General News

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24365, 18 September 1944, Page 4

General News

Broadcasting and Television Post-war developments in broadcasting and television were outlined in the 8.8.C.’s Year Book for 1944. One of the first aims, it was stated, was the restoration of independent programmes in Scotland, Wales, and.Northern Ireland, and the broadcasting regions of England. Another plan is a regular service of exchange programmes between Britain and other countries, including liberated Europe. As to television, it was stated that war research had brought this within reach of the great mass of the British public and the technical arrangements for a national service were being examined. A Government committee, under Lord Hankey, had under consideration whether the -8.8.C.’s charter should be renewed ,in 1946 and whether advertising programmes should be introduced after the war, • Birds in Captivity lif forwarding to the Southland Acclimatisation Society photographs of a red-fronted parrakeet, a robin, and saddlebacks, Mr W. King, of Gore, wrote that the birds had been in his aviary and he sent the photographs to show what could be accomplished with birds in captivity. Mr King added; “Has any member of your society seen healthier specimens in wild life? The information I am sure will give all your members some food for thought,, and I hope in the near future to have a talk with you all about some' proposals which should be put into operation in your beautiful city.’’ Legal Action Against Local Bodies An amendment of the limitations imposed by law on the taking cf legal action against local bodies was discussed by the House of Representatives when the report on an Auckland petition was presented. Apart from its recommendation affecting ‘the individual case under review, the committee considered the general application of the petition, and recommended that the Government give most favourable consideration to abolishing all time limitations of less than six years, or to abolishing all time limitations in accident cases, or to making the limitations in the case of local bodies the same as in the Crown Suits Act (12 months). Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera). who was among those supporting the report, said a legal action could be . commenced against a private person within six years, against the Crown within 12 months, and against' v local bodies within a lesser period, usually six months, but in some cases only three months. The chairman of the petitions committee (Mr A. S. Richards) said the English Statute.of Limitations, on which the New Zealand law was based, had been revised in 1939.—(F.0.P.R.) British-built Locomotives British tank factories are to help to meet the heavy overseas demand tor British-built locomotives and rolling stock, report the London “Daily Express.” Since 1939 .locomotive export has been severely restricted by wartime requirements, although it has been possible to meet some of the most urgent overseas demands. A total of 143 powerful freight locomotives were dispatched from Britain to Persia in order to speed up supplies to Russia over the trans-Persian railway. For more than a year, however, substantial overseas orders have been piling up in the British railway shops. Some of these are already in production and the industry is fully prepared to resume full-scale manufacture for export once war-time demands have been fully met. Many of the new models—incorporating the achievements of five years of British research—will be put into immediate production, These models fall into two main categories: cheap but powerful types and special super-quality locomotives. It is emphasised that this parellel development will enable British locomotive industry to cover fully and speedily the post-war requirements of its home and overseas markets. Melbourne-Bluff Service The Invercargill Chamber of Commerce’s view that a .'introduction of the Melbourne-Bluff shipping service is desirable is supported by the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, according to a letter received from that chamber at a meeting of the council, of the Invercargill chamber last week. The letter stated that when the opportunity offered for it to bring the matter before the nbtice of the proper authority it would be pleased to do so. It was felt, however, that the shipping companies would be sufficiently awake to resume the service as soon as conditions permitted, without outside pressure. Wallsend Mine The Wallsend mine will resume operations to-day, following two days of idleness last week. On Thursday the mine was idle after a stop-work meeting, which lasted more than three hours. The meeting was held as a result of the men being one and a half hours late in getting to the surface after work the previous day. This was caused by a broken rail in the main shaft, which had -to be repaired before the cage could return to the surface. When the men did come to the top there was no transport to take them to their homes. Friday’s idle day followed a stop-work meeting at the bathhouse, when the men considered an engine which operates the cage in the emergency shaft was defective, and their request was that it be made serviceable. Repairs have now been made. Relationships with America A closer relationship between Britain and the United States was advocated by Colonel W. Murphy in an address at an English Speaking Union luncheon in Auckland. Colonel Murphy, who has been serving for the last two yeavs in the Pacific, said that New Zealanders as a whole were not fully acquainted with the work being done there by New Zealand servicemen, in liaison with men of the United States forces. Colonel Murphy said that the relationship between the men was most harmonious. Whenever he had approached the American authorities for anything it was willingly given. The New Zealand fighter squadrons, which escort the American bomber squadrons on missions, were greatly admired by the Ujiited States authorities. Goats on Stewart Island That goats had recently been taken to Stewart Island was mentioned at a meeting of the council of the Southland Acclimatisation Society last week, and it was decided to write to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W E. Parry), and to. Mr W. M. C. Denham. M.P., pointing out the danger of the goats multiplying and running wild. It was also decided to point out the possibility of a “rabbit menace ’ developing on the island. Slip on Buffer Gorge Road The slip on the Buffer Gorge road below Inangahua Junction is still causing interference to traffic, and on Friday evening the Nelson-Westport service cars had to be towed through the 'slip by a bulldozer. During the week-end the Works Department, were to carry out extensive work, which it is hoped will remedy the position. Stone Cross Faffs Snapped off at its base by a strong gust of wind, the stone cross which surmounted the gable of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, crashed on to the steps in front of the main entrance and shattered into r hundred pieces. The cross was about four feet in. height and was made of Oamaru stone. It was placed in position when the Cathedral was built, and was blessed by the late Bishop Nevill before the scaffolding was removed from the facade of the building before the consecration of the Cathedral on February 12. 1919.