General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25051, 6 December 1946, Page 6

General News

Notice to Subscribers Subscribers to “The Press” are advised that it will be necessary for those intending to be away from their homes during the Christmas and New Year holidays to notify “The Press” office as soon as possible of any alterations they require iri the delivery of their newspaper, instructions about deliveries will not be received by telephone during the holiday period, when the main office of “The Press” will be closed. School Holidays * With only about a fortnight left before the close of the school yean pupils in the Christchurch primary and post-primary schools are busy with preparations for break-up functions. Most post-primary schools will close towards the end of next week and are scheduled to resume on February 3 or 4. Primary schools under the Canterbury Education Board will not close until Thursday, December 1.9, and they will resume on Monday, February 3. Most school examinations are now completed, but pupils and staffs are busy with rehearsals for concerts and items for prize-giving ceremonies. Extraction Rate from Flour When the present emergency conditions in Britain have passed, Will the flour extraction rate remain at 80 of 85 per cent., or return to the pre-war rate? This question, asked at a meeting of the Wheat Research Institute on Wednesday, drew a comment from Mr E. W. Hullett that the suggestion has been made that an advertising agent should be appointed to test public opinion in New Zealand on how the new flour in this country was favoured. Some members said that both bakers and public would favour a return to the pre-war rate of extraction; but Mr Hullett said that he thought nutrition authorities in Britain would prefer the present extraction rate to continue, and millers and bakers Would oppose it. Finance for Temporary Housing By an amendment gazetted last night to the Local Authorities (Temporary Housing) Emergency Regulations, 1944, local authorities are empowered to borrow money by overdraft for temporary housing work. This extends the power already granted to borrow by special loan. —(P.A.) North Island Flour Shortage Mr F. W. CresWeU. of the New Zealand Federation of Bakers and Pastrycooks, said that considerable anxiety was expressed at the Council meeting in Christchurch this week about the shortage of flour supplies throughout the North Island, and telegrams had been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Supply urging the Government to take immediate action to ensure that sufficient flour supplies will be available to the baking industry, particularly during the approaching holiday period. “A Depressed Profession” “Contrary to all expectations,” writes an architect in London to a friend in Christchurch, “architecture is now being written about in the press as a depressed profession. The only work going on to any extent is housing, mostly being carried out by local authorities, so that many private architects have little to do. No one expects normal building again for several years.” Record Price for Grapes The highest price ever paid in New Zealand for grapes was obtained at the-Auckland markets yesterday morning when four 11b bunches, grown by Mrs D. Nichols, of Otahuhu, brought 17s a pound. This breaks the record set up in August of this year wheh three 121 b cases; grown at Mangere, brought 16s a pound in the markets. Another bunch of grapes grown by Mr E. J. Knight, of Mangere, sold yesterday for 16s a pound. The city shop which bought Mrs Nichols’s grapes was selling them at 19s a bunch. Only one bunch had been sold last evening. When grapes are in season 3s a pound is a good price.—(P.A.) Handwriting of Students “What was the reaction of .the examiners on the handwriting?” asked Mr I. Sladen at last evening’s meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce after a report on the commercial examinations was given. “Were they favourably impressed or could they not read the papers at all?” The assistant-secretary (Mb K. W. Hobbs) replied that no reports on handwritihg had been , received from the examiners- unofficially he could say that there was “a lot lacking.” The president (Mr H. C. Hurst) said the report on the examinations was very satisfactory. “Except for the handwriting,” added Mr Sladen. Exploration of Caves The Director of the Dominion Museum (Dr. W. R. B. Oliver) and two entomologists, Dr. J. T. Salmon and Mr R. Forster, will leave this weekend on an expedition to Waikaremoana. They will study the limestone caves in the district which, besides possessing much historical and botanical interest., are thought to contain moa bones. The party expects tb be away from Wellington for about a week. The Waikaremoana district was first explored for historical and botanical purposes by the Rev. William Colenso, in 1841. Accompanied by several Maoris he made a trek from East Cape to the Waikato and collected many new species of plant life. Four West Coast Mayors to Retire The mayors of four West Coast boroughs have announced their intention hot to seek an extension of their mayoral terms at thri local body elections next November. r They are the Mayor of Greymouth (Mr F. A. Kitchingham), the Mayor of Hokitika (Mr A. R. Elcock); the Mayer of Runanga (Mr E. W. Kennedy); and the Mayot of Ross (Mr K. O. May). Mr Kitchingham has given yeoman service since he was first elected Mayor of Greymouth in May. 1938. Normally his current term would have expired next May. but under the provisions of the legislation passed in the closing stages of Parliament, the terms of all local body members have been extended until November, when the next elections will be held High Prices for Poultry Persons ih England who have the good fortune to own poultry can command high prices for it in the market. “We have nine geese grazing on the common, six ducks, a dozen hens and some nice fat cockerels, so we shall be well off for Christmas this year,” writes a man in England to a Christchurch friend. “We are very frightened of poultry thieves as our geese would fetch £5 or £6 each and cockerels £2 or so at the controlled price, more in the black market.” Immigration of Bakers To relieve the labour position in the baking and pastrycooking industry of New Zealand, arrangements have been made for advertisements to be inserted in the trade publications in Great Britain inviting application from experienced journeymen bakers and pastrycooks for employment in New Zealand. Expensive Safety Pins Reference to the high cost of living in China since the inflation of the dollar was made by Miss Annie James, M.8.E., in an address this week at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. Miss James was descrioing some of her experiences as a nurse ih the Foreign Missions branch of the Presbyterian Church. Before she left her hospital to come to New Zealand, Miss James said, she promised the nurses there that she would send them some safety pins as soon as possible. Her promise proved difficult to fulfil, for in Canton safety pins were unobtainable, and in Hong Kong it cost. her 30s for a dozen. Miss James added that ah unmbrella she purchased before she left China cost £6. Insurance and Air Travel Replies from five insurance companies received by the cduncil of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening were to the effect that life insurance policies are riot nullified when the insured persons travelled by authorised air services within New Zealand. In a discussion, members urged that persons intending to travel overseas by air should communicate with the insurance companies to obtain an endorsement of policies.