Reporter's Diary

Press, 26 March 1981, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Sky high COMPETITION could be strong for two New Zealand parachuting teams that have been invited to take part, in friendly competitions in China from June 20 to July 7. The invitation was issued by the Chinese Aeronautical Association. Jumpers

MR lAN GRAHAM, president of the New Zealand Federation of Parachuting Clubs, told us the Chinese competitions would provide a useful build-up to ' the world championships, to be held in Florida in October. The Chinese ' asked for two teams consisting of five men jumpers and five women jumpers, but the federation will probably send two fourmember mixed teams. The Chinese hold the world record for formation jumping and are expected to do well at the world championships. Mr Graham said the local sport •was booming, with new membership up by 33 per cent this year. A Christchurch parachute maker, J Mr. Danny).< will travel to -the United States this year- also, to study, parachute-making. What he learns in /the States should benefit local jumpers. ' . |

■JVo«censMS''^.'-’‘’''v"- 4 OFFICIALDOM had its say about: the wizards’ protest against the census. Led by Christ-

church’s Wizard, a party consisting of two other wizards (third-class), a navigator and- a skipper (but no Bible Lady)," had sailed out of Lyttelton about 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The party aimed, to spend the night 12 miles out to sea, where it" was believed they were not required to fill out census forms. Census officials had other ideas, however. Almost 12 hours later, the crew berthed at Lyttelton under cover of darkness, , satisfied that they had slipped the Statistics Department net —: but there on the wharf waiting to hand them their questionnaires were two census officials. The Wizard maintains he will not fill out his form. The officials say he must, as a boat travelling between ports is deemed to be a dwelling.' The next step, according to the Wizard, lies with the department.

Publicity coup A NEW publicity brochure for Christchurch Airport is being prepared, in time to capitalise on the Government’s approval of the runway extension project; The brochure will show the airport busy as never before. During the recent strike, when five of Air New Zealand’s . -international DCIO fleet were parked here, the airport director, Mr Monte Atkinson, had aerial - colour photographs taken of the airport activity, with the DClOs among all the other domestic traffics At least

one of the photographs will be used in the new brochure, which will also be the first widely distributed publicity material to show the new international terminal..

Mayoral calls THE DUTIES of a mayor are wide-ranging, but the Mavor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) felt he had to decline a novel role suggested at a meeting of the Christchurch Town Hall Board, of which he is chairman. At a recent board meeting a member suggested that the Town Hall could promote its own housie evenings to encourage the use of its facilities, since housie was a growing form of entertainment. Another member suggested that Mr Hay could do the calling during the housie sessions. “No, thanks,” was his prompt reply. Reunion

FORMER- staff of the Christchurch firm, Beath and Company Ltd (now part of D.1.C.Beaths) will hold a reunion at the Brevet Club on Saturday. About 300 tickets have been sold to former staff, many of whom spent their whole working lives in the company’s retail store. According to Mrs Vai Oswell, an organiser, many husbands and wives worked together at Beaths. The oldest former staff member to attend will be in her 80s. The organisers hope for a good night, “not a stodgy reunion,” and competitions have been arranged for a ‘‘Belle of Beaths,” the best-dressed couple, lucky spots, and lucky numbers.