General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24712, 1 November 1945, Page 4

General News

Primary, Production Councils The operations of primary production councils will cease as from March 31, 1946. This was announced in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts).—(P.A.) National Savings Encouraging results are still forthcoming from national.savers throughout the Dominion. Last week 232 towns, including all the principal centres, attained their quotas of investments, and in each of the 20 postal districts the • full district quota was reached.—(P.S.S.) Launch in Distress . A motor-launch from Redcliffs had a failure of its magneto while it was eft Sumner yesterday afternoon, and a distress signal was sounded on the snore. The Sumner lifeboat was quickly manned by its volunteer crew, and in a fairly heavy sea the lifeboat put out and reached the launch. A rope was thrown to the launch, which was then towed to the boatsheds at Redcliffs. Freedom Federation Reporting to the Dominion conference of the. Associated Chambers of Commerce in Christchurch yesterday, the president (Mr J. B. Stewart, of Auckland) said that the constitution of the Freedom Federation, a new organisation with which the Associated Chambers would be connected, had been discussed at an executive mooting. The conference decided to discuss the matter further in committee. Later in the proceedings, when the conference was discussing proposed changes in the electoral law which are now before Parliament, Mr F. Wilson (Wellington) said that the conference had approved of the suggested constitution of the Freedom Federation. Strange Fish Found at Ross A strange fish, 13 feet two inches long, with a girth of #ight inches and believed ,to be a ribbon fish, was found on the beach at Ross recently. It had a silver body on which ware large black spots about the size of a shilling. On the nose was a feeler 30 inches in length.—(O.R.) Rehabilitation Figures Until the end of September 63,971 former servicemen and women were recorded with the Rehabilitation Department as having returned from service overseas, and of these 7834 returned during September itself. These figures are included in the monthly statistical review of the department. It adds that the number of home service personnel discharged and recorded with the department is 34,683, of whom 3645 were discharged during September. Of the 62,973 who have returned to civil life, 23,635 have gone back to their former employment,. 21,016 have found jobs for themselves and 15,977 have had employment found for them by the department. Government Accounts A resolution asking the New Zealand Society of Accountants to produce "a report covering the co-ordina-tion and presentation of the Government public accounts with a "view to the accounts being made understandable and more informative.' was carried on the motion of Mr G. D. Stewart (Wellington) at the Dominion conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Stev/art explained that the increases in the number of Government departments had increased the complexity of the public accounts Mr W. H. Hindle (Wellington) said .that, listening to broadcasts of Parliament, one came to the conclusion that there were some "expert jugglers" in New Zealand. There was a desire on the people's part to know where the Government's money came from, and where it was going, he added. Trade Training Centre

Formerly used for. United States Marine Corps stores, a large building at Tamaki has been taken over by the Rehabilitation Department for trade training. The building measures 55,000 square feet and will accommodate six trade training schools. Three of the schools will be for carpentry, with 25 trainees each, one for painting, paperhanging, and glazing,, with •13 pupils, one for bricklaying, with IS puoils, and one for plastering with 14 trainees. It is expected that as the Fchools develorj and more instructors become '< available the number of pupils will be increased.— (P.A.) "Donation Was Not There"

Considerable laughter was caused at a meeting of the committee of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Lifesaving Society last evening when an acknowledgement of his being appointed to that office was received from a vice-president of the branch, -who stated that he was enclosing a donation. "But," said the secretary (Miss D. Brown), "the donation was not there." The cHairman (Mr M. E. Lyons) said that no doubt a busy man could be pardoned for a slight omission of that type. Airmen in Pacific An indication that only rear parties of the R.N.Z.A.F. will remain in most oi the areas in the Pacific after midDecember was given by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) yesterday, when referring to the posting of Christmas parcels to New Zealand airmen in the Pacific. The Minister said that, to avoid the needless use of air transport, the public was earnestly requested to refrain from sending further parcels .and second-class mail master to R.N.Z.A.F, personnel whose addresses were N.Z.A.P.O.'s 308, 338, S4B, 361, and 366 unless it was known' that the addressees were attached to rear parties. The Air Department and the Post Office would make every effort, to. deliver Christmas parcels to rear party personnel and to R.N.Z.A.F. forces in Fiji, Norfolk Island, and New Caledonia, but no guarantee cculd be given if the parcels were posted later than the end of November.—(F.O.P.R.) Naval Ratings on Leave

South Island members of the crew of H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia, which returned to Auckland on Tuesday after service ,with the British Pacific Fleet, were flown from Whenuapai to Harewood yesterday. There were 37 in the leave party. 15 from Christchurch, and three from South Canterbury. Eighty-six more men will be brought from the North Island in three aircraft to-day. The party which arrived yesterday was brought by Army transport to the Christchurch railway station where Army. Red Cross, and Automobile Association cars were rvailable to take the men and their next-of-kin to their homes. Men for towns south of Christchurch spent last night at the Union Jack Club, and will leave on the South express this morning. Thirty-six Christchurch men are included in the party which will arrive to-day. The convoy of Army trucks which will bring them into Christchurch is due at the railway station at 1. p.m. The Union Jack Club will provide two hot meals for the men who have to spend some time in Christchurch before leaving for the south or the West Coast. Another party of 15. including four wives, will arrive by the inter-island steamer on Saturday morning. There are ;hree ratings from Christchurch in this party