General News

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 4

General News

Photo-Finish “Is it a bare majority vote?” asked Mr G. H. Mackley Wairarapa) when the bill for a referendum on off-course betting was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. “The decision will be on a majority vote by a democratic vote.” replied the Minister of Internal (Mr W. E. Parry). Mr T. P. Paikea (Government, Northern Maori): A photo-finish will do.—(P.A.) Unionism for Actors “Provided the New Zealand Actors’ Equity is run on the same lines as the British Equity, about which I know a great deal, and for which I have a. great respect, I do not think it should cause any concern to the employers,” said Miss Elsie Beyer, general manager of the Old Vic Company, yesterday. Miss Beyer was asked by “The Press” to comment on a report, published yesterday, that compulsory unionism would soon apply to all professional actof-s, including members of oversea touring companies, appearing in New Zealand. Membership of the British Actors’ Equity was compulsory, continued Miss Beyer. If the New Zealand Equity would find out the basis on which the British Equity was run, it would start off on the right foot. Religious Services in Hospital Notice to ask the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) whether she gave approval to the direction of the Department of Health that permission to conduct religious services in a. hospital—a practice of long standing—should be withdrawn by the board concerned was given by Mr E. P. Aderman (Opposition, New Plymouth) in the House of Representatives yesterday. He said an objection to the services had been made by a Com-' munist patient. A Government voice: “He was a Rationalist.” Mr Aderman, in a note to the question, said it was reported that the Taranaki Hospital Board, after a complaint to the Minister, had been advised by the DirectorGeneral of Health that approval to conduct such services should be withdrawn.—(P.A.) Fatal Road Accidents

The effect of petrol rationing during the war years on the number of fatal road accidents is illustrated in a graph which has been prepared by the Transport Department. The peak figure on the graph is in 1938 when 254 persons were killed in road accidents. The line drops in 1939. when 248 persons were killed and shows a steady downward trend until 1945 when 128 persons were killed. The line has risen since then to 191 in 1946 and 206 in 1947. Up to August 31 this year there have been 142 deaths. Pollution of Auckland Beaches Because of the poliomyelitis epidemic, the inner Auckland harbour and nearer approaches were considered unfit for bathing last year. Discussing the approaching bathing season yesterday, the Medical Officer of Health for Auckland (Dr. L. S. Davis) said that, while there was no prohibition of bathing, he could not say the water was safe. “Our reports indicate that the harbour is polluted by the daily discharge of sewage,” he added.— (P.A.)

Winter Demand for Cricket Books One abnormal feature of country readers’ tastes this winter had been that the'demand for books on cricket had been fairly constant all the time, said Mr J. H. Jlothenberg, who is in charge of one of the Country Library Service’s vans which travels the whole of the South Island, in an interview yesterday. The demand for cricket books was generally confined to the summer months, said Mr Rothenberg, but the Australians’ tour of Great Britain this winter had maintained the interest of New Zealand readers. Next winter, when a New Zealand team would be sent to Britain, he expected that cricket books would still be sought by country readers. British Exports

It would be in Britain’s interest to reduce exports to countries such as New Zealand and Australia and to concentrate on earning dollars, particularly with such goods as chinaware, which was in huge demand in the United States, said Mr Neville Blond, British Government trade adviser in the United States, in New York.—New York, September 21. Raffles and Art Unions

Five hundred and seven licences for raffles and art unions were issued by the Department of Internal Affairs in the year ended March 31. The annual report of the department says that 248 were for works of art, 228 for small amounts of alluvial gold ; and 31 for amounts ranging from £5O to £lOO. In addition, 13 licences were issued for the regular £5OOO alluvial gold art unions, on which the net profit was £107,489. Mails Delayed at Auckland The last of more than 500 bags of mail from overseas which have been delayed in ships waiting in the stream at Auckland for berths was unloaded yesterday. Mail from Australia, Britain, and America was delayed for a fortnight on three ships.—(P.A.)

Transport Amendment Bill Commenting on the Transport Amendment Bill, the annual report of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, issued yesterday, says: “The bill gives disproportionate representation as between private enterprise and Government-appointed members on the Transport Co-ordination Council. Efforts will be made, on our representations to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, to have this righted before the Parliamentary Select Committee.”

Arbor Day Observances The Department of Internal Affairs has written to all local bodies urging them to include Arbor Day in their regular calendar of special functions. The department considers that more intensive tree planting could be done throughout the country and that general observation of Arbor Day would focus attention on the need. Earlier notice will be given of the date fixed each year to enable preparations to be made.