Overseas Mail

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 8

Overseas Mail

The Aorangi. due at Auckland on Tuesday from Vancouver, has 113 bags of English and American mail for Dunedin, The mail should reach the local office on Thursday next.

Express Delayed The through express from the south was 20 minutes late in arriving at Dunedin yesterday, and was late to that extent in leaving for Christchurch. A tree fell across the lines controlling the tablet system at Otokia, and what is termed a pilot guide had to be introduced to take the train on till the tablet control was again linked up. Henley Fire Inquest The inquest on the bodies of the three men—Jethro Hobbs, Joseph Higgins, and James Reid-—who were burned to death in a house at Henley on the night of March 6, is to be held at Henley on June 8. The delay in holding the inquest has been due to the extreme difficulty the police experienced in identifying, the bodies, particularly those of Hobbs and Higgins.

New Education Fellowship Professor Harold Rugg, an authority on educational, statistics and the teaching of social sciences, will attend the New Education Fellowship Conference in the Dominion this winter. He is professor of education at Teachers' College, Columbia University, a member of the board of directors of the ; Progressive Education Association, and organising director of the New Education Fellowship in the United States.

Slip at Lower Portobello , The secretary of the Automobile Association (Otago), Mr W. F. Sutton, reports that the slip on the road between Portobello and Lower Portobello has not yet been completely removed, but a track will be clear for traffic this morning.

Chimney Fires The City Fire Brigade attended a chimney fire in Maclaggan street at 4.5 p.m. yesterday, and another, in York place, at 5.17 p.m. Both the city and the South Dunedin brigades answered a call to a chimney fire in Grove street. Musselburgh, at 5.22. :

Proposed New Air Service Although officers of the company in Wellington and Christchurch would make no official statement, it is believed that the air service to be established from Auckland to Wellington by Union Airways, Ltd., will be extended to Christchurch if a licence can be obtained, as soon as proper facilities are provided at the new Harewood aerodrome. The existing service from Dunedin to Palmerston North, calling at Christchurch. will not be altered,

The Press and Broadcasting The following resolution was carried unanimously at last night's meeting of the Otago Labour Representation Committee:—" That the Otago Labour Representation Committee, recognising the danger of the press gaining control of broadcasting, as is the case in Australia, endorses the Government's policy of placing the broadcasting services of the Dominion under the control of the State, to be operated as a State undertaking, and we urge that with a view to effecting an improvement in the present service to listeners, the Government should immediately plan for the setting up of an internal and overseas news service. We further affirm our confidence that in the negotiations which are now in progress for the purchase of B stations by the Government, the Acting Minister will deal fairly with the present owners, who have done much pioneering work."

Advanced Democracies

"In promoting the physical fitness and welfare of the nation, the English are far behind." This opinion was expresssed by Miss Mary M'Lean, speaking at a meeting of the Christchurch Travel Club. Miss M'Lean said that her trips through the northern areas had left her with the impression that England had a wealth of history and tradition, but that at present she was not progressing. " Some of those people in the north have not had work for 30 years, and they never will have it," she said. " Their lot is a hopeless one." It was with feelings of relief, Miss M'Lean continued, that she observed conditions in Denmark and Sweden. These northern peoples were working in a co-operative democracy towards an educated and healthy nation. They had something to look to in the future. Sweden, in fact, was particularly wealthy. Men and women took part in politics. " The Swedish women are the best-informed women I have ever met in social and industrial Welfare and economics," she confessed. "It is a land of comfortable homes with enormous wealth of money and art/'

Health Insurance Plan Asked to comment on the discussion among Christchurch medical practitioners on the Government's proposed health insurance scheme which will, it is suggested, bring all general medical practitioners under the panel system, Dr D. G. M'Millan, M.P., told a Southland Times reporter that the Government had a committee working on the question of health insurance. The committee, of which he was chairman, had given a close study to health insurance systems in other countries, and had taken a considerable volume of evidence from interested organisations and individuals. Pending replies on specific points from interested parties, and the completion of a series of discussions by the chairman with medical practitioners in all parts of New Zealand, the committee had not come to definite conclusions upon any of the major principles. When it had done so—and that would not be for some time yet—its recommendations would receive the consideration of the Government. "Obviously," Dr M'Millan added, "we will see many health insurance kites flown both by those who wish to exploit the Government's actions for political purposes and by those who are anxious to force the Government's policy."

Fireblight Regulations

A Press Association message from Wellington states that fireblight regulations, which were issued last night, proclaim a number of districts to be fruitgrowing districts, and provide that in each such district all plants of hawthorn must be cut down during the period June 1 to July 31 each year, so as to prevent any part of it from llowering. Mr Semple Adrift

The Minister of Public Works (Mr R. Semple) and his party found themselves adrift on Tuesday in a brokendown launch on the swift and turbulent Tarawera River, in the course of an inspection of the western end of the Whakatane County. About: 'll a.m. the party was met at the Tarawera bridge by a settler, who pointed out the detrimental effect on pasture land of the recent flood and invited the Minister to take a short trip on the river, so that a closer inspection could be made. The party motored some miles up the Awakaponga-Onepu road and boarded a large launch. In mid-stream the engine failed and the uncontrolled craft raced down, the river, which is always fast-flowing, and was in slight spate. The party was never in danger, fortunately, and after an enforced cruise of some three miles their craft came inshore close enough to be moored to a dredge near the bank. ■ ; . ,v ,", /' : ',',';'"■ ..

