General News

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30586, 31 October 1964, Page 14

General News

Efficiency The Mayor of Ashburton (Mr J. Davidson) was congratulated on the efficiency of his staff by Mr A. D. Talbot, chairman of Ward 12, New Zealand Counties’ Association, speaking at a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of local body government in Ashburton yesterday. “I arrived here late, and I notice with concern that one of Mr Davidson’s traffic officers has had time to put a chalk mark on my tyre,” said Mr Talbot.

Wharf Tractors Awaiting shipment on the Timaru waterfront are three shunting tractors. Specially designed for wharf work, the tractors, painted in distinctive 6in black and yellow stripes, will be used for the first time by the Lyttelton Harbour Board. Manufactured by McConachy Wharf Services, Ltd., at a contract price of £1245 each, the tractors have replaced capstans for moving railway trucks, and can also be used for towing trailers for transit shed work. There are nine such tractors in use at Timaru, and Bluff has six. Fine Day With a maximum temperature of 69 degrees at Harewood at 1 p.m., summer conditions again prevailed in Christchurch yesterday. The temperature at Harewood at 6 a.m. was 45 degrees, but had risen to 62 degrees by 9 a.m. In the Botanic gardens, the temperature was 65 degrees at 3 p.m., and the Government Life building showed 63 degrees at 4.15 p.m. There was a moderate to fresh easterly wind all day, and skies were practically clear.

Demand For Labour The demand for labour in Christchurch, particularly in the building trade, was brisk, said the district Superintendent of the Department of Labour (Mr C. P. Collins) yesterday. The early opening of the killing season in freezing works; the start of the White Heron Hotel near the airport, and considerable commercial building, had accentuated the labour shortage, said Mr Collins. The number of unemployed for October, he said, was 80. This was virtually the same as the previous month.