General News

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23111, 29 August 1940, Page 6

General News

Faster Funerals Funeral directors on the West Coast have been requested by the Oil Fuel Advisory Committee to increase the travelling speed of funerals to 20 miles an hour. The letter from the committee stated that the consumption of petrol when travelling at a low speed was considerably greater than when travelling at a moderate speed. While the saving of petrol as far as the funeral directors’ vehicles was concerned would be negligible, the saving in petrol in vehicles following a funeral would be considerable. Compliance with the* request will eliminate walking at funerals. Vandalism in Cathedral Grounds The effects of vandalism in the Cathedral grounds attracted the attention of passers-by yesterday. A young plane tree, originally about 14ft high, had been badly damaged. Attempts had apparently been made to uproot the tree, but had been unsuccessful. About six feet of the top of the tree, as well as one of its branches, were broken off. Parking for Farmers Better parking facilities for farmers, particularly on Wednesdays, will be requested of the City Council by the executive of the North Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union. Two resolutions were passed by the executive yesterday, one asking for an easing of parking restrictions, and the other asking that a special “country parking” area be set aside for farmers on Wednesdays. Hospital Pigs Sold The North Canterbury Hospital Board used to keep pigs at the Jubilee Home in Woolston. The board was informed yesterday that its stock had been sold to the Christchurch City Council. In the meanwhile the council was being given the swill from the Jubilee Home and the Burwood Hospital. Objection to “Wet” Canteens Objection to “wet” canteens in military camps was voiced at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Alliance yesterday. It was urged that the restrictions on soldiers purchasing liquor at hotels for consumption off the premises should also apply not only to the Navy and the Air Force but to civilians. The superintendent, Mr H. W. Milner, reported that with the war. and the mobilisation of the fighting forces the valuable policy of 30 years’ experience of dry camps in New Zealand was swept away.—Press Association. Wage Increases The wages bill of the North Canterbury Hospital Board will be increased by approximately £3OOO by the decision of the Arbitration Court to raise wages under awards by 5 per cent. The board decided yesterday to make various increases in pay to persons outside awards because of anomalies which had been created. Tobacco from New Zealand Appreciated New Zealand soldiers in England apparently have not taken kindly to some of the brands of tobacco available to them there. In one of the many letters received by Mr H. S. Feast, secretary to the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council, thanking the people of Canterbury for gifts sent overseas to soldiers of the 2nd Echelon, the writer refers feelingly to this sub : ject: “Especially do we appreciate the tin of tobacco. The varieties available here are not those to which we are accustomed at home, and what tobacco we can buy is very expensive, so that a tin of New Zealand tobacco is a godsend to us.” Petrol for Shearers A request for an extra allowance of petrol for shearers who own motor-cars, to enable them to carry out their work during the season, was contained in a question addressed to the Minister for Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), of which Mr D. C. Kidd (Opposition, Waitaki) gave notice in the House yesterday. Mr Kidd said it would be difficult to get shearers this season, and many of the men in sparsely settled areas had to do a lot of travelling. Unless supplied with extra petrol it would be most difficult for them to do their work as expeditiously as in previous years.—Parliamentary Reporter. Use of Opossum Revenue The North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society is going to ask the Department of Internal Affairs what happens to the revenue gained from opossum trapping. The council of the society met last night, and the chairman, Dr. D. McK. Dickson, said that the department always took two-thirds of the revenue, although it was put to no expense and the society did the work. The society supplied the rangers and did the inspection and stamping of skins, said Dr. Dickson. The department received about £3OOO, of which about £IOOO came back to societies, and North Canterbury got £29. Mr C. H. Lawrence said that the revenue used to be partly spent on fish research. On his suggestion it was decided to ask the department if this was still the case. Spoonerism in Court A perfect spoonerism was committed in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. As so often happens with persons unfamiliar with Court procedure, a wbman charged with operating an unlicensed radio set was bewildered by the clerk’s question, “Do you plead guilty or not guilty?” When the clerk had twice failed to obtain an answer in the proper form, another official intervened. “Is your licence unwirelessed?” he asked. Not for several seconds did he realise that his question had been more amusing than helpful. Petrol for Fish Stocking There has been so little success in the 'efforts of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society to secure additional petrol permits for its busy season of liberating trout fry that the council has been forced to issue an appeal to members of the society to come to its assistance with spare petrol coupons. Much petrol has been used in the work of salvaging stranded fish, and the standing permit will not cover the busy season. Dr. D. McK, Dickson explained last evening. There is the work of liberating trout fry to be done,, in nearby rivep as well as in the tributaries in the back country, and the council can see no way of doing this without assistance from members who own private cars and can.supply spare coupons, he said. Soldiers’ Train Fares Information as to whether it is the policy of the Government to demand payment from soldiers on final leave from camp who travel by the Liffiited express is sought by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago), who gave notice in the House yesterday of a question to the Minister for Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). “The. Railways Department has demanded payment from a number of soldiers on final leave who travelled by the Limited express when returning to camp,” Mr Bodkin said. “These fnen were provided with unconditional passes on the railways, and those who refused to pay the fare have now been notified that the sum demanded will be deducted from their military pay.”—Parliamentary Reporter. A Brief Answer . “The answer is no,” was the brief reply given by the Minister for Labour (the Hon, P. C. Webb) on behalf of the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) in the House yesterday to an urgent question whether a married man separated from his wife under a mutual agreement or deed was deemed to be unmarried for the purpose of the General Reserve Classification Order, 1940. The question was asked by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) on behalf of the Hon. W. E. Barnard (Democratic Labour, Napier). “Such a man,” the questioner said, “is not judicially separated, and there is always the prospect, in many cases a desirable one, that the parties. Will come together again.”—Parliamentary Reporter. Top Price for Season A Hereford-Shorthorn cross bullock which was offered at the Lorneville (Southland) stock sale on Tuesday brought £25 15s, the highest price which has been paid for a fat bullock this season. The bullock was offered by Mr R. Chisholm,, of Tokanui. Bidding started at, £2O and quickly ran up to the selling price.