NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26473, 29 May 1947, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

North Taieri Housing Site A hope that it would be found possible, when the new housing settlement on the Taieri is an accomplished fact, to include the area in the city of Dunedin was expressed by the president, Mr C. J. Wood, at a meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr Wood said the choice of location appeared to be a logical one, and the project would have the full support of the chamber. He hoped that private enterprise would be given the opportunity of building houses in the area for private ownership. There was one unfortunate aspect to the proposal, he added, and that was that a large area of firstclass land, adjacent to the city, would have to go out of production to make way for the new settlement.

Museum’s Industrial Display A request from the Otago Museum for assistance during the centennial period in a display devoted to local manufacturers and the history of these industries has been received by the Otago-Southland Manufacturers’ Association. Members have expressed their approval of the suggestion, and have decided to give their whole-hearted co-operation to the museum authorities. Sponsored Visits to Factories At the monthly meeting of the Executive Council of the Otago-Southland Manufacturers’ Association this week it was mentioned that during centennial year there was every likelihood that visits to factories would be arranged for the benefit of local residents and visitors. Manufacturers were preparing to meet members of the public and conduct them on tours of the factories.

Trojan Star from Brisbane Carrying a small number of passengers, the majority of whom have made the trip for the purpose of visiting relatives in New Zealand, the Blue Star vessel Trojan Star arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon direct from Brisbane. Good weather was experienced during the greater part of the voyage, but a bad patch was encountered as the ship approached Foveaux Strait, and for about a day conditions were somewhat uncomfortable. The weather improved as the Trojan Star came up the coast. Shoes and Painting

“A painting is like a shoe,” said Sir Lindo Ferguson in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Otago Art Gallery Society yesterday. “Only the prospective buyer can tell if a shoe pinches. If it does, the buyer must try again. A shoe that doesn t fit would only cause continual annoyance, just as a picture can be hard to live with. A painting which is hanging crooked does not give satisfaction, but this fault can easily be rectified. Internal crookedness is more permanent. Soap Prices Increased After a wait of' two and a-half months, soap manufacturers have been authorised by the Price Tribunal to increase their prices by about £9 a ton. The increase operates as from May 26. When the price of tallow was increased on March 17, soap manufacturers immediately lodged' application for authority to increase prices. Present stocks of soap held by retailers will not be affected by the price increase. It is expected, however, that an increase of at least Id a pound will be allowed by the Price Tribunal. Appreciation of Food Parcels

An indication of the appreciation and gratitude felt by the people of Britain for even the smallest food parcels is given by a letter received by the Mayor. Mr Cameron, yesterday from an old age pensioner living in Kent. Acknowledging a parcel which contained 14oz of shredded suet, the writer said it had been sent by some person in Dunedin to whom he desired to express his thanks for the gift, as well as to those who had sent parcels of food on other occasions. “We all appreciate what the Dominion is doing for us in England,” the letter concluded. Stolen Papers Returned Documents and private papers stolen from Mrs F. P. Sviatko, of Hastings, the wife of an American servicemen, on the eve of her departure, from Wellington for the United States to defend a divorce suit brought by her husband, were recently recovered in Wellington and returned to her. The £ll2 which was stolen at the same time, however, has not been recovered. Mrs Sviatko, who is now living in Hastings, was pleased to receive the papers. It is her intention to save enough money to enable her to visit the United States.

A Dental Experiment The impregnation of the Papakura water supply with fluorine to improve the teeth of residents will be suggested to the Health Department by the Papakura Borough Council. It is proposed that, after the fluorine is added to the water supply, a part of the district should be set aside so that residents’ teeth may be examined at fixed periods over a number of years. It is believed that Papakura would then be the first district in New Zealand to carry out. a form of dental research similar to many in the United States. The district has its own water supply, and will readily lend itself to the scheme. Shortage of Linoleum “ Importations of linoleum from Britain were, like numerous other commodities, few and small during the war years, and now a situation is stated to have arisen bv which this essential floor covering will not be seen often in showrooms in the coming months,’’ states the New Zealand Draper and Allied Retailer. “ Hopes of increased supplies, at a reasonable figure, which were nursed by Dominion importers, have been dashed by the news that Britain is at present very short of linseed oil supplies. Importers expect that what linoleum does come through will be increased sharply in price.” Second-hand Prams

According to a ruling by the Price Tribunal, second-hand prams are subiect to price control. In a letter to the Nc.w Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, the Price Tribunal says that the Declared Goods Notice brings under its control perambulatois, push chairs, and strollers, without specify* in<* either new or second-hand goods. The notice covers only firms which are engaged in selling perambulators, and therefore does not cover sales of second-hand perambulators by private persons. The Price Tribunal s ruling means that a business concern selling second-hand perambulators would need to have its prices approved by the tribunal. Warrants of Fitness

Complaints about congestion at testing stations since the reinstitution of six-monthly warrants of fitness were received from the Automobile Association (Otago) at a meeting of the South Island Motor Union in Christchurch on Tuesday night. The suggestion was made that warrants should expire at staggered periods, according to registration plate groupings. Mr L. w. Broadhead claimed that congestion at testing stations could be avoided by giving motorists a month’s grace or notice of the expiry of warrants, and by urging motorists to avoid lastminute rushes at stations. It was decided. on Mr Broadhead’s motion, to inform the Otago Association that the union would approach the Transport Department to see that reasonable latitude about warrant renewals at rush periods was granted.