General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27131, 29 August 1953, Page 6

General News

A Cat’s Lives Aboard the liner Tamaroa, now at Auckland, is a cat which was imprisoned in a hold for 25 days—all the way from Panama to Auckland—without food or drink. While in the hold, she gave birth to kittens. One of three black cats in the ship, she was missed by the crew soon after the ship left Panama. It was supposed that she had been lost overboard. But when the hatches were removed from the holds at Auckland, a very thin cat crawled out. There was no trace of her kittens.— (P.A.) Steep Hill Road A horse and sledge, block and tackle and an escalator were suggested at last evening’s meeting of the Heathcote County Council as being the dnly methods of reaching the top part of Maffey’s road, Mount Pleasant. The council was asked by a man intending to build whether it was its intention to seal the road. Reports were made that the road was of a grade of 3J in 1, and could be improved to only 4£ in 1. “It would be like climbing the Cathedral,” said the chairman (Cr. F. W. Freeman). The council decided not to seal the road because of the steep grade. Dog Shoots Masters The “Daily Mail” says the joint master and the first huntsman of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds were seriously injured today when one of their hounds trod on a loaded shotgun that had just been used to kill a deer. —London, August 27. Army Learns from Big Business Finding that his toll bill was mounting each week, an American business executive decided to give his employees some indication of the time they were talking when making calls. On each desk he had placed a clock egg-timer and in a few weeks he noticed a 25 per cent, reduction in his toll bill. At one of the periodic conferences held at Southern Military District headquarters in Christchurch recently, the question of toll calls and the amount spent on them was raised. The success of this American businessman’s scheme was pointed out, and, as a result, there stands on every officer’s desk at district headquarters today a clock egg-timer. Immigration Criticised The council of the New Zealand Printing and Related Trades Union yesterday issued a statement criticising the Government’s immigration policy. The present policy, the council said, was having an adverse affect on employment in industry, and there yvas a need for the careful screening of immigrant tradesmen. Only in this way could a standard of skill be maintained. If future immigration was “really necessary,” The council advocated that preference be given to tradesmen from Britain. It was also thought highly desirable that the unions concerned should be consulted. The statement was issued after the council’s biennial conference in Wellington.—(P.A.) Heron For Cook Strait Service Before the end of this year the National Airways Corporation expects to have its fourth de Havilland Heron aircraft in service on the Cook Strait routes. A corporation crew will leave Auckland for London next week to take delivery of the . aircraft in the United Kingdom. Captain P. A. Matheson. assistant operations manager, will command the aircraft on the delivery flight, and Captain G. Harvey, training supervisor at Harewood, will be navigator. Mr A. Smaill, maintenance and overhaul superintendent at Harewood, and Mr R. McDonald, chief inspector. will act as engineer officers. Rangitata Telephone Exchange A new rural automatic telephone exchange for Rangitata would be brought into service on September 7, said the Postmaster-General (Mr W. J. Broadfoot) yesterday. Mr R. G. Gerard, member of Parliament for Ashburton, would officiate at a special function to open the exchange. The new exchange will be the thirty-sixth rural automatic exchange cut into service in New Zealand. It will give Rangitata settlers a completely automatic telephone service 24 hours a day.—(F.O.P.R.) Safety Round River at Radley Residents Of the Radley area will hold a public meeting on Monday evening to discuss safety precautions round the Heathcote river in the area where a child was drowned recently. Improvement of the playground in Radley street will also be considered. Emergency Stop Signal An emergency stop hand signal for motorists, similar to that used in England, was suggested by Mr R. Twyneham, at last evening’s meeting of the executive committee of the South Island Motor Union. He said that at present there was nothing in the stop signal to let following traffic know if a motorist was going to make a normal or an emergency stop. He gave an instance where, while he was driving in the country, he came to a stretch of water across the road. He signalled his intention to stop, but a motor-cyclist, thinking he was stopping in a normal way, shot out from behind him and went straight through the water at speed. In England, he understood, a “push back” signal (a downward semi-circular movement of the right arm from front to rear), was used in emergencies. Although his suggestion was supported by members of the executive, no action was taken. Dutch Tobacco and Cocoa

Probably because of the larger Dutch population in New Zealand more Dutch goods are now on sale in various parts of the country. In Christchurch shops now are pipe tobacco, cigars, spaghetti, macaroni, and vermicelli. Dutch cocoa is now back on the market again after a long absence. Air Travel Preferred

Members of Parliament seem to prefer air travel. Estimates for the legislative departments for this financial year include votes of £5OOO for air passages of members, £l2OO for steamer travel, and £lOO for service efir travel—a total of £6300. Last year £7600 was spent although £5750 was voted. Members’ wives have been voted £270 for travel this year against £231 spent last year. There is no provision for air travel for them. Railway passes and concessions to members’ families, including £950 for sleeping berths for members and their wives, account for £14,630 in the estimates. Last year £14,580 was voted and £15,549 was spent. Keepers at Level Crossings

Notices warning motorists that a keeper is not always on duty at crossings will be erected by the Railways Department at every level crossing in New Zealand where a crossing keeper is normally stationed. This advice was received at a meeting of the executive committee of the South Island Motor Union last evening. The union, acting on a recommendation passed at a half-yearly meeting, had asked that the department erect some sign to warn motorists that although there was a crossing keeper normally stationed at a crossing, he might be off duty. Signs stating “Crossing keeper not always on duty” will be permanently erected by the department shortly. • Skymaster Delayed Adverse weather conditions prevented the departure of the Skymaster from Melbourne on Thursday night and the aircraft is due to arrive at the Christchurch International Airport, Harewood, at 8.15 a.m. today—a delay of 24 hours. Policemen Arrest Superior In Mannheim, South Germany, two customs officials who interrupted a deal in black market cigarettes found they had arrested their own chief inspector. The inspector was dimissed and fined 150 marks (about £l2). Berlin, August 28. Cleaning of Drains “The responsibility for cleaning all drains should be on the Drainage Board, according to the 1951 act,” said the county inspector (Mr E. F. Johnson) in a report to last evening’s meeting of the Heathcote County Council. “Our own staff has cleaned several drains to prevent flooding, but a great deal of work is still required to be done. An additional list of drains has been sent to the Drainage Board.” Cr. J. S. Scott said drains in the Avoca valley had deteriorated since the area was taken into the board’s district. The area contributed heavy rates and little was being done*