the age at which even old horses usually die. One of several records which he seems to have established is that he had lived through the reigns of five kings, and another was that instead of seeing children who had first ridden him merely grow up he had stayed with them into middle-age. —Press Association. Record Membership Increase “This must be a record for our association.” commented Mr J. S. Hawkes, secretary of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), when he presented a report to the council of the association last night, statifig that 1855 new members had been enrolled since July 31 of last year. Of these new members, 165 had been enrolled since the last meeting of the council. Tribute to Lord Bledisloe “If it had been put up to us that Lord Bledisloe should be dictator for the next 10 years, at least all of us businessmen would have been with him,” said Mr A. Leigh Hunt, of Wellington, in an address in Christchurch last evening on population. Mr Savage and Population “We have a right to ask Mr Savage what is being done—not only has nothing been done, but they have not even a plan, said Mr A. Leigh Hunt, of the Dominion Settlement Association, Wellington, in an address ° n P9P“" lation sponsored by the Christchurch Rotary Club last evening. Mr Hunt contrasted with the Government’s present attitude two wise and statesmanlike utterances ’ by the Prime Minister two years ago. Mr Savage he said, had declared that the first line of defence was population, and that the only claim to territory was that it should not remain unused. Hospital Floors All the polish has been removed from the composition floors of the Christchurch Hospital. in accordance with a decision made some time ago by the North Canterbury Hospital Board The hospital committee reported to the board yesterday that cracks had developed in the floors, and that there was “a certain amount of deterioration.” A search for a satisfactory “non-slippery” polish had, however, been successful. The use of the same preparation may be extended to the floors of the Coronation Hospital. Triple Christening at Sea The christening of three of five children of a woman passenger on the liner Rangitata was performed at sea by Archdeacon A. T. Robinson, of Rockhampton, Queensland. The liner arrived at Auckland from England yesterday. In the course of the voyage the Archdeacon was asked if he would christen three of the five children of Mrs A. C. Wyatt. They were a girl aged 14 years, a boy of nine, and a baby. The Archdeacon readily agreed and gave preliminary instruction to the two older children. The ceremony was performed last Tuesday when the liner was in mid-Pacific in a cabin made available specially for the occasion. The usual Anglican form of service was followed. The cabin was crowded with friends of Mrs Wyatt and her family. On her arrival yesterday Mrs Wyatt was met by her husband, who is employed in Auckland. —Press Association. The President Comes Late Arriving an hour late at the meeting of the North Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday, the president, Mr I. L, M. Coop, had an unusual excuse to offer. “My car caught fire this morning,” he said,. “What with rushing around with a bucket of water, I am lucky to be here by now.” Claims of Perambulators A remarkable attention to detail was shown by Mr A. Leigh Hunt, of the Dominion Settlement Association, Wellington, w hen he urged the need for doing away with disabilities of mothers, in an address on population sponsored bv the Christchurch Rotary Club last evening. Ignoring such commonplace proposals as prenatal care and family allowances, he chose as an oyamole the limit on the number of perambullZs permitted on the Wellington trams. It was wrong that only two perambulators should be carried on a tram, he maintained. Other passengers should be made to alight so that more perambulators could be accommodated. “We have got to raise the mother to a place of honour,” he said.