AIR SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22627, 19 July 1935, Page 8

AIR SERVICES

The Transport Co-ordination Board has very properly laid it down that the public interest demands that licenses should be granted to air services with special care on account of the danger attending this form of travel. "We should not be doing our duty," the Board has observed, "if we took any risks in licensing services or aeroplanes with which we are not thoroughly satisfied." The Board would certainly be blamed if it took its responsibilities in this matter any less seriously. Nevertheless the grounds upon which dissatisfaction has been expressed in different quarters with the decisions of the Board upon certain applications for licenses are not necessarily to be dismissed as trivial. The fact that the Board occupies an autocratic position, inasmuch as there is no appeal from its decisions, should constitute a reason for the extension of every consideration by it to representations made in support of the applications that are placed before it. The contention that the Board has not afforded, those interested the fullest opportunity of being heard before coming to a decision is advanced with a good deal of force from several parts of the Dominion. The deci'sion, involving a variation of an earlier ruling, that Palmerston North shall be excluded from the route • of the trunk service which Great Pacific Airways proposes to operate from Auckland to Dunedin, has been commented on very candidly by the Mayor of Wellington. The issue, as viewed by the company, is "the deletion of a vital point in t}je main passenger trunk air service of the Dominion." In considering this matter, Mr Hislop contends, the Board, in contrast to its previous method of dealing with the question, deliberated in camera, and no bodies or interests other -than those financially concerned were called upon to submit arguments, nor were local bodies, as representatives of the public, or other organisations vitally affected, asked to submit their views. The reply of the Commissioner of Transport is not illuminating as regards the reasons which actuated the Board, nor does it, as the Commissioner has suggested, really clarify the position. The Wellington City Council had made a specific request that it should have full opportunity of stating its case before the Board, and it is scarcely an answer to Mr Hislop's contention to say that it had this opportunity in March last. Prom Auckland has come an endorsement of the Wellington Council's complaint in a statement by the ex-Mayor of that city in which he strongly criticises the Board's method of procedure. Again the case of New Zealand Airways, Ltd., as ventilated, by Mr H. M. Mackay in our columns, would seem to furnish another illustration of reluctance on the part of the Transport Co-ordination Board to hear everything that might be said in support of the company's applications before coming definitely to its decisions. New Zealand Airways has certain claims as a pioneer enterprise of its kind. A question between it affd the Board related to the licensing of machines of a type to which the Board has declined to give its approval. The company has received a rebuff also in the refusal of the Board to permit it to operate a southern air service from Christchurch, the decision being the rather peculiar one that this route shall begin at' Timaru. It is complained by New Zealand Airways that it was not afforded an adequate opportunity of presenting its case before the Board, especially in respect to the merits of the machines which, in anticipation of the extension of its activities, it had contracted to acquire. In the position in which it now finds itself it is certainly entitled to sympathy. The decisions of the Transport Co-ordina-tion Board may conceivably be perfectly sound in view of all the considerations, whatever they may be, by which it has been guided. It is unfortunate, however, that in reaching them it should have exposed itself to the criticism that it failed to afford an adequate hearing to all parties interested.

New Maternity Hospital Among the recommendations to be submitted by the Hospital Committee at the monthly meeting of the Otago Hospital Board oft Thursday evening next will be one that the board's new maternity hospital, which is to be erected in Castle street, shall be named " The Queen Mary Maternity Hospital." Subsidy for Relief Workers

A return prepared by the town clerk showing the cost to the City Council involved by the payment of subsidy to relief workers indicates that for the week ended July 13 the number of men receiving the subsidy was (560 out of 994 men actually at work, the cost being £349 10s Bd. The recent alterations by the Unemployment Board affecting the time to be worked by the workers in the various categories will (states the report of the Finance Committee) necessitate some internal adjustments to 111661" the altered conditions, and these adjustments will be arranged without delay. An Evasive Witness

"Is that your signature?" a witness was asked in the Magistrate's Court yesterday when a document was thrust before his eyes. "Well, I couldn't say." he replied; "I am not a handwriting expert." Although this retort raised a laugh in the court, it failed entirely to satisfy the magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew, Who asked: "Is it your signature or is it not? Surely you know your own signature." The best that could be obtained from the witness, however, was an admission that it was very like his signature, but as he could not recollect signing that particular document he could give no definite answer. Tailors and the Sales Tax A writ has been issued by the Customs Department and served on Mr T. Jenkins, as secretary of the Dunklin Master Tailors' Association, claiming payment of sales tax. This confirms the information received some weeks ago that the department intended to bring a test case for non-payment of the tax by Dunedin tailors. Public Reading

