General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24820, 9 March 1946, Page 6

General News

Approach of Hurricane A warning that a hurricane with its centre 450 miles north-west of Norfolk Island at noon yesterday was moving in the direction of New Zealand was issued by the Marine Department at Auckland yesterday afternoon. The disturbance, which is moving in a south-easterly direction about 20 knots, is losing its strength as it progresses. It is estimated, however, that gale conditions should prevail in the Dominion on Sunday afternoon if the disturbance maintains its present speed and direction. The Marine Department has advised masters of vessels in port to be ready to secure extra lines to wharves and to batten down holds.—(P.A.) School Bus Drivers

“These fellows who operate school bus services work on a pretty narrow margin. The Department of Education is tough when it comes to' paying these operators,” said the No. 3 Transport Licensing Authority (Mr T. H. Langford) when hearing in Timaru yesterday an application by Arthur W. Longman for a licence to operate a new continuous passenger service over a route from Pleasant Point to Timaru, via Kerrytown and Levels, on Friday and Saturday evenings. “If these men can augment their income in this way and give a reasonably comfortable service, and the distance travelled is not great, then I think it is right to use these buses," said Mr Langford. He had previously said he was not altogether happy about school buses being used for passenger services. The application was granted. Big Attendance at Cricket Match

The first match played by an Australian cricket team in Christchurch since 1928 got off to an excellent start yesterday morning at Lancaster Park. Beautifully fine weather favoured the players and spectators alike, and although the wicket appeared a little soft after recent rain; members of the Canterbury team found the outfield in good condition. A crowd of several thousands saw the’ opening of the play, and after it was learned that Australia had won the toss, the prospect of seeing some of the world’s best batsmen in action increased the stream of spectators to the park throughout the morning. At the luncheon adjournment both of Australia’s opening batsmen were still unbeaten, this adding to the interest of the play, it was estimated that nearly 8000 persons saw the match in the afternoon. Ballot Against Italian Miners Removed from their work at district State mines when Italy entered the war, Italian miners will not be reemployed at Runanga district mines. This decision is the outcome of a vote taken at the Strongman and Liverpool mines, when 324 voted against, and 143 in favour of their return. The decision, it is stated, will be adopted by the Mines Department. 2nd in the future no Italian workmen will be given work in mines. A number of Italian families in the Runanga district are affected by the decision. After their removal from the mine, where they were regarded as among the best workers, tne Italians were employed on public works at Inangahua, and later with the Railways Department as surfacemen. Many have maintained their homes at Runanga during the war in the hope of bein re-employed in the mines, and it was the result of their request for a decision that the ballot was taken. Radio and Police Cars

For the first time in New Zealand radio communication with police patrol cars will be established in Auckland in the near future. A transmitter will be operated from the Central Police Station, and it is believed that at least two patrol cars will be equipped with receiving sets. Equipment and special technicians have arrived from Wellington and are now working at the station, and it is believed that assembly will be completed in time for operation by Monday afternoon. Although no official information was available from police headquarters, it is believed that the equipment will not provide two-way communication, and that urgent messages will be transmitted from the central station, but that it will not be possible for the men in the cars to acknowledge them. —(P.A.)

Fire Brigade Tower Unsafe The water and hose-drying tawer in the Tuam street yard of the Central Fire Brigade station, which has been in use for some 25 years, has deteriorated to such an extent that it was considered unsafe, the deputy-superintendent (Mr G. Barnes) reported to the board last evening. An architect had reported that it could be repaired, and outside labour would be necessary to recondition it. Legacy to Church The will of Miss Catherine Menzies, who died at Christchurch in August, 1945, provides for a number of charitable bequests. The Public Trustfee is appointed executor and the residuary estate, estimated at £2OOO, is left to the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees for the general purposes of the Presbyterian Churches at Hororata and Hornby, and St. Andrews, ChristchurcH. and St. Andrews, Ashburton, in equal shares. Co-operative Vegetable Marketing Proposals for a Dominion-wide cooperative vegetable marketing scheme covering all classes of vegetables were placed before a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Commercial Gardeners’ Society by the president (Mr A. H. Waterson) as an alternative to the Government’s proposal to operate a contract system covering only selected growers and basic vegetables. The meeting supported a co-operative system under which growers would through their own organisation be permitted to deal either direct with the public or through chain stores. Failing the Government’s approval of the growers’ proposals it was decided to encourage the Government to establish a comprehensive contract system. —(P.A.) Production of Rayon American buyers of luxury rayon have been to Great Britain anxious to buy British materials, states “The Times,” London. Production of rayon has beeh improving, and the Board of Trade hopes that it will be possible soon to relax the export restrictions. In the meantime, as Sir Stafford Cripps reminded a questioner, there is nothing to prevent exporters from accepting provisional orders. Transport of Fodder Plans for the transport of fodder from the South Island to where it is required in the north were discussed at a conference field yesterday in the office of the Prime Minister. The conference was attended by the Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts), the Acting-Minister of Labour (the Hon. J. O’Brien), and representatives of shipping interests and State departments. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) stated later th t various proposals were examined and considerable progress made Arrangements would be announced as soon as they were completed.—(P.A.)

Reported Killing of Godwits Although the godwit is protected by law throughout the year, there is evidence that in the remote parts of Parengarenga Harbour, in the extreme north of New Zealand, poaching is carried on, according to a Gisborne resident who visited the area. The godwits gather in February at Parengarenga to prepare for their long migratorj- flight. They breed in Siberia and Alaska from June to July and then leave, passing through country after country until they reach New Zealand, where they spread as far south as Stewart Island. From late February until the end of March they leave in flocks of several thousands, although they arrive in the country in small groups. They appear to be alert for Favourable winds and weather. Lost Ration Books About 15,000 fation book§ are lost in a year, according to ‘‘Consumer News/’ the Economic Information Service publication. Every day books are picked up in the Street, in buses, trams and trains and are sent in to local rationing officers throughout the Dominion Returning the books to their owners presents a problem to the rationing authorities, because in two cases out of three there is no naftie ot address on the book.