General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23919, 10 April 1943, Page 4

General News

Infantile Paralysis No cases of suspected infantile paralysis were reported yesterday to the health authorities either from Canterbury or the West Coast district. Apples for Schools

The usual seasonal distribution of apples to schools in the Canterbury Education Board’s district will be commenced by the Internal Marketing Division under the apples in schools scheme on Monday. It was stated by the Christchurch manager of the division (Mr J. A. Manton) yesterday that while the distribution would start on Monday it would take to the end of the week before all the schools were receiving supplies. Stewart Island Ferry Service

The work of refitting the steamer Orewa, which will shortly take over the Stewart Island ferry service, was begun at Bluff this week. The Orewa. which was formerly an oyster boat, was bought by the Government from Mr H. Roderique. of Bluff, and will be operated under the supervision of the Stewart Island County Council. During the several weeks before the completion of the refit, the ferry service will be maintained by the Bluff Harbour Board’s tug Awarua,

Intelligence Tests For Soldiers

A scheme to apply preliminary intelligence and aptitude tests to recruits for the Army is now under considertion. Major W. E. Alexander staled at a conference of unit education officers in Auckland that a report on preselection tests for recruits had been prepared by Professor A, B. Fitt ol the Auckland University College, and after consideration, had beeen submitted to the headquarters of the Army Education and Welfare Service in Wellington. It was hoped that the scheme would be adopted in the various recruit camps throughout the country. This would ensure that men were drafted into branches of service for which their training and character fitted them

Cycle Tyres Representations are being made to the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) by the Greymouth Pedal Cycle Tyre and Tube Control Committee for an increase of the monthly quota of tyres to meet demands, which show no sign of diminution. This month more than 700 applications were received for the 200 tyres available. Regional Planning The Christchurch Regional Planning Committee, which was set up at a recent conference of local bodies and other interested organisations, met yesterday and decided to form a management committee. It was agreed that the committee should consist of three representatives of the City Council, three of suburban local bodies, and one each of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, the Institute of Architects, and the building trade. The first task of the committee will be to set up sectional committees to survey the needs and possibilities of industry, commerce, transport, building, and recreation.

Unusually Dry Month

North of Westport and Ashburton the deficiency of rainfall was general last month, according to a review by the Dominion Meteorologist. At few places in that region was half the average fall approached. Masterton and several localities in southern Hawke’s Bay had no measurable rain whatever during the month. At numerous stations in the North Island the totals were new record low values. In Westland totals were about normal, and in Otago and Southland there was a majority of moderate surpluses. Traffic Control Conference A two-day conference will commence at Wellington on April 14 among the Police Department, the Transport Department, and the Chief Traffic Inspectors of the four main centres, to. determine for national application a uniform policy of traffic control in relation to civil defence, preparatory to the holding of one week’s specialist course for E.P.S. law and order units at the Civil Defence School of .Instruction. Union of Churches

The proposed union of the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Methodist Churches in New Zealand was fully discussed at a meeting of the Congregational Assembly of New Zealand, held recently in Wellington. Decisions of its constituent churches on the proposed basis of union were submitted to the assembly, and the following resolutions were carried: —“That the Church Union Committee be reappointed for a further 12 months, and be instructed to continue discussions with the other two churches, in order to prepare a report for submission to the next assembly; that the churches be recommended to promote true spiritual unity with, the churches of the other two denominations; and that at future assemblies the president of the Methodist Conference and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Assembly, as well as an observer, be honoured guests.”

Brigadier P. A. Ardagh, D.5.0., M.C., who has been seconded from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to General Headquarters, Middle East Forces, for duty as Deputy-Director of Medical Services of a corps.