N.Z.P.A. NEWS IN BRIEF

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33382, 14 November 1973, Page 2

N.Z.P.A. NEWS IN BRIEF

Drug delayed An airline strike in the United States has delayed delivery of a specialised drug I for treating brain cancer in I a young New Plymouth boy. A capsule of the drug, known as BCNU or Carmustine, was to have arrived at Auckland ion Sunday. It should now arrive within the next two ‘ days. Force filled The chances that New Zealand will be asked to contribute to the United Nations peace-keeping force in the ’ Middle East are now low. reports an N.Z.P.A. staff corI respondent in Washington. A spokesman for the world organisation said that the Sec-retary-General (Dr Kurt Waldheim) expected to bring the force up to its designated strength of 7000 with contributions from African, Asian, and Latin American nations. Finland. Austria, Sweden, and Ireland have already contributed contingents Ito the unit, and Poland and Canada have been allotted I logistics roles.

\N.A.C. profit The National Airways Corporation made a net profit of $1,189,212 on gross revenue of $37,288,546, according to its annual report. This represents a return of 5 per cent on the funds employed. The report says the recovery from a loss of $657,154 was welcome. and strengthened the corporation’s financial position. But it also shows the sensitivity of air traffic to economic changes. The profit was mainly because of an increase in passengers, and altered exchange rates which lowered the cost of servicing loans in the United States. 1 Chaplain’s visit One of the chaplains who will officiate at the wedding of Princess Anne will visit New Zealand at the end of this month. He is the Chaplain General to the British Armv (the Ven. Archdeacon J. R. Youens). Chaplain General Youens has held his present appointment since 1966. He will retire next year, and his trip to New Zealand is to bid farewell to this country’s military chaplains.

Hay problem The problem farmers are having in North Otago this season in getting their lucerne hay in a fit condition to bale was well illustrated at the first day of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s annual show today. Seven entries were registered in the new season’s baled lucerne hay class, but because of continuing showers, producing rank growth and preventing the hay from maturing, none was on display. The class was abandoned. Chain of light A chain of lights will be lit around the world, starting in Old St Paul’s Church, Wellington, on Tuesday, December 11, and ending there 24 hours later in a rededication ceremony for Toe H, a Christian welfare organisation. Each branch of Toe H has a replica of the lamps used in the catacombs by early Christians, and at 9 p.m. on December 11 each year the ceremonial lamps are lit. Each year a different country is selected as a startj|g point.

Flax price The Government was con-i sidering a submission on the' effects of increasing the price ; paid to growers of linen flax, ! the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr Freer) said ini reply to a question from Mr! R. L. G. Talbot (Nat., South) Canterbury). It was felt that; assistance other than finance; should be considered for re-1 search and development. ! Car models Import licensing, customs! duty and sales tax were; among the measures avail-! able to the Government to* “encourage” car manufactur- '■ ers to reduce the number of! models on the New Zealand market, the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr! Freer) said today. Mr G. F. Gair (Nat., North Shore) had; asked in Parliament what the! Minister meant when he said; recently that the Govern-: ment would encourage the in-! dustry to "reduce the number! of models. .