General News

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25580, 23 August 1948, Page 6

General News

Exchange of Teachers Mr P. H. B. Lyon, who recently retired from the headmastership of Rugby School, will leave Britain on October 1 on a six months’ tour of Canada, New Zealand and Australia, mainly to stimulate the exchange of teachers between Britain and the Dominions. His tour is being sponsored by the Headmasters’ Conference and the Rhodes Trust. —London, August 21. Price of Petrol Although the retail price of petrol at New Zealand main ports is 2s 9Jd a gallon, motorists can expect a reduction' of no more than 2d, as a result of the change in the rate of exchange. Taxation accounts for Is 2.7 d of the price, and the retailer’s allowance, freight and other costs amount' to about 9d, making the original cost of the petrol about lOd a gallon. The most that could be expected would be a reduction of a fifth of that amount. 26 State Coal Mines

With the purchase by the Mines Department of the Westport Coal Company’s mines at Denniston and Millerton, the Birchwood mine at Ohai, and the Kamo mine in North Auckland, the number of State-owned mines at April 1, .1948. was 26 (20 underground and six open-cast), according to the Budget. Negotiations are in progress with the companies for the purchase of some of the remaining mines. Rough Seas

Gales raged in the Tasman Sea during the week-end, and many ships received severe buffetings. One of the affected vessels was the Canadian-Aus-tralasian liner Aorangi, making her first post-war voyage in the SydneyVancouver service. The liner sent a radio message on Saturday night that the vessel would not arrive at Auckland before 10 a.m. to-day unless the weather moderated, but a further message last night said she would enter port at 8 a.m. The Aorangi will sail at 11 a.m. to-morrow for Vancouver. The Australian troopship Westralia, which left Auckland for Sydney on Thursday, encountered a gale about 300 miles from the Australian coast on Saturday night. The Union Company motor-ship Kopua, which left Auckland for Grafton, New South Wales, on Thursday, reported rough conditions yesterday morning. Boisterous conditions were experienced by the Auckland-bound Tasman Empire Airways flying boat from Sydney on Saturday.—(P.A.) Loss on Exchange

Twenty passengers who arrived at Auckland by air from Australia on Friday were among the first to feel the impact of the new exchange rate. For their Australian pound they received only 15s 9d in exchange. This is the first time for about 15 years that Australian visitors to New Zealand have received less than face value for their money. Guarantee for Empire Games

He can find no legislative authority entitling the council to guarantee £5OOO toward the holding of the Empire Games in Canterbury, as suggested at a meeting in Timaru last week, says Mr J. M. Jenkins (Town Clerk) in a report which will be received by the borough council this evening. Mr Jenkins adds that he has learnt from the Town Clerk of the Christchurch City Council (Mr H. S. Feast) that though his council had guaranteed £lO.OOO, it had no authority, but expected to receive it in due course, as legislation would no doubt be passed allowing local bodies to spend money on centennial celebrations. If the borough council decides to guarantee £5OOO it will need to do so subject to validating legislation, says Mr Jenkins. Another Exchange Problem While primary producers and traders are discussing the major effects of the exchange rate change, some people in Christchurch are considering a more domestic issue—the effect on Australian lottery tickets sold in New Zealand. Some adjustment is likely between the value of prizes in Australia and in New Zealand, where different rates of exchange are now in force. The price of tickets in New Zealand ma? have to be reviewed. ■1 ' Seasonal Fish Shortage

A seasonal shortage of fish is now being felt in Christchurch. The selection and supply were limited on Friday. “Our stocks are always affected in August.” a wholesaler explained. “It may be the migration of fish which limits catches. Certainly rough weather restricts the number and success of trawls.” Stocks held in refrigerated storey were expected to meet most requirements until catches again improved.