General News

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23445, 27 September 1941, Page 8

General News

Hares’ Depredations Hares on the Waimakariri river flats have proved to be a problem in the river trust’s protective tree-planting projects. During a tour with a representative of “The Press” yesterday Mr H. W. Harris, engineer to the trust, pointed to areas where scores of young poplar trees had been ring-barked by hares, and to young pine trees with their tops eaten. Mr Harris said that the number of hares on the flats was illustrated by two drives recently in which a total of 600 to 700 hares had been secured by the parties, aggregating between 60 and 70 guns. Rear Lights for Bicycles The compulsory prevision of rear red lights on bicycles is being urged by the South Island Motor Union, according to a remit approved at the annual meeting of the union yesterday. The remit, from South Canterbury, was: “That in the interests of ‘safety first’ the Commissioner of Transport be asked to amend the traffic regulations to provide for a compulsory rear red light for bicycles, as soon as suitable supplies are available.” Mr J. G. Walker (South Canterbury) said the war regulations drew attention to the inadequacy of red reflectors. Mr C. Bennett said the use of a rear light at present could not be enforced because the required electric bulbs were not available. Calling Up of Local Body Workers “I think local bodies will have to prepare for that sort of contingency,” said Mr J. S. Barnett, chairman of the Christchurch Manpower Committee, yesterday, when the Christchurch Tramway Board pleaded the essential nature of the work of an overhead linesman. “Sooner or later men now considered essential will have to go,” said Mr Barnett. Just as private employers were expected to make provision against the calling up of men, so local bodies would have to arrange to carry on. Petrol in Country Areas Recommendations for the provision of means whereby farmers can obtain petrol up to 9 p.m. in country centres are being made b$ the South Island Motor Union in terms of a resolution adopted at the annual meeting of the union yesterday. The subject was introduced by Mr F. W. G. Miller (Southland), who said that in his district nobody outside Invercargill could obtain petrol after 6 p.m. What might seem to be purely a local matter was really of considerable importance to farmers throughout the Dominion, Territorial Training “This is getting a bit too much, and it is going to interfere with production,” said Mr S. H. Lill at a meeting of the Ashburton branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, discussing the proposed period of two months’ training each year for members of the territorial force. He said that the scheme was to take men from the towns for training during the winter, and those from the country in the summer months, a system that would clash with the busy periods on farms. It was decided to send a remit to the provincial executive proposing that men from the country be allowed to do their training at the most suitable time during the year. Registration of Cars Proposals for altering the annual reregistration of motor vehicles to October in each year, submitted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, were strongly disapproved by the South Island Motor Union at its meeting yesterday. It was reported that the same proposal was before the North Island Union, which objected on the ground that the suggested change would deprive many motorists of the saving effected by delaying reregistering from June until the early summer. The suggested scheme would force them to register in October for a full year. Beans for Minesweepers Every woman with a garden in Christchurch will shortly be asked to grow one row of beans as a special war effort, Miss Mary McLean, organiser of the Women’s Land Army, announced last evening. When ready for picking the beans will be collected at a central depot, dried by a special process, and then packed to be sent to men on minesweepers. Canadian women have had a similar scheme in operation for some time and have found it most successful as a means of sending green vegetables to the men. Miss L. M. Wilkinson, general secretary of the Women’s Land Army, will be in charge of the work in Christchurch. Bicycle Trailers Wanted An appeal for about 50 pairs of old bicycle wheels, with spindles and bearings (those with tyres and tubes being doubly welcome) is being made by the Boy Scouts’ Association on behalf of the city’s youth organisations which have undertaken the job of collecting metals, bottles, and other waste in the city and suburbs for the duration of the war. The bicycle wheels are wanted so that the boys can build bicycle trailers for the job, which is extremely difficult when heavy bundles have to be carried. Those willing to make donations can telephone number 35-432 or write to Mr Fred Mclvor, 74 Kingsley street. Finnish Barque Docked The Finnish barque Pamir, claimed as a prize, was docked at Wellington on Thursday. Although a high wind was blowing, the Pamir was safely taken from her berth and, shepherded by two powerful tugs and a Harbour Board launch, guided slowly across the harbour. The docking, the first in Wellington in which a tall sailing ship has been handled, was completed satisfactorily. The ship, which brought 4400 tons of guano to New Zealand from the Seychelles, had not been docked since she was in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the outbreak of war, and she was badly in need of overhaul and survey. The Pamir is the first large sailing vessel to enter Wellington Heads for 17 years. She is a steel barque of 2799 tons, built by Blohm and Voss, of Hamburg, in 1905. She has been in New Zealand waters several times, visiting Auckland in 1938 and New Plymouth at the beginning of this year. The last large sailing ship to visit Wellington was the barquentine Hesperian, 1100 tons, in February. 1924. No Steamer Express To-day No steamer express will arrive from Wellington this morning, nor will one leave Lyttelton to-night, for Wellington.