General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24743, 7 December 1945, Page 4

General News

Early Raspberries Small supplies of raspberries—the first of the season—have been on sale at the Christchurch fruit and produce markets in the last two days. Only a few dozen punnets have come into the markets, mostly from the Bowenvale district, and some from Halswell. Prices have ranged from 2s id to 3s a punnet.

School Certificate Test In an urgent question to the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) yesterday, Mr M. H. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu) drew attention to the English paper in the recent school certificate examinations. He said the paper had been criticised as one from which every vestige of literary and grammatical understanding had been carefully removed 1 . The Minister gave an assurance that he would obtain a report on the paper.—(P.A.) Vegetables for Stock With a view to helping in the Droyision of feed for farmers, whose stock is m desperate need of more to eat, the Hawke's Bay Commercial Growers* Society decided to ask the United States Joint Purchasing Board to permit the use for this purpose of cabbages and beetroot planted under contract but which, if they could not be marketed, were required hy the American authorities to be destroyed. Speakers expressed the view that it was wrong to plough crops which, not being wanted for human consumption, could be fed to starving stock in the emergency which some farmers found themselves, in at present because of the long dry spell.—(P. A.)

Naval Aircraft Over City The 16 nsval aircraft from the carrier Indefatigable, comprising eight Seafires, four Fairey-Firefiy reconnaissance fighters, and four Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers; flew over Christchurch at 9.15 a.m. yesterday. After stunting for a short period, they flew over Ashburton. and then went north, halting at Woodbourne aerodrome before leaving for Ohakea, in the North Island. Canada's Population More than 2,000,000 of Canada's population is comprised of Poles, Czechs, Danes, Ukrainians, Swedes, and Germans. The High Commissioner for the United Kingdom .(Sir Patrick Duff) gave this figure in an address at the annual Christmas party of the Canterbury Travel Club last evening, and said that all these races had, in the course of generations, melted down into good Canadisns. Sir Patrick Duff said also that out of a total population of between 11.000,000 and 12,000,000 in Canada to-day, 3.000,000 were French, still speaking French. A little less than 50 per cent, of the population were of British stock. Of them only a small proportion had come from Britain within the last 100 years or so. N.Z, War' History .

An indication that the Government has not yet decided on the appointment of a New Zealand war historian was given by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) in the House of Representatives yesterday, when he mentioned thst the information section was shortly to produce a booklet on New Zealand's war effort that would not be an official history. Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga): "That will be a life-time job." Mr Fraser said it would take five to 10 yesrs. Archives had been carefully kept and the Government was anxious to get the best possible person for the job of writing the history.—(F.O.P.R,) Karitane Nurses' Hours The Plunket Society has received a number of inquiries regarding the hours of work for Karitane nurses who take cases by day.. In reply it has been pointed out that the 10-hour day mentioned in the rules for Karitane nurses includes meal hours. In order to„ clarify the matter the Dominion executive of the society has I decided that the rate of salary payable to a Karitane nurse who takes cases by trie day shajl be in respect of an eight-hour day, exclusive of meals, and that the rate for hourly service shall be calculated on the basis of an eighthour day.— ( P. A.) Beach Patrols A decision to appoint beach, patrols for the North, New Brighton, and Sumner beaches during the holiday period was made by the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association this week. Members considered that, with the return from overseas service of many leading swimmers and surfers, it should not be difficult this year to fill the positions with first-class men. Applicants for the positions will be required to pass standard tests. It is hoped to have the patrols on duty from December 17 to February 2. Auckland Fire Brigade Dispute ! The Auckland Fire Brigs des' Union decided yesterday that the men would, continue to carry out their normal duties and it is understood that a tribunal will sit within a few days to deal with the dispute which arose between t! ■> union and the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board about a relieving allowance of 2s a meal. The secretary of the union (Mr J. W. A. Stead) said he understood the Government intended to set up a tribunal under the Strikes and Lockout Emergency Regulations, and under those ; circumstances it was felt the best policy would be for the men to carry on their work.—(P.A.) Utilisation of Wood Waste

"I can see no immediate prospects for the establishment of factories or rjlant for the utilisation of wood waste on the West Coast," said Mr N. S. Dolamore, in an address given to members of the Westland District Progress League at Greymouth. "The high standard of local wages and other costs in relation to solid wood output, a wet climate, and a forest floor which cannot possibly carry wheeled vehicles, added to many other factors, would make any project to use wood waste commercially an unsound financial proposition," he said. > Linen Flax Corporation

"I hope this' experiment of giving all directly interested in an industry an opportunity of making a success of it will Le a success," said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), introducing the Linen Flax Corporation Bill in the House of Representatives last evening. The bill provides for the setting up of a corporation with a board of directors consisting of two • representatives of the Government, two of the linen flaxgrowers, and two of the employees (one'to be a factory manager*, and two of the manufacturers who will use the corporation's products. Answering questions by members, Mr Sullivan said the corporation would take over the assets and liabilities of the Linen Flax Committee. Capital would be found by the Government and after the provision of reserves, net profits would be paid into the public account. He said there had been three courses open—one was to close the industry down, the second was to operate it by a State department, and the third was to give all concerned a share in the control of the industry. It was experimental, but he thought it ought to be a success. The bill provides that the directors are to be appointed by the Government and that they shall have regard to the directions given by the Minister of Industries and Commerce.— (F.0.P.R.) Health Camp Costs

When advice that the cost of keeping each child at "Glenelg'' would probably be £2 10s a week was received at a meeting of the Ashburton Health Camp Committee, members expressed concern that the charges were so high. Stating that at that rate it would cost £75 for each party of children to visit the camp for six weeks, the chairman (Mr E. C. Bathurst) said that it was beyond the resources of the committee to do this. It was decided to inform the Christchurch Central Council that the charge was considered exorbitant and to ask for a detailed statement of the expenses. Factory Gutted by Fire

Damage amounting to more than £2OOO resulted from a fire yesterday afternoon at a factory occupied by Universal Wood Products, Ltd., in Princess street. Onehunga. The building, which is a two-storey, concrete structure, with an iron roof, was- com- ! pletely gutted. No one was injured. .but some members of the staff had I narrow escapes.—(P.AJ