General News

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 12

General News

N.Z. Lamb for Britain The first shipment of New Zealand lamb for sale on the open market in Britain since the ending of the bulk purchase contract in July is expected to leave Auckland on Saturday. It is being loaded into the New Zealand Shipping Company’s Huntingdon. She is expected to reach London about December 7 or 8, and the lamb should be in • British butchers’ shops in time for the Christmas trade. A similar shipment will be dispatched in the Shaw Savill and Albion Company’s Waiwera from Napier on November 13. This meat should be unloaded in London about 10 days before Christmas.—(P.A.) Faith in the Comet Dr. Paulo Sampaio, president of the Brazilian airline, Panair do Brasil, has denied that his company cancelled its order for four de Havilland Comet II jot airliners, and has* obtained an option for two Comet Ill’s. Panair do Brasil is one of the largest airlines in the *world operating on international routes. Dr. Sampaio said his company believes more firmly than ever, in the Comet, now that it has' learned the cause of the accidents to the Comet I and what steps are being taken by the manufacturers to improve future Comet models. Panair do Brasil will become the first foreign airline to have an integrated Comet fleet using both the Comet II for medium ranges and the Comet 111 for long-distance flying.

Plunket Stamp Suggested The Dominion council of the Plunket Society is to ask the Post-master-General to approve- the issue of a stamp carrying a portrait of Sir Truby King to mark the golden jubilee of the society in 1957. This would be the first time that New Zealand had so honoured one of its sons. It is hoped that the stamp will be issued in two denominations, and that the society’s Karitane hospitals and Plunket work generally will benefit from a surcharge.—(PJL) Rail-car Delayed Delayed for more than an hour, last evening’s rail-car from . Greymouth arrived in Christchurch at 11.45 p.m. The delay was caused by damage to the fuel tank of a previous rail-car from Greymouth to Otira, when it ran over a broken buffer dropped on the tracks by a goods train to Otira. A third rail-car was used to push the crippled unit to the nearest siding at Inchbonnie. The Christchurch railcar was scheduled to leave Greymouth at 5.42 p.m., and the damaged vehicle was clear of the line at 6.25 p.m. Research on Gravity On a visit to the Dominion to test the varying pull of gravity in New Zealand, Mr W. E. Bonini, an American geophysicist, arrived at Whenuapai by DC-6 from Sydney yesterday morning. He is a fast traveller, and though he will spend only a week m the country, he will visit Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Mr Bonini carries with him two instruments, each worth 9000 dollars. The information he obtains is of value in chart-making, and will be given to the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. His findings will also go to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, for which he is working.—(P.A.)

Health Stamp Sales Total sales of health stamps at the end of October atnounted to £99,428, compared with £104.229 at the same date last year—a decrease of £4BOl. Dominion sales from October 24 to October 30, were £2517. or £6O less than for the same period in 1953. Sales in several districts show increases on last year’s figures, the fc'gest being at Masterton (£54), Thames (£152). and Whangarei (£116). Wellington showed a drop of £1657. Auckland £350, Christchurch £396, and Dunedin £96. (P.A.)

Agency Betting The Totalisator Agency Board handled investments of £59,599 on the Napier Park Racing Club’s meeting yesterday. This amount comprised win-and-place bets of £28,194, and doubles of £31,395. The off-course, substitute was Papatoa.—(P.A.) Machinery for Kaweran Five big pulp digesters for the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company’s mill at Kawerau arrived at Auckland yesterday in the Port St. John. The digesters were too heavy to be unloaded by the Auckland Harbour Board’s cranes, and they were unloaded from the decks by the floating crane Mahua. The largest of the digesters weighs 74,0001 b. They were built and loaded at Montreal.—(P.A.) Guaranteed Priee for Butter The general wage order issued by the Court of Arbitration last week may cause the Dairy Products Marketing Commission to increase guaranteed prices for butter and cheese. The wage order increases minimum award rates by up to 7s 2|d a week from November 18. In reply to an inquiry yesterday* the genera] manager bf the commission (Mr G, N. Pottinger) said that if changes of any magnitude occurred during the season the commission had power to increase its purchase prices for butter and cheese. Accordingly, he said, immediately the commission was full* informed of the effects of the Court’s decision on farm and factory costs it would consider any necessary adjustments.— Waitaki Bridge Closed The Waitaki bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic on Sunday, November 7, 1954. from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 2JO pm. to 4.30 pm. to enable repairs to be made to the

bridge. This advice' was received by the Automobile Association (Canterbury) from the District Engineer of Railways, Dunedin. Tobacconists* Hours Next Week Tobacconists’ shops in the Christchurch area will be permitted to remain open until 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week, which is show week. On Thursday tobacconists may remain open Un l-J J® P’S.” on Saturday until 1 p.m. Thess hours are fixed by requisition under the Shops and Offices Act, a practice which has been reverted to in. the 1954 award for tobacconists’ employees. Exports of Artists’ Brushes “Samples of artists’ brushes produced by a Christchurch factory have been distributed to various Australian companies in the hope of finding an Australian market for them. Some companies have expressed interest in the brushes, but it appears from the information available at present that the prices will not be competitive with those for continental brushes, nor will quality be comparable.” This information is contained in a report from the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Melbourne to the Department of Industries and Commerce.