In brief

Press, 9 December 1988, Page 41

In brief

Journalist wins awards p A Wellington A former Television New Zealand reporter, Genevieve Westcott, has picked up two international awards for her work on Canadian television. Westcott accepted a gold and a silver award at this month’s International Film and Television Festival in New York for her work on Canadian TV’s W5 programme. The silver medal was for a W5 report on a released murderer, directed by another former TVNZ journalist, Diarne Shanahan. Bill ‘sabotaged’ An attempt by the Opposition associate spokesman on employment, Mr Roger Maxwell, to introduce a student job subsidy bill was sabotaged by Parliament taking urgency, he said. With urgency taken the usual opportunity for members to introduce private bills on Wednesday is suspended. This week is also the last before Parliament breaks for Christmas. Mr Maxwell said if the Government was genuine about its concerns for students now as it was in 1982 it would accept his proposals.—PA. Canty contest winners The winners of a Canterbury Promotion Council competition have been announced. More than 1300 people entered the competition, which offered four three-day week-ends in Canterbury. The Christchurch week-end was won by Mr Hamish Benny, of Kurow; the Akaroa holiday by Ms Natasha Grant, of Woolston; the Hanmer Springs trip by Ms Hazel Broadbent, of Christchurch; and the Arthur’s Pass trip by Mr Bevon Whitty, of Christchurch. Toll calls drop Operator-assisted toll calls have dropped 30 per cent since a $2 charge was introduced on November 1. But Telecom Corporation’s tariff manager, Mr John Butt, said it was too early to assess the impact of lowered toll charges. Information from telephone exchanges was used for billing purposes before his division could analyse it.—PA. Cremation for pets Christchurch pet owners are now able to have their dead pets cremated. The Lincoln Animal Health Laboratory has introduced a pet cremation service, available through veterinarians. Pet owners may also take their animals to the laboratory. An area has been set aside where owners may farewell their pets in private. Various options are available, including the return of ashes when requested. Seasonal warning Christchurch police are warning the public against the seasonal problems of opportunist thieves burgling houses while the occupants are busy in the back yards. The warning was given after the theft of a cheque book, credit cards and assorted papers from the lounge of a pensioner’s flat in Raleigh Street, Bishopdale, about 1 pm. on Monday. The police said that the occupant, a woman, aged 77, had left the front door open while gardening at the rear. Such thefts become common at this time of year and police warned people to at least shut the front door while working at the back.