General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25299, 26 September 1947, Page 6

General News

Aluminium Industry Inquiry Mr L. G. Bash, of Aluminium, Ltd., Canada, with two engineers, left Wellington last evening for the far southern sounds to make an investigation of the project to establish aluminium smelting works. Mr Bash said it was planned to study the possibility of harnessing Lake Manapouri as a source of hydro-electric power. If the project was feasible it would mean the establishment of a township of 3000 to 4000 in one of the sounds. The total output of aluminium ingots would probably be 50,000 to 60,000 tons. The visit was purely exploratory.—(P.A.)

A Politician Or . . . An insight into the lighter side of his long association with Rotary was given by the president of Rotary International (Mr S. Kendrick Guernsey, of Florida) in an address in Christchurch last evening. He said that several years ago. he had been asked to speak at a Rotary * gathering in Georgia. He took a seat in the back row of the hall, and overheard two men in the next row discussing him. After one of the men had detailed Mr Guernsey’s official posts in Rotary, the other said: “If a man devotes so much time te any movement, he must be either a politician or a damned fool.” At that moment, Mr Guernsey was invited up to the platform to speak, and the two men realised they must have been overheard. After the meeting, one of them approached Mr Guernsey, and said: “You must have heard us talking rfbout you. Well, now I know you aren’t a politician.” Bulky Petition to Parliament A hand-trolley was necessary to take a petition into the House of Representatives yesterday. The petition, which asked that the Waipoua forest should be declared a national park, and that milling and other State Forest work in the area should stop at once, comprised 13 bound inch-thick volumes of names, and a cardboard box filled with signed newspaper clippings. Mr A. J. Murdoch (Opposition, Marsden) presented the petition, and he was almost hidden when the petition was put on his desk. Additional signatures, which brought the total to 47,289, had been obtained, he told the House. There was laughter after Mr T. P. Paikea (Government, Northern Maori) presented a similar petition which was signed by three persons. He 'said h$ had “quality if not quantity.”—(P.A.)

Radio Range Station Testing of the first radio range station in the South Island, which is on the Paparua prison reserve about eight miles from Christchurch and three miles and a half from Harewood aerodrome, is still in progress, and the station is not yet ready for use by aircraft. As part of the work of calibrating the range, flights were made yesterday by a Lockheed Hudson from Wigram. This aircraft is used by the civil aviation branch of the Air Department for radio calibration work, and maintained by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Ashburton and Liquor Licences A “legal accident” had caused the situation in Ashburton, where licences could not be obtained although it was a “wet” district, said the AttorneyGeneral (Mr H. G. R. Mason) when the House of Representatives discussed the report of the Royal Commission on licensing yesterday. Mr Mason said the Legislature had a responsibility to remedy the position dr at least to give the people of the district an opportunity of taking a local poll on the issues affecting them- Mr R>. G. Gerard (Opposition, Ashburton) appealed to the Minister to remedy the situation in Ashburton as soon as possible.—(P.A.)

Expensive Experiment The Otago Acclimatisation Society recently carried out an experiment in trapping hedgehogs, but it could not be said that the effort had produced any outstanding result, said Mr S. F. Aburn at a meeting of the South Island Vermin Control Board yesterday. A hole was dug and a number of dead rabbits were put in it. The idea was that hedgehogs would go into the hole to feed on the rabbits and then be unable to get out. The experiment cost £2O, and his society had instructed him to ask if the amount could be recovered. Amid laughter, a chorus of “Noes” greeted his request, a decision that Mr Aburn seemed pleased to accept. He asked that the request be recorded in the minutes for the benefit' of his society. • Stock Remedies The standards to be applied to applications for registration of stock remedies are contained in the Stock Remedies Regulations published in the Gazette yesterday. The standards cover stock licks, vitamin preparations, worm drenches, teat salves, mastitis remedies, grass staggers, and milk fever preparation, and rotenone sheep dip.—(P.A.)

Overhaul of Dragline The large dragline used by the Christchurch Drainage Board for widening on the Heathcote and Avon rivers is at present having a major overhaul after four years’ normal running. The machine, which has a bucket capacity of three-quarters of a cubic yard, has been stripped, and worn parts are being built up. Nearly all the parts have been found to be quite satisfactory. Doors on Public Buses An amendment to the Passenger Service Vehicle Construction Regulations published in the Gazette yesterday provides that every bus built to carry more than 30 passengers is to have two doors for general use. B&ses of this class, with the exception of those at present under construction, must have in addition to front entrances doors at the rear on the footpath side. The amendment also provides a penalty for illegal interference with emergency doors on buses. A further provision is that every school bus is to be fitted with “school bus" signs at the front and rear.—(P.A.) Pig Lead Supplies More than 1000 tons of pig lead for New Zealand are awaiting shipment at Sydney? The lead was loaded at Port Pirie by the River Derwent recently and shipped to Sydney. Lyttelton will receive only 18 tons of the consignment, 826 tons going to Auckland, 111 to Wellington, and 59 to Dunedin.

Rotary’s Beliefs The Rotary movement believed that normal times would return only when each man worked more, produced more, saved more, spent less, “loafed” less, and talked less, said the president of Rotary International (Mr S. Kendrick Guernsey, of Florida), in an address in Christchurch last evening. Mr Guernsey outlined the aims of the movement, and emphasised the vital part Rotarians could play in promoting international harmony. President Harding had said that, if he could do so, he would establish Rotary in every community of the world, and in that way ensure world tranquillity, he continued. Unselfish service was the strength and sinew of Rotary.

Stflt-walker’s Progress Mr L. G. Lukey, of Christchurch, who is walking on stilts from Ashburton to Christchurchj reported from Dunsandel last evening that he had covered the distance of about 17 miles from Chertsey without much difficulty and with only three short stops. Showers of rain yesterday had not bothered him much he said, but at the end of what was nis hardest day he had found his arms somewhat tired. Mr Lukey intends to reach the Islington Hotel to-night after a journey of about 15 miles. On Saturday he hopes to arrive at Christchurch about 2.15 p.m., when he expects to attend a fair at the East Christchurch School. No Newcastle Flags for Dunedin The application by the Dunedin centenary officials to lease or buy the flags used in Newcastle’s one hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations has been refused. The Mayor of Newcastle (Mr H. D. Quinlan) said the application had been refused with great regret. He said he had told the Dunedin officials that the Newcastle flags had been obtained from the Disposals Commission and advised them to make application there. The Newcastle flags were to be stored for future occasions. —Newcastle, September 25.

Sales Tax on Farm Gates Although sympathetic consideration had been given to the suggestion, it was not possible at present to exempt farm gates from sales tax, said the Controller of Customs in reply to a request by the Otago-Southland Manufacturers’ Association. The matter would receive consideration when sales tax exemptions were reviewed again, he added.