News Briefs

Evening Star, Issue 26102, 16 May 1947, Page 4

News Briefs

" Is Zat So? " A remark made by the Australian Trade Commissioner, Mr J. J. Murray, in an address to a Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Audklaud caused much amusement to the members. “ Tasmania is very much like New Zealand, as it has a lot of hydroelectricity,” he 6aid. Ironic laughter drowned the following few words. Child Health Study A body to stimulate interest in and promote the scientific study of child health in the Dominion, known as the Pediatric Society, was formed at a meeting of 35 doctors at Auckland. It was stated that many cases of invalidity and adult neurosis and mental disturbances were traceable to childhood troubles which were in many case preventable. and it was felt that there was need in Xew Zealand for a serious stocktaking of the., health of .the child, such as was being undertaken in the United States. Great Britaiu. and Canada. Yawl’s World Cruise The American 27ft yawl Alone, which left Suva on May 2 for Auckland, is expected to arrive shortly, although no reports have yet been received concerning her progress. The Alone, which is making a world cruise, carries her owner. Mr Francis Agnew, of Los Angeles, and (Mr Trevor Bish, of Suva. After visiting the Dominion Mr Agnew intends to cross to Sydney, travel through Torres Strait, cross the Indian aud Atlantic Oceans, and to return to his home port by way of tiie Panama Canal. War of Nerves From the course which the meeting of the national executive of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union has adopted in the last two days (says Wednesday’s ‘New Zealand Herald ’), it is now obvious that the watersiders are preparing to engage in a protracted “ war of nerves ” while they continue to mobilise tiieir force!? both within Xew Zealand and overseas for another test of strength with the Government. The national president of the union, Mr H. Barnes, of Auckland, and the national secretary. .Mr T Hill, of Wellington, have booked their passages by Tasman Umpire Airwavs to fly to Sydney on Wednesday. While in the C< momvealth they will confer with officials of the Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation, and they expect to be absent from Xew Zealand for about two weeks. Commemorating U.S. Servicemen In memory of American servicemen who died in the war, a special service will be held on May 30 in St. Paul's Cathedral. An address will lie do livered at tiie service by Air Avra M Warren, United States Minister to Xew ''ealand, who will be visiting Dunedin at that time. In the past few years services have been held at tiie U.S. servicemen’s cemeteries iu Wellington and Auckland, but the bodies have now been sent back t 1 r "“" 1 States. The service at St. Paul’s. PirnodiiK will begin at 11.30 a.m., and Ddan A. C. H. Button is now mat • ii° i'«sry lUTMiigenionts. The lesson will be read by the Rev. L. D_ C. Groves, president of the National Council of Churches. Mr Warren has stated that he would be glad if members of the Returned Services’ Association were invited to attend. Missing Girls Return Til? two girls wjio were reported yesterday to be missing from their homes -at Mosgiel and vVingatui, Gladys Margaret Ross and Audr' - Cum;, aged 16 and 15 respectively, returned to Dunedin by tiie express yesterday afternoon. They had < boarded the train at Timaru. Their descriptions had been broadcast and published in the ‘ Star ’ for the police, who were seeking them on behalf of their relatives.

Water Reserve A total 0f’560,000 gallons was lost from the three city reservoirs during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day, bringing the amount of stored water down to 62,226,000 gallons. The restrictions will be continued during the week-end, and it is expected that reduced industrial consumption will help to relieve the emergency. Tepid Bath Heating

The announcement that the Christchurch municipal tepid baths will probably be closed in order to conserve electricity may have caused apprehension as to the position of the Dunedin municipal baths. Dunedin’s swimmers need not fear restrictions, on their sport, however, as this tepid bath is stef*mheated. The heating of the 125.000gallon pool at Christchurch absorbs a vast amount of electric power, and in order to save units and cut peaks the Christchurch City Council has considered closing the tepid baths. The Dunedin municipal baths will be closed for annual overhaul on June 28.

