NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 43, 19 August 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Birds Not Immune

During a discussion by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce regarding a noticeable increase in cargo pillaging, Mr. H. H. Dobie, manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, Christchurch, interjected: "They will even steal birds!" He said that last week a box of birds conveyed by air from the North Island' arrived,on the Dunedin railway station, but had not been seen since. Reflection ori Servicemen. > ,■ When counsel in the Magistrate's Court /day submitted that a case of theft' by a hotel employee was an example of unrest following sudden discharge from the Army to civilian life, objection was taken by Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., who asked why such a reflection should be passed on other men. who had been discharged from the Army. It should not be suggested that because a man had been on service there was some excuse for being light-fingered. Counsel replied that he. had been referring merely to unrest, but the Magistrate said that unrest did not justify thieving. A.A. Membership. "Events have been such that any general relaxation in restrictions imposed on motorists could not be expected, but it stands to the credit of Automobile Associations that their services have been continued at high standards of efficiency/ states the annual report of the North, Island Motor Union. The report showed that the total membership of the eight Automobile Associations in the North Island was 69,225, as compared with 73,244 in 1941 and 73,862 in the peak year of 1940. Horticultural Rarity. A small potato has a place of honour in a.city horticultural shop window. Alone in its glory in the centre of the window, it is labelled "Solanum Tuberosum—a rare plant," and underneath is added: "We regret we cannot supply." The same shop a few days ago had on exhibit, as a loan from a customer, a freak potato which, by a combination of several constituent tubers, was shaped very much like a man. So many people wanted to buy it, with a view presumably to cutting it up for planting, that it became necessary to withdraw it from exhibition: it became tedious repeating that they were sorry, but it was not for sale. Lighting Restrictions. "If pedestrian crossings were adequately marked, if pedestrians used them, and if pedestrians wore some light-coloured garment at night, they would both ensure their own safety and reduce the strain on vehicle drivers," comments the annual report of the North Island Motor Union when discussing the question of lighting restrictions. It stated that motorists had acquitted themselves well in adapting their road conduct to the new lighting conditions. "It was significant that in so many public statements stress was laid on the necessity for added care by motorists," adds the report, "though equal care was due from pedestrians and cyclists."