NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25735, 5 January 1945, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

rpHE view that the solution of thcproblem of meeting the unsatisfied demand for farm land by former servicemen lies in the acquisition and closer settlement of properties now held in private ownership by persons whose total holdings are more than sufficient for the economic needs of themselves and their dependents, is expressed in the second annual report of the Rehabilitation Board. A limiting factor at present in the rapid development of such a plan is the shortage of materials. “Moreover," says the report, “in any plan for the closer subdivision of existing holdings, due regard must be had for the fact that in more than isolated instances the cost of subdivision and the incidental expense of providing additional buildings and settlement facilities cannot be fully recovered in the capital loadings allocated to the individual sections. The increased production does not, in every case, bridge the gap between costs and disposal values.” Divorce Petition* Increase Petitions for divorce have shown a steady increase in the Otago district during recent years. In 1944 102 petitions were filed in the Supreme Court in Dunedin, compared with 82 in 1943, and 70 in 1942.

Slip at Hawea A slip on the road between Hawea and Makarora above the Neck, resulting from recent heavy rain, has rendered the route impassable. Engineers of the Works Department are now investigating the wash-out. but it is not yet possible to determine when the blockage will be cleared. Restricted Families

Apart from a tendency to restrict the size of families in New Zealand, says the Government Statistician (Mr J. W Butcher) in the Official Year Book, it appeared that the postponement of the birth of the first child was becoming a feature of modern times. Statistics of first births over a number of years, he said, indicated that the proportion occurring within one year after marriage was rapidly declining. Possibly due to the * war, that tendency had become accelerated in recent years, and a particularly heavy fall was recorded in 1941. Summer Health Camps

The summer health camps at Waikouaiti. Company’s Bay, Kurow and Omaui (Southland) will be opened on Monday. Approximately 230 children between the ages of five and fifteen years will be accommodated for a period of from four to six weeks. Through unforeseen circumstances it has been found necessary to postpone the opening of the Pounawea camp. The camps will be staffed by voluntary helpers, some of whom will be secondary school girls and others office workers who are giving up their holidays for the purpose. The children will follow the recognised health camp routine and diet, and a recreational programme will be arranged for them. No New Radio Stations

An indication that because technical equipment was required for war purposes no new broadcasting stations could be established in New Zealand till after the war was given by the Director of Broadcasting (Professor James Shelley), speaking at Wanganui. Professor Shelley said the National Broadcasting Service had funds available, but since the start of the war manufacturers of radio equipment had been devoting their attention almost exclusively to producing transmitters for the navy, army, and air force. At one stage radio equipment was so much in demand that aircraft built in factories in the United States of America could not be placed in service because transmitters and other radio parts were not available. Propeller* as Air Brake* Propellers which have had their blade angle reversed to act as air brakes have been successfully tested by the American Air Force on four-en-gined bombers. The blades, on being moved to “ negative ” pitch, create a backward thrust so that a smooth but rapid braking effect is produced. The result is as effective as that of wheel brakes, and the landing run is made shorter than the distance required for take-off. This propeller braking application is considered an important development, particularly for the large post-war airliners, which will have high landing speeds. The employment of propellers as brakes was visualised before the war, and practical difficulties have been overcome by the Curtis Wright Corporation, w'hich is now manufacturing these reverse-thrust propellers, Illegible Signature*

A plea to commercial men and others to make their signatures legible was made in a letter read at a recent meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, The letter, which was unanimously endorsed by members, read as follows:—“It is surprising to find the number of business men who believe that certain hieroglyphics are sufficient for a signature. Ask any member to examine letters and cheques received, and count the number of signatures that are illegible. Even bank officials are not exonerated. The chamber should bring this prominently under the notice of members and ask them to sign their names in such a manner that they are readable.” One member suggested that some should try signing their names in a straight line instead of at all angles, and another emphasised that a clearly-signed signature was much harder to forge than a scrawly signature. Multiple Births Counting only cases where both children were born alive, There were 400 cases .of twin births in New Zealand in 1942 and two cases of triplets. The number of accouchements resulting in living births was 33,170, and on the average one mother in every 83 gave birth to twins or triplets. JThe New Zealand Official Year Book says that when still births are taken into account, the total number of accouchements for 1942 is increased to 34,022, and the number of cases of multiple births to 439. On this basis the proportion of mothers giving birth to twins or triplets is increased to one in 77. During the period from 1933 to 1942 there were 19 cases of triplets. In six cases all three children were males, in five cases all were females, in five cases there were two males and one female, and in three cases two of the three children were females. Of quadruplets born in 1935 (the Johnson quadruplets) three of the children were females. „ Decline in Fruit Crop

A substantial decline in the 1945 fruit crop as compared with last year’s crop is indicated in general reports received by the New Zealand Fruit Marketing Council at its last two meetings. The Orchardist of New Zealand, the official publication of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, says that the Fruit Marketing Council foresees difficulty in meeting the demand from all sources. Severe hail damage •in some 'fruit-growing districts has had the effect of reducing the crops still further. The council will, therefore, have to consider'what action is to be taken to accept fruit that has been damaged by hail. Substantially the same procedure for the disposal of the 1945 crop as that for 1944 will be followed, including the granting of the minimum guarantee of 6s a case to the growers. An announcement to this effect follows representations made to the Minister of Marketing (Mr B. Roberts) and the | stabilisation Commission since the last I Dominion conference of the New ZeaI land Fruitgrowers’ Federation.