NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 125, 29 May 1941, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Science in Schools. "We want science, not sciences. We want something broad and fundamental, and should strive to arrive at a scientific way oi looking at things in the community,' said Dr. L. Bastings at yesterday's annual meeting oi the council of the Royal Society of j.,ew Zealand, when the question oi the leaching of science in schools was under consideration. Other speakers pointed out that the question should not be looked at. merely from a vocational point of view: it was desirable that everyone should know something of the sciences of. every-day life, ft was- decided to request the Minister of Education to convene a committee upon which would be representatives of all the interested parties in order fully to discuss the question. Appeal to Women. The Sydney Housewives' Association officially appealed to -social Hostesses and society leaders to refrain from giving cocktail, sherry, or beer-and-sausage parties, as these were a bad example to the public at present.. The Minister of Customs called upon an women m the following terms: "Lei us forgo our new hat, our silk stockings, our carpet, or motor-car until we can enjoy them in celebrating a great victory. Surely we could not enjoy them in defeat." British Woman's Gratitude. "On receiving a parcel of clothes through the British Red Cross, I came across a little not'; in my sleeping suit and I want to thank you for your kindness in sending such nice things for the poor people of London who have gone through such a lot lately," wrote an Englishwoman to the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society , "I was bombed out of my house in Bow, and I have lost everything, including :my new perambulator for my baby. We have been evacuated to Northampton, my husband, my baby, and myself. We only have 26s a week to keep us, and it does not go very far nowadays. However, I suppose we must not ' grumble. We must thank God to be alive. It is quite a treat to have a night's sleep after being in shelters so 1 long." Saved by Pigeons. Messages carried by pigeons saved • the three occupants of the launch Royal Irish from a long drift on the sea when the launch broke down four miles outside the Raurimu Islands while on a fishing trip, states a Whakatane correspondent. The launch was not expected for several days and would have been in a difficult situation if any wind had sprung up to blow it out to sea. Pigeons were carried on the launch by Mr. J. Addison, however, and one was dispatched when the mishap occurred. The message was received at Mr. Addison's farm, and in response the Port Whakatane put to sea. Returning after an unsuccessful search the Port Whakatane found another pigeon had been sent giving the launch's position. The launch was finally brought safely to port. Occupational Therapy. s The progress made with occupational therapy at the Auckland Mental Hos[pital, which has given a lead to other institutions in this respect, was warmly j commended by the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) after a visit on Tuesday. Mr. Nordmeyer said the results were most gratifying. Patients who had formerly been idle were now usefully occupied according to their capabilities and were better and happier. Some of them could perform only very simple tasks, but others turned out remarkably good baskets, wooden articles, and so forth. Women patients ' as well as men were taught handicrafts that suited their inclinations. Coconut Problem. "Summer Isles of Eden" have troubles Eden never knew. Their main source of wealth is the coconut, but the world markets for its derivative, copra, are almost non- : existent. Some assistance to the in- ! dustry was afforded by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company buying coconut shell to turn into charcoal, but the i war has seriously upset the copra market. New Zealand is conducting experiments in the use of copra as pig and cattle feed, and has bought a substantial quantity of copra from Western Samoa. Mr. J. M. Hedstrom, president of the Suva Chamber of Commerce, said that it was not known : whether New Zealand was likely to make further purchases; but as she had interests in Samoa and other Pacific groups, any development of this ' trade was unlikely to benefit Fiji. Exports of copra from Fiji last year were 20,379 tons, valued at £125,063, a heavy decline from 34,582 tons, valued at . £406,393, exported in 1930. Port Figures Lower. Statistics placed before the Harbour Board last night by the retiring chairman, Mr. W. L. Fitzherbert. stated that there were decreases in both shipping and cargo handled in April, ns compared with those for April. ISMO. The net tonnage of vessels arriving was 230,591, a decrease of 131.47G tons, and manifest cargo tonnage was 193,211, a decrease of 11,816 tons. The • principal decreases were in general exports to coastal and intercolonial ' ports, 4075 tons, and general transhipi ments, 3683 tons; other decreases were recorded in wool and hemp shipments^ ' 5165 bales; timber imports, 546.496 i super feet; coal imports, 2777 tons; and frozen meat shipments, 1584 tons. Bri- ' fish and foreign ports general cargo ■ imports and exports remained about the same. Increases were shown in ' butter shipments. 2269 tons; cheese 1697 toiis; and oils in bulk inwards and outwards, 5072 tons. Comparative : figures for the seven months of this ■ financial year with the previous year ■ showed shipping arrivals 1.720,221 tons, as against 2,301,663 net registered tons, • the manifest tonnage of cargo being 1126 626 tons, as compared with; 1,144,625 tons lust year. The chairman remarked that though Hie tonnage of 1 vessels for the seven months was much lower, the tonnage of cargo had been \ I about the same.