General News

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 16

General News

Double Take One music lover at the Auckland Town Hall was not content with hearing the Chinese , bass Yi-Kwei Sze on the stage, She tuned in her transistor radio and listened broadcast of the Local Government The Parliamentary Local Bills Committee will resume public hearings of its inquiry into local government today. It is expected to hear evidence from the Marine, Electricity, and Island Territories Departments and the Local Authorities Loans Board.—(PA.) Election Preparations Preparations for the General Election this year began almost two years ago, but bow the tempo is steadily increasing. The principal task at present is the completing; of the main roll, which is expected to close in June or July. Cards have been sent to 1,250,000 enrolled voters so that addresses can be verified. When the main roll has been completed work will begin on the supplementary roll, which will close a few days after Parliament dissolves.—(PA.) Easter Traffic The Minister of Transport (Mr Mathison) yesterday appealed to motorists to be careful at Easter. “The recent tendency for road deaths to increase at week-ends is disturbing, particularly as we face a late Easter and the prospects of a record volume of road traffic,” Mr Mathison said. He will announce special Easter traffic control arrangements tomorrow.—(P.A.) £176,291 Building The Minister in charge of the Government Life Insurance Office (Mr Anderton) announced yesterday that tenders had been let for a £176391 Government Insurance Office building in Wanganui—(PA.) Aidwins Road Widening Completion of the widening of Aidwins road will be urged on the Christchurch City Council by the Linwood High School Board of Governors. Members said last evening that the widening done so far was a vast Improvement to the busy street; but narrow necks created a real hazard, especially as they caused blind spots for pupils leaving the school Car Money The rise in the value of the bursaries granted to New Zealand students attending the veterinary college at Sydney University had been quite substantial, Mr B. G. Johnston told the South Island Veterinary Club's conference yesterday. He had heard that one student had bought a small car with the extra money he had received. Potatoes Plentiful Because of recent flavourable weather, good .quality potatoes were plentiful yesterday In Christchurch produce markets. They sold at between 8s and 12s a sugar bag. Cabbages, which sold at 3s to 4s a sack, showed a slight decrease on last week’s prices, and marrows, at 5s a sack, were also cheaper. Limited supplies of Jamaican oranges and Californian lemons were offered and fetched 69s and 55s a case respectively. Cooking apples sold at 16s 9d a case, and dessert varieties went up to 26s a case. A consignment of Hawaiian pineapples is expected to arrive today and will be offered for sale tomorrow morning. Testing Station Busy The Christchurch City Council's vehicle testing station did brisk business yesterday as motorists queued up to have their cars tested before Easter. At one stage in the early afternoon, when only one testing lane was in use, 20 cars were waiting in the queue for up to half an hour for their five-minute tests. The tempo of pre-Easter testing began increasing last Wednesday, When 319 warrants were issued. Last Thursday, 315 were issued, and on Friday, 288. Yesterday, well over 300 warrants were issued. Poppy Day The annual poppy day collection of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association will be held this year on Friday, April 22, in the Christchurch city and suburban shopping areas. The collection in the New Brighton business area will be on the following day. Variations In Tenders Tenders received from some painting contractors by the Auckland Hospital. Board last night were more than double those submitted by other firms. Separate tenders had been called for the exterior painting of its medical centre and of three houses. In each case the board accepted the lowest tender. Cf the seven prices submitted for painting the miedical centre, the highest was £504 14s and the lowest £297. The board’s estimate wi3 £340. Equivalent figures for the three houses were: £567, £2BO, £510; £654 15s, £265 4s, £410; £203 15s, £ll2 10s, £160.—(P.A.)