General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 4

General News

Sets of Artificial Teeth Found The strong south-westerly gale during the week-end caused a heavy sea to run into Corsair Bay, and some scouring was caused at the beach. Many articles lost in the water during the bathing season were uncovered and thrown up on the high-water mark. These articles include sets of artificial teeth, most of them in good order, and they have been taken possession of by the careta’ker to await claimants. Bacon for Breakfast “Eggs for breakfast are no good with, out the bacon,” said Mr R. G. Lindsay, at the annual meeting last evening of the Canterbury District Pig Council. “If wc can’t get barley, we can’t produce the bacon,’’ he added. The council decided that the National Pig Council should be requested to urge upon the Government the necessity for an equitable stabilisation of pig food prices, and ..that, if necessary, the amount of £35,000 in the Meat Reserve Fund should be used for this purpose. It was also decided that tne council’s supervisor should discuss, with West Coast co-operative dairy factories, the development of the sale of grain feed to West Coast pig farmers, to alleviate an acute shortage. Return of Rifles Shotguns which were lent or given to the Army last year are being returned to their former owners, and a start is being made with the return of .22 calibre rifles. In a covering letter to the owners, it is explained that improved stocks of weapons now permit the return of these guns and rifles which were made available when they were needed by the defence forces. Campaign Against Rats No action has yet been taken by the Christchurch City Council on the suggestion of the Canterbury Chamber ol Commerce that an organised campaign of extermination of rats should be undertaken. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said yesterday that the chamber’s suggestions had not yet been received. When they did they would be considered at the earliest opportunity by a committee of the council which would make a recommendation to the council. He said the council was fully aware of the damage done by rats, for which reason it welcomed any suggestions towards reducing it. Land Of Two Standards “This country is threatened with two standards of conditions—one for the city dwellers and one for the country,” said Mr L. V. Talbot, president of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union, at the annual meeting of the Geraldine branch. "The tendency started before the war. but has been increased by the war. Protected conditions in the cities in connexion with hours and wages have caused a constant drain on skilled workers and farmers’ sons to the towns leaving primary industry under-manned. This has been greatly increased as a result of the war. It will have to overcome in the interest of the country as a whole," said Mr Talbot. Position of King’s Portrait Attention to the position of the portrait of the late King George V in the association’s hall was drawn by a member of the Rangiora branch of the Returned Services' Association at a recent meeting. The member said that whenever dances were held in the hall, the orchestra was seated at the opposite end of the building to thef picture, and that when the dancers stood to face the orchestra for the National Anthem, they turned their backs on the King. It was decided to move the picture to the other end of the hall. Dragged by Pig An exciting incident was witnessed by the Hon. P. C. Webb, PostmasterGeneral, when on a shooting expedition in the Taupo district last week, A member of the party. Mr E. G. Bridgens, of Auckland, when separated from his companions, was attacked by a wild pig in scrub. With a lucky kick Mr Bridgens partially stunned the animal and turned it round. He then caught'hold of one leg of the pig, and was dragged for 50 yards before other members of the party came up with him. They could not shoot the pig at first for fear of injuring Mr Bridgens. but eventually Mr K. Cook ran in and dispatched it. Narrating the incident, Mr Webb said he would not have believed such a thing could have occurred had ho not seen it. He considered Mr Bridgens had a lucky escape from serious injury. Except for a severe shaking, he was not hurt. Interest in Pig Fanning The interest of a New Zealand soldier serving overseas in pig farming was described by the Canterbury District Pig Council’s supervisor (Mr H. W. Mclntosh) at the annual meeting of the council last evening. Mr McIntosh said that he had received a letter from the soldier, on behalf of himself and his tent mates, embodying three pages of questions on the part that pig production should take in general mixed farming, the cost of outlay, and the area necessary to grow food for pigs. Every effort should be made to help men on their return to civilian, life, added Mr Mclntosh. Preparation of Electoral Rolls Preparation of Christchurch electoral rolls for the General Election has been going on for some weeks. The Registrar of Electors (Mr A. A. Besley) said yesterday that a modified form of cleansing. under section 50 of the Electoral Act, was in progress, information about persons leaving the district being obtained from the post office and from police officers. That did not relieve electors of the responsibility of notifying the registrar of changes of address, he added. The date of the closing of the main rolls has not yet been announced by the Chief Electoral Officer for Now Zealand. Generally, it is some months before the election, after there has been time to check over the old rolls. South African War Pensions When the annual meeting of the Oamaru Returned Services’ Association was discussing a proposal that South African war pensions should be increased, the secretary (Mr A. C. Piper) pointed out that at present there was no legal machinery whereby a veteran of the South African War. not already in receipt of a pension, could apply for one. It was decided to make the necessary representations to the Dominion conference, with a view to rectifying the position. New Zealanders in North Africa Stating that any proposal to bring the 2nd N.Z.E.F, from North Africa for service in the Pacific should be most vigorously opposed. Captain A. T, McMurtrie (a returned man of the present war) told the annual meeting of the Oamaru Returned Services’ Association that the New Zealanders in the Middle East were trained desert fighters—probably the best in the world —and to transfer them for operations in the islands would be most unwise. “In fact.” he added, “they don’t want to come home; they would ralher finish the ‘show’ where they are. They are an integral pari of the Bth Army—a fighting unit, the teamwork and efficiency of which is most highly developed.” (Applause.) Case of Lead Poisoning An unusual case of notifiable disease was reported to the Health Department at Christchurch yesterday—lead poisoning. The patient is an employee of a company making batteries. Other cases reported during the week in Canterbury wore;— Scarlet fever. 2; tuberculosis. 3; septic abortion, 1: cerebro-spinal meningitis, 2; inlantile paralysis. 2. From the West Coast there were reports of one case of scarlet fever and two of tuberculosis. There was one death in Canterbury from cerebro-spinal meningitis. Infantile Paralysis Another positive case of infantile paralysis has been admitted to the Oamaru Public Hospital, a girl, four years of age. The total number of cases notified at Oamaru is five, of which two have been discharged from hospital. The latest admission is reported to be a serious case.