General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24546, 20 April 1945, Page 4

General News

Current Ration Coupons Meat ration coupon No. 24 will expire on Saturday and No. 25 is available until April 20. Tea coupons Nos. 25-28 are Available until May 13, as are also;tfif’> sugar coupons. Butter coupons N9|. 25 and 26 expire on April 29. , ( Jffar Gratuities The paynenV of war gratuities had been referred to the Minister of Finance (the Bon. W. Nash), who had been asked for an expression of the Government's views, said the secretary of thu New Zealand Returned Services’ Assdewtion (Mr S. J. Harrison) yesterday. ,J >The Minister had replied that the matter was under consideration. Mr Hhrrison said the question would be discussed at a meeting of the Dominion council of the association in June.—(P AO City Housing Scheme No delay js expected by Christchurch City Council officials in making a start with the - construction of the first houses under the council’s .housing scheme at Sandilands. The City Engineer (Mr E. Somers) told a reporter of “The Press” yesterday that the contractor expects to begin the first of the double-unit houses next week. The work of clearing the site is now being carried - out by the staff of the council’s works department. Students Harvest Onions A working party of 250 students from Massey Agricultural College, of whom 50 were returned servicemen, together with a small party of Air Force perr sonnel, recently completed the harvesting of 600 acres of onions* in the Opiki district, said the Controller of Manpower (Mr H. L. Bockett) yesterday. The work was completed in about seven days. “Were it not for the willing co-operation of the college authorities, the students and the primary production council, there is no doubt that a large portion of the crop would have been lost,” said Mr Bockett, expressing his appreciation.— (P.A.) , Use of Concrete Paths The opinion of the Waimairi County Council on the use of concrete for future paving of paths in State hdusing blocks , has been sought by the State Housing Department. Jt was reported at the meeting of the council last evening that the works committee had recorded its opinion in' favour of concrete paths, and this was endorsed. Taxi Fares Two interesting points relating to the control of taxis are contained in an amendment to the Transport Licensing Passenger Regulations gazetted last night. One of these stipulates that it shall be a condition of every licence to «arry on a taxi-cab service that in the computation of the number of passengers for the purpose of assessing fares: (1) a child under the age of four in care of a person of the age of 15 or over shall not be counted; (2) any other child under 15 shall not be counted except that every, two children under 15. and not in the care of a person of 15 or over, shall be counted a» one passenger. The other point deals with the engagement of taxis by telephone, and the general effect will enable responsibility to be attached to taxi firms which fail to adhere to a telephone contract made for a taxi.— (P.A.) Address to Millers An address on the wheat position was given the New Zealand Flour Millers’ . Association by the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Sullivan explained the arrangements made with the Canadian Government. Service of Remembrance Poppies will be put in the grass of the Godley plot, Christchurch, on Anzac Day in a special service of remembrance, Archbishop West-Watson will put the first poppy Into the ground and representatives of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association will out in poppies to honour the Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Navy, and Army Nursing Service, after which the Archbishop will offer prayers. Members of the public will then be invited to place their own poppies in the plot, as is done in the Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey on Armistice Day. Special poppies with long stalks will be sold for this purpose. , Permanent Pedestrian Crossing The first permanent coloured pedestrian crossing in Christchurch, apart from the experimental “slab" crossing at the corner of Colombo and Armagh streets, is now being laid by the works department of the Christchurch City Council at the Intersection of Colombo and Gloucester streets. Half the crossing has been laid, and the Chief City Traffic Inspector (Mr J. Bruorton) said yesterday that judging on appearances it should be very satisfactory. The crossing will consist of a strip of light red paving bordered by narrow edges of white. Hanmer marble is being used as the colouring material in the red concrete, and ordinary marble is being used in the white. Report on Coast Harbours During his recent visit to Westport, the Hon. J. O’Brien (Minister of Marine) said that with a view of having an engineer sent out to New Zealand to report on the West Coast harbours, he nad been in touch with the Sir Benjamin Gibbs and Sir John Coode companies in England. Re added that he was not quite convinced that the erection of a groyne at Tauranga Bay, as suggested in Mr F. W. Furkert’s report, would serve the purpose sought—the diverting of the drift of silt and other debris up the coast. Any harbour scheme, he said, must take into consideration the ouick- and efficient handling of coal and timber, and must be of a comprehensive nature. Domains and Amalgamation “The Christchurch City Council appears to be anxious to amalgamate everything, the Botanic Gardens included,” said Cr. H. Kitson at a meeting of the Waimairi County Council last evening, when a letter from the Christchurch Suburban Local Bodies’ Association protesting against this proposed amalgamation was received. Under ' the proposed amalgamation, said Cr. Kitson, Waimairi would not be - relieved of its financial obligation. “They very kindly will allow us to be represented on the reserves committee. That is pure baloney, because the reserves committee has no power.” He added that it would, in his opinion, be a very retrograde step if the park and gardens should not be allowed to function in the way the pioneers Intended, as a reserve for the people of Canterbury, not of Christchurch alone.