Reporter’s diary

Press, 17 April 1982, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Sign of times? SIR RICHARD Steele observed in the eighteenth century that “thereJs this difference between the Church of Rome and the Church of England: the one professes to be infallible—the other to be never wrong.” Such polarity could prove a barrier to the unification of the two institutions, A Runanga reader sent us the accompanying photoghraph which could indicate that the West Coast town of Kumara (where it was taken) might also prove a stumbling block for the international campaigners for church unity. It seems, from the photograph at least, that the town’s Catholics and Anglicans are poles apart. Poppy Day THE ANNUAL Poppy’ Day appeal will be held in New Zealand for the sixtieth time next Friday—two days before Anzac Day. About 1.5 million poppies—the symbol of the free world’s gratitude to those who suffered in time of war—are needed each year. They are manufactured in, Christchurch and distri-

buted to the 135 branches of the Returned Services’ Association throughout New Zealand, which are responsible for organising the appeal in their own districts. The money is held locally to provide assistance for elderly and disabled ex-ser-vicemen and women and their dependents. The poppy’s origin lies in a poem written by a Canadian doctor, Colonel John Mcßae,

following the battle of Ypres during the First World War. His poem began: “In Flanders fields the popies blow, Between the crosses row on row . ...” Colonel Mcßae did not survive the war. Distracted THE LATEST edition of “Broadcaster,” published by the Broadcasting Corporation, includes an accident report involving a staff driver “under training.” The

trainee explained to his boss: “I was parked parallel between two motor-cycles. I proceeded to reverse and due to a faulty handbrake the car rolled forward into a Kawasaki. I then'proceeded to reverse again and was distracted by the tapping of a traffic officer on the passenger’s front window, in so doing reversing into the rear motor-cycle, a Honda.” It was later revealed that the saga took place in Willis Street, Wellington, outside Pearse House—the office of the Ministry of Transport. Both motor-cycles referred to in the trainee’s report belonged to M.O.T. officers, and were equipped with red lights and sirens. Reward rises CHRISTCHURCH’S anti-graf-fiti campaigner, Brian Grindrod, is not alone. After he publicised’ his intention to reward people for supplying information leading to the conviction of graffiti artists, he received support from three people matching his offer. So the $lOO reward up-for-grabs has grown to $4OO. Mr .Grindrod, a photogra-

pher, has been joined by a small manufacturer, a businessman and a business. His three supporters wanted to remain anonymous for fear of becoming victims of the crime they seek to discourage. Under stress. STRESS on the job was something that nurses had to cope with more than most employees. Delegates at. the New Zealand nurses Association conference in Christchurch yesterday were discussing the problems of stress, and were debating the need for nurses to have up to three days a year “stress leave” for nurses when they were subjected to a spot of stress themselves, suddenly, there was a loud bang, followed by a couple of screams. After a tense hush, the room broke into relieved laughter when the nurses realised that all the noise had come from a large screen that had fallen to the floor. (Incidentally, the proposal to have up to three days “stress leave” a year was defeated).