General News

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23969, 9 June 1943, Page 2

General News

Cost of Government Ship Last year the sum of £66,684 was spent on the New Zealand Government motor vessel Maui Pomare after £49,650 had been voted for working expenses, salaries, wages, and new engines. This information is given in the estimates for the Department of Island Territories presented to the House of Representatives. The vote this year is £38,000 and working rereceipts are estimated at £40,000. Meat Producers Dissatisfied Strong dissatisfaction with the treatment received by meat producers from the Government, the Meat Board, and the freezing companies, was expressed at the annual meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. Tasman Tercentennial An expenditure of £54 on the erection of memorials to Captain Cook, and £335 for the Tasman tercentennial celebrations and memorials are among miscellaneous items shown in the estimates of expenditure this year and last year for the Department of Internal Affairs. The erection of the memorial to the late Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage for which £SOOO was voted, cost £7052, including preliminary expenses. The sum of £523 was voted and £609 was spent to provide camping equipment for the Governor-General, Motor Vehicles Reliccnscd-

Early registrations of motor vehicles in Christchurch still show a comparative increase. The total of 1303 vehicles relieensed for the first five days of the relieensing period (including Saturday’s figures) compares with 420 vehicles relicensed in the corresponding days last year. From June 18 to July 3, the work, expected to be considerably increased, will be handled at the old provincial building instead of the Chief Post Office. Lincoln College Poultry Unit The poultry unit to be established at Lincoln College, for which purpose the Government recently made available the sum of £6ooo—in the meantime to assist in egg production and after the war to undertake research into the poultry industry—is being prepared for production, At yesterday's meeting of the Board of Governors the director advised that assistance in the planning and design of the unit had been forthcoming from the appropriate officer of the Department of Agriculture and the Public Works also had in train the preparation of the building plans. It was expected that the essential portions of the plant would be ready for 1400 day-old chicks which are due to arrive during the first week in August, N.Z. Shrubs for Lydncy Park

Advice has been received by the Temuka Progress League that the five native shrubs presented by the league to Lydney Park, Gloucestershire. England, have been dispatched. “It is truly characteristic of loyal Temuka and of its progress league to make so generous and acceptable an offer." wrote Lord Bledisloe, in a letter to the Temuka Progress League. “We most gratefully accept the offer of five Now Zealand flowering shrubs for placing in the extension of the public park which I presented to the town of Lydney on my seventy-fifth birthday. When they eventually arrive in England and are planted, I will arrange to have them labelled as a gift fom the Temuka Progress League, New Zealand.” Appeal for Truck Drivers When appealing for five truck drivers at the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday, Mr J. Deyell told the chairman (Mr J. S. Barnett) that tnough three of these men were 27 years of age and grade 1, the particular type of work they did was heavy and could be undertaken by only fit men. Asked how many children one or the men had. Mr Deycll replied that he had two when the appeal was lodged, but now he had four. “You see, his wife had twins recently, so that makes four.” he explained. "Well, that's not playing the game.” said Mr Barnett, laughing, "but we’ll let you have this man.” Reception for Minister The reception which the Christchurch Maori Association was arranging to welcome the Hon. E. T. Tirikn • tene, the first Ngai-Tahu born Cabinet Minister, has had to be postponed to a date to suit the Minister’s convenience. In a telegram received from Mi Tirikatene yesterday acknowledging the association’s congratulations he informed the chairman of the association (Mr Vernon Thomas): "I realise the importance and responsibility attached to mv office, I shall endeavour to do my best so that the work accomplished will bring credit and honour to the race. Kia ora.” A welcome is alro being arranged for Mr Tirikatene at Tuahiwi on his return from the North Island. Use of War Damage Premiums The suggestion that if money paid in New Zealand by way of war damage premiums was not required in the Dominion it. should go to assist the people of Britain who had lost their homes in bombing raids was made by Mr J. C. Hay at the annual meeting of the Otago Farmers’ Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association yesterday. Mr Hay said that the premiums paid into the fund would reach £4.000,000 this year. "The people of Britain stood between us and the enemy,” he said, “and if the money is not required here I think it should go to assist in the restoration of their homes.”— (P.S.S.) Congratulations to General Freyberg Members of the Canterbury School Committees’ Association last night resolved to congratulate LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg on the successful termination of the North African campaign, and pledged themselves to do all possible to bring the war to a speedy conclusion. Farmers’ Standard of Living

‘‘The procedure in this country at present is to fix wages and conditions,” said the president (Mr L. V. Talbot) speaking at the annual conference of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union yesterday. ‘‘Prices of manufactured goods are adjusted accordingly. The result is that these costs are passed on to the primary industries. They kill enterprise and cause the men on the land to put up. with adverse conditions to save their homes and livelihood. This process cannot continue. The economic life of New Zealand depends now, and will depend in the future, on the ability of the farming community to maintain a standard ot life commensurate with other sections of the community. Committees set up to consider secondary industries would do well to consider this fact. The acceptance of this point of view determines whether returned men will settle on the land with any reasonable prospect of success.” A Disappointed Crowd

From about 9.30 a.m. yesterday a fairly large number of people began to collect at the Ashburton Courthouse to hear the murder charge which was scheduled to be hoard there. When the express from the north passed through, and no one connected with (he trial appeared, the crowd drifted away, only a few persons remaining until the second train had passed through. High Commissioner’s Salary

Information about the salary and allowances paid to Mr F. Langstone while he was High Commissioner at Ottawa was sought by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives last evening. Mr Holland said Mr Langstone was paid £ISOO a .year. “More than that.” interjected Mr Langstone. "When Mr Langstone came back he said the job was worth £4OOO a year, but in the estimates £ISOO was provided," said Mr Holland. "Where did the extra £2500 come from? Was it location allowance or something?"—(F.O.P.R.) The Budget Debate

The Budget debate was opened in the House oT Representatives last evening, when the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), and the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) spoke for about an hour and a half each. The House rose at 10.32 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day.—(F.O.P.R.)