Reporter's Diary

Press, 30 July 1980, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Roll up! WHILE fossicking about in the old schoolhouse in Teddington, the new owner of the build.ng discovered an interesting framed poster advertising a protest meeting about the tobacco shortage of the day. “You have read the newspaper controversy on this subject,, which is vital to you now!” the poster says, calling upon all those interested to attend a meeting on March 6, in the Hibernian Hall in Barbadoes Street, to “hear the true story.” “Roll up and lend your support,” it says. “Come and sig i the petition.’.’ The speaker was to be Mr Fred Sibley, secretary at that time of the Lyttelton branch of the Democratic Labour Party ’’ — and that .was the only clue as to the year of the meeting. The ' Democratic Labour Party was formed by Mr John A. Lee in. 1944, according to Professor Keith Jackson, of . the J University of Canterbury’s. Political Science Department. A check with “The

Press” files of 1944 showed that there was indeed a shortage of tobacco at the 'end of World War 11, a shortage that seems to have existed until the end of 1945. Baccy for the boys AMONG the intriguing newspaper stories that reported various aspects of the tobacco shortage was one snippet that quoted the secretaiy of a freezing workers’ union branch calling for more supplies of tobacco for his men. It was not fair, he asserted, that soldiers returning from the war should , be assured regular supplies of tobacco while freezing workers went without. “Experience in Britain has shown,” he said, “that the longer the hours and the more arduous the work, the more the need for tobacco. ‘Front-line fighters in . industry’ should .be equally assured of regular supplies as soldiers,” Such statements were made well . before

cancer and heart scares began about the dangers of smoking.

Staying power

AFTER a happy two days ski-ing at Mount Dobson last week-end, a Christchurch f mily loaded their car on Sunday evening, attached their skis to the roof rack, and set off for home — about a threehour journey. When unloading all the gear at home, they noticed with surprise that one of the pairs, of skis had made the journey back to Christchurch precariously balanced on the roof rack. They had forgotten to tie the skis on, yet they were still there. Their owner said this week that it. was obvious his skis, which are now seven years old and looking a little worn, had considerable staying power. Somewhere to sit SHOPKEEPERS should spare a thought for the aged and infirm who visit them. There is usually nowhere for old people to sit when they are waiting to be served; the queues at service counters these days seem to mean that people have to wait long-

er. This was one of the topics discussed at a meeting of the social services committee of the Aged People’s Welfare Council this week. It was decided to approach department stores and other shops where old people found it difficult standing in queues to be served, and ask if they would provide a few chairs at service counters. Ballantyne’s was one of the few big stores with chairs near the counters, and the council would like to see more. Comic occasion FOR WHAT is thought to be the first time, New Zealand’s top eight cartoonists . will gather at Turnbull House, Wellington, on Thursday evening to take part in a fun competition as part of a book-launching promotion. Sir Gordon Minhinnick, Peter Bromhead, Bill Wrathall, Tom Scott, Eric Heath, Neville Lodge, Bob Brockie, and Sid Scales are all familiar names to cartoon lovers, but it seems that the eight men have never been together before. They will all draw . a cartoon on a given subject and their efforts will be judged by the two dep-

uty Parliamentary leaders — Mr Brian Taiboys and Mr David Lange — at a special function to launch lan F. Grant’s book, “The Unauthorised Version,” which looks at New Zealand’s history through the eyes of cartoonists. Hasty retreat

LONDON’S “Evening Standard” relates a macabre little story about the dangers of travelling too far east of Calais. An English architect on a business trip in Turkey reported the theft of his wallet to the local police. A week later, in finding the wallet fallen inside the lining of his coat, he reported the good news to the police only to be assured that a thief had already been punished and had had his right hand cut off. To complicate the issue, the police explained that the punishment for reporting a false theft was to have the fourth finger of the right hand severed. The bewildered architect was rescued by the British Consul and sent on the first plane back home without further ado.