In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24599, 22 November 1941, Page 6

In the News

A Hat for Mr Webb The frequent statement by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) that he would take off his hat to miners and waterside workers was the cause of an amusing incident when the Minister arrived at the annual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation at Wairakei. He was presented with a miniature felt hat by the president (Mr C. V. Smith) who remarked that he hoped Mr Webb would shortly be taking it off to manufacturers and that when he did so he would use a New Zealand-made product. The Minister promptly raised his small hat in mock deference. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) received a similar presentation. Savings Enterprise A novel way of raising national savings was adopted by the postmaster at a North Canterbury town who is in charge of the quota scheme in his district. He organized a dance, charging 2/6 admission. Of this, 6d went to pay expenses and the remaining 2/- went into savings accounts. Those who had not opened accounts were provided with forms on the spot, and altogether £3B was raised by the effort.

Fire Seen 34 Miles Away At , tire height of the fire at McCully’s timber yards in Christchurch, the blaze was so bright that it was visible from Amberley. Passengers in a car, proceeding towards Christchurch, saw the blaze before they reached the Amberley township. The fact that such a fire was seen at a distance of over 34 miles is reminiscent of the oftenrepeated phrase in Air Ministry communiques that fires started by the R.A.F. could be seen 50, 60 and 70 miles away.

Two Curious Ducks Tlie curiosity of two ducks attracted a lot of attention in Avonside, Christchurch, about a week ago. A new house had been completed and every morning the ducks would come up from the river, cross the road to the new house, go up the steps and then circle round and round the house, eventually coming to a halt on the front steps. Although there are many ducks on the river in this part, it was only these particular two which showed any interest in the new building. The visit was made at the same time each day and every day for over a week. Spinach as Health Food Spinach growers had been seriously handicapped during the last three or four year's through dietitians first stating that spinach was practically useless as a food and then, when production had decreased and the demand also, suddenly changing their minds and including spinach in their recommendation, stated Mr A. Turner, assistant-manager, Turners and Growers, Ltd., when he gave evidence before the Price Tribunal in Wellington. Help for Soldiers’ Wives Eight hundred and eighteen jobs of varied types—chopping wood, minding young children, mowing lawns, and others—have been done for wives and mothers of men on active service overseas by children of the Waimairi School, Christchurch, in the last 16 months. This work has been done under a scheme introduced by the school in July last year. The work is free and is done after school hours, and the children performing the tasks are from Standards V and VI. They are all volunteers, and parents’ approval for their effort under the scheme has been obtained in each case. Bush Telegraph Fails The bush telegraph was very active in Auckland on Thursday with, regard to an alleged sale of silk stockings in a certain shop. The rumour indicated that the stockings would be put on the counters at 2.30 p.m. and half an hour before that time a large crowd of women and girls lingered as unconcernedly as possible in the vicinity of the shop waiting for the appointed hour. At 2.30 they went in, but unfortunately on this occasion the bush telegraph wires must have been out of order for there were no stockings for sale. Gone Hunting “Away for the hunting season. Hope to meet our valued clients after the downfall of Hitler.” Pasted on the window of a Dunedin cycle accessory shop, this notice was self-explanatory. It appeared yesterday morning. Bees Take Train Ride A swarm of bees that attached themI selves on the inside of the tarpaulin of I a loaded’ truck up the line formed unexpected freight by a train arriving in Gisborne from Motuhora. Unloading at first appeared to present a ticklish problem. Fortunately the swarm had attached itself to the tarpaulin, not to any portion of the freight or truck, and it was comparatively easy to remove the covering and place it on the ground, where the swarm remained awaiting the first apiarist who cared to box the bees and remove them. Girls Leaving School The monthly report of the principal of the Otago Girls’ High School (Miss M. H. M. King), presented at Thursday’s meeting of the Otago Boys’ and Girls’ High School Board, made mention of a strong tendency for girls to leave in order to take up employment. During the month ended November- 14 12 pupils had been withdrawn, eight going into shops and three into offices. There had been other offers of positions for which no applicants had been forthcoming. In spite of the calls for girls in business, premature leaving, unless there was real pressure of circumstances, was deprecated, said Miss King. Shortage of Threepences? Although it has been reported that there is shortage of threepenny bits, those who listened to the recital by the Dunedin Ladies’ Band at Rugby Park last Sunday had plenty. The attendance was about 3400. The silver coin collection at the gate included 956 threepences and 846 sixpences. However, many coins of larger denominaations were also received.

To London in 44 Hours The prediction that after the war the actual flying time for commercial air services from Wellington to London would be fewer than 48 hours was made by the Secretary to the Air Board, Mr T. A. Barrow, when addressing members of the Wellington Travel Club. He recently returned from a visit to Canada, where he saw the largest aircraft ever built—a machine of 82 tons, capable of flying from Los Angeles to Berlin and back with a full load of bombs. The actual flying time from New Zealand to London at present, said Mr Barrow, was about 72 hours. Land aeroplanes carrying 30 passengers and flying at 300 miles an hour would be used on the HonoluluLos Angeles hop of the Pacific route, covering the distance in eight hours. On that basis it would take seven hours from Wellington to Samoa, the same time from Samoa to Honolulu, eight hours from Honolulu to Los Angeles, 10 hours across the American continent, six hours up to St. John, and eight hours across the Atlantic to England. “This makes a total of 44 hours,” said Mr Barrow. “Aircraft capable of doing this are in existence and are flying now.”