General News

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28251, 12 April 1957, Page 12

General News

Parking Problems

Cr. Mary McLean, chairman of the Christchurch City Council traffic coi-iinittee now has a book “an inch thick” on the technical aspects of parking problems, which was obtained from the United States by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Mr R. C. Neville, chairman of the chamber’s transport committee, said last evening that he could find no time to read it before his committee's meeting. He hoped on: of the committeemen would find time, but the committee voted to lend the book to Cr. McLean. She had accepted with thanks. “New-look” Potatoes

“New-look” New Zealand potatoes were marketed on the auction floor at Wellington yesterday for the first time. Like the Californian imports last year, they were washed clean and waxed Retailers and others responded quickly. They paid an immediate premium of jd per lb over the hitherto regarded best quality. A Hastings grower, Mr D. Walker, has bought from the United States a special machine which washes, grades, and then puts a protective coating of petroleum wax on each potato. It handles six tons of potatoes an hour. —(PA.) Southern Lakes Hotels Popular Bookings for hotels in the southern lakes district have opened and already it is difficult to obtain accommodation for January and February next year, a spokesman for the Tourist Bureau said yesterday. The Milford Hotel will close on May 1. Last year one wing was kept open throughout the winter. Cashmere High School Baths

Such enthusiasm was evident in the district about a forthcoming school fair that he w*as confident that sufficient funds would be raised to justify .a start this year on school swimming baths, the headmaster (Mr T. H. McCombs* told the Cashmere High School board of governors last evening. The Parent-Teacher Association, which was organising the effort, already had £lB5 in hand. Of 50 firms approached for assistance only one had refused. Baths would cost about £ 1800. of which the school w’ould have to find half. Mr McCombs said that a fortnight ago he thought baths plans were simple. Now he had learned of many new ideas. One was separate swimming and diving pools. Another was the “roll-out” pool which was filled to the brim and from which swimmers literally rolled out. There were many other new ideas in the United States. It w r as agreed that the building committee should study these. British Trade with Dominions

Britain might consider it desirable to sacrifice trade with the Dominions in the interests of trade with Europe, said the president of the New Zealand Wholesale Softgoods Federation (Sir Jack Harris) at the federation’s annual meeting yesterday. Sir Jack Harris said there was a movement toward? creating a free trade area in Europe to which it was possible the United Kingdom Government would become signatory. “Great caution should be exercised not to alienate trade relations in any way with the United Kingdom.” [he said.—(P.A.) C.0.R.5.0. Appeal Although complete figures are not yet to hand, it is expected that the amount collected in the house-to-house appeal conducted by C.0.R.5.0. last week-end will be slightly less than last year’s figure. Counting of proceeds in Christchurch city and suburbs is still in progress but a provisional total of £4104 was reported by the organiser. Mr G. H. Coley, yesterday. He said that two areas in Christchurch were not covered last Saturday. The figure included contributions made at local body offices. Lightning Strikes Plane Lightning hit the 9.30 a.m. Tasman Airw’ays DC6 aircraft flying from Auckland to Sydney, yesterday. Aerials were damaged and a window cracked. No passengers were hurt. The aircraft arrived at Sydney 40 minutes late. Repairs delayed the return flight and the aircraft which was due back at Auckland at 10 o'clock last night is expected to arrive at 6 o’clock this morning.—(PA..) Court In Council Chamber Beginning next month the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court sittings will be held in the Borough Council chamber. The present courtrooms in the post office building will be taken over by the Waterfront Industry Commission. In former years the Justice Department occupied part of the Borough Council building; as a Magistrate’s Court, first on : the lower floor, where the council! offices are now. and later on the upper floor in the room used as a council chamber. This room will; now be used jointly as a council chamber and as a courtroom. Modern Architecture “Modern architecture is a mix- : ture of rotten stone, inferior bricks and asphalt roofs,” said Professor Sir Albert Richardson j former president of the Royal : Academy, speaking in London. [“When I saw pictures of the Queen going through Paris I could have wept at the London scene.” he said. “Since 1860 we have lost the art of civic design, and at the present time we are lack-; ing in a national ideal of art. Instead, we imitate the most vulgar expressions of the art of other quarters. We have a great heritage and a great tradition, and we must return to elementary principles and qualities.”—London. April 11. Another Floral Festival The Floral Festival Committee which arranged the highly successful Foral Festival Week in Christchurch early this year is to begin planning a similar festival to • be held in February of next year. The first meeting of the committee will be held on April 17, when preliminary plans will be discussed. Shield Fever The announcement that Bush will have the first match against Wellington for the Ranfurly Shield has already raised great interest, and a large crowd is assured from the Bush district. One shopkeeper in Pahiatua has a big sign in his window entitled: “This space is reserved for the Ranfurly Shield.”