NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27391, 17 May 1950, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Meeting On Subdivisions The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce will be represented at a meeting to be called shortly by the Dunedin branch of the Real Estate Institute to discuss the effects on the progress of the city of the invoking by the City Council of amendments to Acts governing subdivisions. The council recently decided to invoke an amendment permitting local bodies to take 5 per cent, of the monetary value of subdivisions as an alternative to taking 5 per cent, of the land subdivided. Other bodies will be represented at the meeting. Thick Mist

A thick mist covering the hill suburbs last evening greatly reduced visibility and forced motorists to travel at lower speeds than normal. A light north-east wind, however, cleared the air and late last night the mist had disappeared. Fire Danger

The danger to property caused by people leaving tins containing hot ashes against wooden buildings was pointed out at a meeting of the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board on Monday night. Last month the brigade answered three calls to this type of fire, and it was stated that the.board was aware of. other fires due to the same cause. A Long Wait

Anyone wanting tonsils or adenoids removed who is not an urgent case cannot have the operation done in an Auckland hospital under two years or maybe three. All children in the hospital area and most adults for this operation are treated at Green Lane Hospital. The waiting list is 622 adults and 1145 children. Urgent cases are operated on immediately. Work Of The RSA

“ It is often the trivial things which get the publicity,” commented the president of the Dunedin RSA, Mr K. W. Stewart, when welcoming the new committee members at the meeting of the executive last night. “ You will find that they are not the important things—they are not the major work underlying the aims and service of the RSA.” Publicity For Otago

A booklet setting out the attractions of Central Otago and the Lakes District is being compiled by the Otago Expansion League, and will be published shortly. • Advice, to this effect was given to the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The chamber is bearing a part of the cost of the booklet. The question of preparing additional publicity, such as folders for issue to tourists, is now being considered. Where’s The Fire?

That half of South Dunedin was in flames was the first impression of a reporter when he left a meeting in Moray place last evening. Buildings and trees were silhouetted against the red glow, but it was a false alarm. A closer investigation showed that the powerful pylon lights in the railway marshalling yards and the amber street lighting down Cumberland street were combining to give a diffused amber glow against the lowlying fog. Housing Policy

Satisfaction that some action should have been taken after all the work done by the RSA in regard to the expansion of opportunities for rehabilitation backing for housing was expressed at the executive meeting of the Dunedin RSA last night. Commenting on the new policy, as published last week, the president, Mr K. W. Stewart, said that it was certainly satisfactory as far as it went, but that there were undoubtedly further matters in the same direction for which the RSA would continue to press. Cost Of Gas

“We are doing our best to get the Government to see the effect of' the lifting of the coal subsidy on the gas industry,” said the manager of the Auckland Gas Company, Mr R. Worley, when he was asked if it was intended to increase the price of gas. Mr Worley said the Gas Association of New Zealand had had discussions with the Prime Minister, Mr Holland, but no decision had been reached. Another meeting would be held in a few days. Inquiries were being received from various industries wanting to know what allowance they would have to make for gas in adjusting their prices. County Subsidies

At present the counties found 17J per cent, of the money for the roading in New Zealand, said the Minister of Works, Mr Goosman, when he met the Raglan County Council at Ngaruawahia on Monday. The subsidy on roads was about £IBI,OOO a year. “There has been agitation for a £ for £ subsidy on rates, and if it were granted the contribution would go up to £1,200,000,” said Mr Goosman. “ That would reduce the county money to about 9 per cent. . They are really alarming figures. We must watch that we do not undermine the local body system to a point where there is no justification for the local bodies.” The Democratic Way

The 18-year-olds in training at Linton camp will be taught the advantages of life within the British Commonwealth as opposed to existence under a Communist regime. The officer in charge of the camp’s education and welfare service. Major E. R. Spraggon, said the advantages of being a citizen in the Commonwealth could be demonstrated to the recruits during informal discussions on current affairs which would be held for one hour each week. The recruits themselves would be permitted and encouraged to express opinions, and by drawing on the information possessed by the instructors it was hoped they themselves would realise the benefits of the democratic way of life followed within the Commonwealth. Changes In Religion

Changes in the conventional pattern of Sunday church services in the United States were described by the Right Rev. Stephen Bayne, Bishop of Olvmpia, Washington, on his arrival in'Christchurch on Monday for the Centennial Church Congress. A move towards “family worship” in many places had produced an extra service at 9 or 9.30 a.m., he said, in which parents, young people and children joined in formal worship for, say, 40 minutes and then dispersed to “classes” for an hour. “The young married group of 20 to 30 years of age is the most vigorous in the American church today," Bishop Bayne said. “ These are the people from which the church should be drawing its vitality, as they could give the church a valuable core.”