GENERAL NEWS Czech Mail Censored By Communists

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS Czech Mail Censored By Communists

Two communications from a seedsman in Czechoslovakia were featured in the monthly bulletin of a Canadian firm'received in Auckland recently. Eoth were received in Montreal in the first week of March. One was a letter, dated February 11,- which reached its destination intact, and the other, a postcard, dated February 25—after the Communist* coupshowed evidence of complete censorship. Reproduced in the bulletin were both sides of the postcard; the front side contained the address in the normal way, but the back was completely blacked out. The last paragraph of the letter, which was written in imperfect English, was quoted. It stated that the Canadian Government export quotations were very interesting, but the firm was unable to place any orders because the Government would not give them arly foreign exchange for trade with Canada, and Canadian and United States dollars were inaccessible. The writer expressed hope that after the genei’al elections the country would be free from the Communist regime. The letter ended, “We must now only hope, hope, hope.” Ovearseas Mails

Surface mails for the United Kingdom, Eire and Europe, except the Balkan States and Italy, will close at the Chief Post Office, Greymouth, at 5.30 p.m. on April 6, 12, 13 and 20. Storeman Injured

Injuries to the eyes and face were suffered by Keith Griffiths, a storeman employed at Kilkenny’s garage, Westport, when a tin of rat poison which he was opening exploded. He was admitted to the Buller Hospital and his condition yesterday was reported to be satisfactory.

Part of Ballantyne’s to Re-open A section of J. Ballantyne and Company’s buildings has been renovated and will be open to the public on Monday. It is at the west end of the Cashel street frontage under the tearooms, where fire damage was the lightest. Complete renovations have been made to the interior and the frontage. Grey Valley Rainfall Although rain fell on the same number of days, 16, the total fall for the month at the Gi’anville Forest (Totara Flat) recording station was slightly over an inch less than at Greymouth during the month of March. At Granville, the month’s total was 5.72 inches, as compared with 6.74 inches at Greymouth. The maximum fall for 24 hours was 82 points on March 27. Hokitika Weather Hokitika had 4.39 inches more rain and 28.8 hours more sunshine than Greymouth during the month of March. The Hokitika recordings for the month were:—ll.l3in of rain on 18 rain days and 186.6 hours of sunshine, the corresponding figures for 1947 being 2.02 in and 168 hours respectively. The heaviest fall registered was 2.62 in on March 7. One frost of two degrees was registered during the month. The Postman's Whistle Every day Wellington postmen use up 34,000 cubic feet of air just blowing their whistles, states the Evening Po»t. This I'act emerged from inquiries resulting from recentlypublished letters requesting that postmen whistle every time they pop something into a letter box. Postmen have instructions to do just that. As about two-thirds of the 51,120 houses in the city and suburban area receive mail each day more than whistle blasts are blown. Between them, Wellington’s 84 postmen walk 750 miles a day to deliver an average oi 376,266 letters a week, and, of the 56 deliveries they work, only four can be classed as fiat walks. Parliament May Meet Earlier Parliament may be called together earlier than the usual time this year so that ratification of the Geneva trade agreement can be discussed. At a press conference in Wellington yesterday the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) said that the last date on which New Zealand could become a signatory was June 30, and it might be necessary for Parliament to assemble a week, or even a month, earlier than usual. Although the Government had powei' to ratify the Havana charter without discussion by the House, it was not likely that such an important agreement would be ratified before Parliament met, he said. — (P.A.) o The Juvenile Court Tl\e public cannot be admitted to the Juvenile Court, but as it is a court of primary jurisdiction it is important that they should Joe represented there, said Mr Basil Henriques, who has had long experience of the bench of the Juvenile Court in England, in an address in Wellington on the work of the court. The press was admitted in England, he said. It should be there and be allowed to report whatever it chose, provided cases were not described so as to be identifiable and the names of the children were not published. “The presence of the press -is a protection against the court becoming a star chamber, which it never is, or a sloppy social workers’ tea party, which it often is,” he said.

“Keep Left Society” A meeting of “Christchurch Socialists and Left Wing sympathisers” in Christchurch last evening decided to form an organisation to be known as the “Keep Left Society.” The meeting went into committee, but a report was afterwards issued by the secretary of the interim committee (Mr V. J. Wilson). Mr C. I. C. Scollay was in the chair. The aims of the society ware similar to those of the Fabian Society, said Mr Wilson. It proposed to carry out educational research into Socialism and propaganda for Socialism. The names, “Fabian Society” and “Socialist Society,” said Mr Wilson, were considered and discarded by the meeting. The meeting agreed that the organisation would not be alternative to any present political organisation, and would not seek political power. “A lot of people loyal to the Labour Party are not satisfied that its aim& are being carried out,” said Mr Wilson.

No one likes being soft soaped—much! Ah! But when you think of laundry work—there’s where plenty of soft soaping comes in. The' Westland Laundry uses only the finest laundry soap. That’s one of the reasons why our laundry work is so snowy. And there’s something else — all water used passes through a Zeolite water softener which removes all hardness and impurities from the water. All clothes are hygienically washed and sterilised in seven different waters. Phone 136. Depot. Sam McAra, Mackay street. —Advt.