NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Dunedin Streets The streets of Dunedin were in a worse condition than those of any other city or borough in New Zealand, a visitor from the North Island claimed in conversation with the Daily Times last night. " Christchurch is known as the city of bicycles,” he added. “ but to ride a bicycle along the rough, potholed streets of Dunedin would be more than a performance, it would be a feat.” He thought the automobile associations should warn visiting motorists about the Dunedin streets. Mails for England The vessel Durham from Dunedin with 6976 parcels weighing 129,0001 b arrived in Britain on July 26. Postings were from May 20 to June 15 in the Otago and Southland postal districts. Old Vic Tour Delayed The arrival in New Zealand of the Old Vic Company, of which Sir Laurence and Lady Olivier are the leading players, has been delayed because of an extension of its Australian tour. The company’s expected date of arrival was September 7. It is believed that the delay will not be a long one.

Fawcett Anniversary Dame Millicent Fawcett, women’s suffrage democratic leader, died on August 5, 1929. Her husband, blind postmaster-general, founder of the parcel post, died on August 26, 1884. Punch referred to him as “ the blind gentleman who cannot see his way like other people and so will not be turned aside.” Autographs and portraits of both Fawcetts are to be seen at the Public Library this month.

Shoplifting Offences Although he realised that shoplifters must be a source of continual headaches for retailers, he could see little hope of the practice ever ceasing, said Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., in an address to the Auckland Provincial Retailers' Association. Most of the shoplifters were women who came and shed copious “ crocodile tears ” in the court, but in spite of the court’s sentences he doubted whether the offences would ever be stamped out.

Tablecloth Autographs _ When Dr Hocken, founder of the Hocken Library, was entertaining prominent persons to dinner he frequently asked them to autograph the tablecloth, which was carefully stored away for posterity, said Mr W. J. Harris, Otago University librarian, in an address to the Historical section of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Royal Society last night. Evidently thinking of contemporary shortages, Mr Harris commented, “ What Mrs Hocken said I don’t know! ”

New Cable Message Service A 24-hour seven-day direct cable message service from and to Wellington came into operation on Monday. This means that a message for London transmitted through Auckland, will not be touched by hand after being translated into the telegraphic code by the operator at Wellington until the message is mechanically translated back at the receiving end at London. Previously, all overseas cable messages were received by the Cable Office, Auckland, and passed by pneumatic tube to the Post Office for retransmission to Wellington. The first message to arrive by the new method was a news story. A saving of about 40 minutes a message is effected. About 550 outward and 550 inward cable messages are transmitted daily. Rural and Urban Interests

The disparity between agricultural and industrial interests was growing and there was a distinct contrast between the outlook of the man on the land and the one who held urban interests, said Mr J. E. Strachan. at the Canterbury District Pig Council s annual bacon competition on Tuesday. Such contrasts were inevitable because of the nature of the work and the environment of the two classes. The man on the land built up his pastures over the years and then looked for his return, but in the cities quick returns were demanded. The urban outlook was much more short-sighted. Co-operation between urban and rural interests was essential before local and then world problems could be overcome. New Zealand’s Wealth

A course of 12 lectures dealing o with the economic history of New Zealand will commence next Thursday under the auspices of the W.E.A. The series will deal with the successive phases of the' economic development of the country from the earliest times down to the present day in lectures on the industries or commodities which were at different times of the greatest importance, while the lighter side of .pioneer life will also be reviewed. Speakers will include Mr W. G. McClymont (‘‘Flax. Potatoes and Timber”), Dr B. H. Howard (“Whaling and Sealing”). Professor W. P. Morrell (“Gold”), Mr D. W. Crowley (“Land as a Commodity,” and “Wheat”), Mr B. J. Gamier, (“ Grass—New Zealand’s Most Valuable Crop,” and “Present-day Secondary Industry”), and Miss V. A. Seymour (“Social Security”).