General News

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26119, 23 May 1950, Page 4

General News

Kilts Defended Britain’s arbiter of male fashions, the journal “Tailor and Cutter.” has published a sturdy defence of kilts. Replying to an American newspaper columnist, Robert Ruark, who said: “A kilt is a dress; dresses are worn by girls,” the journal said: “Whilst Scotland is famous as a land where men wear kilts, America is equally notorious as the land where women wear the trousers.’’ It added: “There are five kilted regiments in the British Army and Ruark should approach their members individually and inform them that kilts are skirts and girls wear skirts.”

New Zealand Sheep at Sandan “February was a big month for the New Zealand Corriedale sheep at Sandan,” says a letter received from Rewi Alley’s Bailie Training Schpol in North-west China. “Out of the five ewes that lambed during the month, four had twins. Unfortunately one of the ewes didn’t look as if she would be ready to lamb for another week or two. so she was kept in with the rest of the sheep. The nights during this particular week were bitterly cold. This ewe bore her lambs, twins, early in the morning. When found, one had already died, frozen. But the other was rushed to warmth, given a teaspoon of local wine—very powerful stuff—fed with milk from the ewe. and eventually this valuable addition to the Sandan flock (it was a ram) was pulled back from death. Two of the farm sows had litters early in the month, and caused a bit of con'usion. They started bearing within minutes of each other, and one of them selected as her spot the school parade ground.”

Centennial Memorial The cost of completing the New Zealand Centennial Memorial at Signal Hill. Dunedin, in accordance with plans submitted to the Otago Provincial Centennial Council by Mr F. A. Shurrock. of Christchurch, who will out the WOI ’I C < will amount to £4300. according to the “Otago Daily The centennial council has £2BOO in hand for the work and the finance committee of the Dunedin City Council has recommended that £lOOO should be provided by the council for the completion of the work on the understanding that the centennial council finds the balance of £5OO. Test Match Fever Dunedin is in the throes of test match lever. At an early hour on Sunday evening more than' 50 persons had taken up their positions in Princes street awaiting the opening of saies of tickets for the first test, New Zealand v. British Isles, to be played at the Carisbrook Ground next Saturday The first arrivals came provided wuh camp stretchers and blankets, and took up their positions in the doorway of the sports depot. By 10 o clock the number anxious to secure tickets had been doubled, and some who had spent the first three hours on guard were relieved bv second relays. Camo stretchers, deck chairs, sleeping-bags, and blankets were earned mostly by youths. There was a fair sprinkling of young women, with a veteran of many queues of 60 years occupying a deck-chair and a place in the first 10. Six young men in the front row played cards by the light of an acetylene lamp, and another parly depended upon a candle to brighten the scene. A constable in unnorm patrolled the beat, and made certain that the Rugby enthusiasts did not occupy too great a width of the footpath. The sale of tickets was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. yesterday. Three Impressions “You drive on the wrong side of the road, your ecclesiastical leaders wear some extraordinary garments, and your accent is atrocious.” These are three of the impressions gained by the Bishop of Olympia, in the United States (the Rt. Rev. S. F. Bayne) after spending two weeks in New Zealand. He told an audience in the Winter Garden last evening that he did not know what to tell people in the United States about New Zealand when he returned. “If I tell them what I think now they will not believe mo, so I will have to find some faults before I leave.” he added. Appeals Against Service Forty-eight youths called up for service under the compulsory military training scheme have appealed on tiie ground of consul.-nee. Announcing this yesterday t! ,• Labour Department said ' ■ ' "• 'aded ail appeals (ill the end of April. The tri••■•m I under Jud-m K. G. Archer set up to he ir appeals would begin tomorrow to take evidence from religious groups whose teaching is opposed to military service. About eight groups had indicated that they wished to be heard. Several secular groups. including the Peace and Anti-Conscription Federation, would also state their views to the tribunal. (P.A.) Mr Nordmeyer, Builder The former Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) is now the owner of a builder's level, which was presented to him at a farewell function in his honour organised by the Oamaru Labour Representation Committee. He will find some use for it as he has acquired an interest in a building and contracting business in Wellington. Mr Nordmeyer was also presented with a cheque. Mrs Nordmeyer received a silver salver, and their two children each received pens. Amputees’ Badge The New Zealand Civilian Amputees’ Association is hopeful that its badge of membership will come to be treated by the ordinary citizen in the same way as the blind man's white stick. It hopes that people who are sound in limb will extend to its wearers such little courtesies as a seat in a crowded tram. The badge is of pyramid shape and bears three bands of colour, two white and a central brown band bearing the words “C.A.A.” The association has a membership of about 700. which is thought to include about half the total number of civilian amputees in the country. Immigrants to N.Z. Several thousand inquiries have been made at the New Zealand immigration Office. London, and at MinisIry of Labour oilices throughout Britain. since the announcement of an assisted immigration scheme for married couples. In London 4500 letters have been received and hundreds have called at New Zealand House. It is expected that it will be six months before the first couples sail for New Zealand. Application forms have yet to be sent to inquiring couples, and when these are filled in. personal interviews will follow. Married couples without children may travel on the Atlantis and those with children on vessels of the New Zealand shipping lines.—London, May 22. Stronger Drink The London correspondent of “The Press” records a notice just put up in a Twickenham hotel bar: “Now that we are selling stronger beer, customers are requested to remain seated while the bar is in motion.”