General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25274, 28 August 1947, Page 6

General News

Message from the King The following message has been received from the King in reply to the message of loyalty which the Gov-erner-General was requested to convey to His Majesty from the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Home Servicemen’s Association last week: “I sincerely thank you and 80 ex-servicemen assembled at Wellington for their kind and loyal message which they have sent to me on behalf of their 30,000 comrades in New Zealand.”—(P.A.) Attempted Theft of Bren Gun An attempt was made to steal a Bren gun from the King Edward Barracks on Tuesday night, it has been reported to “The Press.” The thieves broke in through a skylight, using a rope to lower themselves to the floor. They got out the same way, taking the gun with them. They were evidently disturbed before they got clear of the premises, for the gun was found by the caretaker yesterday morning, wrapped in a groundsheet, near the Montreal street entrance to the barracks. When this report was referred to the Detective Office last evening, officers on duty said they “knew nothing about it.” Prices of Oats and Barley “I think we can congratulate the Government on the liquidation of the pig and poultry industries,” said Mr George Warren at a meeting of the North Canterbury executive of Federated Farmers yesterday. Mr Warren was commenting on the increases in the prices of oats and barley recently announced by the Government. In each case, an increase of 3d a bushel had been granted. Poultry-farmers were so desperate to secure foodstuffs that they asked farmers to sell oats at 4s 8d a bushel at the farms, but the law of the land held that farmers could sell their oats at the farms for not more than 4s OJd a bushel. Farmers would lose 2£d a bushel by selling oats on the farms. Through the merchants, oats were sold at 4s lid a bushel. The price of malting barley had been set at 3d a bushel more than that of feed barley, and the tendency would be that no one would grow feed barley in future, Mr Warren added. Auckland’s 13th Borough A decision that the Mount Roskill Rodd District, Auckland, should be constituted a borough has been reached by the Local Government Commission after a public inquiry. Referring to the forthcoming local body elections, the commission has expressed the view that it is essential that the change be made immediately. Any objections to the proposal may be lodged within one month. Mount Roskill will be the 13th borough in greater Auckland.—(P.A.)

Aircraft Flights to Chathams When Dr. D. J. Patterson, resident medical officer at the Chatham Islands, became seriously ill recently a Royal New Zealand Air Force Catalina flying-boat flew to the islands and brought him back to the mainland. It was reported to the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday that the flight had cost the board £475 15s lid. A second flight was made later when two. young doctors went to the islands to relieve Dr. Agnes Bennett, who had gone to the islands when Dr. Patterson was flown out, and that trip cost the board £419 Bs.

Prospective Immigrants While he was in Britain he had met many persons who were anxious to emigrate to New Zealand, said Mr A. J. Campbell, lecturer in history at the Christchurch Teachers’ Training College, "yesterday. Many of them were married men with families, and it was common to hear a man say that he would be willing to accept a decreased income if he could get •to New Zealand. Most prospective immigrants seemed to realise that the housing shortage in New Zealand was acute, and they were willing to “take a chance.” He thought that New Zealand House in London was giving inquirers full information about conditions in New Zealand. Ambulance Flight to Dunedin

Another patient from the Christchurch Hospital who had to undergo a brain operation at the Dunedin Hospital was flown from Harewood yesterday afternoon in the Canterbury Aero Club’s Dragonfly aircraft, which was piloted by the chief instructor, Mr L. F. Poore. The patient was a stretcher case. Mr Poore will return from Dunedin this morning with another patient who underwent an operation some time ago.

Imports of Coal Carrying 9000 tons of coal for the New Zealand Railways, the United States Liberty ship John Cropper is expected at Wellington to-day. The coal in this vessel is fflom California and it is the tenth shipment of coal for the railways bought from the United States by the New Zealand Government.—(P.A.) Valuation of Farms

A warning to farmers to watch carefully the revaluation of their properties, to prevent too low assessments being made, was given by Mr L. C. Gardiner at a meeting of the North Canterbury executive of Federated Farmers yesterday. He said that a recent press report had referred to the low valuation of improvements on . farms in the Paparua district. There was a tendency at present for heavy land to be assessed at increased values, but he understood that light hi.ll country land was being ■written down. The Government had already acquired-large areas of heavy land, and was now concerned about taking over hill country land. It was known that sometimes valuations were made “miles below” the true values of farm improvements. Farmers should watch valuations of their properties, or they might find themselves in serious trouble, Mr Gardiner added. Treatment of Neurosis It was accepted by those competent to advise her 6n the treatment of neurosis that it would not be helpful to servicemen patients to provide special homes for them away from other patients, said the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) in the House of Representatives yesterday in a written reply to a question. Mr A. J. Murdoch (Opposition, Marsden) had asked if the Governn.ent intended to establish a home for returned servicemen suffering from neurosis as a result of war service who to-day were placed in mental institutions. — (P.A.) South Island Air Race Fourteen entries have now been received by the Canterbury Aero Club for its 1000-mile air race round the South Island on February 7. and 8. The latest to enter are Messrs A. Carey, N. F. Marriott, D. Kain, and J. Morrow, all of whom are club members. An Ashburton entry is that of Dr. W. G. Todd and Mr N. C. Holmes, who have applied for the hire of the club’s Whitney Straight. Dr. Todd, who is a vice-president of the club, will act as navigator, and Mr Holmes, who is a member of the committee, will fly the Ashburton entry. National Orchestra It was considered that” it would be inimical to musical interests in the three main centres outside Wellington if all players selected for the National Orchestra were withdrawn permanently from their centres and stationed continuously in Wellington, said the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr F. Jones) in a written reply to a question in the House of Representatives. He said a compromise was necessary by which, pending the development of more players, small units of the orchestra could at the end of the concert season each year be stationed in Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Dr. A. M. Finlay (Government. North Shore) had asked if the National Orchestra could not train and rehearse as a unit until the next series of concerts.—(P.A.) Claim for £200,000

Reference to an action shortly to be brought against the Government because of alleged failure to supply scrap steel it had contracted to supply was made by Mr C. M. Bowden (Opposition, Karori) in the House of Representatives this evening. He said he understood that the claim for loss of profit alone would be £200,000. Mr Bowden said it had been arranged that seven ships should come to New Zealand. Three had come but only one had been loaded. Reference had previously been made to the claim in the annj.ial report of the Controller and Auditor-General—lF.O-PJQ