NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

World Shipbuilding. The tonnage of merchant vessels under construction throughout the world at the end of December was 2,900,184, according to Lloyd's Register of Shipping, states "The Post's" London correspondent. Of this total 38.8 per cent.,' or 1,125,426 tons, was being built in Great Britain and Ireland. This figure for British construction was 59,209 tons smaller than three months previously, but 161,784 tons greater than a year ago. The world total was 2161 tons less than at the end of last September, but with that exception was higher than any recorded since June, 1930. St. Valentine's Day. Next Monday will be St. Valentine's Day. which, despite certain recent efforts to revive its. one-time popularity, usually passes more or less unheralded and unsung. It used to be a day for the giving of presents and for the sending of love tokens, and at one time considerable art and ingenuity were displayed in the making of valentines. . These sentimental tokens, however, degenerated and often wore vulgar, and the custom of sending them has died a gradual death. St. Valentine himself seems to have had little to do with this custom. His day was apparently chosen as being in early spring and at a time when birds were supposed to select their mates for the coming season. 1.L.0. Conference. Fourteen nominations have been received by the New Zealand Federation of Labour for the ballot to be taken for the workers' delegate to represent New Zealand at the twenty-fourth session of the International Labour Conference to be held at Geneva in June. Nominations will not close until Monday, but it is believed that few, if any, more are likely to be received. The result of the ballot will be forwarded to the Government. Following is the list of nominations: —Auckland: Messrs. F. G. Young, J. Pur.tell, H. Campbell, T. Stanley, J. T. Jennings. Wellington: Messrs. A. Cook, K. Baxter, J. Moulton, A. Parlane, P. E. Warner. Christchurch: The Hon. J. K. Archer, M.L.C., Messrs. G. Manning, J. Roberts. Duhedin: Mr. J. Robinson. So far only one nomination has been received for the employers' delegate to the conference, Mr. C. G. Camp, Wellington, assistant secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federation. Nominations will close on Monday. Invasion of Rats. The prevalence of large numbers of rats in the business area of Auckland city is indicated by the recent experience of a shopkeeper with premises in Shortland Street, states the "New Zealand Herald." As a result of nightly attacks by the pests over a period of about a fortnight property to the value of £60 was destroyed. The destruction was mainly confined to clothing. Not only did the rats tear large holes in the material, but they also ate many of the buttons. Traps, and poison accounted for 31 rats ,in ten nights, 13 being secured on one night and six on another. The rats have now entirely disappeared, and none have, been caught lately. The shopkeeper stated on Thursday that he had been troubled by a similar invasion about two years ago. An Outsize in Caterpillars. An interesting species of caterpillar was recently shown by a Rotorua resident who had found them eating kumera plants, states a correspondent For the caterpillar family, the specimens were of very large size, green in colour, with black markings-down both sides. Curiously enough, they were equipped with short, hard brown tails which gave the insects the appearance of some miniature prehistoric animal. The legs were very powerful and held like glue to an object. The caterpillars were taken to the Fields Inspector of the Agricultural Department (Mr. C. S. Dalgleish) for identification purposes, but neither Mr. Dalgleish nor the Inspector of Stock (Mr. C. H. Newson) had seen such specimens before. Three of the caterpillars were sent to the departmental headquarters for inspection and identification. Although the caterpillars made short work of the kumera plapts they did not touch other vegetables in the garden where they were found. ; New Auckland Tramcars. Five new tramcars, equipped with power units of revolutionary design and ' calculated to reduce noise and add greatly to the comfort of passengers, will be seen in Auckland streets within a, fortnight, states the "New Zealand Herald." These new trucks, as the bogies and power units are technically known, were made in England, and are similar to those which have been successfully used in the Johannesburg, Liverpool, and Glasgow tramway systems. They are the first of their kind in either New Zealand or Australia. At present they are at the Mount Roskill tramway workshops. The principal features of the new equipment are as follows: Firstly, long, laminated semi-eliptical springs upon which rest the axleboxes fitted with cylindrical roller bearings. Secondly, wheels 27in in diameter instead of 33in. To -reduce noise as much as possible, curves have been cut in each wheel and caulked with lead, as have all the gear wheels. Thirdly, all points of spring suspension have been superseded by rubber blocks, in conformity with modern motor-car manufacturing practice, to absorb shock and noise, as well as to make for smooth riding. The general design of the new trucks, two of which will be fitted to each . new streamlined body, is clean-cut and strong, and the braking system makes for added efficiency. All possible improvements have been incorporated, and instead, of the trucks being heavier they are much lighter than the older types. Thus they require less power to drive their electric motors than those on the road; they Ghould be more efficient in operation, and what is equally important from the public standpoint, they will bring more comfort to passengers.

St. John Ambulance. With the construction of improved roads and faster automobiles, each built directly as a result of the other, and the fact that the motor-car, like the radio and the telephone, is more and more becoming a necessity to the family, traffic accident cases still reach alarming figures, states a report from the St. John Ambulance Association. The association considers that many more people should bo trained in first aid, and those citizens who have taken a St. John ambulance course should not be content to lie back on their laurels, but should take a refresher course at least every two years. A total of 893 persons were instructed for the period April 1, 1937, to December 31, 1937, and this involved the conducting of sixty classes of instruction. Greater efforts are being made to impart this important knowledge to persons during the present year, and the association feels confident that the public will take advantage of the many opportunities to learn first aid and home nursing.