General News

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25553, 22 July 1948, Page 4

General News

Government Retreading Company The reason for the State Advances Corporation’s investment of £6OOO in New Zealand Flex Grip, Ltd. (capital £7000) was explained by the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He said the company was formed solely to retread and recap tyres for Government vehicles under a patented process. A licence to use the process for this purpose had been given the company by the holder of the patent. By becoming a shareholder in the company, the Government not only shared in the profits from retreading its own tyres, but ensured that its vehicles were efficiently serviced in this respect.—(P.A.) Trams Delayed by Collision When a tram and a motor-car collided at the corner of Oxford terrace and Victoria street about 6.5 p.m. yesterday. the driver of the car was injured, and several incoming and outgoing trams were delayed until the car was removed from the tram tracks. The driver of the car suffered facial abrasions, and lacerations to the top of his head. He was admitted to the Christchurch Public Hospital, where his condition was reported to be satisfactory last evening. The car was not badly damaged. The headlight on the tram was broken. No Special Train for Shield Match Declining a request from the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) for the running of a special train from Timaru to Dunedin on Saturday for the Ranfurly Shield match between South Canterbury and Otago, the Minister of Railways (Mr R. Semple) said: “I find that the position of our coal stocks is so serious that we are practically existing on a few days’ supply. This has been the position for some considerable time, and we have been forced to cancel the running of special trains for all sporting fixtures throughout the Dominion.” The Minister suggested that without losing working time Rugby enthusiasts could travel to Dunedin by the night express leaving Timaru early on Saturday morning, returning by the night express leaving Dunedin late on Sunday evening. Auckland Building Control Would the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) hold an open inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Building Controller’s office in Auckland? asked Mr W. H. Fortune (Opposition, Eden) in a notice of question in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Fortune also asked if the dismissals of officers had been for the wrongful granting of permits.—(P.A.) High Price for Fat Wethers

A line of 62 fat wethers sold at the Addington market yesterday averaged 83s, and the tops made 90s 7d, a price seldom exceeded at Addington. The second cut sold at 84s 7d, but there was hardly 6s difference in the value of the two lots. Competition for the top pen was confined to three buyers, but one stopped at 86s, and the other two carried on. The successful bidder was satisfied with the best pen, and did not enter into competition for the second cut, with the result that the price dropped sharply, which is typical of any open market. Imports of Records “The New Zealand Musicians’ Union has worked in very closely with the Australian Musicians’ Union on the question of records and transcriptions generally.” said Mr T. E. Skinner, M.P., commenting at Wellington on a cable message from Sydney about t£e likelihood of a ban in Australia on imported records by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and otner popular entertainers. Mr Skinner, who is president of the union, said that if the banning of imported records in Australia led to the flooding of the New Zealand market and interfered with the livelihood of local -musicians the New Zealand union would have to consider taking similar action. Australian transcriptions were not used in New Zealand unless an agreement had been reached between the unions.— (P.A.) Supreme Court Cases Four criminal cases are set down for' hearing at the session of the Supreme Court in Christchurch which will begin on Tuesday. The charges are one of murder, two of negligent driving thereby causing death, and one of unlawful use of an instrument. Sixteen civil cases are set down for hearing: Site for Forestry School The claims of the Mackenzie County as the location of a forestry school in the South Island are supported by the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) in a letter to the Commissioner of State Forests (Mr C. F. Skinner). “From Cave to Tekapo there are hundreds of acres of land unfit for cultivation or "'grazing,” said Mr Hanan in his letter. “It is my opinion that this district would be very suitable for afforestation. I am sure the South Canterbury Catchment Board would welcome the planting of thousands of trees in this district, as one of the greatest problems in this country is erosion. Before you make any decision I invite you and your officers to view this area,” concluded Mr Hanan. Search by Professor Ceccarelli A search for Mr Bert Shepherd, who he believes lives in Christchurch, is being made by Professor Enrico Ceccarelli, the hypnotist. Professor Ceccarelli said yesterday that Mr Shepherd, who was in the New Zealand armed forces in Italy in 1944, had been responsible for transporting an expectant mother to a nursing home at Siena when no other transport was available, and he wished to thank Mr Shepherd for his help. Proposed Sale of H.M.S. Ajaxz Strong protests were made in the House of Commons last night against the proposed sale of the cruiser Ajax to Chile. Mr J. P. L. Thomas (Conservative), who was financial secretary to the Admiralty during the war, recalled the part the Ajax played in the sinking of the Graf Spee. He condemned the proposal as “bartering the Navy’s battle honours for cash.” Captain A. R. Blackburn (Labour) said that Chile had been guilty of aggression in the establishing of a base on British territory in the Antarctic. The sale would thus be construed as condoning aggression. Major J. Dugdale, Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty. said that no decision had yet been made about the sale, but the points made would no doubt be borne in mind by those who were considering the matter, as well as other considerations.—London, July 21.

School and College The friendly relations between the school and Christ’s College were referred to by several speakers at the annual reunion last evening of the Christchurch Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Association. Proposing the toast of “The School,” Mr W. A. Hadlee said that in the first school sports 67 years ago, when no old boys’ race could be held, a special race was held for boys from Christ’s'' College. Earlier the chairman (Mr J. H. Pickles) said it seemed unusual for the reunion to be held without old boys knowing the result of the School-College match. Replying to the toast, the headmaster (Mr A. E. Caddick) said that every school had its own achievements to which it could point with pride. If School pointed to its Kippenberger, College could point to its Upham and Wellington College to its Freyberg. If School pointed to its David Low, College could point to its Pember Reeves. Mr W. W. Brassington said that School always had a special affection for College. Guides for Touring Team Booklets containing information about various parts of the South Island have been given to the Canterbury Hockey Association by the South Island Travel Association of New Zealand for distribution to members of the Australian hockey team which is to tour New Zealand this season. “This will help us out considerably with one of the problems when dealing with the entertainment and arrangements generally for the team,” said Mr L. G. Taylor (chairman) at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Hockey Association last evening when he moved that a vote of appreciation be passed. The best way of publicising the South Island was to get this sort of information out of the country, he said.

A student of the Canterbury University College School of Art has submitted to the Christchurch City Council a sample honours board. The stained wooden panel stands about six feet high. A green laurel wreath circles the upper part where the memorial inscription would be made and below is a large tablet for names. This is flanked by the New Zealand flag and a painting of a soldier in battle dress writing a letter. The City Council’s staff roll of honour for the First World War hangs outside the town clerk’s office. It is a plain oaken panel with a list of names flanked by carved columns. Above is the council coat of arms.