General News

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24280, 10 June 1944, Page 4

General News

Warning by Magistrate ‘‘l’ve warned you men of the Air Force against riding cycles at night without lights, and this is the last time that a fine of 10s will be imposed,” said Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., when a number of men in Air Force uniform were charged yesterday with the offence. ‘‘ln future,” said the Magistrate, “the minimum fine will be £2 for you young fellows who do not obey the law.” Record Frosts in Marlborough Marlborough is having a period of remarkably cold weather, relieved by sunny days. Frosts registered on Thursday night in the Blenheim district set new records, ranging from 21.5 to 26.1 degrees. These frosts are far more severe than anything previously known in the district. The intense cold has been accompanied by an extremely dry spell. The rainfall for the year' so far totals only 7.10 inches, , the March, April, and May readings being 1.56 inches, 1.16 inches, and 58 points respectively, with 3 points this month. The drought is seriously affecting farming operations, the hardness of the ground making ploughing impossible hi many areas.— (P.A.) Junior Chamber of Commerce

Fifty-seven applications for membership of the proposed Junior Chamber of Commerce in Christchurch have been received, and the junior interim committee, in consultation with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, has approved of by-laws, which will be submitted to the inaugural meeting of the Junior Chamber of Commerce which it is hoped to hold in the next few weeks. The third of a series of preliminary luncheons for prospective members was held this week, and an address was given by Professor A. H. Tocker, who is a member of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Hikurangi Mine Petering: Out The seams at the Hikurangi mine were petering out, continuation of production was uneconomic, and the working conditions of the men were bad, said the Hon. P. C. Webb (Minister of Mines) yesterday, after examining the mine with the Hon. A. McLagan (Minister of National Service), and departmental officers. But for the urgent need for coal the mine would probably be closed, the Minister added. Though the gamble was big, with the odds overwhelmingly against, the Government would advance further sums for prospecting and developing because of the present acute shortage of fuel. —(P.A.) Roads to Canterbury Advice received yesterday by the Greymouth branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association stated that heavy frosts have caused the snow on the Lewis Pass highway to freeze, making it still essential for motorists to use chains. Although the OtiraArthur’s Pflss-Springfield road is now open, it is also advisable to carry chains. Books for Overseas “The soldier overseas wants murder mysteries and westerns, then love, and then any other sort of fletidn, but he doesn't want propaganda,” said Lieu-tenant-Colonel F, Waite, New Zealand Patriotic Fund Board Commissioner in the Middle East, in an address at (Sreymouth on Thursday evening, when suggesting to patriotic workers the types of books they should include in parcels. Greymouth Port Open Virtually closed for the last week because of heavy ‘ seas, the port of Greymouth was worked again yesterday. Soundings taken by the harbourmaster (Captain H. Moar) showed that a further six inches had been lost on the bar, giving a low water depth of 10ft Gin, or just over 20ft at high water, this being attributed to the fact that the run in the river did not last as lung as the heavy seas pounding the entrance. The Kiwilea and Holmlea put to sea after being tied up for a long period, while the Gabriella and, Karepo entered port. Industries Fair A display of electronic 'equipment, some of which has recently been removed from the secr’et list, will be one of the features of the New Zealand Industries Fair, which the ‘Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association is to hold in the King Edward Barracks from August 5 to August 19. The publicity sub-comipittee for the fair decided to stqge the display at its last meeting. Arrangements are also being made to obtain the services of a professional glass blower to demonstrate the blowing of glass for industrial purposes. Hotel Bathrooms , . The need for better bathroom and washing accommodation was commented on by Mr H. Morgan, S.M., at a meeting of the Temuka Licensing Committee. He said that an amendment would be required to the Licensing Act to enable licensees to know what standard was required. The present regulations did not stipulate any bathroom, but the committee made a strong recommendation that licensees should bring their premises into line with modern standards by providing more bathrooms, washbasins, and lavatories. Westport Bar During the last three days the depth of water on the Westport bar has deteribrated six feet, giving an approximate depth of 18 feet at high water with tides going back. Two vessels in port, the Wingatui loaded to 17ft 6in and the Poolta loaded to a similar draft, have been unable to sail. The Rata has been diverted from Greymouth and is unloading part of the coal cargo from each vessel to enable them to negotiate the bar, possibly to-day. The Kaimiro is also in port and is restricted to a much lessened load to enable her to work the port. The heavy seas recently are considered responsible for the deterioration of the depth of water. Although the Marine Department has three dredges in the harbour, only one of them, the Ruby Seddon, is in commission. The department’s main dredge, the Eileen Ward; sailed for Wellington yesterday for overhaul. Ihe department’s bucket dredge Maul is idle because no crew Is available to carry on operations:.— (O.C,)'

Backyard Poultry Owners of D Z in W is ? ssio £ at lhe conference of the Wellington Registered Poultry NorthZi A l socfation ' in Palmerston Noith, the chairman of the New Zealand Poultry Board, Mr T. Gill said he thought the number of private persons keeping fowls was increasing, but as the eggs were being consumed at the point of production this was not apparent in the markets. More than vr all „ , eggs Produced annually in New Zealand were obtained by backyard poultry keepers. The sale of feed \vas increasing, though the big poulUds keePolS were not res P° ns ible for “Bureaucratic Control*’ ,m,?? lere scai 'Cely any form of productive enterprise or service in tins country which to-day is not subservient . bureaucratic interference and supervision ’ said Mr Stronach Paterson president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, m an address at Palmerston North. “The position is highly alarming, and is one fraught with the greatest danger to our whole system of private enterprise if, first, these controls are permitted to extend one inch beyond actual requirements of war-time adjustment, or second, if they are allowed to extend one week beyond the day hostilities cease.’’ Farm Production in War Time Fanners had achieved a volume of production which in proportion to the production units employed and the material resources available had probably not before been equalled, said Mr W- A. Sheat, M.P., in his presidential address at the annual conference of South JTarajiaki delegates of the mers ’ Union at Hawera recently. Better use. he claimed, had been made by farmers of their reduced resources’ and production was out of all proportion to that_during the last war.