In Town And Out

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 9

In Town And Out

imination of Crossings

Reference to the progress made during the past year in the elimination of dangerous railway crossings is made in the Public Works statement which was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of- Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple). In the period under review 40 elimination schemes were completed, compared with 35 in the preceding year, it was stated. A summary of the Government’s programme, as at March this year, for removing these potential dangers was as follows: Works completed, 90 crossings; contracts let or work in hand, 30 crossings; proposals completed or under preparation, 39 crossings.

Battling With Words There is a war on, as well as in, the air. Every. day and night since the opening of hostilities in Europe, the broadcast and short-wave radio stations of Europe have been conducting the propaganda fight—battling with words. New Zealanders who have efficient short-wave receiving sets are able to make contact with the fringe of this battle; and even the fringe is impressive and confusing enough. No doubt not a great number of people listen to the German sessions in English for the clearest of these are heal’d late at night. Those who do listen to them have been struck first, by the extravagance of the German claims and accusations against the Allies, and, second, by the avoidance of reference to the Western Front and to Allied air force activities. Britain’s Daventry is no less active, and though it would be idle to suggest that the 8.8. C. is not using every art of propaganda, the corporation’s transmissions provide a striking contrast by reason of their full coverage of events in every field of operations and the degree of impartiality with which the news, good or bad, is given.