NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26242, 28 August 1946, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Shipments of Sugar Three shipments of sugar in quick succession for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company’s Chelsea works will result in a marked improvement in the Dominion’s sugar stock position, says a Press Association telegram from Auckland. Two vesels are now discharging at Auckland and a third is expected next week. The first steamer to arrive, the Ribera, from Queensland, went to Chelsea on August 13 and will not complete discharge for another week. She was followed on August 16 by the Rona from Fiji. The Rona has been unloading at a city berth and may complete by Saturday. The third steamer, the Stancleeve, from Queensland, is clue on Sunday,

A Substantial Investment The president of the Dunedin Savings Bank, Dr D. G. McMillan, reports that the trustees have decided to invest a further £IOO.OOO in the latest Government loan to be opened to subscription. Tomatoes from Rarotonga

Over 23,000 cases of tomatoes, the largest shipment ever to come to New Zealand, arrived on the Maui Pom arc from Rarotonga yesterday- In addition (says an Auckland Press Association telegram) 1300 cases of bananas were carried. The tomatoes will be distributed throughout New Zealand. Willing to Admit Mistakes

“ When we become the Government, we are going to tell the people what mistakes we make, and we will tell the truth,” said Mr R. G. Gerard, M.P., in an address in the Tinwald Town Hall on Monday night. “ The Government tries to hide its mistakes in an endeavour to make the people believe it does not make any. It will take all the credit, but not the blame. We, as the Government, will take the credit and the blame,” he said. Mr Semple and Peter Dawson

An unrehearsed duet by the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, and the noted baritone, Peter Dawson, was an unexpected surprise provided an audience at a public meeting held by the Minister in Napier on Sunday night. At the conclusion of the Minister’s address, Mr Dawson, who was in the audience, rose, briefly introduced, himself, and said he understood “ Waltzing Matilda ” was the Minister’s favourite song. He invited Mr Semple to sing it with him. There was loud applause when the Minister accepted the invitation and called Mr Dawson to the stage, where, to the delight of the audience, they sang the duet. '

British Gift Parcels An indication that recent protests against the non-delivery of food parcels in Britain have resulted in an improvement is contained in airmail letters which have been received by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. A. C. Allum- The letters were written after Mr Allum’s comments appeared in English papers, and two of the writers, to whom Mr and Mrs Allum had sent parcels in September, 1945, said the parcels were delivered a day or two before they wrote. Other instances of parcels which were sent many months, ago being delivered this month were also referred to in several of the other letters, some of which said the parcels had obviously been opened and repacked.

Through Freights As the result of a decision of the New Zealand Conference Lines in London,^all companies trading regularly between Britain and the Dominion have reintroduced the pre-war arrangements of accepting cargo on through bills of loading and at through rates of freight to minor ports in New Zealand. The service began last month, and two of the first ships to carry cargo under the new system, the Rimutaka and Brisbane Star, have since reached New Zealand. During the war cargo was accepted for delivery only to the four main ports, and the return to the peace-time arrangements places the responsibility on . companies for through delivery by transhipment to outports; Future of U.N.R.R.A.

Recent press cablegrams have indicated that the continuation of U.N.R.R.A. in its present form after its funds are exhausted is not favoured by the major contributory nations, which have recommended that U.N.R.R.A.’s work in health, welfare and food supply should be assumed by separate international organisations, says a statement issued by the New Zealand C.0.R.5.0. Any such change will not constitutionally affect C.0.R.5.0., the objects of which are “ to assist devastated peoples and countries in need of relief and rehabilitation and to co-operate with the New Zealand Government in the fulfilment of its obligations under U.N.R.R.A.” The need of stricken countries is still great, the statement adds, and C.0.R.5.0. is redoubling its efforts to meet calls for help.

Bridge-building Costs Surprised at the information given in a recent issue of the publication, Building Progress, on the increase in bridge-building costs in Hawke's Bay County, the Works Committee of the Christchurch City Council wrote to the county clerk for further details. The reply lists the costs at foot of bridging between 1933 and 1946. In 1936 and 1940 respectively the costs were as low as £l3 14s and £l3 18s a foot respectively. In 1941 the cos* of a bridge was’given as £3O 17s 6a a foot, and in 1946 another costs £55 3s a foot. All the bridges were of a similar type. “The chief costs in bridge-building include labour, transport, timber, shingle, cement, and steel,” the Works Committee commented in a report to the council. “As none of these has increased to anything like the same proportion as the finished cost, the increases can only be accounted for by greatly-decreased efficiency of labour or organisation of very high contractor’s profits or a combination f these.”

Vice-Regal Residence Offered A Christchurch residence for the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg has been offered by a business man,’ on lease to the Christchurch City Council at a peppercorn rental of Is a year for as long as desired, the mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) announced at a meeting of the council on Monday night. The home was a large one, set in beautiful grounds, Mr Andrews said, and probably there was no more attractive property in Christchurch. Christchurch and the whole of the South Island would benefit through being able to offer a residence to the Gover-nor-General, Mr Andrews continued. Sir Bernard Freyberg had intimated on his first official visit that he was keen to spend as much time as possible in the South Island to visit beauty spots which he knew, and to introduce Lady Freyberg to them. The residence offered was in excellent order, and would provide ample facilities for large vice-regal receptions. The council expressed appreciation of the magnificent offer and decided that the mayor should pay an early visit to Wellington to make arrangements with the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser.

The drawing of ■' Now’s the Time ’’ Art Union is to take place at the Board Room, 2nd floor, Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Association Building, Customhouse quay, Wellington, this morning commencing at 9.30. toi rings watcnes, ana jewellery, tr.\ Peter Dick, jewellers “59 Princes street Dunedin —Advt