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Evening Star, Issue 26031, 20 February 1947, Page 6

An agitation for the setting up of an accommodation bureau in Dunedin to facilitate the placing in hotels .of visitors to the city is still being pressed by the council of the Chamber or Commerce. Should the bureau be established, the intention is to follow in the footsteps of Auckland, which last August set up a bureau, the only one in New Zealand, and up to now 1,200 bookings have been made, information about accommodation available being collected daily from hotels. The council of the chamber agreed to place the proposition before the Licensed Victuallers’ Association and to strongly recommend a bureau as a very necessary public amenity. “The civic'authorities might consider the provision of a mayoral car as a Centennial project,” facetiously suggested Mr A. C. Stephens, a member of the Council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, when it was reported at the monthly meeting that the question of the provision of a car had’ been deferred until the estimates of the City Council were being considered.' “ Although the Mayor appeared to be satisfied to carry out his duties without a mayoral car when approached for his views, the attitude of the chamber is that such a vehicle adds to the dignity of his office, and will be necessary before the Centennial celebrations,” said the president '(Mr C. J. Wood). The Civic Affairs-Committee of the chamber is to wait on the chairman of the council’s Finance Committee (Cr W. B. Taverner) before the estimates are brought down. Only one contested case came before the Otago Land Sales Committee at its sitting this afternoon, Fifty others were set down for hearing. The gratifying proportion of former servicemen enlisting in the J-Force is a feature of the Auckland area’s recruiting activities. Recruits include a large number of men who served in the Army or the Air Force in the last war. Army officers consider that these men’s experience will be an asset, and especially a steadying influence. Many are likely to be considered as noncommissioned officers at an early date. In the first ten days of the recruiting campaign 242 applications have been received at the Auckland area office, including 217 from single men, with ages ranging from 20 to 24. They are from all walks of life, including a large number of Maoris. Applications are still being received as fast as the staff can handle them.—Press Association.

Negotiations. were being carried on with the British Government with a view to the selection of up to 1,000 young single men and women for employment in New Zealand’s essential industries, said the Minister-of Immigration. Mr McLagan. in a recent letter to the Federated Farmers. It was hoped that the negotiations would shortly be concluded so that a scheme of assisted immigration could be inaugurated. Mount Ruapehu, which has been quiet since last November, became active on Monday morning, when a heavy cloud of steam and smoke erupted. The crater has been showing activity ever since. The volcano was first observed to be steaming at about 6.30 on Monday morning, smoke rising to 500 ft. Although no rocks, have been emitted Ifrom the crater, residents report that snow near the summit is discoloured by mud. Some persons claim to have heard explosions. A verdict of guilty on both counts was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court at Napier, at the conclusion of the trial of Cyril Walter Goodman, who was charged with the attempted murder of Kathleen Lucy Christiansen, his former wife, at Dannevirke, on October 12 last year, and also with causing her actual bodily harm by discharging a firearm. The jury made a strong recommendation for mercy o.n the ground of the accused’s domestic upsets. The accused was remanded by Mr Justice Chris for sentence on Friday morning.

Damage to a wall, a coke bin, and a sand barrel was caused last night when fire broke put in a single-storey wood and iron, building at 397 Cumberland street, owned by the Newjoy Ice Cream Co. Ltd., and used as a brass foundry by J. Robertson. The City Fire Brigade was called at 11-22 p.m., and quickly had the outbreak under control. It was thought to have originated from a spark from the smelter. Objection to any proposed move to curtail rural deliveries due to the- 40hour week, was expressed at a meeting of the Otago provincial executive ol the New Zealand Federated Farmers this morning. Mr J. S. Elliot said he had heard of a recent instance of a eontraete.r in Canterbury applying for exemption from Saturday work. A resolution that tho executive, council “ strongly objects to any curtailment of rural deliveries, and recommends that no license be granted to any contractor not willing to supply a service as good as. or better than, the existing one,” was carried unanimously.

As a friendly gesture to the captain, officers, and crew of the French sloop La Grandiere, station 4YA this morning broadcast a special programme of French music, which was introduced and announced by Mons. R. J. Bellugue. Opportunity was taken to welcome the visiting sailors, and the programme was intended to make them feel at home in the city. Appreciation has been expressed for the kindly gesture. An initial grant of £l2 10s towards a high schools week to be held at Alexandra during the. second week in March was made by the Otago Education Board at a meeting to-day. The secondary departments at Cromwell, Wanaka, Roxburgh, Ranfurly, and Middlemarch have been invited to take part. It is intended to pursue physical education, music, art, and some branch of general science during the course. There was a good attendance of members at the eleventh meeting of the Hard of Hearing League Men’s Club held in the club rooms on Tuesday, when an indoor bowls singles competition was conducted. The final resulted in a win for W. Sutherland’s team with 13 games, against George Pedofsky’s team, 11 games. Recent reports and developments in connection with the proposed social security scheme to cover the provision of hearing aids to those in need of. them were reviewed, and it was anticipated that definite details of the plan would he made available to members at an early date. A further application for an increase in the retail price of oysters was made to-day to the Price Tribunal by the Dunedin Fish Retailers’ Association. Tn the meantime city fishmongers . are adhering to their decision to sell tho new season’s oysters at a .half-penny a dozen above the price ceiling.