Still Survives

A well-known make of car,' of ancient lineage, fully justified its claim for a certificate of fitness, on, Sunday last, although some people iriight classify it as a has been. WhJHroimding a bend (says the Auckland Star), it collided with a brand-rie'wi'l937 model sedan, and its driver was.thrbwn out. The proud old veteran, however, turned three complete somersaults and landed upright oh its wheels again, with the engine still running, as if nothing had happened. .■_ ~.;;'

Native Birds

"Help to keep the native bush' and you help to keep the beautiful songsters of our land," stated the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W..E. Parry) on Tuesday, when commending, the work of the New Zealand Bird Protection Society. "If we could obtain a national feeling towards the preservation of both species, there.would be no need for enthusiasts constantly to seek to remind citizens of the,aid they should give in preservation work."

Apprenticeship Research " The apprenticeship system must be regarded as a legitimate part of, the educational structure of the country." states the annual report of the Director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (Dr G. E> Beeby), " and an investigation has been started in three centres into its workings. The main purpose is to work out a technique for examining the' adequacy of trade training in New Zealand. Three typical trades were chosen; Mr A. A. Kirk (Wellington) has completed his survey of apprenticeship: in "the' plumbing trades. Mr G. E. M. Keys (Christchurch) ,is working on the electrical trades, and MrT. Conly (DUnedin) on the iron trades."

Australia Approves

Although Australians are notoriously proud of their birth and of the country of their birth, some of them will admit that New Zealand has its points. A party of Australians recently arrived at Wellington and decided to purchase a car to make a trip through New Zealand. When the purchase was completed they were asked to join the Wellington..Au,?bntobile ..Association, but, sensing ho advantage,' refused. They had not been long on the Wellington roads, however, before the efficient sign-posting . and : warning notices earned their admiration. Remembering their refusal to join the association which had carried out this work, they suffered a twinge of con-* science sufficient to prompt them to ' ring up the association from a. country district, make application : for membership, and post their subscriptions. The association wishes there were more like them.

Fifty Miles in Wrong Car It is very seldom that.a driver, after travelling more than 50 miles, discovers he has been unconsciously converting to his own use somebody else's motor car. On Thursday of last week Mr S. H. Goodwin, of Lauristoh, returned to an Ashbufton street to find that his car was not there. Inquiries were made, and a strange mistake was revealed. A resident of Christchurch who was visiting Ashburton driving a borrowed car had parked it near the one owned by Mr Goodwin. They were of similar make, and when the Christchurch man started on his journey homewards he took Mr Goodwin's car by mistake. He did not discover his error until, during the week-end, he returned the wrong car to the owner of the borrowed car at Christchurch.

New Zealand's Fish Resources "Optimistic appraisements of our marine fish resources have no foundation in fact." said Mr A. E. Hefford, Chief Inspector of Fisheries, in .an interview on Saturday, "Actually,, all the facts point in the other direction." Mr Hefford.'s attention . had . been drawn- to the recent, suggestion of Mr R. H. Nesbitt, Australian Trade Commissioner, that New Zealand Could further develop its exports of fish to Australia. The taking and sale of fish was at the moment being investigated by the Sea Fisheries Investigation Committee, Mr Hefford said. It could not be said that the Australian market was not already being well exploited. In fact, exports this year had reached a record. The popular attitude was that a practically unlimited supply of fish was available, but this was untrue. What was really needed was. an investigation of new fishing grounds and new special types suitable for marketing. S „ '•*? ■'

" Bidding and Bargaining " "I regret very much that figures should have to be mentioned to the jury in such cases as these," said Mr Justice Northcroft, addressing the jury after evidence on a claim for damages suffered in a. street accident had been heard in the Supreme Court in Christchurch. "*t has become the custom for parties to assess what they might get or might have to pay, and juries may be led to believe that the right figure lies between .the two," he said. "This line of thought savours somewhat of bidding, bargaining, and splitting of the difference! That is not the manner in which compensation should be assessed. I ask you to approach the matter as if you had not heard figures at all." \.- ■..< •■'•' »

Eye Strain.—For eye comfort or better vision consult Sturmer and Watson, Ltd., opticians. 2 Octagon Dunedin.— Advt. A. E. J. Blakeley and W. E Bagley. dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone' 12-359. Advt. ' Those who are requiring an Engagement Ring will do well to inspect our stock. Peter Dick, jewellers and opticians, 488 Moray place, Dunedin.— Advt.