Reporter's Siary

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 2

Reporter's Siary

Chomp! SEVERAL days ago, the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand sent two New Zealandproduced records to newspapers throughout the country as part of an effective publicity exercise promoting its protest against the 40 per cent sales tax imposed by the Government bn all records. A record arrived at “The Press” yesterday from the Record Retailers Federation, again as part of the industry’s continuing battle to have the sales tax abolished. But this time, the record, “Paddington’s Party Record,” had a big slice taken out of it. “Sorry for the disappointment,” said the letter accompanying the broken record. “We are afraid Paddington Bear would need more than his famous marmalade to stick this record together.” Yes, you guessed it—the chunk removed

represents “the monumental 40 per cent bite taken from each recording by sales tax.” Piano wanted RESIDENTS of the Archer Memorial Home for the Frail Elderly, in north Colombo Street, are very much in need of a good piano, both for their own use and for the use of the many people who come to the home to entertain, says the Rev. Frank Reddell. “Hardly a week goes by without somebody visiting the home to take a service or to entertain the residents and a piano accompaniment would be most helpful,” he said yesterday. “Some of the residents are able to play themselves, and two or three play the piano surprisingly well for their age. They usually play the accompaniment for’ devotions every day.” Mr Reddell said that for .the last month or sb, the

home had had a piano that had been brought by one of the residents when she came. “But it went out of tune only a month after it arrived, and we discovered it had a cracked frame, and so it won’t stay in tune,” he said. If you have a good piano that you no longer need, and which you would be prepared to give to the home, please telephone Mr Reddell at 428-363 or write to him at 48 Russley Road, Christchurch 4.

Unwelcome guests SO YOU think mice are bad enough? In Wellington, it seems, householders who live by the sea have to contend with penguins taking up residence in their basements. Penguins in search of a home apparently make a bee-line for the nearest unprotected basement, where they nest year after year, leaving behind rotting fish and guano and disturbing people’s sleep by barking harshly at night. Pavement art IN CONJUNCTION with its “Street”’ exhibition, the Robert McDougall Art Gallery plans a pavement art contest on Sunday. Armed with their own chalk, contestants are invited to create their masterpieces on the asphalt area immediately in front of the gallery’s main entrance in the morning and early afternoon. The works of art will be judged at 2 p.m. and a prizewinner will be announced. The contest is open to people who want to try their hand at this novel art, which is widespread in Europe, where it is something of a tourist attraction. But the gallery emphasises that only chalk must be used, as eventually the works of art will have to be washed off. People wishing to take part should telephone the gallery to book a space on the pavement, but there will also be a spot set aside for people who want to record casual fleeting fancies. People must supply their own chalk.

Oops! PEOPLE working for Piko Wholefoods, in Kilmore Street, are looking a little, red-faced. They have just discovered that their red bush tea, a herbal variety that has been selling well in the shop, comes from South Africa. As they say in the latest “Loopie News,” the Piko people “don’t believe in supporting an apartheid regime,” and, so as soon as they have sold out of existing stocks, they will not sell any more.

Home again AFTER living in Rotorua for the last five years, Dame Ruth Kirk has returned to Christchurch to live. She moved into a flat in Avonhead a month ago, and says that she will be able to see more of her grandchildren (three small boys and a girl), as well as her sons, John and Robert. Staying behind in Rotorua is Dame Ruth’s daughter, Robyn, who is almost 18. Dame Ruth says her move to Christchurch has held up progress on her book, which is “mainly about Mr Kirk,” but she will be able to get on with it once again when she has settled in.