General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 20 July 1946, Page 4

General News

Westerly Weather After much rain overnight, the wind changed to a westerly quarter early yesterday morning and freshened considerably. The day was line with passing clouds, but very windy in exposed quarters. At Castlecliff a sea was running on the bar, but. coastal traders arrived at the port as scheduled. The barometer reading at noon was rising at 29.55 in. Unnecessary Road Signs “Road signs that are not necessary are disliked by motorists and detract from the value of those that are,” said Mr. W. E. Fossette at the monthly executive meeting of the Automobile Association (Wanganui) this week when a proposal to dispense with certain signs was discussed. During June, association patrols erected new signs in various parts of the district and repaired and repainted others. The association arranged with the City Council to renovate the 15-minute parking signs in the city area and is undertaking to have them i epainted. Difference in Rolls

“The municipal roll and the electoral roll are poles apart,” said the Wanganui City Council’s returning officer, Mr. C. R. White, yesterday, referring to the by-election which is being held to-day. Mr. White added that he had received many inquiries from people who were unaer the impression that if their names were on the electoral . roll they were not obliged to enrol for municipal elections. The general roll compiled for the electoral district of Wanganui, however, was used for Parliamentary elections, and the other roll, compiled by the City was used for municipal elections. Even the boundaries were different.

The Yuanan Poplar Publicity given to a species of tree known as the Yuanan poplar, which was propagated in the Wanganui district from cuttings sent from China to a local resident, led to an inquiry being received by the Automobile Association (Wanganui? irom Whangarei concerning the tree. The association referred the inquiry to the City Superintendent of Reserves, Mr. S. 1. Cox, who said that he had received requests tor cuttings of the poplar from all over New Zealand, with the result that many profitable transactions had resulted. The Yuanan poplar has a broad leaf, roughly 10 inches square, and is fast growing. Many Late Inquiries Many late inquiries were received at the Wanganui City Council offices hy persons whose names were not on the roll, but who wished to vote at the by-election to-day. The returning officer, Mr. C. K. White, said yesterday that Supplementary Roll No. 5 closed on Saturday, July 6, the office remaining open all day for the purpose of receiving enrolments. Since then, however, there had been a steady inquiry each day by people whose names were not on the roll. Though too late to vote at the election to-aay, these persons are being enrolled and will be able to vote at the next triennial elections.

Many Cases Attended The St. John Free Ambulance in Wanganui had another busy period last month, the total number of cases attended being 186, compared with 104 during June last year. The mileage travelled last month was 2476, as against 1939, bringing the total for the year up to 13,051. These figures are from statistics supplied to the Wanganui Hospital Bo\d by the transport officer and secretary, Mr. W. B. McNaught. He added that 157 of the 186 cases attended last month were in the city area. 1 he rest came from the country districts, Marton, with seven cases, having the highest individual total. Of all the cases handled, seven were due to accidents. Poultry Successes

Outstanding success has been achieved this year by Mr. R. G. Weekes, of Aramoho, with his Plymouth Rock poultry. The latest was at the Onehunga Poultry Show held in Auckland last week, when he was successful in winning the Saltaire Cup for the best Barred Plymouth Rock in show, gaining one special and three firsts. During this year's show season, commencing at Wanganui on June 6, 1946, and including Hastings, New Plymouth, Manawatu and Taumarunui Poultry Shows, Mr. Weekes, with his Plymouth Rocks, has won two North Island Championships, five cups, 10 specials, 21 firsts, 15 seconds, six thirds, and two v.h.c.’s.

Butter Ration An assurance that the butter ration in New Zealand would not be increased while Britain was short of fats was given by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) in the House of Representatives, answering Mr. H. S. Sutherland (Opp., Haurakj). Air. Fraser said that no suggestion of that kind had been made in any quarter as far as he was aware. The resolution of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ union suggested nothing of the kind, bu: was a direct reference to the dive | ;n of some butter from Britain to .jo Uniled States. Apparently an

inference was drawn erroneously that in the circumstances of loss butter being sent to Britain, lhe urgency of the need had decreased. The fact that an equivalent, amount of fats had to he made available for the people of Britain before the British Government could possibly agree to the sale of butter to the United States apparently had not been appreciated.