General News

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22661, 16 March 1939, Page 10

General News

Control of Motor-Cycles Existing regulations are quite adequate for the control of motor-cyclists, in the opinion of officers of the Waimairi County Council. The council, along with others throughout New Zealand, has been asked by the Transport Department for its opinion on the control of motor-cyclists. The matter was referred tc the county clerk (Mr G. S. Cowper) and the county inspector (Mr G. E. Stokes). Mr Cowper, in a report to a meeting last evening, said that the irresponsible youth would always give a certain amount of trouble, but this could not be said to apply particularly to the use of motor-cycles. To impose greater restrictions on the use of motor-cycles, say, by increasing the age limit for licences or reducing the speed limit, would be unfair to the big majority of cyclists, who were prepared to obey the regulations. The report observed that there had no doubt been an improvement in the last year or two in the standard of motor driving, with both motor-cars and motorcycles. Inspection of Iron Deposits Dr. T. T. Colclough and Mr H. K. Scott, English experts engaged by the Government to report on the Onekaka iron deposits, with their private secretary (Miss A. G. Hooker), Dr. J. Henderson, Dominion geologist, Mr G. A. Pascoe, Acting Iron and Steel Commissioner, and Mr W. Bromley, executive officer of the Iron and Steel Department, arrived at Takaka on Tuesday at midday. After a hurried lunch they set off to the Onekaka iron fields. Dr. Colclough said it was grand to get right to work after their long journey.—Press Association. Land for Hunting One of the effects of more land being put into crop has apparently been to create some difficulty for hunt clubs. The annual report of the Master of the Brackenfield. Hunt (Mr H. D. Greenwood) states: “Because of so much land going into crop, country is becoming harder to get every season, and we wish to express our thanks to those who allowed us to hunt over their land.” Replacements on Power Lines Anticipating the peak winter loads the electricity department of the Waimairi County Council is busy attending to power lines in its district. Particular attention, according to a report of the electrical engineer (Mr C. Burrowes) to the Waimairi County Council last evening, is being given to lines carrying the original cable established 20 years ago. Mr Burrowes said that an additional 1650 kilowatts had been required by consumers in the-, last 12 months. He mentioned the prevalent alarm over prospective strain on the South Island power system. The chairman of the electricity committee, Cr. C. E. Cross, “Said that the power supply authorities in the South Island were keeping a close watch on the situation. There had been a lot of “scare talk” about it. / Grant for Sumner School Steps will be taken soon to install a hotwater heating system in the infant, building of the Sumner District High School, according to information received from the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) by Mr T. H. McCombs, member for Lyttelton. In a letter received by Mr McCombs, Mr Fraser says; “I have pleasure in advising you that I have approved of a grant towards the cost of installing a hot-water heating system in the three-roomed infant building at the Sumner District High School.” Lodges and Social Security Because no definite information could be given about the social security legislation the North Island Grand Lodge conference of the United Ancient Order of Druids, held yesterday at New Plymouth, set up a special emergency committee with full power to act to meet any new situation and to co-operate with the Government jn'the arrangements for operating the benefits of- the social'security scheme as they relate to the sphere covered by friendly societies. A report of the executive staled that it was impossible to visualise what effect the social security scheme would have on friendly societies until complete regulations had been issued.—Press Association. Commission for Domains Board The allocation of levies and basis of representation on the Christchurch Domains Board will shortly be reviewed by a commission. A survey of the system under which the levies are paid was requested by the Waimairi County Council, and an order of reference has now been drawn up for the commission. Mr H. Kitson, chairman of the board, as a member of the Waimairi County Council, reported to the council last evening that e.verything was in train for the commission to begin work. It was only a matter of having a Magistrate available. Size of School Classes Alarm at the existence in Taranaki of many classes with more than 40 pupils-—recognised as the standard number—was expressed by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. It was reported that there were 15 classes with more than 50 children, and one of 60. In view of the board’s opinion that the position was urgent and important, the chairman, Mr J. A. Valentinej was authorised to make special representations to the department and to the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser). Mr T. J. Friffen said the trouble lay in the infant departments, where more liberal staffing was necessary.—Press Association. Minister’s Visit-to Plant Display One of the visitors to the display of highalpine plants at the Cockayne Memorial Garden in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens today will be the Minister for Internal Affairs (the rfon. W. E. Parry). Mr Parry will meet the chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board (Mr H. Kitson) and the curator of the gardens (Mr J. A. McPherson) for an informal discussion of’ the gardens and Hagley Park, and will later visit the north and south parks (noting the playing areas). He will then visit «the alpine plant display, later visiting the Teachers’ Training College., and concluding his tour with visits to the factory gardens of Fleming and Co., T. J. Edmonds, Ltd., and the Sanitarium Health Food Company. The display of alpine plants promises to attract a large number of visitors, and one of the features will be a table with literature of the native plants of the Dominion. Defence Policy Supported Resolutions assuring the Government of wholehearted support in the steps taken to provide an adequate system of defence, but suggesting the reintroduction of compulsory military training, were passed by the Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union after a spirited debate.—Press Association. Diet of German Owls Results which indicate that the German or Little Owl preys on other birds to a limited extent only have been attained by Professor B. J. Marples, Professor of Zoology at the University of Otago from investigations of the diet of these owls which he has now been carrying out for some time. In all, Professor Marples has now examined the stomach contents of no fewer than 93 owls, and the evidence he has collected suggests that a very large part of the diet of the birds consists of beetles and caterpillars. Professor Marples said that most of the German owls that were sent to him came from Southland or the Gatlins district. Some came from Canterbury, but it was doubtful whether they were in the North Island at all. Of the four birds found inside the stomachs of the owls Pripfessor Marples said one looked like a lark, while another bird had been shot while it was eating a blackbird. It had been found in England that the German owl fed very largely on ground birds, and the evidence he had gathered so far seemed to indicate that a somewhat similar position existed in New Zealand. The prejudice against the owl which existed m some quarters was not general, as it was protected by law in Switzerland and Hungary and in various other European countries it was regarded as being beneficial. —“The Press” Special Service.