NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27090, 26 May 1949, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Queen Mary’s Birthday Queen Mary will attain her eightythird birthday to-day. In a recent article describing her daily life, a London writer states that she might still pass for a woman of 72, for she retains her vitality and her insatiable interest in living. Queen Mary smokes —once describing herself as an addict —but never in public. Effects of Gaming Act

In a report in yesterday’s Daily Times it was incorrectly stated that the St. Kilda Improvement Association was facing financial ruin because the Gaming Act prohibited games of chance. The statement referred to the St. Clair Improvement Association and was made at the annual meeting of that body on Tuesday night. Too Cautious! 1

As a young country New Zealand should adopt the attitude of the United States in its readiness to accept new ideas, said Dr J. P. Walsh, in a luncheon address to the Junior Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Dr Walsh said that on his return from America he was struck by the lack of risk in any venture undertaken in this country. As a people we were too cautious, he said.

No Change in Franchise A suggestion that the franchise should be extended to cover persons 18 years of age was . not supported by the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, when a remit to that effect resulted in a decision to take no action. The conference endorsed a proposal that all municipal and local body elections should be held on the same day. It took no action regarding a suggestion that preferential votinv should be instituted at all elections. New Air Service

A third air service across the Pacific between North America, New Zealand, and Australia, with Fiji as a stopping place, will come into operation on July 13, States the Fiji Public Relations news bulletin. A fortnightly service between Vancouver and Sydney will be operated by Canadian Pacific Airways. Intermediate stopping places will be San Francisco, Honolulu, Canton, Nandi, and Auckland. The aircraft will be 36-passenger" Canadair Fours, which have pressurised fuselages. , Greater Subsidy Needed An urgent need for a greater subsidy for flying training if aero clubs are to continue to function is mentioned in the annual report of the Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club. The club cannot continue its activities on the basis of present revenue and costs, says the president, Mr E. A. Heyder, instancing the fact that a loss of £lOlO was shown last year. “If the Government does not in the ne?r future show greater appreciation of the services rendered by aero clubs, the result must be that flying training will come to a stop,” says the report. Stuart Street Works

Earthworks are still in progress on those sections of Stuart street from which the tram rails were removed some' time ago. The contractors have been working in the street for weeks, laying down a solid base for the highway. This has entailed the removal of unsuitable spoil and filling in with gravel, as well, as the reinstatement of the water mains in the broken area. Trouble, was experienced with the mains, which burst on more than one occasion. When the filling is completed the area will be left for some time to consolidate before being sealed with bitumen. Three V.C. Winner®

Three winners of the Victoria Cross met m Christchurch on Tuesday nightwhen the Tin Hat Club held an Empire Day tattoo. Chairman for the evening was Mr C. H. Upham, V.C. and bar, who was installed and presented with a “tin hat” by Mr J. D. Hinton, V.C. The guest speaker, who was introduced by Mr Upham, was Mr A. R. Cutler, V.C., the Australian High Commissioner in New Zealand. In an Empire Day message to the club, the United Kingdom High Commissioner, Sir Patrick Duff, said: “ There will not be much wrong with the Empire as long as she produces men like Captain Upham, Mr Hinton, and Mr Cutler ” Consumption of Heroin The consumption of heroin in New Zealand had been considerably ' reduced as a result of investigations over the last three years. This information was given to the Labour Party conference yesterday by the Minister of Health, Miss Howard. She was speaking to a remit that an inquiry should be made into the consumption of heroin in New Zealand. The Minister said that as a result of the investigations heroin was strictly controlled and consumption had been considerably reduced. She added that the Health Department was taking further action and proposed to bring in regulations limiting the amount of heroin that could be used in social security prescriptions. Houses to Fit Families

So many children have been born to the tenants of small State houses at Naenae that a serious problem has developed. Happy though they were originally to secure the houses they are tenanting, many are now anxious to quifthem for something bigger. Mr N S. Wilson, a Naenae delegate to the Labour Party conference, told the conference that Naenae was becoming, a displaced area because of the smallness .of the houses and the large families “ being provided for them.” Bigger homes were required. The conference supported a request that a bigger proportion of State houses suitable for larger families should be built. Defeated Minority

The vice-president of the Federation of Labour, Mr F. P. Walsh, made reference on Tuesday to the scene at the conference last week when a number of members walked out after the resolution concerning the Auckland carpenters’ dispute had been altered. “ The few delegates who staged a noisy walk-out were the only undemocratic elements present,” said Mr Walsh. He added that the delegates to the conference and the rank and file of the Labour movement generally W9uld now expect the defeated minority to accept their defeat with good grace and collaborate with the federation in working on behalf of all members and the community in general.