General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 268, 13 November 1945, Page 4

General News

Rotary Club. A party of members from the Wanganui Rotary Club visited the Marton Rotary Club last night. The speaker was Mr. A. Douglass, a past president of the Wanganui Rotary Club. Working Bees Voluntary working bees are busily engaged in clearing the different stock sections after the show, which was held last Friday and Saturday. On Monday the horse sections were attended to. Further working bees will be held to-day and to-morrow. Helper* will be welcome.

Conversion of Cycles A comment on the prevalence of cases where cycles and other property had been converted was made by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when admitting a youth to probation. “These conversions are far too prevalent; you young fellows seem to have no sense of the rights of property of others,” said the magistrate. He warned the accused that if he came before the Court again on a charge of dishonesty he could expect imprisonment.

Street Car Parking Because of the return of a large number of motor vehicles to normal traffic the Wanganui City Council intends to enforce the time limit of car parking in Victoria Avenue and adjacent streets. For the information of motorists, the parking signs consist of lemon-yellow coloured plates bearing in the top portion the letter “P.” The numerals in the lower portion of the sign indicate in minutes the maximum time for which continuous parking is allowed. The letters “N.P.” represent the words “No Parking.”’

United Nations This week Rotary Clubs in New Zealand are observing “United Nations Week.” The Wanganui observance took place yesterday, when Dr. G. H. Robertson chairman of the International Committee gave a talk on the “United Nations Charter.” He explained in detail how the lde a of an organisation of United Nations had its beginning at the Yalta Conference. The next conference was the one at Dumbarton Oaks, which was a predude to the big gathering held in San Francisco, which was attended by representatives of more than 50 nations.

Athletic Handicapper. Mr. Alex Bourgeois, who has been appointed handicapper of the Wellington Athletic Club, is a former member of the Wanganui Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club. He is the eldest son of Mr. A. C. Bourgeois, Wanganui, the present president of the Wanganui Club. When in Wanganui, Mr. Bourgeois junr. was prominent In harrier circles, winning many Wanganui titles ard representing the district at the West Coast track and field championships. He represented the West Coast (N. 1. Centre at New Zealand Championships, registering fine performances.

Dangerous Intersections “I know that these intersections are bad. but a careful driver should practically stop and approach them at a slow pace, at the same time looking to his right and left,” commented Mr. J. B. Salmon, S.M., when the question of poor visibility at certain intersections in the city was raised in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday. The case was n sequel to an accident which occurred at the intersection of Bell and Guyton Streets, both the police prosecutor and counsel for the defence having described it as a bad intersection. “The worse the visibility, the greater the need for care ” said the magistrate. Book Boom in New Zealand

During the war years a revolution has taken place in New Zealand’s book business (writes Maurice Hurst in “New Zealand Magazine”). Not only has a larger public wanted more books, but popular novels by overseas authors have been printed here in huge numbers. Formerly, books by New Zealand authors, printed here for the local market, were considered successful if they sold from 1000 to 2000 copies. Now, because of war conditions—and in spite of war conditions —our printers have shown themselves capable of printing and binding up to 10,000 or 15,000 copies of lengthy novels. Some of these novels sell for 12s 6d. They are all the work of authors of assured popularity and with established reputations. “Possibly,” says Mr. Hurst, “both publishers and authors are accepting a reduced profit to compensate for the extra cost of publication in New Zealand; but possibly the profits are quite pleasant.”