The report of the Library Committee, to be presented at Alonday night's meeting of the City Council, states that the attendance in the newspaper and magazine rooms during June was 17,215 and in the reference room 3729, making a total of 20,944, compared with 22.6JL4 for tiie corresponding period of last year. The number of books consulted in the reference library was 6771, compared with 5600 in June last year. In the Lending Department the number of adult tickets issued was 12,432 (9725 last year), and the number of juvenile tickets was 2503 (1534). -The number of books issued for home reading was 29,777, at an average rate of 1241 volumes per day. The nimi ber of books added was 592, making a total stock to June 30 of 55,884. Merciful Dunedin Acknowledging the remarks of a number of Dunedin churchmen at a farewell social the Rev. D. D. MacLachlan, who was the recipient of a handsome present, said that, among the many gifts and tokens received from Otago and Southland, he specially valued this token from Dunedin churchmen. He recalled preaching as a student-pastor for four years at Opoho, and, looking over his sermon notes of those days, he felt that the Dunedin people were full of charity, goodness, and mercy to have suffered uncomplainingly. Mrs MacLachlan was the recipient of a handsome oak tea wagon with English china and a beautiful silver teapot and Mr MacLachlan of a roll of notes and numerous other gifts from public and church bodies. »

Anti-war Procession

An anti-war procession and demonstration will be held through the city streets on Sunday, August 4, by members of the Dunedin branch of the Communist Party. Permission for this has been granted by the General Committee of the City Council, which will report as follows at Monday night's meeting:—"Permission has been granted to the Dunedin branch of the Communist Party to hold an antiwar procession and demonstration on Sunday, August 4, the procession to assemble at Cargill's Monument at 2.30 p.m. and march direct to the % Museum Ground. The same body has also* been granted permission for members to deliver public addresses in the public streets already approved for the purpose by the council." Port Chalmers Borough

Speaking to a Daily Times reporteryesterday, the Mayor,of Port Chalmers (Mr T. Scollay) said he considered it all to the good to have the question of the borough rates well discussed. Generally speaking, things that had happened in the past were out of the domain of practical politics, and he had no wish to review statements made in favour and against increasing the borough rates. Nevertheless, he pointed out that his readjustment of municipal service costs showed a surplus at the end of the year of oyer £3OO, and this had been done without increasing the rates. That result was purely a matter of readjustment, and the present time demanded adjustments. For instance, the sum of £SO set aside for donations could well stand drastic pruning these days. Apart from the surplus which his readjustment would provide, the Mayor said that at the same time he did not interfere with the provision made for the services of a borough engineer and tar-sealing and extension of highways, but he had included in his amended estimate the sum of over £l5O in excess of last year's estimates for road metal alone.

Sunday Tram Fares A recommendation that Sunday tram fares should be reduced to one penny over all sections will be made -by the Tramways Committee of the City Council at Monday night's meeting. Consideration has been given (states the report of the. committee) to the question of reducing the present scale of Sunday fares, which provides for twopence cash for the first section and one penny cash for each succeeding section. The committee is of the opinion that the time has now arrived when the special twopenny rate should be abolished, and therefore recommends that, as from the first Sunday in Augusts the Sunday fares on all lines be on the cash basis of one penny per section. It is further proposed that the new scale continue in force until March 31, 1936, when the matter can Jje reviewed. The tramway manager estimates that the change will involve a loss in revenue over a period of 12 months of £1496.

Smoking in Restaurants "As regards public health there are no real . grounds for objection against smoking in dining rooms. It is • •>ere'v a personal matter," said Dr T. J. Hughes, medical officer of health in Auckland, in answer to a question whether the practice is permissible by law. The only law relating to it (s>ays the Auckland Star) is one prohibiting smoking in bakehouses, where cigarette butts and ashes have in some cases been found in the bread. Smoking could have no harmful effects on the food in restaurants, said Dr Hughes; it was only a matter of personal objection. Naturally many people disliked eating in an atmosphere thick with tobacco smoke, but their complaints could hardly call for action on the part of Parliament or local bodies. " Times are changing," continued the doctor, "and people have to use their own discretion as to where and when they smoke. I have often seen women apparently enjoying the atmosphere of the smoking compartment of a crowded tram. Personally, lam not in favour of smoking in restaurants, and would suggest as a solution the division of dining rooms into separate smoking and non-smoking compartments as is done in places in many parts of the worM. However, it is a q lestion for the public and the restaurant proprietors themselves."

I Holiday Cruise ■ ; Continuing the holiday cruise conducted by the Union Steam Ship Company, the Monowai left Apia on Wednesday after a stay of nearly two day* in Samoa. This visit was highly appreciated by the passengers, who revelled in the lovely coastal views and the tropical 1 scenes around the plantations and native villages. The weather on Wednesday I was fine and warm, and as the sea was smooth afternoon tea was served on deck. . Early yesterday morning ,the ship called at Niuafoou with a " tin can" mail of 5400 letters. According to schedule, the ship will arrive at Levuka early to-day.

