General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24736, 29 November 1945, Page 4

General News

Carrier Aircraft to Visit Wigrara .A flight of 16 aircraft from the earner Indefatigable is expected to visit wigram on Tuesday afternoon. The aircraft, which will fly eft the carrier °"i, ? way t0 Queen Charlotte Sound, win be Seafires (the naval version of the Spitfire), Avengers, and' Fireflies, lne intention is that aircraft from the carrier should visit principal air force throughout New Zealand St. Martins Bus Service

*u Cr J& cl . sin of the proposed route for ™ Christchurch Tramway Board's St Martins bus service was made by the Canterbury Drivers' Union in a letter to the Metropolitan Transport Licensing Authority yesterday. The letter stated that the proposed route was from St. Martins, via Manchester street, to Victoria square. If the route was approved, it was stated, there would be considerable traffic added to the already congested street, which was one of the busiest in.Christchurch. It was decided to hold the objection until such time as the board made application for approval of the route.

Nurses' Salary Scale A new salary scale for nursing staffs of New Zealand hospitals is at present before the Stabilisation Commission Because of its desire to have the matter adjusted as soon as possible, the North Canterbury Hospital Board decided yesterday to write urging early approval of the scale. The secretary (Mr A. Prentice) said that increases of particular importance were provided for ward sisters, who, in the past, had had to undertake heavy responsibility, at anomalous rates of pay. Last year, nurses' wages had been standardised on the rates being Daid in the larger hospitals. Indian Kapoc Imports

The Ministry of Supply has advised the Manufacturers' Federation that applications for licences to import Indian kapoc will now be considered. The Canterbury Manufacturers' Association has been informed by the federation that the quarterly quota restriction of the amount of kapoc which may be used is still in force, pending a review at the end of the year. Air-Conditioned Operating Theatres The air conditioning of operating theatres at the Christchurch Hospital was recently discussed by the staff executive and the proposal was discussed with the North Canterbury Hospital Board's architect and its building committee. As a result of investigations, which revealed the need for such equipment, the building committee was yesterday granted power to act in the purchase and installation of suitable plant. Manufacturers and Taxation Representations on taxation by the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation are at present being examined, according to a statement by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), in a letter to the federation, a copy of the letter having been received by the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association. The "Minister's letter added that he hoped within a short time to be able»to advise the federation further Patriotic Zone Committees The action of some patriotic zone committees who have disbanded was criticised by several members of the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council, which met yesterday. "If the zone committees disband we might And legislation brought down to contrcl the funds we should control," said Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon. Labour for Freezing Works Labour to man the two freezing works in Hawke's Bay is in such short supply that farmers are being appealed to to assist in meeting the situation. Abnormally dry weather has caused a rush" of stock for killing at the works, which, with a shortage, of hands, are unable to cope with demands. Farmers, therefore, were urged to make their services available, so freezing works tallies could be stepped up to such capacity as would enable the handling of the peak supplies of lambs which farmers desire to have killed between now and Christmas. The works are at present working at two-thirds capacity.—(P.A.) Rehabilitation Assistance Educational and housing assistance were the forms of rehabilitation most sought after by members of a recent draft of servicemen who returned from overseas, according to information gained by an education officer onboard one troopship. Of about 1600 men who were in the draft, mostly Air Force personnel, one man in seven said he required no assistance, one in four was uncertain what form of help he would need, and in several cases more than one form of assistance was sought. Surprisingly few said they had no intention of returning to their pre-war occupations. Some of these showed a tendency toward farm or trade training, with apparently the ownership of a farm or small business in view. Post-War Patriotic Funds "Canterbury is a long way behind other provinces with its post-war welfare patriotic funds, and the people of Canterbury are not facing up to their self-imposed obligation," said Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon at a meeting of the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council yesterday. The fund contained £141,640, he said, whereas Otago held £263,277; Auckland, £202,315; and Wellington, £230,340. Canterbury, however, had had heavy expenditure, apart from payments to the National Patriotic Fund Board, because of the large military camps in the province. Mock Sun Seen - An unusual phenomenon, a mock sun. when apparently two "suns" are visible, was seen yesterday about 6.30 p.m. Mock suns are caused by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays by ice crystals. The mock sun is a halo phenomenon and often shows bright colouring, with red to the side nearer the sun, followed by yellow, green, and blue, in that order. The appearance of the phenomenon yesterday was due to the presence of a layer of cirro-stratus" cloud, which is composed entirely of ice crystals. The technical name for a mock sun is "parhelia." There was also a brightly coloured bow risible at 6.30 p.m. As with all halo phenomena, it was convex towards the sun.