General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25094, 28 January 1947, Page 6

General News

New Zealand Press “One thing which has impressed me, coming back after 32 years, is the sanity and intelligence of your New Zealand press,” said Dr. J. A. Gillison, of the London County Council, at the meeting of the Christchurch City Council last evening. He referred to some disturbing features of the popular press in Britain. The New Zealand newspapers did discuss current problems with citizens, he said. New Zealand had an excellent foreign news service for so small a country. Maybe this had a good deal to do with the people’s remarkable understanding of affairs overseas, and their ready sympathy and help in recent years of trial. Engineering Apprentices Because of the growing demands of regular students, Canterbury University College will not be able to accommodate apprentices for advanced instruction in its School of Engineering this year. At the meeting of the college council yesterday it was stated that improvement of accommodation at the Christchurch Technical College would enable these young men to do third and fourth year work there, as well as those in the early stages of training. Adjusting Milk Zones Asked by Cr. G. D. Griffiths when the adjustment of milk zones in Christchurch would take place, Cr. M. E. Lyons (who is chairman of the Metropolitan Milk Board) told the City Council last evening that he wished he could give a positive answer. An appeal had been made by certain milkmen against proposals intended to operate on December 1, and evidence would be heard by the Central Milk Council in Christchurch on February 10. It had been intended to give each supplier authority to sell in several zones near his own so as to give consumers an adequate selection. Shipments of Rails The first of three shipments of rails recently purchased in Belgium by the New Zealand Government, is being discharged at Auckland from the Port Line motor-ship. Port Jackson. Transhipped at London from Antwerp, the consignment consists of 1000 tons of rails and fastenings, which will be used on secondary lines in North Auckland. The New Zealand Government purchased a total of 6800 tons of rails in Belgium. The remainder of the rails are carried by the Rakaia. which arrived at Wellington from London yesterday, and the Orari, due at Dunedin from London next month.—(P.A.) Director of School of Art After a long discussion in committee the Canterbury University College Council yesterday appointed a new director of the School of Art; but in open council the chairman (Mr W. C. Colee) said that his name could not be announced until it had been approved by the Education Department. Mr C. Lovell Smith has been actingdirector since Mr R. Wallwork retired from the directorship more than a year ago. Seeds from Seven Countries The receipt of .seeds from botanic gardens in seven different countries was reported by the reserves committee to the Christchurch City Council last evening. The seeds came from the National Botanic Gardens. Glasnevin. Ireland, the Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, and the Botanic Gardens, Montreal, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh, the Botanic Gardens, Moscow. the Botanic Gardens, Gotenburg, Sweden, the Botanic Gardens, Switzerland. and the Natural History Museum. Paris. Sumner Aquarium Advocating the establishment of a national aquarium at a place such as Sumner, the journal “Dominion Aquarist and Pondkeeper” considers that the present Government-sub-sidised aquarium at Dunedin is too far off the beaten track of visitors to satisfy the public demand. The magazine considers that the initial cost of such an institution would be nearly £50,000, and it could be constructed as a war memorial, the excess profits being diverted to the maintenance of veterans’ homes or to the relief of distressed former servicemen. While Wellington and Auckland maintain zoos, the Christchurch area has no such attraction, states the journal, and Christchurch citizens might well consider the possibilities of setting up a national aquarium in Sumner before the ’ 1950 centennial exhibition takes place. Foiling Vandals Extra iron bars are to be welded into the iron trellis work at the sides of the shelter near the Edmonds band rotunda, Christchurch. The reserves committee reported to the Christchurch City Council last evening that another lot of lamps had been destroyed, and that it was possible for boys and even youths to squeeze through the trellis, the spaces between the bars being 14 inches by 19 inches.

Earthquake Recorded An earthquake shock was recorded at the Dominion Observatory, Wellington, at 10.25 p.m. on Sunday. It lasted more than an hour and the origin appeared to be somewhat deeper than the normal distance. It was consistent with the earthquake recorder in Nicaragua.—(P.A.) Leaks in the Takahe

Recent rains have shown that leakages through the old stonework of the Sign of the Takahe are even worse than had been thought. The works committee reported to the Christchurch City Council last evening that the walls were recently treated with a waterproofing compound, but this was not sufficient to cope with the many bad joints. To find and make good these joints would be a long and arduous task. School in Burnside Road

The opportunity to purchase six and a-half acres of land in Burnside road for the erection of a new primary school was sought from the Canterbury University College Council yesterday by the Canterbury Education Board. The offer was rejected. Members of the council said that they were anxious to secure more land,

rather than sell present ’ holdings, because of possible expansion of the university. Mr W. T. Langley, who is also a member of the Education Board, said it was desired to give better service for children in tne outer areas of Fendalton and Papanui. No Permit for Dressing Sheds

An application for permission to build dressing sheds at New Brighton was made to the Building Controller (Mr H. Stevens) by the Christchurch City Council in October. The council has now been informed that the controller regrets that approval cannot be given for this work at present. “It is not the City Council’s fault,” commented Cr. C. D. W. L, Sheppard last evening, when the council was informed of the decision. Citrus Fruit Supplies The Canterbury Progress League’s case for the restoration of free competition in providing supplies of citrus fruit in New Zealand was supported by the Christchurch City Council last evening. Cr. G. Manning opposed a return to the “archaic” system of private enterprise in marketing a commodity which should rightly be socially controlled.. Claim for Damages The Christchurch Tramway Board was advised yesterday that a claim for £l5OO, plus general damages, was being made in the Supreme Court against a Christchurch laundry firm, the board, and two of the board’s employees as the sequel to an accident. The board gave authority for defending the action. N.Z. Films in Australia

As the matter raised questions of policy which had their base in New Zealand, it was .suggested that efforts to have more New Zealand news pictures released in Australia be discussed with the Prime Minister’s Department, said the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Sydney, replying to the Christchurch City •'Council’s request for information on the subject He reported that only 13 news subjects from New Zealand were released in Australia last year. It was agreed to invite the Prime Minister (Mr P. I Fraser) for his opinion. j