Sunday Teacher's Reward A young man who teaches in a Sunday school at Onehunga picked up from the street the other day a woman's purse, which contained £5. He took it into a shop near where it was found, thinking that when the owner missed the purse she might inquire for it at the shop. His surmise (the Auckland Star says) was correct, and on proving to the satisfaction of the shopkeeper that the property was hers, she received it, with the address and name of the finder. In due time the finder received his reward, which consisted of a letter of thanks and a haifcrown ticket in an art union. The young man's antipathy to gambling in any form is well known to his friends, and is so pronounced that if he knew the ticket entitled him to the first prize in the art union he would not use it. _ He still holds the ticket, but if he should happen tc* (J.raw the first prize there is just a possibility of the Government getting it. In that case, although a remote one, the young man would have the satisfaction of contributing to his country'* revenue by sticking to his principles. In the meantime, he is not prepared to sesl the ticket. Guaranteed Prices

Heavy losses to the Dominion which might accrue under a system of guaranteed prices to farmers such as that suggested by the Labour Party, were indicated by Mr M. E. Lyons, Nationalist candidate in the Lyttelton by-election, in an address at Woolston on Wednesday night. Mr Lyons quoted figures to show the total losses, if there were a unit iosa of Ifl a pound on each of the most important primary products. The loss on butter, he said, would be approximately £1,200,000, on cheese £BOO,OOO, on beef £BOO,OOO, on mutton £1,20(5,000, on lamb £1,300,000, and on wool £1,250,000. "These figures will suggest the loss which the consuming public might have to face if such a proposal were made effective," said Mr Lyons. Aero Club for Timaru

The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce decided on Wednesday night to accord its supnort to an application which is to be forwarded to the controller of civil aviation by a number of qualified pilots in Timaru asking for authority to form'a South Canterbury Aero Club. It was pointed out that when New Zealand was divided up into aero districts, the area between the Rangitata and .Wai* taki Rivers was designated as the South Canterbury district, but so far advantage had not been taken of this for the formation of a South Canterbury Aero Club. Such a club would enjoy certain privileges, and would also be enitled to a Government subsidy in the training of pilots.

Nothing Could Stop Him "Is a player is order in scoring a try without.his trousers?" This question was raised and ansvrered in the affirmative at the Auckland Rugby League Referees' Association meeting on* Monday night. The chairman, after suggesting that although sensitive people might be shocked at the spectacle, said he thought the courage of a player deserved recognition in such a disaster. As a matter of fact, he added, the experience befell a relative of his in a suburban Rugby Union match on Saturday, and he was glad to learn that the junior was allowed the "try. Another member, said that a incident recently occurred in Sydney in an dnter-State; match on the Cricket .Ground. .'-■■•..

Novel Use for Rocket

Th» way in which a rocket had been used in connection with the erection of an electric power line near Muriwai was described by the manager (Mr A. Main) at a meeting of the Waitemata Electric Power Board on Monday. "The last high-tension span on the Muriwai extension passes from the top of the cliff overlooking the beach, over a heavilytimbered valley tp the transformer structure on the Beach road," Mr Main said. "Considerable difficulty would have been encountered in carrying the line across in the usualway by cutting a track through the bush, and, in addition, damage to the native bush would have resulted. Through the courtesy of the Auckland harbourmaster (Captain EL H. Sergeant)," added Mr Main', " arrangements were made for the loan .of the Harbour Board's rocjtet-firirig apparatus, and a line was fired over a span from the cliff to the road, a distance of 250 yards. The experiment proved very successful, and the three high-tension conductors were pulled over in 70 minutes —a job which otherwise would have, taken the best part of two days." Members complimented the engineer on the ingenious device, and expressed appreciation of the Harbour Board's co-operation. . Pioneers of Manawatu

The suggestion that a memorial to tht pioneers of the Manawatu and Rangitikei districts should be erected on Mount Stewart alongside the main highway aa it runs from Palmerston North to Wanganui, seems nearer materialisation. At the last meeting of the Manawatu County Council representations were made in favour of the proposal, and the council decided to have the site of seven acres and "three-quarters surveyed and a plan prepared. The first move will be to provide a parking place for cars, it being pointed out that the spot was frequently visited by those desiring to get a good view of the surrounding points right out to*the coast on one side and across to Mount Ruapehu on the other. The memorial visualised at the moment is something in the nature of an obelisk on a tower with a light on the top.

"America's Greatest Mistake" is Mr J. Malton Murray's description of the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. He promises to furnish abundant evidence of an official nature to support his contention. With him, the Rev. J. R. Blanchard, 8.A., will speak on the " Road to Freedom" at a meeting in Burns Hall to-night at 7.45. Admission is free.

Attention is drawn to an advertisement in which the District Public Trustee. Dannevirke, is calling tenders for the purchase of the stock-in-trade, etc., of » country store.

To be well. See well. See Sturmer.— W. V. Sturmer, Optician, 2 Octagon, Dunedin. Consultinct Opticians: W. V. Sturmer. F. 1.0.. X.2.; A. R. Watson, F. 1.0., 5.D.0., N.Z.—Advt.

A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley. dentists. Bank of Australasia, corner or Bond and Rattray streets (next Teietrapli Officp). Telephone 12-359.—Advt Who is Peter Dick? The leading .firm tor optical and jewellery service. Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians, 490 Moray place, Dunedin.—Advt.