NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 139, 15 June 1939, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Deaf People Hear

For the first time in 20 years he had heard voices perfectly, stated a man who attended the inauguration of the new group hearing aid at the rooms of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand League for the Hard of Hearing this week, states the "New Zealand Herald." A boy present said he had heard his mother's voice for the first time in his life. During the gathering it was stated that the sound power from the microphone in the aid was amplified 750,000 times when it reached the listener. Lack of Opportunity. Complaints of lack of opportunity for young New Zealand architects in their own country were made by the Government town planning officer, Mr. J. W. Mawson, yesterday, when considering the projected civic centre in New Plymouth, states a Press Association message. "New Zealand is producing as good young architects as any other country, but they have the utmost difficulty in finding employment for their ability," he said. He suggested that a plans competition should be held, saying that many New Zealanders abroad were proving their v/orth by winning such competitions. "I have given letters of introduction to many who have secured excellent positions within 24 hours of reaching England," he added. Sleep Disturbers "Bombed." A novel but effective method of reminding a talkative couple in Oriental Bay in the early hours of a recent morning that there were some people who preferred to sleep at night was taken by a householder who had apparently been disturbed by the chatter below his window. The conversation in the street, interrupted by occasional bursts of laughter, had been maintained for nearly half an hour with no apparent attempt to speak quietly, when suddenly the opening of a window in a nearby building was followed by a mild explosion on the street alongside the conversationists. The effect was immediate and silence reigned. An inspection of the locality the next morning revealed that the "bomb" was an old electric light globe., Cars Abandoned. Further information concerning the | snowstorm which occurred in the Apiti district on Monday night suggests that it was the heaviest for six years, states "The Post's" Palmerston North representative. It is stated that the depth of the snow north of Apiti was fourteen inches, while six inches of snow fell at Apiti and down as far as Kimbolton and parts of Pohangina. In the Utuwai district, which is closer to the ranges, there was twelve inches of snow. The snow made motoring difficult on the country roads, and many cars had to be abandoned on Tuesday night, and they were still on the roads yesterday. The storm was at its worst between 5 and 7 o'clock on Tuesday night, and one traveller estimated that about 15 cars had to be abandoned between Kimbolton and Rangiwahia. Pip Fruit Trade. The committee recently appointed to consider proposals for the purchase and sale of pip fruits by the Government will start its sittings on Monday. The Acting Minister of Marketing (the Hon W. L. Martin) said last night that it was not the intention of the committee to traverse the ground so fully covered by the Fruit Marketing Committee which investigated the marketing of fruit in all its ramifications, but rather to consider the request of the fruit industry that the Government should take over the responsibility for the marketing of pip fruits, both locally and overseas, with a view to finding a formula for tlie Government to consider. Mr. Martin said that any person or organisation wishing to place their views before the committee must do so in writing, and that applications to appear before the committee must be made in writing to the secretary, care of the Internal Marketing Division, on or before noon on Monday. In such applications a full outline of the lines on which it was desired to give evidence should be submitted. Owing to the limited time at its disposal it would be manifestly impossible for the committee to arrange for every applicant to appear in person. New Zealand Art. An exhibition of New Zealand art, ranging from the work of the earliest surveyors and artists to that of the present day, is being planned by the Government as a feature of the Centennial The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) said yesterday that the exhibition would form a complete vitual survey of New Zealand art. Many early drawings and paintings were to be found in art galleries museums, and private collections; the intention was to bring them together. Commencing with those early works, a complete survey of the first hundred years of art in New Zealand was planned. The exhibition would consist not only of paintings but also of drawings, etchings, lithographs, caricatures, cartoons, book illustrations and sculpture. The exhibition would hot be confined to one centre, but would be displayed in the mam cities and towns of the Dominion. A well-produced catalogue, complete with biographical notes and illustrations would be compiled, and would afford a valuable historical record of New Zealand art. The Minister said the Government contemplated setting up a national committee to control the venture, and to secure the active cooperation of the various art bodies throughout the Dominion. He hoped that private collectors would come forward and lend their art treasures, and thus make this exhibition the most memorable in the history of New Zealand' art. I

Centennial Music. Although various suggestions have been made from time to time about local musical and choral societies combining their forces and activities for th. purpose of the Centennial celebrations, hitherto nothing definite has eventuated out of the talk. The enthusiasm is apparently there, only awaiting a lead. This lead will be forthcoming next Monday, however, for which date a meeting of the representatives of the musical organisations in Wellington has been convened by the Town Clerk, Mr. E. P. Norman, acting for the Centennial Celebrations Committee. Discussion will be informal and private, but it is expected that some concrete proposal will be the result. Clear Views. Yesterday's brilliant sunshine was accompanied by an extraordinarily clear atmosphere, with the result that the view up the Hutt Valley was one of remarkable beauty. Like stately sentinels at the head of the Valley towered the Tararuas covered by an extensive mantle of snow. This is the first time that they have been fully covered by snow this season, and seldom have these mountains stood out with such clearness. Away to the south across the Strait the snowclad Kaikouras gleamed in the sunlight, also with unusual clearness. The marked contrast in yesterday's weather and today's with that of the preceding days was a general subject of joyful comment. Political Apathy. "People do not seem to care much nowadays for the principles upon which alone sound government can be based," said Mr. R. M. Algie, director of the New Zealand Freedom Association, in an address at Howick, reports the "New Zealand Herald." "All they seem to ask is that they shall work a few hours less in each week and receive a few more shillings in the pay envelope. Given 'bread and circuses,' what matter if democracy shall go and dictatorship should take its place? If our democracies disappear, the apathy of the people, their failure to set a true value upon fundamental principles, will not be the least important of the contributing factors." It was curious, added the speaker, how often dictators in office made use of the language of democracy, and how, when climbing to power, they made use of its forms and machinery, giving verbal allegiance to the form, but soon learning to withhold the substance. Milk Sales Still Go Up. For the last six years one paragraph of the report of the milk committee to the City Council has never varied in general flavour; each month the report states that milk sales are up again, and well up. During May the daily sales were 7291 gallons to domestic consumers, 11 per cent, more than in May of last year. Cream sales were higher by over 20 per cent., and sales to^nearby farmers (715 gallons daily) were almost double the sales of May last year, the reason in this instance being that the exceptional dry spell in the autumn threw dairying calculations out of balance. The chairman of the committee, Councillor L. McKenzie, told the council that it might be necessary to restrict the supply of milk to some of the schools, for though the wet weather had assisted by holding the supply it had not resulted in an increase. The committee did not expect any difficulty in maintaining the full domestic supply.