General News

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 10

General News

Butter for Canada An announcement that from to-morrow the j Canadian Government would accept butter ; shipments from New Zealand without quantita- j tive restriction was made by the Hon. W. Nash, j Minister for Marketing, when speaking at | Ngatea last night. The Minister said that bar- : gaining with the Canadian Government had achieved the sale of 54,000 boxes of butter a year at an even duty of seven cents a pound. This was a considerable increase on the quantity which Canada had previously taken; but now the restriction was to be lifted, and Canada was prepared to take as much butter as it could get. The Minister said this outlet would take a certain amount of the Dominion’s output from the United Kingdom market, and would assist to keep up overseas prices.—Press Association. ! I H.M.S. Achilles Sails ! There was a larger crowd than usual on the ! wharf at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, when | H.M.S. Achilles, the flagship of the New Zea- j land Division of the Royal Navy, sailed after > paying a farewell visit on her present commis- j sion. Although the warship sailed ostensibly | for Dunedin, and headed south, there is some ; doubt as to whether the international situation | in Europe may not cause a change of plans, j even while the ship is en route for Dunedin. \ Air-Minded Acclimatisation | A suggestion that the Air Force should be asked to assist the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society by taking aerial photographs of swans’ breeding grounds so that a record of the number of nests could be made was put forward by Professor E. Percival at a meeting of the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society last evening. He said that it might be possible that an indication of i the swan population to within 10 per cent. ! could be obtained i.i this way. Volunteers for Service A steady stream of inquiries is being received at defence headquarters in Auckland from men who desire to serve in some capacity if the Empire is involved in war. Many men are inquiring by correspondence from all over the province. It is assumed by most of the inquirers that in the event of war there will be an expeditionary force, in which they are prepared to serve. The inquiry is by no means confined to young men, and extends to veterans of the Great War. As no call has been made for volunteers, nothing is being done by the Defence Department, beyond informing inquirers of the position. The situation that has developed is similar to that which ruled in 1914. Long before it was announced that there would be an expeditionary force, there was then the same eager inquiry. The number of young men offering for the territorial force is described as normal. The threat of war appears to have made little difference so far in the campaign for recruits for this force.—Press Association. A Patient’s Appreciation Members ,of the North Canterbury Hospital Board expressed gratification at a meeting yesterday morning, when a letter was read from a resident of Hawke’s Bay expressing appreciation of the treatment he had received at the Cashmere Hills Sanatorium. He made particular mention of the kindness and attention • shown by the staff, stating that he did not think that a sanatorium could be better conducted and that if he had the misfortune to have another breakdown in ‘ health he hoped he would again be a patient at Cashmere Hills. “Champion Pasture” Competition A suggestion that North Canterbury should follow the lead of Otago and hold a field competition, in grasses and root crops, was made by Mr C. Bassett at yesterday’s meeting of the provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. A number of branches held their own competitions, Mr Bassett said, and the proposal was that these branch winners should compete in the provincial competition. General support was given the proposal by members, one stating that a competition for a “champion pasture,” for instance, would do very much good. Government Buys Radio Station Radio station 4ZM, which is one of the two remaining B stations operating in Otago, has been acquired by the Government, the purchase price being £2250. So far the future of the station is undecided, and pending the decision of the Minister for Broadcasting, will remain on the air.—Press Association. Tribute to Traffic Officers “Some degree of credit for the impiuvement • in traffic control in the city must be given to the Chief Traffic Inspector (Mr J. Bruorton) and his officers,” said Mr H. C. Harley, president of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), at its annual meeting last night. “They are studying our interests, and I have no hesitation in saying that they are to be congratulated. They are very considerate at all times.” A New Police Station The Hon. P. Fraser, Minister in charge of the Police Department laid the foundation stone of the new police station at Palmerston North yesterday in the presence of a large gathering. He emphasised that so important a police district, needed a new • station and facilities, and mentioned that other districts were in similar need. He congratulated the force on its efficiency.—Press Association. Busy Month at Hospital “The last month has been a very busy one for the Christchurch Hospital,” states the report of the hospital committee of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, which was received at a meeting yesterday morning. The report adds that the average number of beds occupied was 448.06. Measles had added to the difficulties not only of the main hospital but of other institutions. The medical superintendent’s report showed that during the month ending August 31 there were 737 admissions, with 450 patients in hospital at the end of the month. The month at the infectious diseases hospital was also a heavy one, and difficulty was experienced in obtaining staff, according to the report of the public health committee. Of 101 cases dealt with during the month there were 73 of measles, 27 of scarlet fever, and one of j diphtheria. f