Reporter’s diary

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Silk knickers FROM THE “outlandish claims” section of the Inland Revenue Department comes the news that Kiwis try some interesting ways of claiming employment-related expenses. One person tried to claim for the cost of silk knickers. The claimant said that wearing nylon briefs in an air-conditioned atmos- .. phere was uncomfortable be- t cause of the build-up of static electricity. Other outlandish claims included haircut costs for a man who preferred long hair but who had to have short, neat hair for his job, razor blades for the taxpayer who could not have a beard in his job, funeral wreaths for deceased clients and watchdogs for wives whose husbands travel away from home regularly. These claims were all turned down by the department, so t there is no point in borrow- ’ ing the ideas. Big bang “THE REVENGE of Badsky,” the science fiction play being put on by the Canterbury Children’s Theatre over the May holidays, has had one neighbour of the Repertory Theatre mote worried about the safety of his car than an invasion from .outer space. The production, which was written by the Christchurch playwright, Ken Hudson, includes a number of explosions and bangs. ( Front-of-house staff at the{ theatre were amazed at the arrival of a neighbour re-)

cently, who asked if there was a “loud bang” in the play. It seems that every night during the rehearsal week he had rushed from his house thinking his parked car had met its fate in a roadside crash. The theatre gave him a timetable of explosions, so that he would not have to worry for the rest of the season. s Job perk BEER RATIONS for' Christchurch nurses would draw the ire of concerned citizens nowadays. But at Christchurch Hospital at the turn of the century it was common practice to make one pint of beer a day available to all nurses. However, with only about 12 nursing staff the daily tipple did not cost the hospital authorities a great deal. Explosive figures THE RISK of explosions in industry is on the increase in New Zealand. According to a report in the Insurance Council Bulletin, the trend is a result of the use of a wider range of chemicals and hazardous materials in industry. An Australian survey showed that explosions were the cause of fires in 27 per cent' of insurance claims. Ar- ■ son and electricity also ranked high in the list of causes of industrial fires. i Accessible loos | \QUEENSLAND is to have' \ outward-opening doors on all -

new toilets. The move, the result of a two-year campaign by one member of Parliament, is designed to give quick access to heartattack victims who collapse in toilets. Apparently, 150 Australians collapse inside toilets each year. Some are injured when the door is bashed in so rescuers can , reach them. t Picnic site t ' ! LATE-AFTERNOON travellers one day last week decided on a picnic snack as they motored to a camp near Methven. Ad went well until their vehicle broke down near Hagley Park. The driver pulled into the New Zealand Motor Corporation in Riccarton. Frantic telephone calls over 45 minutes on the firm’s telephone resulted in alternative transport. Not to be outdone on their picnic tea the travellers laid out their snack right beside the lube bay and enjoyed their meal while mechanics started work on the ailing vehicle. Drivers beware A RANGIORA reader has discovered a ditty with a sound message for drivers. “You watch the fellow who drives ahead, and the fellow who drives behind, you watch to the right and you watch to the left, you- drive with a calm clear mind. But the fellow you really have to : watch on the road you’ll ; always find, is the fellow 1 behind the fellow ahead, and -ahead of the feHow behind.” j