General News

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26539, 29 September 1951, Page 6

General News

Good Neighbour

A complaint was received yesterday by the City Council that fish offal was being deposited in garbage tins by a resident of the city. Investigation showed that the man concerned, who has a fish shop in an adjoining borough, brought the offal home with him for collection by the City Council trucks. This was described by a City Council official as “the acme of good neighbourliness.” Reaction Times of Drivers *‘l am firmly of the opinion that speed in its common conception is not the cause of many accidents attributed to it, and that it is the reaction time | of the individual which is responsible,” said Mr I. V. Wilson (Southland) at the South Island Motor Union conference yesterday. Inquiry into reaction times, possibly to give the factor for individuals, might help considerably in reducing the rate of accidents. Other means of attack on the problem had been tried but the death and injury rate was stiff too high. Mr Wilson’s views were heard too late in the conference for discussion and the executive will give them consideration. Tests for Parliamentarians “You’d be the first one out,” Mr P. G. Connolly (Opposition, Dunedin Central) interjected in the House of Representatives yesterday, when Mr J. K. McAlpine (Government, Selwyn) asked a question of the Prime Minister (Mr Holland). Mr McAlpine’s question was: “Has the Prime Minister given consideration to a suggestion made during the election campaign by the member for Dunedin Central that there ought to be a test for Parliamentary candidates to ascertain whether they know what they are talking about; and. if the Government concurs in establishing this system, could the member in question be invited to initiate proceedings by undergoing the first test?”—(F.O.P.R.) , Christmas Mall for England Surface mail for delivery in the United Kingdom by Christmas will be accepted at Christchurch Post Offices up to 10 a.m, next Saturday. October 6. Announcing this yesterday, an official of the Post Office said that mail had to reach England before December 8 or there was no guarantee that it would be delivered before Christmas. The Grenehurst, which i.’ scheduled to leave Lyttelton for the Continent and London on October 13. is expected to be the last ship leaving New Zealand in time to carrv Christmas mail to England. The official said that although extra space had been allocated for mail in the Grenehurst. persons sending Christmas parcels to England would be well advised to post early next week to ensure catching the mail. “Scotchlite” for Road Signs Automobile Associations in the North and South Islands are considering seeking an import licence for “Scotchlite,” a material to improve the visibility of road signs at night which is not available commercially. The material has been demonstrated to the conference of both Motor Unions and the Main Highways Board has agreed to preserve its subsidy on the increased cost. The material resembles cloth and is used as background, a glass-like compound throwing symbols into bold relief under headlamps. Non-paying Passenger The driver of a bus returning to Cathedral square from the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting last Saturday was puzzled when a Transport Department inspector ranged alongside and signalled him to stop. The inspector showed him a man hanging precariously on to the spare tyre at the rear. The man had mounted the back of the bus as it slowed down at the Bower Hotel and travelled, free of charge, along Walnoni road until the inspector, who was on duty at the Bower bridge, ended his chase of the bus. Rutherford Memorial Appeal A science week to be held in conjunction with the Rutherford Memorial Appeal will be organised in Nelson, it was decided at a special meeting convened by the Mayor (Mr J. A. Harley). Sir Theodore Rigg, suggesting the week, said that it should include exhibitions, demonstrations and screenings of suitable films. Arrangements to organise direct giving were also discussed. It was felt that because Nelson was the birthplace of Lord Rutherford the district would be willing to make a special effort to honour the memory and achievements of its greatest son. More definite plans for the appeal will be made when the committee meets again in a week—(P.S.S.) Politicians Delay Skymaster The Skymaster on the MelbourneHarewood flight yesterday was approximately two hours late through being diverted to Canberra at the start of its journey from Sydney. The passengers picked up at Canberra were Cabinet Ministers, and they were flown on to Melbourne. The aircraft, which is owned by Qantas Empire Airways. Ltd., is only under charter to Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., between Melbourne and Harewood. -It is based in Sydney, and returns there after unloading the Christchurch passengers at Essendon. Canterbury Rock Non-existent For many years charts of South Island waters have warned shipping of a rock off the South Island coast known as Canterbury Rock, and an obstruction near the entrance to Wellington Harbour. After sweeps made by the survey ship Lachlan a new chart has been published which shows that neither of these exists. The new charts also show that buoys off the mouth of the Wairau river and a light at the mouth of the Manawatu river no longer exist. The Deputy-Harbour-master at Lyttelton (Captain A. R. Champion) said yesterday that there would very probably be many more instances of this kind before the Lachlan had finished her survey. Nassella Tussock Promising indications that cattle can be used to control the seeding of nassella tussock were given by one experiment carried out by the Departments of Agriculture and Lands and Survey and the Marlborough Nassella Tussock Board, says the annual report of the Department of Agriculture, which has been tabled in the House of Representatives. A further area of about 20 acres of the tussock has been found in the Rakaia Gorge. The report says this indicates the possibility that the weed may be present in other areas outside the known territory, and the need for a complete survey of likely places of infestation.—

Martindale Road Viaduct

A letter from the Heathcote School Committee asking the Heathcote County Council to construct a footpath under the railway bridge on Martindale road was received at a meeting of the council last evening. The council was negotiating with the Railways Department to have something done, said the chairman (Mr F. W. Freeman). The county clerk (Mr A. E. Amyes) had written to the department asking if the viaduct could be widened to allow a footpath to be formed. Tram Pushes Bus When a trolley-bus broke down in High street outside Woolworth’s and blocked the outgoing traffic, the driver of a following tram edged the tram’s bumper bar up against the bus and pushed it slowly along High street. Near Cashel street he turned on extra power, pushing the bus round the corner. Two men gave an extra heave and the trolley-bus driver steered to a stop against the kerb. Maoris and Military Training

Although there has been an improvement in the registration figures for Maori youths, there is still evidence of some default on the part of Maoris to register under the Military Training Act, says the annual report of the Department of Labour and Employment. In the year ended March 31. 12,746 youths applied for registration. Non-Maoris totalled 11.876, and Maoris 870. The department considered the figure for the registration of non-Maoris highly satisfactory. . It said that the obligation to register for training was brought to the notice of Maori youths by quarterly broadcasts in English and Maori, and posters in both languages were displayed in public buildings.—(F.O.P.R.)