General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25020, 31 October 1946, Page 6

General News

Local Bodies’ Conference “A very successful, very happy; and I think very useful conference,” was the summing-up of Mr E. H. Andrews (Mayor of Christchurch) on the annual conference of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association held last week at Nelson. Mr Andrews, who is president of the association, said that although the venue was not very convenient for delegates from the southern part of the island, the attendance, more than 100, was one of the largest yet. Six buses brought the delegates from all parts of the island. Mr Andrews said the members concerned themselves mainly with larger issues ana steered well away from parochial things. It was interesting, for instance, to find that the delegates recognised the Tunnel road to be a matter of vital importance to the whole of the island. Immigration policy was fully discussed, and delegates took the reasonable view that the first preference in immigration should go to New Zealanders keen to return to the Dominion and to British people who want to settle here. Mr Andrews added that the hospitality of Nelson was outstanding. " Overweight Wool Bales

The New Zealand Wool Board, in a statement last evening, said some growers were still forwarding bales of wool to brokers in excess of 4001 b. This was causing a considerable amount of extra work in wool stores, through brokers being compelled to remove the amount of excess wool, which could only be binned. Brokers would fee entitled to make a charge to cover the extra work involved. Because of the large quantities of wool to be handled and the difficulties of obtaining sufficient labour, the additional work thrown on brokers’ stores was likely seriously to prejudice the arrangements made for selling the current wool clip.—(P.A.) Education Plans

An outline of Government plans for improvements in the education services was given by Mr T. H. McCombs, M.P., at Lyttelton last evening, in answer to a question. A new teachers’ training college was planned, possibly for Palmerston North, because of population. Auckland would continue to specialise in training secondary school teachers; and Christchurch, m association with Canterbury Agricultural College, would concentrate on teachers for district high schools. Development of the major technical colleges as polytechnic schools was likely, with provision for junior classes elsewhere. New textbooks, to be distributed free, were in preparation. Extension of dental services to secondary schools was proposed. Greater facilities would be given for helping handicapped children. A general plan to provide more teachers and buildings was in train. R.S.A. Attitude to Defaulters The Returned Services’ Association is pleased that military defaulters will not be enrolled or allowed to vote, and trusts that the Government will go further and implement the R.S.A. policy of depriving defaulters of their civil rights for the next 10 years, according to a statement issued by the Dominion headquarters of the Returned Services’ Association yesterday afternoon.—(P.A.) Hailstorm in City With fewer than two days left in October, a short hailstorm which occurred in the city last night was rather out •of season. The fall, which occurred about 11 o’clock, did not last long, but some of the hailstones were as big as peas. Heavy showers and wintry temperatures preceded the storm- By 1 o’clock this morning, 49 points of rain had fallen in the 24hour period. School Journals Tenders have been called for the private printing of the primary school reading journal, usually produced by the Government Printer. Mr W. J. Cartwright, national president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, said yesterday that teachers would note this step with satisfaction, as it promised better supplies than had been possible while the Government Printer was so overworked- Deliveries, had been very erratic during the winter, and sufficient copies had not been available. An improvement had occurred in the last few months, when a number pf teachers volunteered to pack and post parcels to facilitate their delivery, to schools.

Hough Seas on Grey Bar Rough seas oh the Greymouth bar continue and the departure of two ships has been delayed—the Kiwitea with coal for Auckland, and the Poolta with coal for Wellington. Because of a strong swell on the bar, soundings wese not possible yesterday, and neither vessel is likely to sail before to-morrow at the earliest. The Gabriella is loading coal and timber for Wellington, but is not expected to be ready before Saturday. Maori Schools Special attention to Maori schools in east coast districts of the North Island will be paid by Mr W. J. Cartwright (president of the New Zealand Educational Institute) and Mr G R. Ashbridge (secretary) on a tour next month. Mr Cartwright said yesterday that as many general schools as possible would be visited: but he was particularly interested in the improvement of educational facilities for Maoris, especially since public attention had been focused on difficulties by recent newspaper reports. Both the Education Department and the Educational Institute were anxious to improve facilities and the standard of attainment, he said, and it was hoped that something helpful might come from the inspection. Arahura Gold Dredge Idle Because of the top tumbler breaking during dredging operations at the end of last week, the Arahura gold dredge, one of the largest units on the West Coast, will be idle this week. The company had a spare tumbler available, and it is expected that it will be fitted by next Monday. The tumbler weighs 18£ tons, and if no spare had been available the dredge would probably have been idle for more thap six mopths, the time it would take to secure a new tumbler from overseas.

National Savings Last week 301 places throughout the Dominion, including all the principal centres, obtained their national savings quotas. The number of areas obtaining their allotted amounts each week remains at a consistently high levpl, the latest results showing SB more local attainments than were recorded during the corresponding week of last year. Hamilton and Whangarei are the latest additions to the list of postal districts in which the full year’s quota has been attained. —(P.S.S.) Poor Whitebait Season One of the poorest whitebait seasons for the last six years is being experienced in the Buller district, and the day on which in previous seasons record catches have been made—Labour Day—went by with only diminutive catches because of the flooded state of the Buller and nearby rivers. On Tuesday the rivers were nearly back to normal, and in the Orowaiti river fishermen made catches of up to seven and eight pints in some localities. Fishermen on the Buller river were not so fortunate. The season, which ends officially on December 15 may yet provide lucrative employment for fishers, as in previous years the run during November has often been prolific Seaman Landed at Wellington Bound for Valparaiso, Chile, the ship Samchess made an unexpected call at Wellington yesterday. A radio message advising that sudden illness had occurred on board was received in the morning and the vessel later anchored in the stream. The tug Terawhiti landed the sick man at 1.45 p.m. He was taken to the Wellington Hospital, where his condition is now reported to be fair. The Samchess sailed again at 3.10 p.m. for South America. —(P.A.)