General News

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23054, 24 June 1940, Page 6

General News

Hedge Fire The Christchurch Fire Brigade received a call late yesterday afternoon to a hedge fire on the property of Mr R. E. McDougall, 214 Papanui road. About 15 feet of the hedge, which was a mass of rose creeper over trestle-work, was destroyed, but no further damage was done, the flames being quickly extinguished. War in Mediterranean “The entering of Italy into the war means that 200,000,000 people in the region of the Mediterranean will feel the suffering and devastation of war,” said Mr J. T. Schoon in an address in the Theosophical Hall last night. “The lagt dispatches tell already that Spain has occupied Tangier. Hitler has spun his brown spider net during the last six years over these countries, the fifth column has been working in Egypt, Spanish Morocco, in North Africa among the Arabs and in Persia and Afghanistan near British India. From this you may understand why President Roosevelt, England, and France have done their utmost to prevent the war spreading over this region.” Weight of Bullock The weight guessing competition conducted by the Christchurch Master Butchers’ Association to raise funds for its war effort drew estimates which varied to some considerable extent. The correct weight of the bullock which was the subject of the competition was 1543|1b. Estimates of persons entering the competition varied from 1121b to 99991b. One person, to whom nice judgment was evidently of no concern, estimated the weight at “three tons.” French Submission “However unbelievable it may be to us all, the French have agreed with the German demands, and last night the armistice proposals were signed,” said Mr J. T. Schoon, formerly of Java, in a lecture in the Theosophical Hall last night. “The fighting and resistance of the French at this moment are still going on because ■ Italy like the old Shylock wants her pound of flesh of the body of France. On the radio, Mr Churchill urged the people in the French colonies and other parts of the world to fight on, but we will see it happen that the fifth column is working very hard all over the world again.” Righteousness Against Aggression “The Crusades were for righteousness against aggression, and it is for righteousness that we are fighting against aggression now,” said Canon George Coats, Chaplain of the Order of St, John, at a special service in the Cathedral yesterday at which members of the brigade and V.A.D.’s paraded. “Is it not a crusade for the things that are best in life, righteousness, and a love of beauty?” he asked. White Herons on West Coast For many years now during the winter season, white herons (kotuku) have frequented the tidal lagoons and estuaries on the coastal belt from Paroa to Cobden and Coal Creek on t v, o West Coast. .This year the birds are again present and have evidently overcome any shyness at human beings. Last week, one of the herons preened himself on the back fence of Mr J. Shannahan’s property in Alexander street, while later three of them alighted on the roof of Mr Strode’s home, near the Town Belt. After a time they took off in leisurely fashion towards their usual feeding grounds. Science in Farming How it was proposed to make superphosphate go 1 a long way further in New Zealand was mentioned by Sir Francis Frazer, chairman of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, speaking at Massey College. He said that the manufacturers could now increase, their output, but science had come to the rescue in another direction. There was in New Zealand millions of tons of serpentine rock which in itself was worth nothing but it contained magnesia and silica, and experiments had proved that the addition of one part to three of superphosphate made a compound in which the acid content was preserved and thus made three parts of superphosphate produce the same result as four. The serpentine rock also contained important trace elements such as cobalt and nickel which'were valuable in preventing bush sickness. Although more extensive experiments over a long period must be undertaken before the experts could give a final pronouncement, the experiments so far justified the assertion that no deleterious results had been manifest and. there was every reason for believing that it would do all that was claimed for it. Not Obedient “I object to the county engineer signing him•self in letters to me as ‘yours obediently’,” said one councillor at the end of the last meeting of the Hutt County Council. “He is far from that, and ‘yours obediently’ is more in order when a wife is writing to her husband.” When the laughter had died down—laughter in which the county engineer heartily joined—the official in question agreed to be “yours faithfully” in future. Women Workers In Demand The shortage of skilled women operatives, in particular machinists, is a problem of major concern to woollen mills engaged in the manufacture of war uniforms. Discussing this Mr A. W. Nisbet, secretary of the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association, said that no greater service could be rendered to the country at the present juncture than by women who had been skilled machinists going back to, their old jobs. The point is made by the association that one, skilled operative is worth several who are enthusiastic but untrained. An obvious difficulty confronted married women who might be prepared to undertake this work, but were prevented because of family ties. His association had discussed this question, said Mr Nisbet, and was ready to co-operate to the extent of arranging for the care of the children through recognised women’s organisations. The value of a skilled machinist for this class of work could not be too highly emphasised. Teachers on Service Twenty-one teachers in the Wellington Education Board’s district have been granted leave of absence on military service, and others have notified their intention of enlisting. According to the Wellington Education Board’s records, four teachers are overseas with the Ist Echelon and six with the 2nd Echelon. Two Wellington district teachers are in the 3rd Echelon, and four have joined the Air Force. Four teachers are serving on coastal defence, and one teacher who enlisted has been discharged because of ill-health. “False s Security” A warning that if victory should be delayed for some years and New- Zealand found itself unable to, ship its produce to England the social security scheme might fail in its commitments was given by Bishop Simkin at the twentieth annual meeting of the Auckland City Mission. Then it would be well to have an organisation like the mission to fall back on, and its present work in taking over cases which no Social Security Act could foresee would be extended. The public ’ should not lull themselves into a feeling of false security and forget the mission, said Bishop Simkin. Where New Zealand Leads Several directions in which New Zealand has set a lead to the farming world are indicated by the president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand (Mr L. Ji Wild), in his annual report. In live stock breeding New Zealand had two accomplishments at least to her credit. First was the mass production of fat lambs on a scale and of a general standard that had at no time nor anywhere been equalled; second, the development Of a hew type of sheep, the Corriedale, that had now status as a distinctive breed and recognition as a breed of special usefulness in many parts of the world. In mechanical inventions, a large number of patents had been granted, specially in dairy machinery and top-dressing equipment. Finally, in the technique of at least one branch of farming—grassland management—New Zealand farmers had developed a skill that was unsurpassed and perhaps unequalled elsewhere. Male Nurse Interned A resolution that the board affirmed its intention to assist with the war effort and would not enter into any contracts with alien persons or alien firms during the war was moved by the chairman (Mr C. Lassen) at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board and carried unanimously. Mr Lassen said he would report to the board in committee upon the recent internment of a male nurse employed at the Napier Hospital and the dismissal since of a nurse who was a companion of this man.