General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25091, 24 January 1947, Page 6

General News

Shearing Difficulties With heavy clips after a mild winter, and early sales returning good prices, Canterbury woolgrowers exSected a profitable season; but they ave been dogged by a shortage of experienced shearers. The weather has spread the shearing season a little, and this has given some relief. On some back-country stations, big flocks have had to be shorn by one man, and in many cases owners have had to leave other work to assist. One woolbroker said yesterday that a good number of elderly men, who had remained in shearing teams to meet war-time needs, were now retiring. There were few young men offering to take their places. There was keen competition m paying substantially more than award rates to secure good men.

Tinned Dripping* “There is every reason to believe that tinned dripping will be on the market again very shortly,” said Mr E. A. Chivers, secretary of the Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee, yesterday. "Opr investigations have shown that though there may be some dissatisfaction in regard to the new price order, the main reason for the shortage of this product is that stocks became exhausted by the huge demand during the off season. Naturally production goes with the killing season, and killing is just starting again. We understand that more than one firm packing dripping has recommenced tinning, and that supplies will soon be available.”

Help for Stranded War Brides An appeal to employers to find employment for any British war brides who might be stranded in the United States, as suggested by a recent cable message, has been made by a Dunedin businessman, Mr Philip Barling. “I should have no hesitation in offering to pay half the fares to New Zealand of two women of a suitable type to obtain work in Dunedin,” said Mr Barling, “and I suggest that other employers might do likewise.” Mr Barling added that stranded war brides would naturally have an aversion to returning to England, and he knew of no worse place in the world for a woman to be stranded in than Nev? York. He had heard the same opinion expressed by Americans themselves, and he believed such a proposal as he had outlined would be a humanitarian gesture. Community Centre Proposal The Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce proposes to call a public meeting to discuss a suggestion for a community centre and tepid ’Swimming pool on the site of the corporation yards, Clyde quay. It is stated that for some time the chamber has considered that there is an aclite shortage of accommodation in Wellington for sporting, cultural, social, and educational groups. The Junior Chamber has advised 75 organisations of the move, and they have all promised full support for the project. Fat Collection A bulletin from the Christchurch Famine Emergency Committee says it is surprising, in view of all the publicity given, to find that many farmers do not yet realise how important a contribution could be made by the saving of every scrap of raw caul and kidney fat. All cartage contractors, rural mail carriers, stores, vans, bus services, and the, railways will carry it free to local depots, or, where convenient, to Belfast. “Much valuable food—and fat is one of the most valuable things we can send to Britain—is allowed to rot, or is fed to the dogs. We appeal to all farmers to make an effort to save this most valuable foodstuff,” says the bulletin. Paper Cargo Damaged

Seriously damaged by water and heat, a cargo of paper for Auckland importers is being disoharged from one hold of the Norwegian motorship Tarn at Queen’s wharf. While off the African coast, near Dakar, the ship caught fire in her deck cargo of cork. The damage to the cargo is being Assessed and a general average will be struck. Dirt money is being paid watersiders for the work 6f discharging the cargo. Non-union labour started the ship, but, with the sailing of three other vessels, union labour became available. The Tarn reached Auckland on December 28, and after survey in the Calliope dock, remained at anchor until she berthed on January 14. Her discharge is expected to be completed by |he end of this week. Steel Splinter in Car Tyre A sliver of steel from a tram-line was recovered from inside a car tube by a vulcanising firm in Dunedin this week. The tyre was practically new, and it was extensively damaged when the taxi to which it was fitted was driven over a protruding tram rail. The driver of the taxi, which was carrying passengers at the time, said it was surprising that the vehicle did not meet with a serious mishap. The steel splinter has been kept, and it is reported that the owner of the taxi intends to lodge a claim against the Dunedin City Corporation. Maori Hostel in Wellington The Urgent need for accommodation in Wellington for Maori people, specially students, is recognised by the Department of Internal Affairs, which has under consideration a hostel for their convenience. The main difficulty at present is the securing of a suitable building, it is stated. The Rev. Hohepa Taepa, Anglican clergyman ministering to the Wellington and Wairarapa Maoris, said it was unwise to bring Maori youth to the city unless they were properly housed and provided with facilities for study. At present many young people were preparing for their careers under great difficulties. They were being forced to live in single rooms and to go out for meals. The position was equally serious for adult Maoris, said Mr Taepa, particularly those passing between the two islands. He had known cases of travellers tramping the streets in search of accommodation. Auckland had had a Maori hostel for many years but there was no provision for Maoris in Wellington, apart from already overtaxed hotels and boarding-houses. Test Consignment of Birds

A test consignment of 18 Australian finches from Melbourne is expected to reach Auckland on Wednesday by Tasman Empire Airways flying-boat in time to be transhipped to the Pan American Airways clipper leaving Whenuapai the following morning for San Francisco. Consigned by Palmer and Sons, Ltd., of Melbourne, the finches are being sent to the Los Gatos Aviaries, Los Gatos, California, a firm of importers, who hope to obtain thousands of birds a year from Australia. The birds should be flown from Melbourne to San Francisco in about five and a half days. Their cages, in which a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees will be maintained, will have uilt-in water trays and feed trays. Instructions have been given that they will be fed in Melbourne and are not to be fed again until arrival in the United States. They will be given water at Melbourne, Auckland, Honolulu, and immediately on arrival at San Francisco. Pan American Airways’ Auckland office has obtained the permission of the Department of Internal Affairs for the birds to be brought ashore and spend the night at Auckland. Dutch Orphan’s Trip With an English vocabulary practically limited to “0.K.” and “I love you, darling,” which he seems to have learned from an American serviceman on the flight across the Pacific, a seven-year-old Dutch boy, Samuel 1 Wennik, arrived at Auckland by the] clipper Kit Carson from San Francisco, en route to Australia (says the “New Zealand Herald”). Both the boy’s parents died in a concentration camp in Poland during the war. and he is going to Australia to join his foster-parents. Mr and Mrs Jonas Groen, of Brisbane, who are also his uncle and aunt. Exercising his favourite phrase on all but a photographer, in whose camera he took a determined collector’s interest, the boy Sosed for his photograph, baseball in and and curious at all the new world around him. He made the first parti of his trip, from* Holland to the United ; States, alone, but he is accompanied. on this stage by an aunt, Mrs E. Kattenburg, an Australian war bride whose husband live# in New York.