DOMINION NEWS FLYING BOAT VISITS CHATHAM ISLANDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1946, Page 10

DOMINION NEWS FLYING BOAT VISITS CHATHAM ISLANDS

The test flight made to the Chatham Islands by the R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderland flying-boat Mataatua, which returned to Wellington yesterday was uneventful, according to the crew and passengers, but the embarking of passengers at the islands with the present facilities was quite a different, matter. It.took four hours and a half to. get 28 passengers aboard, and as a result the flying-boat was considerably later than expected in its arrival at Wellington. AJI that. was available to load the passengers at Waikato Bay lagoon, which is used as the flight terminal, were dinghies fitted, with outboard motors. In calm weather these may have been equal to the.task, but in the rough weather yesterday, the dinghies shipped water and the motors stalled. As a result the loading of passengers was a long, tedious business, in which several travellers got a wetting before they reached the Mataatua in safety;—(ljkA.) War-Time Price Index.

The war-time price index as at September 15, 1946, on the base December 15, 1942, equals 1000, was 1011, says a notice in last night’s Gazette. “This figure indicates that after seasonal adjustment has been made in respect 'Of certain commodities, the prices of which are subject to seasonal movement, the general level of prices of commodities, etc., included in the war-time price index was .7 per cent, higher than on the base fixed,” the notice adds.—(P.A.)

Issue of War Ribbons. After the announcement last week that the ribbon of the War Medal would be issued to all persons who served for 28 days or longer on a fulltime basis, Base Records-has received numerous requests for the issue of the ribbon from discharged persons. It has now been pointed out by an official of Base Records that the ribbon can be issued only to discharged persons who wear some type of uniform and are therefore able to wear the ribbon. Such persons would include commissionaires, tramwaymen, or uniformed messengers. Other civilians should not apply for the issue. They will receive ribbon in due course when the medal itself is issued.— (P.A.) “Pure Propaganda.” “Pure propaganda,” was how the Minister of Transport (Mr. O’Brien) yesterday described reports that the Government intended to take over taxi-cabs. In a statement the Minister said: “Information has come to me that people have been going round taxi-cabs telling the drivers that the Government is going to take over the cabs next year to run them as Government taxis. This is. contrary to fact. The Government has no intention, of taking over taxi-cabs. The story is pure propaganda.”—(P.A.)

Farm Workers’ Wages. Higher wages for agricultura' workers employed on dairy farms, tc take effect on August 1, are prescribed in a wage fixation order gazetted tonight. The new wages, with the existing ones in parentheses are: —Under, 17, £l/17/- (£l/15/-) weekly; 17 and under 18, £2/7/6 (£2/5/-); 18 and under 19, £2/18/1 (£2/15/-); 19 and under 20, £3/9/- (£3/5/-); 2C and under 21, £3/19/6 ( £3/15/-); 21 and upwards, £4/10/- (£4/5/-) The allowance of £1 weekly where board and lodging are not provided remains unchanged.—/P.A.)

Church Union Proposals. The basis of a union between the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational Churches in New Zealand was formally approved by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, meeting at Wanganui, after an extended sitting last evening, but there was a division of opinion as to when a vote should be taken among congregations. ~ By adopting a clause in its church union committee’s report, the assembly agreed to instruct presbyteries to vote themselves, and to arrange for the vote of members to be takeifin all congregations before August, 1947, but notice of motion was given to the effect that this period be extended by one year, and the issue is likely to be again debated by the present assembly. An amendment asking that a committee of 50 be appointed to go into certain questions and draw up an act of union for presentation to a subsequent assembly was also before the session, but was defeated on a show of hands. — (P.A.)

Trout Fry Perish on Air Journey. Half of the 5000 brown trout fry sent by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society in the Sunderland flyingboat Mataatua to the Chatham Islands failed to survive the journey. The fish in the other container were apparently in good condition and will be liberated in streams on the islands. The dead fish were brought back to Wellington’when the aircraft returned yesterday and will be examined by the society in an attempt to determine the cause of their failure to last the journey. One of the likely suggestions is overheating of the water in the can and lack of air. This is the first time the society has attempted to send trout by air. The experiment was the result of representations made by an island resident, who agreed to arrange their transport. The fry left Wellington in excellent condition after being brought from the hatcheries-at Masterton by the society’s head ranger, Mr. P. W. Willson, of Lower Hutt.— (P.A.) Naval Service “Early this year it was decided by the Naval Board that the time was opportune for setting up a committee to investigate the conditions of service, advancement, promotion, and welt are matters in general of the olficers and men in the Royal New Zealand Navy,” said the Minister o. Defence (Mr Jones) in a 'statement U ? Dunedin. “It was also decided tna all officers and ratings who wished to do so might give evidence before the committee, and that the com " mittee might discuss any problemwith any naval or other authority whose views they desired to The Minister said that the committee discussed a wide range of subje involving the welfare of the men the service. While there were a complaints, a general desire ' shown to assist in the ’ m P rove , . of conditions with a view to a naval career one to be desired respected by the community. , had already been taken to s the period of initial engagement toi service in the Royal New Zealand Navy, and in future engagementwould generally be of six ye (P-A.)