General News

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28231, 20 March 1957, Page 12

General News

Alcoholics’ Clinic The Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, at its meeting in Napier yesterday afternoon, approved in principle a proposal to set up a clinic for the treatment of alcoholics. A sub-committee was

formed to make inquiries.—(P.A.) Potato Crops Blighted

Blight is reported to have made its appearance in potato crops in Waimate district as the result of humid conditions. The varieties most affected are King Edward and Inverness Favourite. Arran Chief crops in the Willowbridge area do not appear to be affected to any great extent, according to reports by growers.—(F.O.O.R.) * New Police Station Christchurch’s new suburban police station, at Beckenham, should be built this year. Plans have been completed, and the Ministry of Works has called for tenders for building the station and a policeman’s house on a section on the corner of Colombo street and Centaurus road. The small two-room station will be built so that it can be added to if necessary. Increased Cement Production Production of cement in New Zealand last year reached 444,000 tons, according to the Abstract of Statistics for February. This is an increase of 16.8 per cent, over the production figure for 1955, which was 403,000 tons. Production of concrete blocks also rose by 37.3 per cent, on last year’s figure. Other substantial increases in the production of plywood, enamels, and lacquers are recorded in the abstract. There was increased output of most building materials manufactured in this country during 1956, with the exception of clay and concrete roofing tiles, and asbestos cement and cement

Labour Party Child Allowance A hint that the Labour Party will propose an increase in the child allow’ance to 15s was given by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) when he spoke at Upper Riccarton last evening. He said that he emphatically believed in the benefits paid for the aged and for the young. “I think the child benefit ought to be 15s, but we’ll tell you more about that when we come to our election platform.” Mr Nash said. Heatirfg in Mine

The Liverpool State coal mine at Rewanui was idle yesterday for the third time this year because of heating. Stoppings have been erected to seal off the affected area. As the rules of the union state that there shall be no work for 48 hours after sealing-off, production will not be resumed until tomorrow. A lack of shipping will cause a stoppage of production tomorrow”' in the Blackball State mine, where there is an accumulation of coal in the bins. — (F.0.0.R.) House Passed In at £5300

A six-roomed house in Colombo street. Cashmere, on a section of a little more than 36 perches, was passed in at £5300 at an auction in Christchurch yesterday. Bidding began at £4750 and rose in one bid of £250 and three of £lOO. A five-roomed house in Aylesford street, St. Albans east, was passed in for £ 1650 at another auction. The house is a wooden one and is on a section of 44 perches. Bidding began at £l5OO and rose in one bid of £lOO and two of £25. Pensioners* Post Box

A new public telephone and a street posting box are to be provided at Church corner. This information has been given by the Postmaster-General (Mr T. P. Shand) to the member of Parliament for Riccarton (Mr M. A. Connelly), who had made representations on behalf of persons living in 50 pensioners’ cottages in the area. Many of the pensioners. infirm, slow of movement, or suffering from poor eyesight and deafness, were said to be endangered by having to cross a road with one of the highest traffic densities in New Zealand to get to a telephone booth and post box already established at the corner. “We will arrange for the new facilities to be installed as soon as possible,” Mr Shand has informed Mr Connelly. Traffic Experiments

The Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman) said yesterday that Palmerston North had been selected for a series of traffic experiments aimed at making the streets of New Zealand cities and towns safer. Mr Goosman said that the Australian Government hoped to duplicate the experiments in an Australian town similar to Palmerston North and later to compare notes with New Zealand. The Palmerston North experiments, which would cover the full field of traffic operation, would start on May 1 and last for 12 months. —(P.A.) Packaged Meat for Japan A trial shipment of packaged meat for Japan will be loaded at Wellington this week. A regular trade is expected to develop. The small motor-vessel, Susuga Maru, is to load 760 tons of boned beef packed in cartons. The Banshu Maru No. 38 is expected at Auckland soon to load packaged beef for Japan.—(P.A.) U.N. Emergency Force There is still no indication whether New Zealanders who volunteered to serve with the United Nations emergency force in the Middle East will be called upon. Asked whether there had been any developments since December, when he last made an announcement, the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) said that there had been no change in* t the situation. ‘The Prime Minister had no other comment to make. —(P.A.) Beetle Invasion Hundreds of glossy, black, stout-bodied beetles about half an inch long invaded a road in Gisborne recently, bumping against light- globes and falling heavily. Men who had served in the Middle East recognised them as miniature editions of the sacred scarab beetle depicted on ancient Egyptian monuments. The beetles belong to the same family as the sacred beetle of the ancient Egyptians and in New Zealand are often called beach scarabs. More Immigrants

Four ships carrying parties of immigrants are due to arrive at Wellington in the next two months. The Southern Cross and the Captain Cook are scheduled to arrive on April 8 and April 25. both with migrants from the United Kingdom. The Dutch ship Sibajak is exp.ected to arrive on May 8 with 150 Dutch and 300 Hungarian migrants. The Captain Hobson is due to arrive on May 17 with a party of migrants from England.