Reporter's Diary

Press, 14 July 1980, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Lucky for some

WHILE New Zealand is gaily borrowing millions of dollars every year from various wealthy countries, and gradually getting deeper and . deeper into debt, it is encouraging to learn that some countries are actually paying off their loans. Norway, which has borrowed about $6OOO million from abroad sine 1975, recently announced that it has ceased borrowing any more monev, and expects to pay off all its foreign loans by 1985. Norway’s treasuries have been swollen by the increased oil prices and extra taxation of oil companies’ surpluses, as a result of the country’s considerable interest in North Sea oil. For all parents

PARENT health education is the subject of a public seminar being held at Christchurch Teachers’ College on July 23. The guest speaker will be Dr Judy McCann, national coordinator for parent education. The seminar is being organised by the Health Department, the Family Life Education Council, and the Community Mental Health Service, It is not restricted to parent education of any one group, but is open to parents of children ranging in age from new-born babies to teen-agers, and beyond. Anyone interested in attending or Contributing to the seminar is invited to get in touch with the Rev. A Maurice •• Goodall, Community Mental Health

Adviser, telephone 792934.

Tut, tut, tut

FENDALTON had its threatened pizza parlour to cause nearby residents to unite in protest; Hampstead, a suburb of London with similarly plutey overtones as Fendalton, has risen with once voice to object to the possibility of a two-storey hamburger joint opening up in its main street. “A once useful and ' sociable high street has declined into a succession of fashion boutiques and tourist restaurants. Now the latest threat is from the giant American hamburger chain, McDonald’s, who are proposing to open a hamburger restaurant in the high street of Hampstead.” laments a resident in “The Times.” Residential spines are already rippling with horror at the thought of the litter, cars and noisy young people likely to result from the lure of the hamburger.” Appreciated THOSE sturdy little stalwarts, Morris Minors, with their reputation for reliability in spite of advancing years, are becoming something of a collectors item in London. With the rising cost of petrol and the comparatively high cost of running those expensive- four-wheeled gas-mizZlers in London’s traffic,-.?-* jams. Morris Minors are -reported to be increasing in value -quite considerably. One such vehicle, the Lambeth Palace

■runabout, has spent its 16 years in the undemanding role as the London car for two Archbishops of Canterbury. However, the new Archbishop, Dr Robert Runcie, does not want to use it and has swapped it for a Maxi. The church commissioners have consequently been pondering the future of the rejected Morris Minor, and have come to realise that its value is much greater than anyone originally thought. As a result, it will probably soon be given the honour of launching a car rally in London, and its final resting home is likely to be among other four-wheeled masterpieces at Lord Montagu’s famous motor museum at Beaulieu. Luncheon club

ABOUT two years ago, the Canterbury Aged People’s Welfare Council decided there might well be a need for a club to provide an opportunity for retired men to meet to discuss matters of mutual interest. The idea was an immediate success and a luncheon club was formed to hold monthly meetings at the council’s rooms. It is run by a management committee and has about 70 members, who get together over lunch and have a chat. Any retired men interested in finding out more about the club should get in touch with the secretary, Mr J. J. Adams, 112 Pev: cl Street, Christchurch 4. Lots of violence JAPANESE . movie-goers are not yet ready for fullfrontal nudity but they love violence — that’s the

message received loud and clear by Australian filmmakers. The Australian film, "Pacific Bananas,” which has lingering scenes of full-frontal nudity, was heavily cut for Japanese audiences. But “Mad Max,” the controversial Australian film that was recently banned in New Zealand, has made the Japanese cry out for more. “Mad Max,” with its wild car chases and smashes, contains plenty of violence. The Japanese love it, and are clamouring for more, similarly violent Australian films The film has enjoyed a long run in Japanese cinemas and is earning millions of dollars for the Australian film makers. Who needs New Zealand audiences, then, when the Japanese provide such a lucrative market for celluloid violence?

One-upmanship ONE OF London’s leading stores, Fortnum and Mason (the Queen’s grocer) showed a slight concern about costs last week when it cut prices for

only the third time in 273 years. One could buy a case of Haut Brion 66 for $725, a saving of $350, or a case of Chateau Lafite 71 for $6OO, a saving of $l5O. In spite of the bargains, the store’s promotional manager, Mr Alan Williams, said he did not want customers to treat the reductions as a sale. “You won’t find people fighting over crockery here — this isn’t Harrods you know,” he said.