General News

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 4

General News

Increased Daylight Saving The suggestion from the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce that daylight saving be increased to one hour in the summer was opposed by the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union, when it was placed before the monthly meeting at Timaru. Mr J. Macaulay said the farmers did not want the daylight saving extended to an hour in the summer. If the townspeople wanted the increase they should leave the farmers out. Mr T. Symes said the dairy industry did not favour the change and a protest against any increase had been sent to the Government. Misguided By sawing off half of a road-sign on the West Coast, vandals have misdirected some motorists ignorant of the district, according to a West Coast member of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), speaking at the annual meeting of the association on Saturday. Motorists travelling to Nelson had been surprised, he said, to find themselves at a place “with one pub and a few houses.” The reason was that the word “Creek” had on one occasion been sawn off the sign reading “Nelson Creek.” Daffodil Sunday Daffodil Sunday in the woodland in Hagley Park yesterday was a notable success. The day was cold and the heavy rains and winds had battered the blooms, but some thousands of visitors were there and the collection brought approximately £4O, which will be used for improvements at the children’s playground in the Botanic Gardens. Mr J. A. McPherson, Director of the Gardens, said that the day had been most successful in spite of the cold weather. The crowd was most orderly, and although the return was not as high as that of last year, when about £SO was collected, it could be considered most satisfactory. The Christchurch Municipal Band was in attendance. Erection of Road Signs “Quite a number of people tell us that if we did nothing else but erect road signs they would gladly pay the guinea subscription,” said Mr J. S. Hawkes, secretary of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), replying to a question about the cost of sign-posting at the annual meeting of the association on Saturday evening. The work of sign-posting had always been the backbone of the association. “It is one of these matters that are best left to private enterprise,” said Mr F. W. Johnston, a member of the executive, replying to the suggestion that the Government should meet the cost. “If wo do it they are put up in the right way and at the right places.” Mr Hawkes also mentioned that kauri was being used for the work; it was expensive, but had been found most satisfactory. The association’s accounts showed an item of more than £9OO for road expenses, after allowing for Main Highways Board subsidy of £565. “Sunday Faces” • “I missed many of the familiar Sunday faces to-day,” said Mr J. A. McPherson, Director of the Botanic Gardens, discussing Daffodil Day yesterday. He said he had noticed many strangers among the several thousands who visited the woodland and the gardens for Daffodil Day. He had become used to seeing the same faces regularly in the gardens, and he was able usually to tell who were strangers. Advertisements in Black-out The validity of contracts for illuminated advertisements entered into before the emergency lighting restrictions were introduced is to be argued in the Auckland Supreme Court shortly. Three claims for payment of rentals for such signs were brought in the Magistrate’s Court recently and adjourned until a test case is taken. Salt-water Baths at Sumner As a result of a deputation to the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) of members of the Sumner Business People's Association, introduced by Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P., the secretary of the association has received two letters, one from Mr Armstrong and the other from the Minister for Internal Affairs. The deputation sought assistance from the Government for a salt-water swimming bath in Sumner and the Ministers-said that, under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, the Sumner Borough Council could make application for assistance. The letters stated that section 11 of the act envisages grants being made to local authorities or local voluntary organisations, but up to the present no moneys had been so allocated and it did not appear likely that the Government would consider making a grant from public funds for such a purpose in the near future. A Question of Credulity “It is wonderful the stories you can get a man to swallow so long as you make it impossible enough,” said Mr Justice Blair, when discussing in the Auckland Supreme Court whether a witness could possibly have believed a very “tall” story that had been told to him. “I have seen some remarkable stories swallowed,” he said. There were hard-headed businessmen that you could not deceive about prices, because that was their job. but if you told them you knew a man who could dig a hole in the ground and get gold out of it they would put all their money in it, said his Honour. That was because they knew nothing about it. The R.N.Z.A.F. Band “During the year,” states the annual report of the Air Department, “the band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force lias played an important part in the air-crew recruiting campaigns. It has also been of material assistance to patriotic funds. On two tours of the Dominion the band raised approximately £30,000 for patriotic funds. Throughout its tours the band has been responsible for much favourable publicity for the Air Force.” Blood Bank in Australia More than 46,000 donors in Australia are registered with the Red Cross Transfusion Service, which is building up a blood bank, and already holds 1900 gallons in liquid or powdered form. When all registered donors' have been bled, storage will be not less than 3500 gallons. Most donors give a pint, some more, but halfpints arc considered sufficient in many cases. Primarily designed to meet emergency conditions, the bank will be adapted for civilian needs. Considerable quantities of blood serum have been sent overseas to the fighting services. In New South Wales 17,040 donors have registered since March 10, when the first appeal was made. Searching blood tests are conducted before a donor is accepted. Although most of the blood is preserved in liquid form in cold storage, much of it is now dried and packed in powder form in air-tight bottles. Otago Trumpet and Bugle Band After 27 years of continuous service, the Trumpet and Bugle Band of the Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, has been disbanded. Ser-geant-Major W. Gwyn, who assumed the leadership of the band three years ago when Lieutenant L. Napier was transferred to Invercargill, has been appointed to the regimental cadre at Burnham, and, in addition, the band has suffered a steady decline in membership owing to the calling of men for service. The organisation played an important part in the Anzac Day service and other military parades, and was prominent at civic receptions. The band may be formed again after the war. Trices of Woolpacks “There is no doubt about it that farmers are paying false prices for woolpacks,” said the chairman, Mr T. Currie, during a discussion on the respective merits of jute and flax woolpacks at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Far mers’ Union. Mr Currie was of the opinion that the policy of the Government in giving the New Zealand article preferential treatment over the Indian jute pack was forcing up the price of the article and prejudiced future trade with India. “A lot of ‘hooey’ has been talked about the New Zealand-made flax woolpacks,” said Mr R. Campion. “The quality of the New Zealand article is not as bad as critics would have it, and the price is not much above the peak level of the last war.”