General News

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22823, 23 September 1939, Page 12

General News

Conversion of Cars Concern at the frequent illegal conversion of cars was expressed at the conference of the South Island Motor Union at Christchurch yesterday. It was mentioned that escapees from Government reformatory institutions were among the chief offenders, and that the reckless driving of some of these criminals had a serious reaction on the effect of the road safety campaign. School Terms Start on Tuesdays School terms in Canterbury will begin on Tuesdays next year and holidays will end on Mondays. The Canterbury Education Board met yesterday and approved the dates fixed for the closing and opening of all the school? under its jurisdiction. Th t e dates are: First term }> Tuesday, February 6; to Friday, May 3 (vacation May 4 to May 20); second term, Tuesday, May 21, to Friday, August 16 (vacation August 17-September 2); third term, Tuesday, September 3, to Thursday, -December 19. (vacation December 20-February 4, 1941). The official opening in 1941 will be on February 5. Improved Driving. An improved standard of driving and increased road courtesy were reported by Mr A. J. Tait, traffic inspector for the Heathcote County Council, at a meeting of the council last evening. “That very few breaches have been observed is encouraging, and when the cyclists reach the same standard we can look for a decline in accidents. From my observations many cyclists give a very feeble sign of their intention to turn, and some do not bother at all,” said the report. -Motor-ship Refloated After being stranded on the beach at Foxton for the last 10 days, the motor-ship Hokitika was refloated on Thursday afternoon. Since the vessel stranded, Captain A. M. Nalder and his crew persistently tried to kedge the vessel off the beach. On Thursday, after ill-luck m previous attempts, it floated off and steamed into Foxton to discharge. Rent for Council Chamber The decision made in 1930 that rent should not be paid for the use of the Provincial Council Chamber by Government or semi-Govern-ment departments was revoked by the Minister for Finance, and the committee now had .the right to collect rent for the use of the buildings from any department or body using them, said the annual report of the committee of, the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Board. The revenue received for the year was sufficient to meet the ordinary outgoings. “Penalties Too Light” The /opinion that the penalties usually imposed by Magistrates for failure to carry warrants of fitness on motor vehicles were too light was expressed by Mr R. P. Furness (Marlborough) at the annual conference of the South Island Motor Union at Christchurch yesterday. “A fine of 5s is imposed for failure to carry a warrant of fitness, while for riding a bicycle on the footpath or exceeding the parking limit a "fine of 10s or more is imposed,” he said. He contended that, considering the menace of an imperfectly-equipped motor-car, a more rigid penalty should be favoured. Furniture at Provincial Chambers “During the year the Tourist Department handed. over to the committee an octagonal table and two settees,” said the annual report of the committee of the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Board. “These pieces of furniture have been renovated and are a distinct acquisition to the vestibule of the chamber. The action of the Tourist Office in making these available is very much appreciated.” Roadside Beautification A roadside beautification scheme, involving an initial outlay of £3700 for the whole of New Zealand and an annual expenditure in upkeep of about £3OOO, was supported by the South Island Motor Union at the annual conference in Christchurch yesterday. The scheme favoured is along the lines of that drawn up by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. It is proposed that officers be stationed in each of the four centres and that they should co-operate, with local authorities in an improvement scheme, concerned chiefly with the planting of trees and shrubs and the forming of ornamental plots along the main highways. The meeting disregarded a suggestion that all money should be spent on defence, as it was felt the scheme would take some time to complete. Women as Drivers Women are applying for driving licences stating that “they may be required to drive before the war is over,” according to a report made by the traffic inspector (Mr A. J. Tait) at a meeting of the Heathcote County Council last evening. Mr Tait also mentioned that a pleasing feature of the traffic had been the riding efficiency and good behaviour of motorcyclists. “The various motor-cycle clubs are to be congratulated on their efforts, and I hope the good work will continue,” he said. Children on Streets \ To avoid the danger to children playing on the streets, the South Island Motor Union decided, at its conference yesterday, to seek further information about the present position with a view to approaching the educational authorities to have school grounds left open for the use of children after school hours. It was stated that motorists were harassed by children playing on the streets while large areas of school grounds nearby were unoccupied. Hospital Taxation

“Authorities from overseas tell us that our system of hospital finance is better than those in other countries,” said Mr G. T. Parvin, at a meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council, when a circular was received from the Takapuna Borough Council, soliciting support for a letter to the Municipal Association asking the association again to review the question of hospital taxation, with a view to formulating a more just and equitable system. The meeting decided to reply that it could not see its way to support the letter. ■ Refunds to Soldiers The council of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society has decided to refund, on a pro rata basis, the balance of unexpired fishing licence fees to men who join the military forces, and who, for this reason, wish to surrender the licences. It was pointed out that it was only reasonable that if young men went into camp they would feel very diffident about taking out licences • for the whole season if there were a prospect of obtaining but little benefit. “Dangerous Practice” Many motorists were evidently not aware that by increasing speed when approaching an intersection they were committing an offence, said the traffic inspector (Mr A. J. Tait) in his report to a meeting of the Heathcote County. Council last night. “This is very noticeable at .the foot of Dyer’s Pass road, where cars accelerate over the intersection, to take the hill in top gear,” he said. “The majority do not get very far, and it would be wiser and safer to change to second gear before crossing this .particular intersection. I have given many warnings relative to this offence and ■will have to prosecute to stop this dangerous practice.” Pigs and Turkeys Die . Thirty-five pigs and eight turkeys dropped dead on Thursday morning on Mr W. G. McAnulty’s farm at Pokeno after being fed with a mixture of skim milk and meat soup. The meat soup was made on Wednesday, and some was'fed out on Wednesday night without any untow'ard effect. An employee went round the feeding pens in a horse-drawn vehicle about 7.30 a.m. on Thursday, carrying the containers with the skim milk and soup. These were mixed as they were poured into the feed receptacles. About 10 minutes later the pigs and turkeys which had been feeding at the receptacles were noticed to be rearing .up and falling over, quivering, and dying within a few seconds. The nature of the feed given to the pigs was that usually put out to them in the morning. The suggest strychnine poisoning. Detectives are investigating. Pigs which did not come up to the' receptacles, including the litters of three-brood sows which were among those poisoned, escaped. Mr McAnulty estimates his loss at abodt.£loo,