Reporter's Diary

Press, 17 July 1979, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

G ra phi c CHRISTCHURCH motorists confronted with this graphic rear end might be forgiven for thinking they were following a Batmobile —it does bear more than a passing resemblance to a caption for a “Batman” cartoon.

All for nothing MEMBERS of the Oxford search and rescue group were far from pleased last week when they arrived at the spot from where a flare had been seen earlier that day by a Summerhill farmer. The flare had been fired from Mount Thomas, and the search and rescue ream made its way to the spot, ready for any emergency. But when they got there they were confronted with some sheepish-looking soldiers who were up Mount Somers on an exercise and had forgotten to let the search and rescue people know. To he named

THE North Canterbury Hospital Board is looking for a name for the new $l7 million ward block at Christchurch Hospital. Names suggested so far include the Porritt Wing (after the former GovernorGeneral. Sir Arthur ritt who laid the foundation stone) and the Rolleston Wing. A Maori name

has also been suggested, possibly the translation for “riverbank-” But surely, one observer suggested, a better idea, if it was to be a Maori name, would be the Maori word for “healing.” Mouse mystery A MYSTERY mouse snatcher has been at work at Victoria University in Wellington. About 300 research mice vanished from a room in the university campus two or three weeks ago and neither hide nor hair of them has been seen since. The thieves took five cages of white, grey and rare black mice, but rats and rabbits in the same room were not touched. The mice were being used for the study of neuro-muscular disease. Illegal log

UNDER what section of what act do you apply for permission to construct a log? The Waimea County Council has applied to the Ministry of Transport to erect a log. This follows a complaint from the Ministry that the council had “illegally erected a structure on the Rough Island

foreshore” next to Rabbit Island, where the council has extensive pine plantations. A letter from the Ministry said its Marine Division had inspected a log the council had put beside the entrance to Tic Toe Road (to keep motorcycles off the beach) and had decided it was a “structure” for which the council needed permission to erect. Harmony

NEW ZEALAND is beset on all sides by industrial strife and perhaps our leaders, and employers, could take a long look at a system being used at the Simplex clock and watch factory at ‘Gardiner, Massachusetts, a reader suggests. A Nelson watchmaker, Mr Henry Rodgers, visited the Massachusetts factory recently. He was most impressed with the convivial atmosphere, and asked why the employees seemed so happy in their work. The answer was that it was compant' policy that the individual employee and the working conditions were of prime importance to the employers. This, in turn, was re-

ciprocated by employees, he was told. When union organisers arrived at the factory one day to establish a branch they were sent packing — by the employees. Changing down AMONG THE many early drivers who have come to light in this column, since the printing of an article in “The Press” a fortnight ago about the issue of driving licences in Canterbury in the 19205, is Mr Charles Bedford, of Geraldine, who says he began driving in 1912 — before it was necessary to have a licence. He drove trucks and vans all his working life, he says, and still has his heavy vehicle licence. “But I’ve given up the heavy stuff after all those years, and I drive a Mini now.” Cutting red tape A TEAM of parachutists took six months to make a 760-metre jump over London. That was how long it took the R.A.F. to get permission for a spectacular jump into Horse Guards Parade. Clearance had to be obtained from London Air Traffic Control at Heathrow, the Greater London Council, the Metropolitan Police, Buckingham Palace, the Property Services Agency, the Army’s London Headquarters, and .No. 487 Downing Street, whose garden backs on to Horse Guards Parade. The jump from a Hercules transport aircraft was made by 11 members of the R.A.F.’s Falcons parachute display team to publicise this month’s Royal Tournament at Earls Court. On the record

IN THE WORLD of rock musicians, a cutting riddle is being circulated at the expense of E.M.I. in London — once the beneficiary of the Beatles, the Hollies and countless others in their heydeys, but now sadly bereft of such pickings. “Question: What’s the difference between E.M.I. and the Titanic? Answer: The Titantic had a good band.”

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