General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27040, 15 May 1953, Page 8

General News

Railway Charges The Minister of Railways (Mr W. S. Goosman) said last night that the Railways Management Commission had submitted proposals for increases in charges. “The Government is taking time to consider them,” added the Minister.—(PA.) Forced landing An aerial topdressing aircraft, owned by Airwork (N.Z.), Ltd., was damaged when it made a forced landing near Waiau early yesterday afternoon. The topdressing load had been dropped when the aircraft developed engine trouble. The pilot Mr M. J. Corich, of Christchurch, suffered a cut on the head. NX Caxmtag Industry Last year Hew Zealand canning factories produced 3300 tons of jam, 1950 tons of fruit, MOO tons of vegetables, and 470,000 gallons of tomato soup and Juice. Nearly 4,000,0001 b of canned vegetables worth more than £200,444 were also sold abroad. These figures were given by Mr E. F. Lord, of Nelson, president of the New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Canners’ Federation, at the annual meeting in Wel- - Chicks go Flytag Twelve hundred day-old chicks took to the air yesterday afternoon. They flew from Auckland to Christchurch as passengers in a National Airways Corporation aircraft, being accommodated in six cardboard boxes. Last evening they were all warm and comfortable beneath the rays of an infrared lamp in their pen on the property of Mr F. Smedley, Bromley, quite unaware that in another five or six months they will be ready for the dinner table. Mr Smedley has been bringing day-old chicks from Auckland for the last three years, and usually obtains 2500 birds each season. They are raised on a farm at Tuakau, 30 miles south of Auckland, and are sent by rail and road to the airport at Whenuapai. Fortunate Motor-cyclist A motor-cyclist, who had parked his machine in Hereford street yesterday afternoon, returned to find that his plastic windshield had been smashed, apparently by another vehicle, manoeuvring into a parking position. The owner of the motor-cycle, however, was more fortunate than some, for underneath the broken pieces of his windshield was a note, presumably from the offender, with a name and telephone number. Stamps and Polities Recent political changes in Egypt are indicated on several stamps attached to a letter from Cairo which has been received by a Christchurch resident. One stamp issued on October 16,1951, and bearing a portrait of King Farouk, has been overprinted in Arabic with the words “King of Egypt and Sudan.” When General Naguib gained power the stamps had the English wording removed, and the only languages used now are French and Arabic. A mistake has been made, however, in the latest issue, which shows an Egyptian solider with steel helmet and rifle and bayonet. The word “defence” is to English instead of the French “defense." Paint on Pinus Radiata Further research has been commenced m New Zealand on the durability of paint on Pinus radiata, and w?a^ Bier exposure tests arc being made with timber from trees of various ages with different preservatives. Die paint section of the Dominion Laboratory r of the Department =L S S. e *4? c B 2 d Industrial Research, and the New Zealand Forest Service, have for years collaborated in Investigations on the durability O f paint on Pinus radiata. As the tests are being made under normal painting conditions ? u^d ?2 rB, „ , t will be several years before the final results can be expected.

Rail-Car Delayed The Christchurch-West Coast railw»s almost 34 hours late in arrivat yesterday morning because of a break in an oil feed supvirin?t pe ‘ occur red in the vicinity of Craigieburn in the early hours of the morning. The unit had to A^ r ’ s .F ass b r • Bteam unit, after which it was brought tak2n g t h r 1 ® Otir ? v . tunnel and then u.r l ™«K,, Grey,n u“ th another steam fn« m J » rc i aC K ing t “ cr * l,h J ortl y be ‘ SfLA® ate - A bus was used to take ■Hokitika passengers to their destinaFloats for Procession When entries for the Coronation procession closed the Christchurch C « y „ Public relations 47*flnL+ °( ®teel) had a list of 47 floats and displays arranged by various local bodies and organisations. He said that some of the entries were still subject to confirmation, but additional entries were expected. Offers by manufacturers to sponsor floats for several organisations which were keen to participate in the procession would be most welcome. Houses for Teachers Two remits to the annual conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute urging that more houses be provided for teachers, particularly in rural areas, were passed yesterday. “Stronger action appears necessary,” said Mr A. J. Foreman, of Northern Wairoa. "This is particularly true of rural areas, where the situation is serious." The first remit, presented by Bay of Plenty, asked that a continued intensive drive be made to provide houses for teachers. The second, from Maniapoto, said: “As timber is now in over-supply and labour is becoming more readily available, the Dominion executive press the Education Department to accelerate the building programme for school houses and schools." Mr E. G. Smith, vice-presi-dent of the institute, said that houses provided for teachers at the moment numbered between 1200 and 1300. Forty-six houses were built last year, 46 the year before, and 51 in 1950, compared with only 30 in 1947. A further 51 were under construction last December, he said.—(P.A.)

Rabbits for Britain Britain is still importing frozen rabbits to eke out the meat ration. Answering a question in the House of Commons Mr H. R. Mackeson. Secretary for Overseas Trade, said imports diftog the first quarter of this year totalled 3870 tons, of which 2547 tons were consigned from Australia 1005 tons from the Irish Republic. 79 tons from New Zealand, 34 tons from Denmark. and five tons from the United States.—London. May 13. Congregation Filmed The congregation attending the Anglican Bible Class Union Youth RaUy m the Christchurch Cathedral last evening was filmed during prayers by the National'Film Unit. The shots are to be included in the film showing services throughout the Commonwealth on Coronation Day, which is to be telecast in Britain and the United States 10 days after the Coronation. Control of Wallabies A meeting of Maungati run-holders has asked the South Canterbury Catchment Board to examine and report on methods of raising local funds to be used in the control of wallabies. In a letter received at the board's monthly meeting yesterday the runholders expressed concern at the damage being’ caused by the pest and asked the board to determine the most equitable method whereby they could contribute money themselves toward the control of wallabies. The letter also asked that killing operations should not stop and that the wild life branch of the Internal Affairs Department should conttoue its activities during the year.—(F.O.O.R.)

Bounty for Rats Unnecessary Fifty years ago the Christchurch City Council offered a bounty of 3d a head for all rats delivered to its central yard in Moorhouse avenue. Today it has no need to offer any inducement to ratepayer* to destroy rats. They can buy a special poison, which is harmless to human beings ' and domestic animals, at the council offices. Sales since the middle of last year have averaged about 20 packets a day.