General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23813, 5 December 1942, Page 4

General News

♦ "A Bit Irregular”

An appeal for a farmer who is a member of a Primary Production Council which supported it, was heard by the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. “It doesn’t affect the merits of the case," said Mr E. A. Lee, the chairman, “but it does seem, to say the least, a bit odd, his being a member of the Primary. Production Council and supporting' his own appeal.” “When I saw him he didn’t want to appeal,” said Mr R. P. Thompson, solicitor for the appellant, “but evidently the neighbours must have prevailed on him to let it go ahead. We have made efforts, by appealing for the employees, to keep the farm going without him, but it seems necessary to keep him there.” “Well, it doesn’t affect the appeal at all, but it is a bit irregular,” Mr Lee said.

Whca(growing Contracts

Indications that the contract scheme for the growing of wheat in 1943 was proceeding well were reported yesterday by the Wheat and Flour Controller (Mr R. McPherson). So far about 1300 contracts, representing about 75,000 acres, have been received at the Wheat Committee’s office —stated to be a big area for the number of contracts, as more than 8000 growers will be approached all told. Only 11 of this number represent North Island contracts, though a substantial number is expected shortly. Mr McPherson said that contracts seemed to be arriving more quickly now that farmers realised that the contract was being treated as a pledge, and brokers had reported that they had large numbers of contracts on hand which had not yet reached the committee. Both brokers and Primary Production Council were, he said, doing yeoman service. Overseas Requests About Bulbs Requests for information about the success of acclimatising bulbs in New Zealand, particularly tulips from the northern hemisphere, have been received from overseas by Mr A. W. Anderson, borough curator in Timnru. The requests have boon sent to the executive council of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and the institute has decided to publish the queries in its journal, inviting New Zealand growers to state their experiences in the matter. Auckland Air-Raid Shelters

Air-raid shelters under Albert Park, Auckland, were inspected by the Gov-ernor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) yesterday. His Excellency made careful inquiry into the practical aspects of dealing within a few minutes with a very large crowd. One point he made was the likely tendency of people in (he first rush to stop at the end of the access tunnels, which would soon block the entrances. The Mayor (Mr J. A. C. Allum) informed him that wardens would be posted to keep the stream moving rapidly inward. Although heavy rain had fallen during the previous night there was practically no leakage into the galleries. His Excellency expressed approval of the shelters and their equipment.—(P.A.) Raising of School Age

The board of governors of the Christchurch Technical College has been informed by the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) that the questions of raising the school age and of preventing the employment of children under the age of 15 years could not bo entertained at present. It was impossible to give an affirmative answer, the board was informed last evening, as the necessary buildings, staff, and equipment for such a change were not available. Legislation would also bo required to prohibit the gainful employment of children who had not reached 15.

.Technical College Accommodation Further representations are to be made to the Education Department to obtain more building accommodation at the Christchurch Technical College as soon as possible. It was decided at a meeting of the Board of Governors last night that a deputation would wait on the Minister (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) to impress upon him the urgent necessity of this work. Wheat or Mutton

“Why is it that you concentrate on sheep rather than on wheat? Is it because the work is easier?” asked Mr E. A. Lee, chairman of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board, of a farmer who was giving evidence on his appeal yesterday. “No; there’s hard work in sheep," said the appellant. Mr Lee: “Periodically. But they’re easier than wheat.” Appellant: "Well, you've got to bo looking after sheep all the time,” Mr Lee: “That's not very hard, though, is it?” Appellant: "Not very hard watching wheat grow, either.” To Mr Hall, the appellant said he could put in 150 acres of wheat. Mr Lee said there was a shortage of wheat at present and when the case came up for review in six months the board would be very concerned to know what had been done to increase the wheat production. The appeal was adjourned sine die.

Films at Matinees

Action had been taken by the Film Industry Board to remedy the position in connexion with the unsuitability of films shown at matinees attended largely by children in some theatres, said the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) yesterday. If children were induced by some sections of the film industry to attend screenings of pictures desirable only for adult exhibition, that practice must bo stopped. The Minister added that lack of the full exercise of parental control was a contributing factor. —(P.A.)

Chinese Friendship

"It evidently means something to be a friend among the Chinese,” said Mr W. H. Woodward, S.M., in the New Plymouth Magistrate’s Court recently when a young Chinese defendant cheerfully accepted responsibility for a breach of lighting regulations which he said had really been committed by his friend. The 'circumstances were that the defendant was charged with leaving a car parked without the regulation lights. In admitting the offence he said it was really his friend who left the car in that condition. "Who is your friend?” asked an officer of the Court. "Well, I don’t want to give his name as he is a friend, and I don’t want to get him info trouble. I take the responsibility. We hired the car together, but it was in my name.” Pensions Reciprocity Possible

Comment on the announcement from Canberra that Australia had a scheme to provide economic security from the cradle to the grave surpassing the British Beveridge plan was made last night by the Minister of Social Security (the Hon. W. E. Parry). The announcement was a pleasing one to New Zealand, said Mr Parry, because it brought nearer the possibility of reciprocity in pensions between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, which was much to be desired in view of the considerable interchange of population in normal times. —(P.A.)