In brief

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 5

In brief

Climbers reach summit Two New Zealand climbers have reached the summit of Bhagirathi 3, in the Gangotri region of the Indian Himalayas. The mountaineers, Carol McDermott, of Auckland, and Phillip Castle, of Wellington, took six days to climb the near-vertical south-west face of the 6455 m peak. The climb is technically more demanding than nearby Bhagirathi 1 (6586 m which was climbed recently by a four-man team led by a Christchurch climber. A British expedition was the first to conquer the south-west face of Bhagirathi 3, in 1982. Fidelity call ‘backward’ The abortion action group, W.0.N.A.A.C., has criticised the National Council of Women’s call for promotion of fidelity rather than condoms. A W.O.N.A.A.C. spokeswoman, Ms Di Cleary, said N.C.W.’s call for a Government-funded promotion of fidelity in marriage as an alternative to a condom campaign showed it was a “conservative and backward organisation.” The council’s reported move to bar discussion of de facto relationships from education programmes was also rejected. "The council seems to be saying that anything it finds a little nasty, like condoms and de facto relationships, should be ignored and maybe they will go away,” Ms Cleary said. — PA. Minister in hospital The Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Conservation, Ms Fran Wilde, was admitted to Wellington Hospital yesterday because of stomach problems suffered on her recent overseas trip. A statement from Ms Wilde’s office said she would undergo tests to establish the cause of the stomach complaint she picked up on her trip to South and Central America. Ms Wilde is expected back at work next week. Her illness was in no way connected with her being involved in the Costa Rica air accident, the statement said.—PA. Study on sexism The Catholic Church has launched a $30,000 study on sexism in the Church. The Catholic Commission for Justice, Peace and Development last month announced the appointment of a Palmerston North researcher, Ms Christine Cheyne, to head the project. Ms Cheyne will begin preparing a research design for the commission’s study from January. She will begin full-time research throughout New Zealand during June on sexism in the Church and will present her report by the end of January, 1990, a commission spokesman said. —PA Wool roster changed The Wool Auction Sales Committee yesterday announced the following changes in the wool-selling roster. On October 12 in Christchurch, Timaru will offer 11,000 bales and Invercargill, 11,000 bales (plus 1500 Wool Board stock). On October 13 in Wellington, Auckland will offer 3000 bales, Napier 16,000, Wanganui 4000, and Wellington 4000. This totals 27,000 bales, previously a total of 16,000 bales (raised to 23,500 bales previously). Wool Board stock for this sale has been withdrawn because of the size of the offering. On October 14 in Christchurch, Christchurch will offer 17,000 bales (plus 1000 bales Wool Board stock). — PA.