General News

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26127, 1 June 1950, Page 4

General News

Fat Through Worry Worry need not make people thin, it can make them fat, according to a Swedish physician, Dr. R. Frisk. In a report on the causes and treatment of obesity, Dr. Frisk says he believes that the commonest cause is psychological stress. “Some people take to food as others take to drink,” he says. Commenting on the report, a British Medical Association survey says: “The first aim of the treatment was to deal with the basic psychological stimulus to overeating, with the aid of the patient’s understanding and co-operation. Some patients required full psychotherapy.” Reduction of diet was combined with attempts to solve mental stress. Sugar was eliminated from the diet and a minimum of fat given. Bread and potatoes were limited, but protein was increased. The desire for food was reduced by the administration of a drug. Dr. Frisk’s report covered 186 cases dealt with in two years in a hospital at Stockholm. Threequarters of the cases were more than 20 per cent, overweight at the start.— London, May 31. Telephone Engaged Signal From to-day. telephone subscribers who dial numbers which are engaged will hear a slightly different “busy tone” from the one used previously. The engaged signal will be the same tone, but will be slower. The change is being made to bring Christchurch into line with other centres. The alteration is a necessary feature for telephone developments being planned. It will affect all the automatic exchanges in the metropolitan area. Private Imports From Britain More than 100 applications for noremittance licences to import motorcars from England have been received by the Customs Department in Auckland since the Minister of Customs (Mr C. M. Bowden) said two weeks ago that private sterling funds could be used for this purpose. Many more applications are expected. The larger Auckland car importers have had many inquiries from persons holding sterling funds. About one-third of these have been from English people, who have recently arrived in New Zealand and who have sterling balances in England. Provided the funds are genuinely held in England it is understood that the no-remittance licences will be granted.—(P.A.) Centennial Dance

A dance has been created by the Dancing Teachers’ Association to be danced at the first centennial ball, it was reported to a meeting of the Women’s Centennial Committee yesterday. Music for the dance has been composed by Mr Godfrey Devore, and words have been written by Mr David Smith. The dance will be called the Charlotte Jane. The committee decided to express its appreciation to the association and to Messrs Devore and Smith. New Zealand Films in Britain

Six short films produced by the n4,w Zealand National Film Unit have been bought by Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer for general distribution in Britain. The subjects of the six films are the resettlement of European displaced persons in New Zealand, life in Western Samoa, the visit of a supply ship to the Kermadecs and other small islands, the expedition to the fiords to report on wapiti herds, mountaineering on Mount Aspiring, and the tourist attractions of Rotorua. The Rotorua film, which is in colour, is already showing at the New Gallery cinema in Regent street.—London, May 31. Supplies of Rice Rice should be available to Christchurch housewives probably within the next two months. According to the manager of a wholesale firm rice will be available in reasonable supply to the public and at a price comparable with cereals such as sago and tapioca. Rice, which was imported only for Asiatics during the war and for some years since, has not been available to the public since 1942. Petrol Tax for Roa ding - ’ Almost all petrol tax receipts were being given to the Main Highways Board for constructing and maintaining roads and bridges, said Mr J. Wynyard, motorists’ representative on the board, at a meeting of the Northland Highways Council. “About three years ago it was decided that the board would not receive petrol, vehicle licence, and tyre taxes directly, but by wav of a vote from the Consolidated Fund for maintenance and reconstruction, and a vote from . public works for new construction,” said Mr Wynyard. “The board made it a condition that the amount received should never be less than what would have been received if the taxes were given directly to the board. Last year, the board reecived a little more than Is a gallon for both maintenance and construction.”—(P.A.)

Peanuts Grow in Gravel A miniature self-sown and unsuspected groundnut scheme was revea.ed in the Auckland Domain a few days ago when employees of the City Council’s parks department found a couple of sturdy peanut plants, in full bearing, growing on a heap of gravel. The gravel had been left some months previously after a road had been repaired. When the plants were uprooted each was ,found to have about 25 peanuts on the roots. Cafeteria Cuts Prices A cafeteria in Napier has announced to its customers by an advertisement that it has decided not to increase prices to the public but rather to reduce the prices of light lunches in some cases. When the manager was asked about his advertisement, he said that he hoped to increase turnover. “If we can do that we can keep the prices down.” he added. “If the public does not respond, however, we may have to do what the rest are doing and increase our charges.” Relief for Flood Victims A claim for compensation under the disaster clause of the Earthquake and War Damages Regulations for damage caused by floods and the storm in Westland last week-end, may be lodged only in respect of properties carrying fire insurance, according to advice received from the Earthquake and War Damages Commission by the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The chamber sought information on the possibility of relief being given to West Coast people who suffered losses in the storm. — (F.0.0.R.) Home of Gliding - The Cashmere Hills. Christchurch, could justifiably be termed the home of gliding in New Zealand, because lhe sport was enjoyed there even before the Wright Brothers made their first flight, says the New Zealand aeronautical magazine. “Flying.” Mr George Bolt, now chief engineer of Tasman Empire Airways, once made a record elide lasting some two minutes in that locality.