General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 4

General News

The Light That Would Not Fail When charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with riding a bicycle at night without a light, a youth said his lamp usually worked all right, but a bump would put it out. It went out just before he was caught by a policeman. He produced the lamp in Court and proceeded to show the Magistrate (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.) just how a bump would put it out. He switched the light on and gave the lamp a knock with his hand. He gave it several more knocks, but still the bright light remained. “Bad luck,” said the Magistrate with a smile. “I suppose this is the only time it won’t work. Costs only.” Technical College Accommodation To discuss difficulties caused by a shortage of classrooms and workshops, the Board of Managers of the Christchurch Technical College decided last evening to try to arrange through Miss Mabel Howard, M.P., for a meeting between the board’s members and the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) during his next visit to Christchurch. In a recent letter to the Minister, setting out the problems of the college, the principal (Dr. D. E. Hansen) emphasised that’ new problems had been introduced with the formation of classes for war auxiliary workers and classes under the Army education and welfare scheme, and much-needed modification and reorganisation was held up by the lack of buildings. Oldest Church in Diocese The oldest church now standing in the Diocese of Christchurch, St. Bartholomew’s, Kaiapoi, which was opened on March 23, 1856, has celebrated its eighty-seventh anniversary, states the “Church News.” Four years after it was built, the church was moved to its present locality in Cass street, Kaiapoi, and this event was recorded at the time by the Rev, W. W. Willock, who scratched his initials, and the year, 1860, with a diamond, on one of the window-panes. A Union Jack, which hangs from the chancel arch of the' church, was flown on a British ship, at the battle of Navarino in 1827, when the Turkish fleet was wiped out by a squadron commanded by Admiral Codrington, The flag was presented to the church by the late Mr C. Andrews, R.N. Women Taxi-Drivers Recently a letter was sent by the Town Clerk of Timaru (Mr E. A. S. Killick) to the Municipal Association, asking for information about the council’s powers to restrict the hours of work for women taxi-drivers. A reply has now been received from the association indicating that the terms of employment of women taxi-drivers are the concern of the local body granting the licences. The works committee of the council has decided to instruct the borough traffic inspector to report any breach of the regulation made by the council debarring women taxi-drivers from working after 8 p.m. Army Education Classes Army education classes will commence on Monday and will last till May 26, according to the report of the principal of the Christchurch Technical College (Dr. D. E. Hansen) to the board of managers of the college last evening. Indications, he said, were that about 300 servicemen and women would attend, though the numbers would not be accurately known till Monday. Preparations had been made to start work immediately. He expressed appreciation of the willingness of the teachers to give up their holidays to instruct the classes. According to the appointments committee’s report, the Army Education Service has indicated that enrolments were sufficient to provide for intensive vacation courses in woodwork, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, bookkeeping and accountancy, pharmacy, chemistry, dressmaking, and welding. The college would accordingly close for ordinary classes for three weeks instead of the usual two. Address by General de Gaulle The Belgian Consul in ’ Wellington has received advice that General de Gaulle addressed Belgians in occupied Belgium over the Radio Belgique from London. He paid a tribute to the courageous resistance of the Belgian people and said he saw in that resistance proof of Belgium’s strong national unity and an assurance that Belgium would survive the war and resume her place in the wqrld of tomorrow. He spoke appreciatively of the assistance given by the 'Belgian Government to the French National Committee and recalled the comradeship existing between the soldiers of the two countries. General de Gaulle also referred to the way in which Belgian and French African colonies had worked together against the common enemy.— (P.A.) Appreciation of E.F.S.

“The assistance that officers and men of the permanent staff have given to the Emergency Fire Service is appreciated by every member,” said Leading Fireman Roy Smith at the annual social of the Emergency Fire Service last evening. The experience gained under the guidance of the permanent staff, especially during the first 12 months, was invaluable to men who had to learn the business of fire fighting, said Mr Smith. Superintendent A. Morrison, of the Christchurch Fire Brigade, said the experience given by the permanent staff had not been wasted, for members of the Emergency Fire Service had proved to be clever learners. It might not be long before the name Emergency was changed to Auxiliary. Members had been sworn in for a certain purpose, and at this stage it was necessary to add to the peacetime strength of the fire brigade. Men of the E.F.S. had already done good service when called on, and they did not know when they might be called on to do a really serious job. The officers and men of the permanent staff and members of the fire board were not unmindful of the v ork being done by the Emergency Fire Service.