General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 14

General News

“Not Much Use” What do Ministers of the Crown do with the special trowels they receive when laying foundation stones? The Minister of-Housing (Mr Rae) gave his answer yesterday. -The first one is used as a cake slice,” he said. ‘The second is usually used for digging dandelions out of the lawn. After that, they aren't much use.” He was pleased to see that recently a piece of plate hdd been presented to an officiating Minister, he said. Mr Rae was presented with a pair of scissors yesterday after cutting the ribbon across the new Gladstone road (Mount Albert) overhead bridge.—(P.A.) Taxi-Drivers’ Clothing A new magazine for Wellington traffic officers reminds them of the regulation which stipulates that every taxi-driver must wear clean and decent clothes and if not wearing a suitable collar and tie and jacket, he must wear an approved dust coat, or, in summer, a tunic shirt and tie. “So how about assisting and making sure the taxi-drivers in our city look clean and neat,” the magazine says. Rude Words “God” and “Bible,” and “Christ” were treated like rude words in the New Zealand State schools, thanks to the secular Education Act, said the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. M. Sullivan) to the Alligators Club in Wellington. Though Christian teachings affected the life of everyone in this country, extending to such simple things as deferring to others at table, the crying need for Christian education in school was denied by this act. ‘‘Under no circumstances whatever shall such words as God. Bible, or Christ, be used in a schoolroom—as if they were rude words,” he said. Stuck For Words Grasping the handle of the South Brighton Community Centre’s main door on Saturday, Mr J. Mathison, M.P., said: Tn declaring this new community centre. community centre, community centre ...” The door appeared stuck. After a gentle push by Mr Mathison it came open with a click. Smiling, he continued: “ . . . open, I congratulate all those associated with it” Population Gain The United States population would reach 185,000.000 this year, the Census Bureau has estimated. This would be an increase of 3,000,000 in a year for a nation which ranks fourth behind China, India, and the Soviet Union among the world's most populous. The United States population is expected to hit 200,000,000 in 1966. It records about 4,000,000 births a year, 1,500.000 deaths and a net migration gain of more than 250,000. Lyttelton Popular Fine, sunny weather made Lyttelton and its environs a popular spot over the weekend. There were many visitors to Corsair Bay and other popular spots, while a continuous stream of visitors went aboard the Australian destroyer, HAIAS, Voyager, which was open to the public all Saturday afternoon. The Voyager sailed tor Auckland yesterday morning.