General News

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26441, 7 June 1951, Page 6

General News

“Tory” Prime Minister The Prime Minister (Mr Holland) claims to have set a record for a “Tory” Prime Minister. Yesterday he met 28 representatives of 19 new waterside workers’ unions in Parliament Buildings. He said later: “I personally served each one with a cup of tea. How’s that for democracy? I don’t believe there is a Tory Prime Minister in the world who can claim that distinction.”—(P.A.) “Pairing” on Harbour Board Mr George Manning was granted leave of absence from the Lyttelton Harbour Board until February, 1952, to enable him to make a trip to Britain, at yesterday’s meeting of the board. When the application by Mr Manning came before the board, Mr J. K. McAlpine, M.P., requested leave of absence for six months as he would be in the House of Representatives for most of the board’s meetings, until the end of the year. "Mr Manning and I will pair,” he said. A Fascinating Tree “Do not climb over this tree—it has a hard enough time as it is,” was the notice on a lone pine tree that had grown through granite in the Yosemite National Park, said Mr R. B. Lamb, a lecturer at the. University of California, speaking last evening to a meeting of the Canterbury branch ol the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society. Mr Lamb said he had had. considerable difficulty in persuad • ing people to stop climbing over the tree long enough for him to photograph it. Upper House Abolition The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (Mr M. H. Oram) reached Sydney to-day after his overseas tour. He said people in England could not understand why a Conservative Government had abolished the New Zealand Upper House until it was explained to them that the Chamber had been a haven for defeated politicians.—Sydney, June 6. Expensive Tariff - . It cost about £6 a day, without. meals, to stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel in the Yosemite National Park, said Mr R. B. Lamb, an American now lecturing at Canterbury University College, to a meeting last evening of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Forest and Bird Protection Society. This was the most luxurious accommodation available, and there were other quarters for those with less expensive tastes. Wasps Raid Bee Hives Wasps are raiding bee hives and stealing tons of honey a year, and apiarists in the Waikato, which is one of the largest producing areas in the Dominion, are particularly worried. They can foresee only ever-growing losses. “It’s the worst menace we have at present,” said Mr E. D. Williams, Dominion president of the Bee Keepers’ Association, yesterday. ' “In England the estimated loss to wasps is 151 b of honey a hive. In New Zealand it will probably be higher.”— (P.A.) Bunks Peninsula Walnuts One large grower of walnuts on Banks Peninsula estimates that this year’s walnut crop is one of the smallest on record. Last year, there was a bumper crop. In a reasonable season, it is estimated that 1000 sacks are harvested on Banks Peninsula. Wet weather, which encourages the black speck blight, resulted in a poor crop this season. Mr E. C. Kotlowgki, of Takamatua, who has about 200 walnut trees, said this week that the prevalence of the black speck disease was very bad this season. Walnuts were sold by growers this season at from Is fid to Is 9d per lb. There is a big demand for them.

Motor Registrations Yesterday 1075 motor registrations were made in Christchurch. The total number of registrations in the first three days this year is 2617, more than twice the total made in the first three days last year when the total was 1193. On the third day of last year there were 448 registrations.

Americas Parks There was about 21,000,000 acres in the national park system of the United States, said Mr R. B. Lafnb, a lecturer at the University of California, in an address last evening to the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Forest and Bird Society. Twentyeight national parks had a total area of about 11,500,000 acres, of which 5.000,000 acres was forest. Yellowstone Park, opened in 1872, was the first national park in the United States, said Mr Lamb. Blind Musicians

Ihe band of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind will play in the streets of Christchurch to-morrow. It will be at Riccarton from 10 a.m. to 10,30 am., outside the Chief Post Office from 12.20 pm. to 1.30 p.m., at the Sydenham shopping area from 2 p.m. to 2.30 p.m., and at the Cashel street triangle from 3 pm. to 3.30 pm. The intention is to give those people who missed the concert in the Civic Theatre an opportunity to hear the band. The blind and partially blind musicians will play from two lorries. Land Development in Waikato Good progress is being made in the development of new land for dairy and sheep farming in the Waikato. Of 41 farms offered as suitable for returned servicemen in ballots at Hamilton recently, 34 were for section# that had not previously been in production. There are 17 dairy farms in the Galatea development block to be balloted soon. For six sections in the Waharoa area there was an average of 285 applications for each section, compared with 160 for newly-developed blocks on pumice country.