General News

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 10

General News

Goat on Motor-cycle “Defendant was riding a motor-cycle not equipped with a side-car,” said Traffic Inspector A. J. Archer in the Lower -Hutt Magistrate’s Court yesterday when Oswald Staples was charged before Mr A. M. Goulding, S.M., with overloading a motor-cycle. “As well as a pillion rider, the cycle carried a boy of 12 in front of the defendant and a live goat in front of the t boy,” said the inspector. “On being stopped, the defendant explained that he had been shooting and had caught a live goat, which he decided to take home.” A fine of £ 1 with costs was imposed.—“ The Press” Special Service. Butter and Currency “People in the East appear to have a great respect for our butter, beef, and lamb; but they seem to have little regard for our currency or our legislation.” said Mr J. J. McGrath, a prominent Wellington barrister, who returned from a tour of Australia and the East Indies by the Maetsuycker. “Whether it is deserved or not, the Dominion has a poor financial reputation in practically all the countries I visited,” he added. “Nowhere could one negotiate New Zealand currency. In Sydney it was refused in trams, trains, taxis, hotels, and banks. In New Guinea, Java, and Saigon our silver and Reserve Bank notes were useless.” In spite of all its troubles, however, New Zealand was “not a bad country” to come back to, he said.—“ The Press” Special Service. Donation to Memorial Fund The Archbishop Julius memorial fund for the extension of the Cathedral has benefited by £2 19s 4d through a.collection taken at the boy scouts’ church service in the Cathedral last Sunday. Training of Harriers “The necessity for a more serious approach to training has been made apparent by the generally poor standard of running shown by the club in competition with visiting teams,” states the report to be presented to the annual meeting of the Christchurch Harrier Club. “In the case of the Kennett Cup race,” the report says, “the trophy has been won by Dunedin teams every year for the nine years that the race has been held. While we congratulate the Dunedin clubs on their successes and on the manner in which they can field consistently good teams, we realise that their adherence to a systematic programme of training will mean continued successes unless the Christchurch clubs are prepared to take their training seriously,” Radio Sets in Ambulances The possibility of equipping ambulances with radio receiving sets was mentioned by Sir Charles Norwood at a meeting of the Wellington District Free Ambulance Board yesterday. Sir Charles said that the arrangements made for the installation of wireless in the ambulance cars had been postponed pending inquiries which were being made by the Government, and the possibility of the Government installing a plant for use by the police and other public organisations. In this event, the service would operate for 24 hours a day, and it would be possible for the superintendent of the ambulance service to pick up any of the ambulance cars wherever they might be in the hospital district and give instructions to any driver. It was not known what the cost of the service would be; but provided it was within the means of the board it would be worth waiting for, said Sir Charles.—“ The Press” Special Service. Motor Taxation The report of a special committee on motor taxation, issued bv the Municipal Association of New Zealand, was before the North Island Motor Union at its half-yearly meeting yesterday. The co-operation of the union was sought to have the petrol tax reallocated between municipalities and the Consolidated Fund. Lack of comment by the union might be taken as acquiescence in the proposal, said Mr G. W. Hutchinson. “This thing is very dangerous,” he added. “The fund has already been raided by the Government, and now some of these municipalities are attempting .to join the raiders and divert this tax from its original purpose.” A motion that the union disagreed with the report and was not prepared to support any reallocation of the petrol tax was carried.—Press Association. Display of High-Alpine Plants Some 2000 persons visited the display of high-alpine plants at the Cockayne Memorial Gardens in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens yesterday, according to an estimate made by Mr W. Brockie, of the staff of the gardens, who was in charge of the display. The attendance included parties of pupils from almost all the secondary schools in Christchurch. During the morning a visit was paid by the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry), who was accompanied by Mr J. W. Heenan, Undersecretary to the department. A party of students of botany from Canterbury University College, conducted by Mr C. E. Foweraker, and students from the Teachers’ Training College, conducted by Mr L. W. McCaskill, also the display. Mr Brockie and Mr McCaskill said that the weather, which was dull and calm, was ideal for such a display. Great interest was shown, and the table of books on New Zealand flora was freely consulted. Mr Brockie was kept busy during the day giving information to visitors. It is probable that a special day for viewing alpine plants will be arranged for November or December, when the plants are in flower, and will present a more attractive appearance than at present. Paint on Number Plates Criticism of the quality of the paint used on the present motor vehicle number plates was contained in a letter from the Automobile Association (Wanganui) read at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union in Wellington yesterday. The plates had faded to such an extent that in many cases the numbers were hardly distinguishable, the letter stated. Mr R. W. Roydhouse (Wairarapa) said the plates were Government property,- and he questioned whether a motorist would have any right to interfere with them or to repaint them. The responsibility certainly lay on the motorist not to allow the plates to become obscured; but he could not interfere with them, as they did not belong to him. Mr W. H. Brown said motorists need have no fear that the P°or quality of the paint would not be rectified. There had been so many complaints, and so many applications for new plates, which had to be supplied free of charge, that he was sure it would be attended to. It was decided to bring the position under the notice of the licensing authorities. —Press Association. Work of Highways Board “Most of the old bridges in New Zealand are at the end of their useful life, many having been built about 50 years,” said Mr M. H. Wynyard, motorists’ representative on the Mam Highways Board, in a report at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union in Wellington yesterday. The board was faced with a heavy building programme, said Mr Wynyard. It had not been able to make much headway previously, as it was specialised work, and the designing staff had for some time been busy on aerodrome and other defence work. There was also a difficulty in obtaining steel. Even so, the board had actually built a larger length of bridges in New Zealand during the last year than at any other period in its history. Another phase of the board’s work which had eaten into its was the elimination of railway crossings. Assistance had been received from the Employment Promotion Fund, but that was likely to come to an end in the near future. —Press Association. Ducks on Waihopai Reserve The use of the Waihopai reserve as a sanctuary for game birds was advocated by Mr D. Wishart at a meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society. He suggested that half a dozen tame ducks be purchased and placed in the reserve to try to entice the wild duck to the sanctuary. The suggestion was adopted.