NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Army Motor-cyclists

Motor-cyclists in the armed forces will not be required to carry "L" plates on their machines if they are inexperienced riders, according to an order gazetted last, night. It was officially stated, however, that the riding of motor-cycles by members of the forces is subject to strict supervision. Lack of Maternity Beds. Extra maternity beds were a crying need in -Wellington, said Dr. R. WeltonHogg at the meeting of the Hospital Board last night. It was impossible to find beds in the hospital for cases that were coming along. On that account a number of cases were being sent out to the Hutt, where overcrowding was also taking place. High-priced Potatoes. Potatoes rule high in •price in the local market due, it is reported, to light crops in Canterbury. Wholesale prices in Wellington are between £12 and £14 per ton; in Christchurch the market was firm yesterday at £7 10s to £8 per ton and opinion there was that the market is likely to remain round this level until later in the season. It is a good price, and farmers realise that by unloading heavily they might force it down. There was a [steady demand from the North Island. Site for Maternity Hospital. A site in Ngaio for the Wellington I Hospital Board's proposed new maternity hospital was suggested at last night's meeting of the Ngaio Progressive Association by the chairman. Mr. H. L. Cummings. The site, Mr. Cummin gs said, was in the valley, half a mile south of the Ngaio Railway Station, a sheltered, sunny, and handy position, on ideal building land, which had not yet been opened up. The construction of the Ngaio-Wadestown road, already surveyed, would make this position even easier of access. It was unanimously agreed to forward the suggestion to the Hospital Board. Top-dressing Banks Peninsula. "You cannot expect that wonderful country to keep as it is without topdressing," said Mr. R. McGillivray,* formerly Fields Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, referring to Banks Peninsula at a meeting of the North Canterbury district executive of the Farmers' Uaion, reports the'"Press." His remarks were in reply to tributes paid him on his retirement. The Mount Herbert, Wairewa, and Akaroa counties had the highest carrying capacity in the South Island, but they would have to be top-dressed. "My own view is that it will be done from the air, but perhaps that is looking too far ahead," he said. "But you cannot keep taking it out of that country for all time." French Ships Under Lien. The ships of the French Line, about 15 in number, including the Normandie, are now the only ones among foreign shipping to be found in American harbours which have not been taken into custody by the United States authorities, but they are no longer possessed by their owner. They are subject to a legal lien, as the outcome of orders issued by American courts at the request of British creditors, states "The Post's" New York correspondent. The creditors are shipbuilding companies of Great Britain.' The French Line had to pay annuities to them on account of the building in their yards of several units of its merchant fleet. The funds whicn. were available to the French Line in British banks were frozen at the time of the separate armistice last June and all payments were stopped. How to Catch Them. An excellent method for catching mice and rats is given by a Christchurch correspondent. "Get an empty kerosene tin and an empty 21b golden syrup tin," he states. "Punch a hole in the centre of each end of the 21b tin. Poke a piece of fencing wire through tin so that it will spin around on the wire. Punch two small holes in the kerosene tin opposite each other, about 2h inches from the top. Place the small tin with the wire through the holes in the kerosene tin and cover lightly all round with golden syrup and grate some fine cheese crumbs or oatmeal on the syrup. These will tempt the mice or rats to jump on the tin, which spins around and tips them into the water in the kerosene tin and the trap is still set for the next one to try his luck. I have caught fifty in one night by this means. You will need to lean a piece of board about two feet in length up against the kerosene tin for the mice to run up." Economy in Time and Ships. The necessities of war had compelled the adoption of sound, economies in the handling of overseas ships on the New Zealand coast, said Sir Charles Norwood, who is again standing for the Harbour Board as a Citizens' candidate. In place of making calls at up to 18 and 19 ports. and roadsteads round New Zealand, these urgently-needed foodcarrying ships would be, concentrated upon the main, well-equipped ports, to which produce would be carried by rail or sea from lesser centres and ports. The economy in ship time might even mean that cargoes could reach their destination on dates at which, under the old system of multiplicity of calls, they would just be ready to sail from their final New Zealand port. The economy in cost of handling would also be great, for shipping was a business and every ton of cargo for Wellington was naturally loaded in respect of time and risk incurred by many, calls on the New Zealand I coast. The concentrating of overseas ships on the main ports must mean j that Wellington would become a still greater transport and distribution centre and a greater and more important city. "Delightful,, Interesting, Educated." After his arrival in the Middle East from Britain with the New Zealand troops, Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, overseas commissioner for the National Patriotic Fund Board, sent cheques for £100 each to two clubs in Cairo which had done much for the entertainment of men of the New Zealand Forces. They were the Tipperary Tea Club and the Ezbekia Services Club Garden Kiosk. In acknowledging the gift to the Tipperary Club, the woman who runs this institution said that for the first six or eight months of the club's existence 80 to 90 per cent, of the men who came to it were of the New Zealand Forces, and it was an immense pleasure to herself and those assisting her to make the acquaintance of "these delightful, interesting, educated men." She knew she was speaking for all the women who worked for the club when she said what a privilege they felt it to be able to do something for the Dominion troops. Colonel Waite also received a letter of thanks from the other club, and this was sent by Lady Wavell, wife of General Sir Archibald Wayell, General Officer Com-manding-in-Chief, British Forces, Middle East. Copies of the two letters were appended to a report received recently by the National Patriotic Fund Board from Colonel Waite. Subject to Ministerial consent, additional accommodation is to be provided by the Wellington Hospital Board for the eye, ear, nose, and throat depart- j ment by the erection of another storey over the new plaster room additions, the work to be additional to the exist- [ ing contract. I