General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27098, 22 July 1953, Page 8

General News

“Change of Heart” in Japan He’believed that a definite change of heart had come over the Japanese people since the war, said Mr E. H. Norman when he arrived at Wellington yesterday to take up the post of Canadian High Commissioner in New Zealand. Mr Norman, a world authority on Japan, added:—“l think that most of the Japanese, with the exception perhaps of the old die-hard militarists, realise now that they were deluded by their leaders in the war.” Mr Norman said he did not think communism would ever be an important force in Japan. The Communists were very vocal, but he did not think they would ever gaiiTa large body of support.—(P. A.) Weir in Avon Although the City Council has begun construction of a weir in the Avon at Antigua street, the consent of the Minister of Marine has not been obtained. The works committee of the Christchurch Drainage Board has informed the council of the limitations on the erection of dams—their height and size—imposed by the . board’s act, which also stipulates that the cost of construction, maintenance, repair and upkeep shall be paid for by the local authority at whose requests the dams are erected. The council will be asked to give assurances for the future maintenance of the dam. Consent to the erection has been sought from the Minister. Rental Car Insurance “It is high time legislation was introduced making it compulsory for rental cars to be insured.” said Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court yesterday, during the hearing of a claim for damages to a rental car. “The present system is entirely wrong,” the Magistrate said. If I hire a car and through no fault of my own someone crashes into me, even while parked, then I am forced ‘°jP. a y’. A vehicle could be let out in a dilapidated condition with no brakes, but the driver would have no show of proving it.”— (P.A.) Archives For Museum Archives of the Christchurch Drainage Board up to 1900 may be placed m the Canterbury Museum. An offer of safe keeping of the “dead” documents and records by the museum's librarian-archivist (Mr J. C. Wilson) was r ®ceived by the board last evenxPf secretary (Mr R. R. Senior) said that the records were fairly complete and had proved of value to researchers. He strongly favoured the acceptance of the offer. It was left to the chairman (Mr E. H. S. Hamilton) and Mr Senior to act. The board also decided, on Mr O. F. Baker’s suggesas?, the , w .°rks committee to report on the filming of maps and records for permanent keeping.

Advertisement In Trinidad A testimonial to the quality of the Rs°rn? cts . u f l?rBe6t ? r 8 e6t manufacturers in Christchurch of men’s footwear has been given in a letter from Trinidad, in the British West Indies. A shoemaker and repairer there has written to the flrm saying that he had “come across your shoes and I must say they are the most beautiful shoes I have ever come upon. Could you kindly send me one of your shoe catalogues? Keep up the good work.” The firm earlier m the year had a trade inquiry from Liberia, but was not then in a position to quote for export. No Import Licence

Neither of the sterling source payloader machines, as substitutes for an American machine which'the Christchurch Drainage Board wishes to buy, suggested by the Department of Industries and Commerce, is suitable for the board's work, the works committee reported last evening. A quotation for the American machine was accepted last October “but the board seems no nearer getting one than it was then, said the report. No import licence has been issued. The board decided to point out to the Minister that the American machine will result in a saving in costs to the ratepayers. Canadian-New Zealand Trade There were good prospects for the marketing of New Zealand lamb in Canada, said the Canadian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand (Mr L. S. Glass), during a press conference yesterday with the newly-arrived High Commissioner (Mr E. H. Norman). When Canada decided to import various ranges of meat and dairy’products, New Zealand would be given preferen.ce ’ said- Mr Norman, when asked in what directions trade between Canada and New Zealand could be increased, said that he wished to see Canada export more consumer goods. ‘‘But don’t mention canned salmon to New Zealanders,” interposed Mr Glass. There have been no imports of Canadian tinned salmon for many years, mainly because the expenditure of dollars is involved. Tinned salmon from Japan and Russia is now obtainable in Australia, and one small shipment from Japan arrived in the Dominion a few years ago.—(P.A.) N.Z. Tour By Vienna Choir

'Die Vienna Boys’ Choir will tour New Zealand early next year, and will give concerts in some provincial towns as well as in the four main centres. It will be the second time that this world-fampus group has visited New Zealand. The choir was founded in 149? b y a decree of the Emperor Maximilian I, and since then almost every notable figure in Austrian music has been connected in some way with the organisation. The choir has always been run as an educational as well as a ’B u ? 1 F a l establishment, and the year is divided between intensive study and touring. Membership of the choir is keenly sought. Since the Second World J* there have been more than 10,000 applications, but only about 100 boys have been selected.—(P.A.) Construction of Sewers Fourteen contracts for the laying of sewers are being carried out in ChristBoard was ln " formed by Mr W. P. Glue (chairman of the works committee) last evening. i Y' o m 4 es and a half of sewers were laid during June. • Apple Board’s Head Offioe A W*e an . d Pear Marketing Board, which under recent legislation Became an autonomous body, will wSullS lta A?< ad °® Ce in Lome street, Wellington. Alterations costing £20,000 Sj!£J ,e u mad uA t( ? a buildln g Which the d rT£ ou £ h liX rom frozen Products, Ltd. The building is a five-storey reinforced concrete structure. It has a^ n we-cream factory and Th £ first floor will be converted into offices for the board. In ar^s the building will be f J 22? ls +t nd deep-freeze rooms for fruit and other foodstuffs.—(P.A.)