General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23817, 10 December 1942, Page 4

General News

Crops Damaged By Birds

Bird damage to crops in the Lincoln area is worse this season than for some years, according to Dr. H. Frankel, senior officer of the Wheat Research Institute. Dr. Frankel said yesterday that wheat and oats were mainly affected, damage being quite noticeable. Some of the early ripening crops had been completely stripped, and one of the Agricultural College’s barley crops had been very badly damaged. The relatively greater damage, he said, was probably the result of the earliness of the season. Copy of Historic Chart

A large, framed copy of the chart of New Zealand made in 1642 by Abel Tasman’s chief pilot and geographer, Francois Jacobszoon Visscher, was presented to the New Zealand Government yesterday by Dr. Charles van der Bias, leader of the Netherlands delegation to the- Tasman tercentenary celebrations. The gift was made at a State luncheon in Wellington in honour of the Netherlands delegates. The Deputy-Prime Minister (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), who presided in the absence of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), who was indisposed, expressed New Zealand’s appreciation of the gift. Earlier, the Netherlands delegates had attended a civic reception given by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop).—(P.A.)

Rabbits At Waimakariri A marked increase in the number of young rabbits on the Waimakariri River Trust's property, and his anxiety about the damage which might be caused by burrowing, were reported to the trust’s meeting yesterday by the engineer (Mr H. W. Harris). The chairman (Mr C. T. Aschman) said that the works wore not riddled but were badly infested with rabbits, and in broad daylight recently ho had seen rabbits running in every direction. Mr F. W. Freeman: "We could got ourselves declared a rabbit board." (Laughter.) Mr Aschman: "Yes, and then the trust would have to do the work.” On Mr Aschman's suggestion, the trust decided to apply for a permit to purchase cartridges and to continue poisoning.

Christchurch East By-election

The Labour candidate for the Christchurch East by-election will be announced before Christmas. This reply was given yesterday by Mr CL W, Dell, secretary of the Christchurch Labour Representation Committee. The names suggested by party members in Christchurch East will be referred to the National Executive of the Labour Party, which, under the constitution of the party, has the right to select a candidate for any by-elec-tion, Most support from branch members appears to be for Miss M. B. Howard.

Chief and His Tangl

“I don’t know whore the elders are to-night,” said Mr Riki Te Mairake Taiaroa. the aged Ngai-Tahu chief as he glanced round the room ,at last evening's meeting in Christchurch of the newly-formed Maori Association. The majority of those present, he aoded, were both young folk and strangers to him, "But if I were to die to-night.” the rangatira remarked, “you would see the elders come from all directions for my tangi, and I can assure you that it would be a good one, ton!" The chief's prophecy was greeted with a round of applause by the young people and cries of ”ka tika" (true enough!).

Resignatk . of Committee

Advice that the Ngakawau-Hcctor Patriotic Committee had resigned was received at a meeting of the executive of the Duller District Patriotic Controlling Committee, After discussing the resignation, which was received with regret it was decided to got in touch with Mr J. Dowgray. county representative of the Ngakawau riding, to arrange a public meeting at Ngakawau to discuss the question of forming a new committeq for patriotic purposes for Ngakawau and Hector. Members of the old committee will bo advised of the public meeting.

Press Admitted to Meeting

In accordance with a decision made at a previous meeting, the press was admitted to a meeting of the local council of primary production at Greymouth. In view of the wide area served, it was decided to change the name from the Greymouth District Council to the West Coast Council.

“Passing the Buck”

"I think this is a classic example of what is called ‘passing the buck.’ ” said Mr C. T. Aschman at the meeting of the Waimakariri River Trust yesterday, when a letter was received in reply to members’ recent comments on the military occupation of the Harewood golf course. The letter, dated November 12. and from the assistant district engineer of the Public Works Department (Mr F. D. Grant), stated; "I noticed in this morning's Press a complaint by members of your trust that the Army has taken possession of the Harewood golf course and that you were not notified that this was to be occupied for military purposes. The building, of course, on this land is being carried out under the control of this department, and evidently some misunderstanding arose between the Army authorities and officers of this department, each having thought that the other had served notice on you regarding (his matter. I regret that the usual courtesy notice was not sent to you,” Trailer Regulations Complaint was made by Mr E, S. Taylor, of Woodend, about "the unfairness of the present regulations" relating to trailers and light trucks, at yesterday's meeting in Christchurch of (he general committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Asso.iation, "They are a tremendous handicap nowadays to farmers,” declared Mr Taylor, who said he had been prohibited from carrying stock to Addington. He had been told, he said, that he could take them only to Hangiora, "But there have been no fat slock markets at Rangiorn,” he said. "I think these regulations should be carefully revised, and local conditions taken into consideration."