NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

“ Somewhat Sceptical ” “Personally I am somewhat sceptical of such business slogans as ‘ service before self ’ —they can so easily verge upon hypocrisy,” said Mr J. W. Kealy, of Auckland, in his presidential address at the opening of the New Zealand Library Association conference in Dunedin yesterday. “The business dealing that to my mind is satisfactory,” Mr Kealy said, “is the dealing from which both parties alike benefit, and the promotion of such dealings is by no means an unworthy aim for a business, a profession or an association such as ours.”

Train Derailed A train was derailed in the Port Chalmers yards last evening, but no damage occurred. The line was blocked for a time, however, with the result that the departure of the 7.5 p.m. train for Dunedin was delayed about 15 minutes.

“ Finest Library ” He had heard experts say that the Dunedin Public Library was probably the finest in New ■ Zealand, said the president of the New Zealand Library Association, Mr J. W. Kealy, at the annual conference of the association in Dunedin yesterday. “ I understand that Dunedin has had a free library for almost 40 years,” Mr Kealy said—- “ Auckland took the step only about four years ago.” Trams “ Out of Order ”

University students early yesterday morning stuck “ out of order ” notices on some of the Dunedin trams. This amused many citizens and puzzled others. The ones who were puzzled had good reason for the questions they asked because the trams certainly appeared to be out, of order for a period shortly after 10 a.m. The cause of their erratic behaviour was a number of short interruptions in the power supply, and the trams on all routes were affected.

Irish Partition An indication that the Intensive campaign by the leaders of the Dai! Eireann against the separation of Ulster from Eire is not one-sided is provided by a communication just received from Belfast by a Balclutha resident. On the back of the envelope is a large “sticker” showing northern Ireland in red and the Republic of Eire in white, and bearing the slogans, “ Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom,” “No Customs Barrier.” The message enclosed states: “ This stamp is to show the world what we, the Unionists of Northern Ireland, are fighting to retain.”

The Guaranteed Price Asked by a questioner at a meeting of dairy farmers at Temuka on Tuesday night when the guaranteed price for the coming season would be announced, the .chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr W. E. Hale, said that an effort would be’made to announce it by August 1. “ The matter has often been delayed by outside circumstances. The sooner the price is fixed this year the better for us all,” he said. “ I hope it will be announced in July or early August,” he added. " Last year the operation of the exchange, rate delayed the announcement of the price for three weeks.”

Comfortable Travel I Passengers travelling by Australian airlines are well looked after, according to Mr L. G. Amos, "of Christchurch, who has returned from a visit to Australia. During his stay in Australia, Mr Amos made a number of flights. Describing the service given to passengers, he said that on one trip a breakfast, including porridge, fruit juice, sausages, bacon, and coffee had been served in the air. He also produced a wine list for Australian National Airways machines, which gave passengers the choice of Scotch whisky (2£oz bottle), at 3s; ale (pint bottle). Is 3d; soda" water, 6d; dry ginger ale, 6d; coco cola, 3d.

New Motorways Gazette notices authorising the construction of motorways between Auckland and Hamilton and Wellington and Foxton have been published. This is the sequel to an announcement made some time ago by the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, that “ super highways ” would be constructed where traffic density at city approaches made them desirable. The Auckland motorway, states the Gazette .notice, will skirt Penrose, Papatoetoe, Papakura, and Huntly, and the Wellington one will divert through traffic past Porirua, Paekakariki, Otaki and- Levin. A similar motorway may be constructed to carry north-bound traffic from Christchurch. Story of a Knife

A visitor fgom Taranaki was casually inspecting goods on show in a Hamilton department store recently when he reached a display of ex-army commando knives in their leather sheaths. Great was his surprise on finding one with his name scratched on the sheath. He .explained that while the equipment was\ in his possession in France he had idly scratched his name, unit, and home town on the sheath, and a little later he lost the equipment. Four or five years later he found it, little the worse for wear, offered for sale in Hamilton. He quickly made the purchase, and intends to keep the article acquired in such surprising circumstances as a treasured souvenir. Student Disciplined

It was reported to the Lower Hutt City Council last month that certain vandalism had taken place in a local hail on the occasion of .a university students’ dance. The council wrote to the University Students’ Association on the matter, and a reply was received stating that the association was not responsible for the conduct of the dance, but assuring the council that severe disciplinary measures had been taken against the person principally responsible. He had been deprived of the privilege of representing New Zealand in a team which was being sent to Australia. Investigations were being made into charges made against other members of the Auckland University, and if these were proved, they, too, would be disciplined. Wool that Does Not Shrink Housewives, and luckless bachelors who wash their own socks, will be interested to hear that the shrinkage danger in woollens is being tackled scientifically and there is hope at last. This is on the authority of Mr A. Prentice, of Christchurch, who displayed shrunken and unshrunken woollens to the Hospital Boards’ Association conference. The North Canterbury Hospital Board, of which he is secretary, has 5800 blankets and each one is washed six times a year. As a test, a new blanket was washed 16 times. At the finish, it was five inches and a-half shorter and eight inches narrower. On the other hand another new blanket, sent to the Otago University for treatment, was washed seven times on its return and suffered no alteration.