In brief

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 32

In brief

$77,000 profit Maori International said it had made a $77,873 profit in the year to March. “Things are going well and the hard work of early years is beginning to pay off,” the chairman, Sir Graham Latimer, said. Maori International said it had entered into a 50/50 joint venture with an overseas trading company to consider developments in primary and manufacturing industries.—PA. Oldest twin dies A Gisborne woman, Marjorie Willock, one of the oldest pair of twins in the country, has died. She was 96. She and her sister, Phyllis De Lautour, were given national publicity last month as the country’s oldest twins. Mrs Willock was born in 1892 and spent her life in Gisborne. She and Miss De Lautour were among the first Gisborne people to attend Auckland Diocesan School in 1908, travelling from Gisborne by ship.—PA. President appointed A Christchurch consulting engineer and proponent of the controversial Port Hills gondola, Mr Peter Yeoman, is the new president of the Canterbury Promotion Council. Mr Yeoman, who has been vicepresident of the council for the past two years, succeeds Mr Richard Ballantyne. Other executives elected and appointed to the council recently were: Messrs Don Meldrum, a tourism consultant; Allan Struthers, New Zealand manager of Horizon Holidays; Paul Garland, director of Orana Park; George Bellew, chief executive of Christchurch Airport Company; Gerald Wilson, regional manager of Air New Zealand and Tom Doocey, manager of the Avon Hotel. Report welcomed The Salmon Farmers’ Association has welcomed the aquaculture report released by the Trade Development Board. The report saw a bright future for aquaculture in New Zealand with increaed exports and jobs from the industry. The association president, Mr Rob Lawrence, said it was good to see aquaculture embraced as a significant growth industry. He said the association was concerned some conservation and recreational interests would fear that Government support would mean “no holds barred” development. But development had to be within present guidelines and planning, as well as those enacted through Resource Management Law Reform. Produce airlifted A record consignment of 19 tonnes of Cook Islands produce was airlifted to New Zealand on Friday, after engine trouble delayed the ship originally intended to carry the cargo. Oranges, paw paw and taro were flown from Rarotonga aboard on Air New Zealand flight after the airline came to the rescue of Cook Islands produce growers. The Cook Islands agricultural minister, Mr Vaine Tairea, said Air New Zealand was approached after the cargo vessel Ngamaru II was delayed in Niue because of engine problems. The produce was uplifted at Rarotonga and flown to Auckland. Board seeks ruling The Taranaki Harbour Board has asked the Wellington Labour Court to rule on a claim by watersiders to drive all wharf mechanical equipment. No date has yet been set for a hearing. In May this year, the Waterfront Workers Union indicated that from June 1 its members would insist on driving all mechanical cargo handling equipment on the wharves, including that provided by port companies. Traditionally such equipment has been driven by members of the Harbour Workers Union who are employees of port companies. — PA. Woman died of burns A woman died in Gisborne after being burned at her home on Friday. She was Helen Benney, aged 82, of Anzac Street, Gisborne. A neighbour found her lying outside her home just after 11 a.m. — PA. Education posts filled Massey University’s head of Maori studies, Mason Durie, has been appointed chairman of the Government’s Special Education Service, the Minister of Education, Mr Lange, announced. The New Zealand Childcare Association’s vice-president, Katherine Baxter, had been made chairwoman of the Early Childhood Development Unit, he said. Managers of the two independent bodies will be appointed soon.—|>A.