NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26848, 12 August 1948, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Tramway Levy No date has yet been fixed for the hearing in the Supreme Court of an action brought under an originating summons issued on behalf of a member of the Dunedin branch of the Tramways Union to test the validity of the levy of £1 struck by the branch in October of last year. There are four members of the union who contend that the levy was illegal, although they paid it. The action is to be brought to test the validity of the levy. It is not expected that the hearing will take place before the end of next month. School Broken Into

The Girls’ High School in Tennyson street was entered during the week-end. and a small sum of money taken from the staff room. Entry was effected through an open window. Mishap to Tram

When the life guard of a tramcar buckled beneath it near the corner of George and St. Andrew streets yesterday morning, a short delay in the service was caused. Apart from that to the guard, no damage resulted. Cars for Police »

The purchase by the New Zealand Police Department of a jeep for the use Of the constable on Chatham Islands is announced in the annual report of the department. Discussing other purchases of new cars for use in the cities, the report says: ”So many criminals make use of highspeed cars for their crimes that a reliable and fast fleet of police cars is now indispensable.”

Mr Jordan’s Term Expiring The term of office of tl\e New Zealand High Commissioner' in London, Mr W. J. Jordan, will expire on August 31. It is understood that the position is to be discussed by Cabinet this week and that an announcement on whether Mr Jordan will be reappointed will be made in a few days. Mr Jordan was first appointed High Commissioner in 1936, and has been reappointed several times, His term of 12 years in this post is a record. He is 69 years of age. Central Otago Road Signs

Because the Nevis road from Garston to Cromwell is impassable 20 _ miles from Garston, the following sign is to be erected at Garston: “ Nevis road impassable beyond Ski Club hut.” This decision was made at the meeting of the executive of the Southland Automobile Association on Tuesday night. It was also decided to advise the Otago Automobile Association of a report that the signs at present displayed on the Queenstown-Cromwell road were insufficient at two corners in the vicinity of the Gibbston School Aluminium Project

“ I can assure you that this proposal has not been lost sight of; in fact, at the moment it is under active consideration,” stated a letter from the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nordmeyer, concerning the project for the production of aluminium in the Sounds area, received at a meeting of the Southland County Council on Tuesday. “ Negotiations with overseas interests are, of course, involved, and I feel that it would be unwise to indicate, at this "stage, the progress that has been made.”

Auroral Activity The aurora australis lit up the southern sky to some effect on Sunday night, and Otago residents were loud in their expressions of admiration for the display. Not to be outdone by its southern rival, however, the aurora borealis also provided a magnificent sky display at the corresponding time, and residents of Seattle paused before going to bed to watch the coloured heavens. First-hand news of the spectacular auroral, exhibition in the northern hemisphere was obtained by a Dunedin amateur radio enthusiast, Mr C. Dixon, who was in contact with a Seattle station.

Imports of American Music Strong comment on the fact that no American music can at present be imported into New Zealand was made by Guy Marriner, lecturer ,in music at the University of Pennsylvania, when giving a recital in Auckland. “It does seem criminal,” he said, “ that for the sake of a few thousand pounds, people in this country are entirely denied all contact with the wonderful creative thought that is revealing itself among American musicians. Much music is now being published, but I am assured that none of it can be brought into this country. It- is shocking to think that politics can enter into the field of culture and art.” “ Peak Load ” Defined

The term “ peak load,” applied to electricity consumption, on which the charges of the State Hydro Department to local power authorities for electricity are based, was explained to a meeting of the South Canterbury Electric Power Board by the manager, Mr J. M. Bishop. Over a quarterly period the peak load represented the highest rate of taking power by a local authority in any half-hour in that period, he said. The rate of taking power was measured every half-hour of the day and night. When Mr F. G. Henshaw asked if some better system of charging could not be worked out, Mr Bishop said that at nearly every conference of the Power Boards’ Association there were remits on the subject. The Hydro Department held that the maximum demand system was a Strong incentive for power consumption and had materially assisted in the building up of an electrification system more than comparable with any country of similar size.