Dentists Back at School About 20 returned servicemen graduates of the Otago Dental School are at present attending a refresher course in Dunedin. The dentists, who come from all parts of the Dominion, will be at tiie school for the full university vacation. This course is expected to'be the last of the refresher series that has been run at the school during the last three years under the Rehabilitation Department’s programme to assist ex-servicemen dentists.' Future County Councillors ?

Comparison between Dunedin’s dignified Council Chamber and some county council rooms was probably made by a group of young farmers at present on a week's visit to this city, when they were conducted through the Town Hail this morning. Potential county councillors in turn sat in the Mayor’s chair and called the meeting to order with the official mallet. Others again, having been conducted with due ceremony, were content to sit with arms folded and head high, very conscious of the honour which had just been bestowed upon them.

Infectious diseases reported to the Department of Health during the week consisted of two cases of tuberculosis, one of eerebro-spinal meningitis, and one of erysipelas. The Auckland and Suburban Drainage League has sent the following telegram to, all Labour Party members at present attending the caucus at Wellington: “ On behalf of the supporters of the petition for a Royal Commission we strongly protest against the Government confining investigation to the Works Department, which can only investigate the technological aspects of the proposals We consider agriculture and health aspects of primary importance. Will yon personally impress upon the Government the nesessity for a full public investigation in terms of the Select Committee's fn’ ourable investigation.”—Wellington P.A.

Dissatisfaction that students taking vocational courses at certain technical colleges had to sit an examination for university entrance while students at most post-primary school were accredited, was expressed at tiie Technical School Teachers’ Association conference. The conference asked its executive to. urge the Education Department and the University Senate to add to the list of accrediting schools those technical schools which desired to accredit and showed the necessary efficiency.

The party of representatives from young farmers’ clubs in Otago and Southland; who have been spending an educational week in Dunedin, conclude their organised programme this evening. This morning Mr C. B. Barrowclough spoke to the party on the provisions or the Workers’ Compensation Act and otiier legislation of interest to farmers. Later, Mr A. G. Elliott, fields superiutendant (Department of Agriculture) spoke on ‘ Farming in New Zealand,’ after which Mr E. J. Anderson gave an address on the art of debating. The afternoon sessions were devoted.to visits to the Botanic Gardens and to Speight’s brewery, which was of considerable interest to those boys from the barlevgrowing districts To-night they will be the guests of the Otago Farmers’ Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association at a picture party.

“ This kind of conduct is properly regarded by Parliament as very serious,” said Mr Justice Calian, at Auckland, when Walter Thomas Birch, a labourer, aged 40, was brought before him for sentence for assaulting a young woman in the street with intent to rob her. “In the days when flogging was a lawful punishment, this was one ,of the few offences for which that penalty could be imposed,” added His Honour. He said this was not the first time something of this kind had happened lately, but he could remember nothing quite as brutal as this case. It would be a shocking thing and a disgrace to the city if women felt afraid to go about the streets after dark. His Honour said the prisoner had 15 previous convictions for various offences. He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

The New Zealand Red Cross Society was congratulated and honoured through its representative on the League of Red Cross Societies yesterday. when Mr C G. White, former chairman of the Dominion executive, was presented with the Greek Red Cross silver medal. The presentation was made and congratulations conveyed in recognition of the services given by the New Zealand Red Cross to the Greek Red Cross.—Wellington Press Association

Strong criticism of the housing conditions for teachers was expressed at' the annual meeting of the New Zealand Education Institute. After reference to the “ half-hearted and evasive manner ” in which the Government was dealing with the problem, the institute decided to make every effort to lay down a standard of housing so that education hoards might provide snub housing as circumstances normit. The institute considered tliat the pvioritv of housing should be in the ' following order:—Head teachers, married assistants, single assistants, and students in training. Several sneakers emphasised that school efficieimv was se'-ionslv affected, because teachers with houses were not applying for more senior positions where there was a risk of not obtaining accommodation. Members of Hie Rnpint-r of Friends from all o ver New Zealand are gathered in Dunedin over Hm woph.'mri for the p°neral meeting of the 'opietv. A pnt-ah’e visitor this roar is Rnznnne Adlam. from the Friends’ Centre. RLencr'mi. on her wgv home to England after having resided for 26 years in China.