Reporter’s diary

Press, 14 December 1983, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Interference LIFE in the communications business is not always simple as the Transmission Superintendent (Waikato) for Television New Zealand reports that several days after installing a replacement TVI translator in the Waikato area, a woman viewer telephoned to complain of poor, reception. This was the only complaint received but the viewer insisted that the new translator not only messed up her TVI programme but also wrecked TV2. It was suggested that the woman have her set checked and, if there were no improvement, staff would call and see her. This duly happened. Fortunately before the visit, a call was made to TVNZ’s contact man in the area who suggested that a forenoon visit was desirable as the complainant was a dedicated

sherry tippler and normally non compos by mid-after-noon or “The Young and the Restless.” “The problem was readily solved,” reports the superintendent. “In the lady’s own words: ‘At programme commencement the picture was always lovely and sharp but became fuzzy and more indistinct as the day progressed’

I love M.W.D. LOVE IS supporting the Government department you work for or, at least, standing up for it. This is the belief of Elaine Mac Lean and Joanne Jaquiery, two employees of the Ministry of Works and Development’s Dunedin office. They have decided to do something positive for the office’s image, after its tarnishing last week with the release of an unfavourable report which criticised the Ministry’s performance in Otago. To counteract this unfavourable publicity, they have ordered 100 badges marked: “I love (in the shape of a heart) M.W.D.” “Ministry staff are not lying down and playing dead,” Elaine Mac Lean said. “We have a bit of pride in What the M.W.D. stands for.” The pair plan to sell the badges, which are printed on a white background in “M.W.D. orange lettering” for $1.50 each, and want staff members to wear them. A.W.O.L. A FORMER British Army private was called before a commanding officer for being absent without leave for 35 years. Sam Parker, aged 53, who served 12 days in the Royal Anglican Regi-

ment before going absent without leave, was caught out by a computer during routine police inquiries, the “News of the World” reported in London recently. “I could have faced a court martial,” said Parker. “The commanding officer warned me I was still in the military but, because of the circumstances, he’d let me go. If they’d kept me in custody they’d have had to pay me.” The Army had to pay Parker some wages: it owed him 20 pence for two days service in 1948. After a full medical check and a dressing-down, Parker was given his discharge papers marked: “conduct unsatisfactory” and a certificate in recognition of his service from 1948 to 1983. Twelve days after joining the Angli-. can Regiment, Parker left the barracks in Colchester, Essex, on a 48-hour pass. When he arrived at his home he found his father had deserted his mother and left her with three children, all aged under 10. “There was so much to do, so I stayed on to help,” said Mr Parker from his home, a caravan in Goldhanger, Essex. “Over the years I forgot all about it until two policemen knocked on the door and said: “You’re under arrest for desertion.” Picnic spots MORE THAN 170 Canterbury picnic places are listed in the “Guide to Canterbury Picnic Spots,” which went on sale in Christchurch on Monday. The book, complete with information maps and photographs, has been compiled by the Canterbury Promotion Council. It was to have been launched on Sunday with an air drop in Hagley Park. That has been

postponed until next Sunday. The book has been selling well since Monday, says Mr Bruce Dunstan, executive head of the council. It costs $2.70 and 8000 copies have been printed. The first guide to picnic spots was published in 1980. Sixty new places have been added. Wool shed A 114-year-old wool shed on Terrace Station, at Hororata has been given a $l5OO grant from the Historic Places Trust towards its restoration. The grant will go towards the general restoration of the wool shed. This includes replacing and reglazing the windows, replacing rotten timber, and painting the exterior. The

woolshed has been given a C classification by the trust, meriting preservation because of its great historic merit. The shed will continue to be used as a woolshed. The maintenance on the working parts of the shed has been carried out by the owner of the station, Mr ji. H. B. Foster. The grant will allow “non-essen-tial” work to be done to restore the shed to its original condition. There, too .. .

The following advertisement appeared in an Eng-lish-language, Middle East newspaper, placed there by the Kuwait Ministry of Education: “Today iss the 17th International Day for the Eradication of Literacy.”