NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 61, 7 December 1943, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Parliament Prorogued

A Proclamation gazetted last evening prorogues the General Assembly till January 27, 1944. Girl Drowned. About 4 o’clock on Sunday afternoon a drowning accident occurred in the Wairoa River. The victim was Edna, aged 9 years, daughter of Air. and Mrs. J. Baker, North Clyde. The girl was in bathing and disappeared unnoticed by those in the vicinity. The body has not yet been recovered. —P.A.

Dearer Eggs. . An increase of Id. a dozen m the wholesale prices of all grades of eggs has been arranged' by the Wellington Egg Marketing Committee and the Internal Marketing Division, working in conjunction with the Price Tribunal. The new prices are set out in an advertisement. Children’s War Effort. A creditable war effort has been achieved by the children of the Taubei School, in the Morrinsvjlle district. AV orking entirely in theft spare time, they have produced a garden containing half a mile of potatoes, a similar length of maize, and a quarter of a mile of carrots, m addition to a quantity of pumpkins. Early Payment of Pensions. On account of the year-end holidays oldage pensions will be paid out at the Offices on and after December 21, instead, of at the end of the month. Other benefits and pensions, including family benefits, war veterans’ allowances,' and universal pensions, will be paid on and after December 22.

Search for Radium Needle. A widespread search was instituted on Friday in the Auckland. Hospital, its grounds and beyond the, precincts for a radium needle which had been lost. 1 our scientists attached; to the physics department of the university were called in, and with the aid of an electrical apparatus the needle, the replacement value ot which is said to be about £oUO, was dificovered on Saturday mojning.

Automobile Association. The Automobile Association, Wellington, last night elected 72 new members, which, the chairman, Mr. E. A. Batt, said was the greatest number for any mon th since the introduction of petrol ratiouign. "It looks as if we’ve passed our zero hour,” he said. Many people had got over the shock of rationing and the idea that there was no further use lor the association.

Only Eight Walk. Of the 200 children attending the Tapawera District High School only eight walk to school, stated the secretary of the Nelson Education Board, giving evidence before the Armed Forces Appeal Board in an apneal for a teacher-driver. "There are eight buses running to the school,” he said. “When they are all leaving at about 3.30 each afternoon the place is quite a city. Half an hour later it s just Tapawera again.” Tramway Renewal Work. Extensive repair and renewal work is being done to the tramway tracks at the eastern end of the Courtenay Place section. This part of the line takes as much traffic as any in Wellington, and it has been obvious even to laymen that repairs were urgently required, but due to the difficulty of securing men of the right type for this heavy wrnrki If has been impossible to tackle the job hitherto. A gang of a dozen men is replacing worn rails and some of the special work at the stopping place, and, at the same time, attending to the rebedding of the track. Annual Meeting of Heritage. At the annual meeting of Heritage,, to be held in the English Speaking Union ruoms, Nathan’s Buildings, Grey Street, tomorrow evening at 8 o’clock, the Solici; tor-Genebal, Mr. H. H. Cornish,, will speak on “Vocations in a Changing World.” The report, which has already been circulated to members, contains a great deal of interesting matter, and a number of the questions with which it deals will come up for discussion. Due to the success of the movement, and. its growing membership, a proposal has been nut forward to reduce the annual membership fee to £l/1/- and the opinions of members will be sought.

Milk for India. The Deputy-Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, stated yesterday that the Government had received from the Viceroy of India an acknowledgment of New Zcaland.S gift in aid of distressed people in.lndia. Ihe message was as follows: Governmeat of India are most grateful to the Government and people of New Zealand for their gift of 7060 cases of sweetened milk for famine relief. -This gesture is greatly appreciated by. the people of India.” The Viceroy had also asked the Government to convey his Govetnmeut s thanks to the Nestles Company fbr i.s offer of 250 casesj which was gladly accepted.

Airmen Pick Peas. About. 250 Air Force personnel from a Nelson station went to country districts one day last week to assist with the green pea harvest. In view of the urgent need wither the rapidly-ripening ped crops. Mix Atmore, M.P., telephoned the DeputyPrime Minister, advising him of the seriousness of the position and that no college uuiiftTwould be available. for harvesting last week because of examinations. As a result the services of 130 airmen were made available. Requests were made by growers for additional labour, and representations to Mr. Nash resulted i 120 more men from the Air Force going pea-picking. “Ineffective Censorship.” Critical reference to the regulations governing the censorship of films 113' made at a meeting of the Mariborou,h School Committees’ Association. The desirability of preventing children from seeing some of the types of pictures which are only being recommended by the ceusp. as suitable for adults was emphasized. The present control, it was suggested, was a fu’ce. It was decided to approach the Minister of Internal Affairs to have this “recommended” clause replaced with a direction that such films are for adults only, and to ask that firm action be taken to have the onus placed on exhibitors.to see that children are not admitted to such screenings. .