NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1944, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

WEATHER FORECAST Moderate southerly winds. A few further showers, but weather becoming temporarily fair tomorrow. Cold temperatures. The further outlook is for cloudy to overcast weather, with rain developing:. Temperature at 9 a.m., 47.1 degrees. New moon, May 22. High Water.—Today, 1.6 p.m.; tomorrow, 1.34 a.m., 1.56 p.m. Sun sets today 5.10 p.m.; rises tomorrow 7.25 a.m., sets 5.9 p.m.

"Get on with the Job." The advisability of police patrol cars being equipped with two-way radio as a better means of apprehending car converters was brought before the council of the North Island Motor Union, reports "The Post's" Manawatu correspondent. It was stated that the Army had the necessary equipment stored away and some use .could be made of the sets. The council decided to ask the Police Department to "get on with the job." Hotels for Tourists. The council of the North Island Motor Union has approved of a recommendation from the Wellington Automobile Association that, in the event of a Commission being set up to investigate and report on the licensing trade in New Zealand, the union should state a case concerning the class and extent of accommodation provided by hotels throughout the country. The provision of satisfactory accommodation, it was pointed out, was of importance to A.A. members, especially overseas visitors, more of whom should be encouraged to tour New Zealand. Weather and Roads. Arising out of the council meeting of the North Island Motor Union, "The Post's" Manawatu correspondent reports that the Director of Broadcasting has advised that the defence authorities consider there is still need for the restrictions on the broadcasting of road conditions and weather reports, and the motor unions have been so notified. Pet Ducks Killed. Several residents bordering the Waiwhetu Stream have put themselves to some expense to feed and acclimatise mallard duck on that stream wrote Mr H. H. Morris to the Wellington Acclimatisation Society in a letter received last night. Larrikins had killed some of the ducks with stones, and while he was absent recently youths trespassed on the private properties adjoining the streams to shoot and retrieve duck. He fed the ducks every day, and it was disheartening on one occasion to find nests robbed and the young destroyed; in one case 18 out of 2"0 young birds were wantonly destroyed. He suggested that the area should be declared a bird sanctuary. Heather in National Park. The area on which heather has been growing in the Tongariro National Park for about 20 years is considerable, stated the report of the Tongariro National Park Board, which came before yesterday's annual meeting of the council of the Royal Society of New Zealand. It is not definitely known where it was originally sown, so it is difficult to estimate its- rate of spread. There was evidence to show that if heather seed was distributed by the wind the spread must be very slow. Dr. P. Marshall, the Royal Society's representative on the board, said he was inclined to think that if the native vegetation was left undisturbed the heather would not spread to any material extent, and that on the wetter ground there would be no spread but a gradual decrease. Undergrade Potatoes. The Potato Advisory Committee had recommended that steps be taken to permit certain quantities of South Island undergrade potatoes to be forwarded under supervision to North Island markets, stated the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) last night. As the American forces were prepared to accept as many first-grade potatoes as this country could spare and the growing season just completed had produced a rather higher proportion than usual of potatoes that could not be graded according to the regulations, he was happy to accept that recommendation. Steps were being taken to allow shipment, through the usual channels, of those undergrade potatoes which were of good edible quality, but which for one reason or another could not reasonably be graded to the prescribed f.a.q. standard. Post-war Education. Post-war education was discussed by the council of the Royal Society of New Zealand at its annual meeting in Wellington yesterday, when a letter from the Minister of Education was read. In this letter, Mr. Mason said that it was becoming increasingly evident that not only in New Zealand but throughout the whole British Commonwealth there would be a great expansion after the war in the scope of education, particularly for those below and beyond the present limits of compulsory schooling. Genuine advances in education, although they might be fostered 'by a Government, could not simply radiate from central authority: it was necessary for the great bulk of the people to understand what was afoot and to take an active part in working out the kind of education they wanted for themselves and their children. The appointment of 'a delegate to the conference in Christchurch next August and the formulation of suggestions were left to the standing committee.